It took a moment or two for Zeke to realize he’d actually done it. He’d time traveled. His elation on knowing this was tempered by the fact that he had no idea where he was or what year it was. He hoped Edna was as good at this time travel stuff as he’d heard, but so far there was no way for him to know.

“There ye are, sir,” a man’s voice came from behind him. Zeke spun around to see an older gentleman standing next to a wagon. He was holding the reins to a magnificent black horse with a long flowing mane. “Me name’s Wallace. Edna sent me to make sure ye arrived safely. She asked that I provide ye with this horse. His name is Olwydd. ’Tis a Welsh name that means tracker.” He approached Zeke, holding the reins out for him to take.

“Thank you,” Zeke said. “I was wondering if I had arrived in the right place, but now that I’ve seen you, I guess I have.” He looked the horse over and thought the name appropriate considering that he was here to find his sister. “Do you know which way I should go?”

“Dinnae worry yerself with that. Olwydd kens the way. Edna has seen to it.” He bobbed his head and turned to head back to his wagon.

Zeke was definitely feeling out of his element. It was a mixture of excitement about this journey and anxiety for the unknown. “So, the horse is going to lead me to my sister,” he called to Wallace.

“I’ve no idea where yer headed, sir. I only do what Edna asks of me and she didnae grant me that information. She did, however, ask me to supply ye with some things ye may need. They are in the bags, there.” He pointed to two leather bags slung across the saddle. “Now, ’tis time for me to be on me way.”

“Thanks, Wallace. I appreciate the help.” He had one more question before he was on his own, “How will I get in touch with Edna?”

Wallace tipped his cap and climbed aboard his wagon, waving to Zeke as he disappeared over the bridge.

“Okay. I guess that was another question he didn’t have an answer for.” Zeke rubbed the tension from the back of his neck. He had very little to go on here and he had to trust that somehow he’d find a way to communicate with Edna. “Well, Olwydd, I sure hope you know where you’re going.”

The horse nickered and gazed at him with liquid brown eyes. Zeke glanced around and seeing no other option, mounted Olwydd and allowed him to lead the way.

After several days of wandering, Zeke began to wonder whether Olwydd really did know the way. As far as he was concerned, they were hopelessly lost. He hadn’t come across another soul to this point and the futility of finding his sister seemed as impossible as finding the proverbial needle in a haystack and unless that needle poked him while he traveled, he wasn’t sure he’d ever find it.

Zeke’s brain wandered to the studio. He hoped everything was going well there. Sara often complained that since Helene left he’d become a workaholic and he had to agree it was true. He enjoyed the familiarity of the studio and his students. Doing the same thing day in and day out was a soothing balm during a time when the last thing he needed was time alone to think about how stupid he’d been to let Helene go. No matter, he knew he’d done the right thing. He could have made it more difficult for her to make the choice to leave, but he would never have been able to live with the fact that Helene would always love Dougall, even if she grew to love him.

The path he traveled was a continuation of the path he’d been on yesterday and the day before that. Olwydd seemed in no great hurry and so they plodded along as if Zeke had all the time in the world to find Sara. He wished Edna would communicate with him again so he could be sure things were going according to plan, but each night as he sat by his fire, sometimes calling her name, he heard nothing in reply except for the crackling of the fire and the wind blowing through the trees.

Zeke was a city boy. He may have gone camping once or twice as a child, but never as an adult. He preferred the comfort of a bed and four walls. He’d gone to several national parks over the years and enjoyed the great outdoors, but at the end of the day, reservations at the lodge were a necessity in his mind. He was reminded every night as he tried to find a comfortable spot without a rock or tree root poking him in the back of why he’d never been a camper. He was a realist, or as much of a realist as a man could be who’d traveled five hundred years back in time. If enduring the discomfort of sleeping outside was what he had to do to find Sara, then he’d endure it. No matter how long it took, he’d find her and get her back to San Francisco where they both belonged.

Olwydd was a good companion. He didn’t have much to say, but he was a good listener and Zeke found himself talking to the horse throughout the day. He was glad that no one could see him because it might be pretty embarrassing to be seen chatting away with a horse, for a man who was thought to be the strong silent type by his friends and students. He laughed out loud at this thought. The song Home, Home On The Range came to mind and he felt the urge to sing. Olwydd’s ears turned back towards him for a moment, probably wondering what that strange man on his back was doing. Finally, he decided there was nothing to worry about, so he pricked one ear forward and kept one ear turned towards Zeke, who continued serenading Olwydd with any song he could think of. He’d never been alone for this amount of time in his entire life. At home, he was surrounded by his students and the only time he was by himself was when he went home at night. He could see how a person could go a little crazy being alone day in and day out.

Zeke was relieved that the weather hadn’t been an issue for him. The late autumn sky was clear, but the air was cold and the countryside much as he’d expected. Zeke had spent some time virtually exploring Scotland since Helene left. On those rare occasions when he allowed himself to miss her, he felt closer to her when he could envision where she might be. Now here he was in this familiar yet unfamiliar landscape, but instead of searching for Helene, he was here for his sister.

* * *

Brenna’s luck had run out. She stole a glance behind her and noted riders galloping her way. They’d overtake her soon enough. She could try to outrun them, but her horse was weary from traveling and it would do her no good, they were already upon her. She stopped Vala and turned to face them. Her heart beat rapidly as she noted that these men were unfamiliar to her. Were they highwaymen? They weren’t from Castle Treun, of that she was sure. If she had to fight them, she’d surely lose. If it were just the one she’d stand a chance, but there was no way she could battle two men who, by the looks of them as they approached, were twice her size and more than capable of breaking her like a twig. She found she was shaking uncontrollably and did her best to cover it up, pulling her plaid tightly around her body. Her voice quavered, as she spoke. “Who are you? What do you want with me?” she stammered.

“Laird Munro sent us to bring ye back to Castle Treun,” the dark-haired man reported.

She looked up at the heavens, wondering why on earth she was so doomed. “I dinnae wish to return,” Brenna stubbornly stated. Now that she knew their mission, she relaxed, but only a slight bit, having no idea how far they’d go to secure her return.

“I’m sorry lass. We’ve our orders and we’re to bring ye back. If ye come with us willingly it will be all the better for ye,” he said.

The other man sat silently atop his destrier. Brenna looked to him, eyes pleading, but he wasn’t moved.

She sat atop her palfrey, gazing between the men instead of at them.

“Well, what will it be?” the dark-haired man asked.

Without uttering a word or looking their way, Brenna nudged her horse forward into a walk and began the trek back to Castle Treun. She may have lost this battle, but she was sure she wasn’t going to marry Nevil Munro. There was a feeling in the pit of her belly that belied her certainty and with each mile closer to home, she became more and more desperate to change her fate.

Brenna had been hopeful that when they camped that night, she might be able to slip quietly away, but the two men took turns staying awake to keep an eye on her. When she realized there was no chance she would escape, she slept.

* * *

From a distance, she could see Castle Treun looming ahead of them. She watched as riders came through the gates towards them. Brenna had no doubt that it was her father and Nevil Munro. She recognized Paddraig’s posture and his giant silver destrier. The other man, unfamiliar to her had to be the man she was to marry. Panic began to set in and without thought she wheeled her horse around and began charging away from them. Her two guards gave chase. Brenna was running for her life and Vala seemed to understand this, giving her all to outrun the men who were right on her tail. She darted to her left, taking a route she knew like the back of her hand, but one that the Munro men wouldn’t. She dodged trees and rocks, glancing back over her shoulder all the while when, without warning, Vala stumbled forward onto her knees, sending Brenna tumbling forward over her head. There was nothing to stop her fall and she landed with a hard, painful thud on her back. The adrenaline rushing through her veins aided her to her feet. Vala, spooked by the incident, ran back towards Castle Treun. Brenna began to run the other way, the pain of her fall chasing her every step. Soon the two men were upon her, jumping from their horses and grabbing her by the arms. She winced in pain. One on either side of her, they guided her back towards the castle. She struggled futilely every step of the way to get out of their grasp. The dark-haired man tried to lift her onto his horse, but she refused to cooperate, kicking and screaming at them and thwarting their efforts. So instead they walked and their horses followed. The closer they got to her Da and Laird Munro, the harder Brenna fought to escape these men.

“I’ll nae marry him,” she shouted. “I’ll nae do it.”

“I’m sorry fer yer troubles, lass. But I dinnae believe ye have a choice,” the quiet man finally spoke.

Brenna gazed up at him and saw pity in his eyes. Her fate was sealed, but she wouldn’t go quietly into this marriage. She’d do everything she could to dissuade Nevil Munro. If he saw her like this, he’d surely refuse to marry her. She knew she must look a sight and her behavior was not at all what he’d want. She’d play the part of the disobedient lass from this moment on, all the while praying something would happen to stop this marriage.