The evening meal was shrouded with tension, but the MacKenzie clan did their best to keep the mood of their guests at least one rung below breaking out into a brawl.

“I ken the lass is here, Robert,” Nevil said. “Ye’d be doing me a great service by simply handing her over to me. I would be forever indebted to ye.”

“It would nae be in me best interest to do so,” Robert said. “Paddraig MacRae is a strong ally and I’ll nae ruin our alliance. Forget about the lass and go to MacRae with your complaint.”

Helene listened carefully as she served the family and their guests at the main table. Zeke spirited Brenna back home to keep her out of harm’s way, so on that count Helene could relax a bit, but she was worried about Dougall. Robert spread his men out around the room to keep the peace, so he was sitting right in the midst of Munro’s men. From the look of them they were enjoying their meal and there was no need for worry. That could change at Nevil Munro’s discretion.

“Ye cannae possibly side with him on this one. The wedding was about to take place when this Laird San Francisco arrived and Paddraig thought he would get a better deal with him for his daughter. Have ye ever heard of this San Francisco?”

“Aye. I have.”

“I know he’s here now, so his wife cannae be far. What do ye ken of the man?”

“I dinnae ken much. He’s here because his sister is here. He’s been practicing with me men and he’s quite a good swordsman. I dinnae believe I’d give him reason for a fight if I were ye.”

“I’ve seen the man fight. He could be beaten,” Nevil said. His arrogance apparently knew no bounds.

“I dinnae want any trouble while yer here, Nevil. Keep that in mind. Ye dinnae want to make an enemy of the MacKenzie clan.”

“Aye. Of course not.” Nevil continued enjoying his meal. “Perhaps yer right. I’ll pay a visit to Paddraig. I will have that land and I will get me cows back.”

Helene finished serving and left the table. She stood in the doorway to the hall and waited for Dougall to look her way. When he did she waved him over.

“He says he’s going to call on yer Da. Says he wants some land and the cows that were reived the night ye rescued Brenna.”

“I’ll send one of me men to warn him.”

“What about Brenna?”

“We’ll have to keep her safely at home until he leaves.” Dougall kissed her cheek. “Wait for me. We’ll walk home together. I dinnae want you off on yer own with these men about.”

* * *

Robert sent word the following morning that Munro and his men would be leaving by the noon hour.

“He didn’t get what he came for,” Zeke observed. “That makes me worry about what he’s up to.”

“Keep Brenna close,” Dougall said. “I don’t trust him either. I’ve asked Logan to join us here this morning.”

“Is he bringing Sara?”

“Aye. She’ll be safer here with all of us than alone in their cottage.”

Zeke relaxed somewhat. This was not something he ever had to worry about in San Francisco. Hopefully the day would pass without incident.

“Robert’s men will be on alert for a few days now. He doesnae believe Munro would be foolish enough to hurt his alliance with the MacKenzies, but Munro’s nae a man to be trusted, especially where his own interests are concerned.

The door opened and Sara entered, followed by Logan.

“Are we really going to be in the middle of a real medieval battle?” she asked, excitement in her voice.

“This is exactly why I don’t want you staying in this time,” Zeke said.

“Stop being so over protective. Logan will take care of me.”

Zeke watched as Logan put his hand on Sara’s shoulder. “Dinnae fear fer yer sister, Zeke. I promise to protect her with me life.”

“See,” Sara said, gazing lovingly up at him.

“Alright, alright! I guess I’m not going to get you to change your mind.”

“No. You’re not. Where’s Brenna?”

“She’s upstairs.”

“Is she scared?”

“I don’t think I’d call it scared. It’s more like angry,” Zeke answered. “Helene’s up there with her.”

“I’m going up,” she said to Logan.

“I’ll bet she’s giving you a run for your money,” Zeke laughed.

“Pardon?” It was obvious Logan didn’t understand that saying.

“She keeps you on your toes?”

Logan’s furrowed brow said he still wasn’t getting it.

“Never mind. It’s not important.”

“I still dinnae understand your future language, but I’m learning.” Logan assured him.

Zeke smiled. It was easy to see why Sara loved Logan. He knew when he went back to San Francisco that he was leaving her in very good hands.

* * *

“Isn’t this exciting?” Sara asked.

“Nae,” Helene and Brenna spoke as one.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

“Do they nae have battles in San Francisco?” Brenna asked, curious to know all she could about the future.

“Not like this,” Sara said.

The three women sat on Brenna’s bed, waiting and listening for anything that might signal danger outside of these walls.

“What’s it like there?” Brenna asked. “Sophia told me that ‘tis beautiful and that she likes the music and food. She also said something about travel. Do ye ken what she was speaking of?”

“Travel is a lot faster there. There are cars, which you see everywhere. Also planes,” Sara said.

“Planes?” Brenna tried the word on her lips.

“They fly. People get in them and they can travel anywhere in the world in a short period of time. It’s not like here, where it takes days to get anywhere.”

Brenna couldn’t believe her ears. The thought of flying like the birds had always been something she’d wondered about, but would be afraid to actually do.

“Aye. Do ye remember taking me to the movies with ye, Sara? And then we’d go have those delicious cinnamon rolls,” Helene said, appearing almost wistful.

“Oh, yes! That was so much fun. I miss cinnamon rolls.” Sara smiled. “You know, when Zeke and I were kids we lived with our grandfather and he’d take us to baseball games in the city. We’d always get hot dogs and a soda. Grandpa would have a beer and Zeke would always volunteer to hold it for him and when Grandpa wasn’t looking he’d sneak sips. Zeke wanted to be a baseball player when he grew up, but things didn’t work out that way.”

“What’s baseball?” Brenna asked.

“’Tis a sport,” Helene offered. “’Tis verra fun to watch.”

“There’s nothing better than going to a game on a hot summer’s night.”

“I don’t understand.” Brenna was puzzled by this.

“It’s too difficult to explain. It’s too bad there’s nothing like it here in this time,” Sara said. “Do you have any good dirt on Logan?”

“I dinnae ken what ye mean. Logan was like any other lad. He was always playing in the dirt.”

Sara smiled at her misunderstanding, “That wasn’t quite what I meant, but I can just imagine what he must have been like as a little boy.”

“He was always with Dougall. They’ve been friends for many years. They’d go off on their horses and stay away from the castle overnight. Da would punish Dougall, but that never stopped them. They learned quickly though that Da wouldnae be angry with them if they brought back fish for the evening meal, or better still if they’d spied on our neighbors and then told him all about what they’d found.”

“I’ll bet they were cute,” Sara said.

Again, Brenna wasn’t sure what Sara meant, but she knew that the time they’d spent talking had taken her mind off of what was happening at the castle. They continued their conversation, laughing and enjoying themselves as they shared more stories about the men when they were lads.

* * *

A knock at the door took the men by surprise. They drew their weapons as Dougall approached the door. “Who’s there?” he called.

“They’ve gone,” Hamish reported and Zeke breathed a sigh of relief.

“Come in,” Dougall said. “Logan go tell the ladies they can come down now.”

“They seem to have left on good terms with the laird,” Hamish said. “They were laughing and smiling as they said their goodbyes.”

“Hamish, welcome,” Helene said as the women and Logan came into the room. “Will ye stay and have something to eat with us?”

He looked to Dougall, who nodded, “Aye. I’d be honored.”

The women went into the kitchen and Zeke followed.

“Are ye going to help?” Helene asked.

“No, I just wanted to be sure you were all safe. I know Munro is gone, but I…” he looked at Brenna. He didn’t quite know what to call the pull that led him to follow her, but he just needed to.

“You don’t need to explain yourself,” Sara said. “We don’t mind the company. Do we ladies?”

“We willnae be able to speak freely about Zeke if he’s here,” Brenna teased.

“If yer going to stay, ye might as well make yerself useful. Would ye mind going with Brenna out to the root cellar?” Helene asked.

“Sure,” Zeke said.

Brenna joined him and he put his arm around her waist.

“Hey, you two,” Sara called after them with a wicked grin, “don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She winked at Zeke, who shook his head and laughed.

“Aye. Mind what yer going for. Brenna ye ken what we need. No doddling.” Helene, hands on hips, looked from one to the other with one eyebrow raised. .

“We won’t be long,” Zeke reassured her.

He took Brenna’s hand and led her outside into the garden, where she took in a deep breath of fresh air.

“Finally, I have you alone for a moment. How long before Helene comes looking for us?” he asked.

Brenna giggled at this.

“Come here,” Zeke said.

There was no hesitation at all, Brenna was in his arms in a split second, her bright eyes and fresh face gazing up at him. How could he possibly help himself? He bent his head until his lips found hers and enjoyed the sweetest of kisses.

“Where’s the root cellar?” Zeke asked, coming up for air.

Brenna pointed to a door nestled into a rock wall.

He let her go, taking a moment to watch as she walked to the door of the root cellar before following her. A flash to Brenna’s right caught his eye and too late, he saw Nevil Munro at her side, holding a knife to her throat.

He unsheathed his sword.

“Stay where ye are.” Nevil ordered. Me men have surrounded the house. “I’m taking her back where she belongs. Her father will bargain with me or… well, I’m nae sure what will happen to her. I havenae made up me mind.”

“You won’t get away with this, Munro,” Zeke growled. “Let her go.”

Dougall appeared at his side, sword drawn.

Logan and Hamish came barreling around the side of the house drawing Munro’s attention away from Brenna long enough that she was able to spin out of his grasp and run.

“Go inside,” Zeke ordered, although he should have guessed she wouldn’t. Instead she stood far enough away to run if she needed to.

He advanced on Munro, while Dougall, Logan and Hamish engaged his men. They were outnumbered, but as Logan explained to Zeke, the MacKenzie men were the best swordsman in the highlands. They were easily defeating more than twice as many men. Zeke was focused on Nevil, who had taken his fighting stance.

All the work he’d done with the MacKenzie men and Duff back at Castle Treun, paid off. He knew exactly what to expect from Munro, but the opposite couldn’t be said. Zeke drew on his experience at the studio to throw Munro off his game. He remembered to breathe and to focus. This had the effect Zeke wanted. He was seeing everything as if it were happening in slow motion, giving him the opportunities he needed to exploit the holes in Munro’s tactics. The loud clang of sword on sword along with the grunts and groans of the men were the only sounds. Munro was tiring and Zeke knew he had him right where he wanted him. With one last parry, Munro found Zeke’s sword at his throat and he surrendered. Zeke disarmed him, being sure to take every one of his weapons in the process. The other men, seeing their leader had surrendered, did the same.

Cailin, Cormac and a dozen MacKenzie warriors arrived just in time to see Munro’s men forced to sit on the ground, their weapons in a pile at Zeke’s feet.

“I told Helene to take me horse and get help,” Hamish said.

“It doesnae appear ye needed it,” Cailin chuckled.

“Munro, back to the castle with ye. Laird MacKenzie will decide yer fate. He willnae be happy that ye thought to make a fool of him.”

The men all stood, appearing as defeated as they truly were and headed back to Breaghacraig. Logan and Hamish took up the rear to make sure no one made a run for it.

Dougall clapped Zeke on the back. “Good work,” he said, leaving him alone with Brenna.

The wound on Zeke’s leg opened again from the exertion of the battle. “I think it might need stitches,” Zeke noted.

“Let’s go inside and clean it up again,” Brenna put her arm around his waist and tucked herself beneath his arm. “Thank ye,” she said.

“For what?”

“For saving me again.”

“Brenna, you saved yourself that time. You took advantage of Logan’s arrival to get yourself away from Munro.”

“I did, didnae I?” She beamed a proud smile as they entered the kitchen.

* * *

“I think ye should see Dr. Ferguson before he leaves,” Helene said. “He can stitch ye up if need be.”

“I’m going to the castle. I’ll tell him he’s needed here,” Dougall said, exiting the room. They listened as his footsteps pounded down the stairs and the door slammed behind him.

“Put your leg up,” Sara said, placing a pillow beneath it as he lay on the bed.

“Do ye think he’ll be back,” Brenna asked, a slight quiver in her voice. “Munro, I mean.”

“He seems like a very determined man. I don’t think he’ll stop until he gets what he wants.” Zeke winced as Brenna pressed a wet cloth to his wound.

“But he doesnae want me. He’s already said as much,” Brenna said.

“He needs you in order to get what he wants. I don’t believe that he’d let you go even if your father agreed to his terms.” Zeke combed his fingers through her hair as she bent over his leg tending to the bleeding. “He seems like the kind of man who takes pleasure in tormenting his victims and that’s what scares me about this whole thing.”

“Put pressure on it,” Sara said, showing Brenna what she meant.

Brenna sat next to Zeke and did as Sara had done. Zeke could see she was upset by all of this, although she was very good at hiding it. Brenna wasn’t the sort of girl who sought sympathy. As Zeke had become aware, she was the exact opposite. She wanted to be looked on as strong and capable, even if on the inside she was just as frightened as any of them.

“What do you think’s happening at the castle?” Sara asked.

“I’m sure, Laird MacKenzie will have them escorted away from MacKenzie land. He’ll warn them of the consequences of returning uninvited. I hope Dougall and Logan aren’t charged with seeing to it,” Helene said.

“I hope not,” Sara agreed.

“I’m so sorry I’m causing this trouble,” Brenna said.

“This isn’t your fault, Brenna. It’s your father and Munro. They’re the problem.”

“Aye. Zeke is right. Our only concern is for yer safety,” Helene said.

“Will I ever be safe here? Will I ever be safe anywhere?”

* * *

“That should take care of things,” Dr. Ferguson said, packing his instruments back in the bag. “Ye’ll be as good as new in no time at all. And if I’ve done me job well, ye’ll have nary a scar to show for it.”

“Thank you, Dr. Ferguson,” Zeke said.

“Ye’ll be off to see the Jeffords soon, willnae ye?” Helene asked.

“I will. I’m leaving tomorrow. Robert has arranged an escort for me. I’m looking forward to it.”

“’Tis been a pleasure and a blessing having ye here while the lasses gave birth.” Helene smiled warmly.

“Anything to help Edna. I was happy to put their minds at ease. They really didnae need me,” he said.

“They felt as if they did, and so it was good ye were here,” she replied.

“Edna has asked me to come back any time I’m needed and I will do that. I imagine you two ladies will be needing me soon enough,” he said glancing from Sara to Helene.

“How did ye know? I’ve told no one,” Helene said.

“What? You’re having a baby?” Sara bounded from her seat and bear hugged Helene.

Dr. Ferguson laughed at Sara’s antics.

“Wait a minute, you included me in that statement,” Sara realized.

“I did.”

“What’s going on here?” she asked.

“Edna,” was his response.

“I love that woman!” Sara said. “I didn’t even know I was pregnant.”

“Ye will. Very soon. And as I said, if ye need me ye’ve only to let Edna ken it and I’ll be back.”

Helene and Sara danced around the room, hugging one another. “We’re going to be mother’s at around the same time,” Sara said. “Our children will be the same age!”

“Oh, my!” Brenna said. “I’m so happy for ye both.”

“Congratulations, you two,” Zeke added. “I’m going to be an uncle!”

“Don’t say anything to Logan,” Sara said.

“Or Dougall.” Helene hugged Dr. Ferguson. “Thank ye. ‘Twould be good to have ye here for the births.”

“I’ll plan on it then.” Dr. Ferguson picked up his bag and headed for the door with Helene and Sara following him.

“It’s been quite a day,” Zeke said.

“It has.” Brenna was in his arms in an instant.

Zeke had a lot of thinking to do. After today’s events, he felt it was important for Brenna to join him in the future. She couldn’t live her whole life here worrying about Nevil Munro and Zeke was quite sure she’d have good reason to. He just wasn’t sure she’d fit in there. He wasn’t even sure she wanted to go with him. He thought maybe she did. It was pretty obvious that they loved each other, although neither one of them had said the words yet.

“Shall we go downstairs? We don’t want Helene and Sara to think we spend all of our time in bed.” Zeke chucked her under the chin.

“If we must.” Brenna wore an impish expression, letting him know that maybe she’d rather stay right where they were.

“Come on. I’m nursing an injury.” He pretended to limp to the door and Brenna almost tackled him from behind.

“I may have to injure yer other leg to keep ye here,” Brenna teased.

“I promise. We’ll come back up as soon as Sara goes home. Besides, we were helping Helene in the kitchen, remember. Aren’t you hungry?”

“A wee bit,” she conceded, slipping around in front of him to stand between him and the door.

Zeke got the hint and backing her up against the door, he moved her hair out of his way and slowly teased her neck with kisses, working his way up to her jawline and then to her lips, which were parted and waiting. He loved to kiss her. For a woman with little experience, she could set him on fire with those lips and that tongue. At this rate, they’d never make it downstairs. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her closer, feeling every inch of her pressed up against himself.

A knock on the door at Brenna’s back, froze them mid-kiss. “Yes,” Zeke said.

“Are you coming downstairs or what?” Sara asked.

Brenna wrinkled her nose and moved away from the door. He opened it just a crack, waiting for the evidence of what had just taken place to return to normal. “Sara, did anyone ever tell you you’ve got the worst timing?”

“Oops! Sorry,” she said, looking and sounding not the least bit sorry.

Brenna slipped past Zeke and opened the door further so she could leave the room.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” Zeke said, remembering just how difficult Sara had made his life when they were younger when he’d try to sneak a girl up to his room.

“Okay. See you downstairs,” she said, giggling like the little trouble maker she’d always been.

Zeke took a moment to gather himself and the body part that seemed to have a mind of its own. Payback was going to be sweet. Unfortunately, he wasn’t quite as good at causing trouble as Sara was. Closing the door behind him he went downstairs thinking of ways he might get back at his baby sister.