The evening air was brisk as Sara, Logan and Zeke walked to the castle. Sara informed them they would be eating dinner there at Irene and Robert’s request. Logan had kindly offered Zeke some clean clothes to wear and Sara saw to it that he had everything he needed to get washed up before they left.

“Why are we eating at the castle tonight? Did they say?” Logan asked.

“No special reason,” Sara informed them. She hooked her arms through Logan’s and Zeke’s, almost skipping as they went. “Have you seen Helene yet?”

“We came right home when we arrived,” Logan answered for him.

“Are you going to be alright?” she asked Zeke.

“I’m not going to lie. It’ll be strange seeing her again, but I’m a big boy. I can handle it.” He watched as Sara and Logan exchanged concerned glances. “Really. Don’t worry about me.” Helene was with Dougall now and happy, he assumed. He had to let her go and he thought seeing her here with Dougall might be just what he needed to put the past behind him and move on.

While entering through the main gate into the courtyard, Zeke prepared himself. He had thought about the fact that he would be meeting the MacKenzies and he’d be seeing Helene again. He was ready for that. What he hadn’t been quite prepared for was entering this beautiful castle. He’d ridden through the gates earlier, but he hadn’t really taken it all in. He’d been exhausted from lack of sleep after saving Brenna and his head had been throbbing angrily. Now for the first time, he was able to really see it. The walls rose imposingly into the evening sky. He could see guards on top of a tower, but they seemed relaxed since there wasn’t an imminent threat. The large doors to the main hall were open and firelight danced on the walls. The moment was surreal. He felt as if he were having an out-of-body experience. If he wasn’t seeing it all first hand, he’d never have believed it. He was here in the year 1517 and everything around him reminded him that he wasn’t in San Francisco anymore.

They arrived at the same time as Dougall and Brenna.

“You look amazing,” Zeke said and he meant it. He’d seen Brenna in her most unhappy moments, angry, in tears, disheveled from days of travel, frightened and embarrassed, but he’d never seen her look so beautiful. Why hadn’t he noticed before this moment? He’d always thought that she was pretty, but he’d never really seen her. He was so focused on finding Sara that he’d missed it and now he wished that he’d gotten to know her better right from the start. Away from Castle Treun and all the horrible things she’d been through, she was glowing. She took his breath away. Her dark hair reflected the light of the torches they passed and her hazel eyes took on the color of the blue-green gown she wore. He put his arm out for her to take and she did, shyly gazing up at him, possibly unsure of the way he was reacting to her.

The great hall was set up for the evening meal. He immediately noted the difference between Breaghacraig and Castle Treun. The hall was quietly elegant. Torches lined the walls and candles were set on the tables, giving the room a soft golden glow that warmed the stone walls and floors.

They stood before the hearth where they were each given a tot of whisky by one of the servants. Zeke caught a glimpse of movement in the entryway and when he glanced that way he saw Helene and she saw him. The look on her face was hard to read. Obviously, Dougall hadn’t told her he was here. It took her a moment to gather herself, but in true Helene fashion, a smile lit her face as she headed straight for him. Zeke wasn’t sure what to do, so he stood where he was and waited. She came right to him and kissed his cheek.

“Dougall, ye didnae tell me Zeke was here.” Helene said.

“Ye didnae give me a chance to, me love,” Dougall responded.

“I’m surprised to see ye here, as ye can tell. What brings ye to Breaghacraig?” She glanced at Brenna, who was still holding Zeke’s arm.

Zeke removed Brenna’s hand as he spoke. “I missed my sister and Edna told me she was here. I’m here to bring her home with me.”

Sara wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “Zeke, I’m happy here. I don’t want to leave.”

“Ye can speak of it more later. While we’re here, let’s enjoy our meal,” Helene said, taking on the role of peacekeeper.

“You’re right. We’ll talk later,” Zeke said.

“Come. Let’s sit.” Helene led the way to the tables and placed Zeke and Brenna next to each other, across from she and Dougall. The MacKenzies entered the room and one by one introduced themselves to both Zeke and Brenna. Zeke was again struck by the differences between the two castles. Paddraig MacRae enjoyed his drink, as did his sons and so the evening meal was a much rowdier, raucous event. It was the difference between eating at the local dive bar back home and eating at a fine restaurant.

“Jenna and Ashley willnae be joining us tonight,” Irene said. “They’re both quite tired. Ashley due to the new bairn and Jenna because hers will be born any day now. Ye’ll meet them tomorrow.”

“Yer Sara’s brother,” Cormac said. “She speaks of ye often.”

Zeke didn’t want to tell them she was the only family he had. They’d think him a sad and lonely man, which he might very well be if he took five minutes to think about it. Instead he said, “Does she?”

“Aye. Ye have some kind of school, isnae that right?” Robert asked.

“Yes. It’s a medieval martial arts studio. I teach men, women and children the fine art of swordsmanship, as it’s practiced in your time. As a matter of fact, I was hoping I’d be able to join in on your daily practice. I’d like to see if you can give me any pointers I can use when I get back to San Francisco.”

“He’s quite good,” Dougall said.

In his wildest dreams, Zeke would never have expected to be accepted by Dougall, but they had bonded as they worked to rescue Brenna. Theirs was a mutual respect and while Zeke was surprised to hear Dougall complimenting his swordsmanship, he was excited for another opportunity to train with real medieval warriors.

“Join us tomorrow then,” Cailin suggested.

“That would be amazing.” He hadn’t expected to be this comfortable around either Dougall or Helene, but he was. Dougall obviously wasn’t holding a grudge and, as for Helene, they easily lapsed back into the easy conversations they’d once shared with each other. No awkwardness remained between them and this pleased him more than he could say.

Brenna was unusually quiet and seemed to be alternating between watching him and watching Helene.

“How is Milly?” asked Helene.

“She’s fine. She misses you,” Zeke said. “When I come home at night she looks past me to the door, expecting you to follow me in.”

“Who’s Milly?” Brenna asked.

“She’s my cat. She grew very attached to Helene while she was living with me.” Was that the right thing to say? Would that be frowned upon here among these people? He took a quick peek around the table and no one other than Brenna seemed to be interested.

“Milly’s a verra good listener,” Helene laughed. “She heard all about me troubles and never seemed to mind.”

“She’s heard all of mine too,” Zeke admitted. “You got her into quite a bad habit. She expects treats the minute I walk through the door at night.”

“She deserves treats,” Helene laughed. “I always loved the way she’d follow me, rubbing on me legs and weaving between them until she got one. Or two.”

“Try three or four,” Zeke chuckled.

“Aye. ‘Tis true. I miss the sound of her purring at me side as I slept,” Helene said.

“I imagine Dougall does that now,” Zeke teased.

Helene laughed out loud. “That he does.”

Zeke was pleasantly surprised that this evening had not been as difficult as he’d thought it would be. In fact, he was really enjoying himself and happy to see Helene. She’d always hold a very special place in his heart, but she wasn’t his. She never had been.

* * *

Brenna was feeling something she’d never felt before. Jealousy. She was jealous of the easy way Zeke and Helene spoke with each other. She wondered just how close they’d been when Helene had lived with him. Had he kissed her? Had they done more? She was watching them closely and every time one or the other would look her way she quickly looked to Dougall, who didn’t seem at all bothered by their interaction. She wondered why? Shouldn’t he be jealous? Zeke’s sister, Sara tried to engage her in conversation and she did her best to oblige.

“So you’re Brenna. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Sara said.

“Have ye?” Brenna replied, wondering what Zeke had said that made Helene laugh. She watched as she then reached across the table and touched his hand. Brenna felt the jealously stir in her gut. How was Dougall not jumping from his seat to stop them?

“Yes. Logan has told me all about how he would get into all kinds of trouble with you and Dougall. I think he had a crush on you,” Sara giggled.

“A what?” Brenna had no idea what that meant.

“A crush. It means he liked you,” Sara explained.

“Och. Nae. Logan is like a brother to me,” she corrected.

“At one time, he hoped to be more,” Sara said.

Brenna squirmed nervously in her seat. She was sure that Sara would be angry with her and lash out, as was always the case with Greer and Gillian. She really had no idea what to expect. Would she hate her? Her life had been so sheltered at Castle Treun. She had no women friends and wasn’t really sure how Sara might be feeling about her right now, but nothing happened. Sara didn’t get angry with her. She didn’t laugh at her. She didn’t appear to be upset in the least bit. Brenna stole a peek at Logan to see if she might find a clue there, but not seeing any she returned her attention to Sara.

“This doesnae bother ye?” Brenna was confused.

“No. Not at all. It was a long time ago and he’s mine now,” she shrugged and smiled at Brenna.

“So, ’tis possible for ye and I to be friends and for Logan and I to be friends and ye willnae be jealous?” Brenna wasn’t quite sure how to respond to Sara’s friendly warmth. She thought about her time back at Castle Treun. She had not been friends with any of the women her age there. Since Greer and Gillian arrived, she was always worried that someone would lash out at her or make her feel unwelcome. It had been a long time since she sat and enjoyed a meal.

“Of course not. I’m hoping we’ll be good friends, like I am with Helene.”

Brenna smiled. She liked Sara, who was doing her best to make her feel welcome here. “It would be good to have a new friend,” she said.

“Good.”

Logan who had obviously been listening, put an arm around Sara and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Brenna took a bite of her food and watched as Dougall, Zeke and Helene smiled and laughed and Logan and Sara gazed lovingly at each other. She wondered if she’d ever fit in here. They were all being very welcoming and kind to her, but she felt something lacking. Something she hadn’t thought she wanted. She wanted to be part of a couple and she wanted the other half of that couple to be Zeke.