Chapter Seventeen
The following morning Kenzie received a call from the hospital stating that Ben had discharged himself, meaning the man had literally dressed in whatever clothing he could find and walked out of the hospital.
With Dr. Thompson’s help, they were able to allow Ben’s discharge under the guidance of the doctor, as long as a trained nurse would attend his wound daily until he was fully recovered.
It took Kenzie an hour or so before she found him walking through a parkland, heading toward Castle Druiminn. Without a word, he got into the vehicle, although his silence and white knuckled hands betrayed his nervousness.
They pulled up before Druiminn, and Kenzie watched Ben closely as he took in what once was his closest friend’s home. The new laird, Kenzie’s cousin, stepped from the front doors and smiled at Ben in welcome.
“I’m Laird MacLeod, or Richard, which is what I prefer. I’m honored to meet ye.” Richard held out his hand to shake Ben’s in welcome and Ben stared at it with an expression of confusion.
“In greeting someone in our time, Ben, it’s customary to shake the other person’s hand.” Kenzie demonstrated, and Ben followed suit, relaxing a little once he understood.
“I’m Ben Ross, Laird of Castle Ross. Black Ben to those who cross me.”
Richard smiled. “I consider myself warned. Now come,” he said, gesturing them into the castle. “The wind is biting today, and it’s much warmer before the hearth.”
They followed Richard inside, and Kenzie helped Ben settle in the great hall before a roaring fire. Of course, in this time, the house had central heating, and some floors were heated, but there was nothing better than a fire to chase the chill away.
“I will go and fetch us some tea. I’ll not be long.”
Ben watched the laird go with a critical eye and met her stare. “You serve yourself in this time?”
Kenzie sat beside him and tried to take his hand. He pulled it away and folded it in his lap. Will he ever forgive me? Of course, she could send him back, but in truth, she didn’t want to. She wanted to be selfish and keep him here. Where it was safe from any threats of not only the human kind, but those you couldn’t see, such as disease.
“There are servants here, but the majority of the time we pour our own drinks and fetch tea. The cook does prepare the meals, though. Richard was never very good in the kitchen.”
“Ye know this man well, then?”
The scathing tone gave Kenzie pause. “Are you jealous of him?” She laughed, unable to hold it back. “Unlike in your time, Ben, we don’t marry our cousins. Of course, I know him. He’s my family, but no, not in that way.”
Ben made a non-committal sound and stared at the flames. He was angry with her, and she couldn’t blame him. Not really. Had she been in his position, she would’ve been pissed off, as well.
“I’ll go get Alasdair from the nursery and bring him down. I think he’s missed you.”
At the mention of his son, Ben’s demeanor changed to one of happiness. Kenzie went upstairs and asked Irene to take the boy down to visit his father. She didn’t return to be with them. It was probably best she let them have some alone time. Little Alasdair adored his father and would enjoy having him to himself for a little while.
At least that’s what Kenzie said to herself as she plodded back to the room that Richard had allocated her when she’d returned. She was feeling all kinds of awful for ruining Ben’s life. She sat on the end of her bed and stared out the window, not focusing on anything really at all.
If Ben wouldn’t stay, could she?
She couldn’t imagine not having him in her life, but could she give up all that she loved here for him? Leave her mother, her family, and home? There was no denying she lived a comfortable life, having inherited the family estate, something her mother no longer wanted anything to do with. And when she was back in the seventeenth century things were different. She’d thought to stay, and would have been happy there, but now, now that she was back, Kenzie wasn’t so sure that decision was right for her.
Just as Ben had people in the past relying on him, she had people relying on her now. The estate, the very one Gwen and Braxton had been given by Gwen’s brother, Laird MacLeod, was hers now. There was a small tenant village situated upon the lands that rented from her, some of whom worked her farmlands. She had a successful B&B business and with the restoration of Castle Ross, that too would be a source of income for her in the years to come.
It was a lot to leave to go back to what? Ben’s home had been burning when they left, and it remained a blackened shell to this very day.
Unless…
Kenzie stood and smiled. Oh yes, there was a way to keep him here, and maybe happily so. She just needed to get him better, and then she could put her plan into place.