Chapter Eleven

 

 

Callum could hardly believe it. One minute he was trying to get his head around the concept of never seeing her again, the next she was by his side, telling him she loved him.

She sat in front of him on the horse, blanket around her shoulders to keep out the chill wind as they headed south. Callum kept one arm around her, the other holding the reins of the horse.

She leaned back against him and sighed. He felt the softness of her hair on his cheek as he held her closer. It was hard to believe it was true but she had said it. She loved him.

It had been so different when they’d arrived at the old hall. He had told her he couldn’t step inside because of the MacIntyres but the truth was he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t bear to watch her vanish in front of his eyes.

She hadn’t vanished though. She was still there, leaning back against him.

“What are you thinking?” she asked, glancing up at him.

“What to tell my parents. I’m presuming the real Nessa has turned up by now.”

“Oh yes. I’d forgotten about that.”

Callum had too. It was only when they were riding that he remembered he was supposed to marry Nessa MacKay.

“What do you think they’ll say?” Kerry continued. “When you tell them, I mean.”

“They’ll tell me that I can’t marry for love.”

“Oh.” Kerry lapsed into silence.

Callum thought hard about the best way to handle things. He had absolutely no intention of going through with the wedding to Nessa, not with Kerry making the supreme sacrifice of forgoing her own time to be with him. “Will you miss the future?” he asked, breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

“Not really. I’ll miss my mom I guess but I know she’d understand if I told you where I was. I would miss you much more. Besides I like it here.”

Silence fell again. Callum didn’t mind the quiet. All that mattered was the woman he loved was by his side.

Doubt only began to enter his mind when they approached The Red Wolf late that evening. He thought about what he’d told his men. A highland warrior who married should no longer patrol. A highland warrior who patrolled should not think to marry.

He had told his father he would not marry Nessa because he did not want to leave a grieving bride behind if he was killed in battle. Why would the same rules not apply to Kerry?

He wanted to marry her though. He wanted to be by her side for the rest of his life. From the minute he’d met her, he’d seen something different in her, something he had never seen in another woman. Perhaps it because she was from the future. More likely it was something unique about her.

Marrying her was not going to be easy. Go through with it and a rift would open up between the MacCleods and the MacKays, one that would probably end in clan war. His father might disown him too. He might never become laird.

He shook the doubts away. They didn’t matter. All that mattered was right there, climbing down from the horse in the courtyard of the inn. She smiled up at him and he melted inside. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked, still smiling.

“Because you look more beautiful in the moonlight than any lass has a right to look.”

She laughed as a stable boy ran over. “Look after this one,” Callum said to the boy, pressing a coin into his hand at the same time. “Belongs to the landlord of The Lantern. He’ll want it well treated.”

“Of course, my laird,” the boy said, the coin already gone.

Callum led the way through the door of The Red Wolf. Inside they hit a wall of heat coming from the enormous fireplace. The place was busy. There were only a couple of empty tables. No one seemed to notice them enter though and they were soon squeezed in the far corner near the shuttered window.

“Callum MacCleod,” a voice said as they sat down. “It’s been a long time.”

Callum looked around in time to see an enormous grizzled man with a shock of red hair that stood strained on end like it was trying to fight its way off his head. The man approached them slowly, squeezing between the tables, his gut brushing the wood as he maneuvered his way over. “Angus,” Callum said. “I havenae seen you since the last clan council. How’s Belle?”

“Gone off to Loch Leven land to learn letters.”

“Lovely,” Kerry said. “I bet she’ll have an ‘L’ of a time.”

Angus gave her a glance before turning his attention back to Callum. “What are you doing on MacIntyre land? I hope you’re not looking for trouble. I’ve enough to deal with without any brawling.”

Callum shook his head. “All we want is food and a room for the night. We’ll be gone at first light.”

“I can do you some stew but the joint’s all been had. We’ve had a busy day.”

“Stew will do fine. Coney?”

“Aye.”

“And the room?”

“Up and end of the hall on the left. Fire’s already lit.”

“We are in your debt.”

Coins were exchanged and then Angus left them, returning almost at once with two steaming wooden bowls. The smell of food made Callum’s stomach rumble. He hadn’t realized how hungry he was until the stew was in front of him.

After they’d eaten, they made their way to the bed chamber. Inside was dark, lit only by the glowing fire. Callum found a candle and pushed it toward the flame, catching the wick enough to cast a little extra light to the bedside. “One bed,” Kerry said, running her hand along the blanket. “Whatever will we do?”

“I shall sleep on the floor,” Callum replied. “You take the bed.”

“You don’t want to sleep with me?” In the time it took her to ask she had moved across the room and slipped her hands into his. “My laird?”

He couldn’t resist kissing her. The softness of her hands, the way she looked in the glow of the fireplace, the scent of her body in the small bedchamber, it was all too much. It was a sin but he could not resist.

He wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips to hers. It was a perfect kiss, his body responding at once.

Shaking his head, he forced himself away from her.

“Why…why did you stop?” she asked, looking hurt. “Did I do something wrong?”

“Nay, lass,” he replied. “But it is not proper. We must do no more until we are wed.”

“What? Oh, of course. I understand.” She was no longer looking at him.

“Do you? You sound angry.”

“I’m not angry. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day and I’m not used to all this horse riding. Let’s get some sleep.”

“I shall fetch some water to bathe.” He turned and left the room.

He walked back downstairs and found an empty table in the corner. Sitting down, he leaned back, staring at the room full of people but seeing none of them. Did she know the water was only an excuse? That he needed to think?

Why had she looked like that? Why had she sounded so angry? It didn’t make any sense. Did she not want to do things the proper way?

“I know why you’re looking like that.”

He looked up to find himself looking up at a man in strange clothes smiling warmly back at him. “This is because of Kerry, isn’t it?” the man continued. “Mind if I take a seat?”

“Who are you?” Callum asked as the man dragged over a chair and sat down opposite him. “How do you know Kerry?”

“I should know her. I’m her husband.”

“What?”

“I know, I know. She’s lied to you like she’s lied to lots of men. You weren’t the first to be fooled by her and you probably won’t be the last.”

“You’re her husband? Where’s your ring?”

“She took it with her when she ran off. Fourth time she’s done that. Costs me a fortune to keep getting them remade. She’s ill, you see. In the head. She does this stupid thing, been doing it ever since she was little. Wanders around telling everyone she’s from the future. Complete nonsense of course. Has she asked you for any money yet?”

“No, why?”

“Good, that means I found her in time. The amount she’s taken from people like you over the years. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hold anything against you. She can be very convincing. What did she say to you? Let me guess. She loves you not because you’re heir to a clan fortune but just conveniently for you? Almost left you then didn’t go back to the future and instead stayed with you for true love?”

Callum found himself nodding. “Aye. She did say that.”

“There is no portal to the future. It’s just part of her…her malady. You can leave her with me now. I’ll make sure she gets the help she needs. I’ve prepared a horse for you. It’s better that way. Some people can get…angry when they find out they’ve been duped by her and we wouldn’t want to hurt her, would we? Not when she’s ill. She doesn’t mean it, you see. Just imagine how I feel? I have to keep chasing her and bringing her home when she goes off after all these different men. I’m not the jealous type though. I’m just glad I got here before it was too late. What is the punishment for bigamy these days?”

“You’re telling me to leave her here?”

“I’m not telling you to do anything. You’re welcome to stay but whenever she sees me, she knows her fun is over. She can say some hurtful things, you see. Liable to hurt you when all you did was fall for her lies. I’m going to go get her and take her home. Do you want to stay to see her swearing and spitting everywhere? I bet she told you I’m the violent one, right?”

Callum nodded, realizing. “You’re Edward, aren’t you?”

“Let me guess. I’m her violent ex partner from the future?”

“Aye.”

“Realize how strange that sounds? That me and her are from the future? She projects her violent tendencies onto me, makes it out as if I’m this awful person because she becomes an animal when she’s caught with a new victim. Best you go and leave me to deal with her. I’ve done it plenty of time before. You get yourself home and no one need know what you fell for.”

Callum was no more than a few hundred yards down the road when he stopped. Something about this didn’t make sense. Fenella had told them about a portal to the future. But then she had talked to Kerry alone for a long time. Was it about this? Was this the truth? He hadn’t seen the portal. Kerry said she almost went through it but maybe the reason she hadn’t was because it didn’t exist.

She had told him nothing solid about the future. It was entirely possible she had made it all up. But why? For his money? No, that didn’t feel right.

The man had been utterly convincing but something wasn’t right.

He wanted answers and he kicked himself for leaving. She was probably still there, fighting off her husband and refusing to leave. He had chance to put some questions to her before they went. Find out the truth.

What was more likely? That the woman he had known for the last week was telling the truth or the strange man he’d just met? There was only one way to find out if he’d just been tricked or not. He would go back and speak to her for himself.

She wasn’t there. The bed chamber was empty apart from a note that had been left in the middle of the bed.

 

I cannot see you any more. I am sorry for hurting you. Do not come after me. Kerry.

 

He read it four times before cramming it into a fold of his baldric. She had gone. She didn’t want to see him anymore.

He sank onto the bed and tried to process everything that had happened in the last hour. He’d gone from blissfully happy and thinking he was going to marry the woman he loved to completely alone.

Eventually he got to his feet, making his way slowly to the door. Once he was outside he climbed onto his horse, feeling numb. He rode slowly south.

It was time to go home and get married like his parents had planned. Falling in love had only brought him shock and pain. Better to marry for the sake of a clan alliance like they wanted. Love could remain the domain of the bards who could sing of it while never knowing the damage it caused. He wanted nothing more to do with it.