A Journey Out of Time (4 page)

"Aye, lass, but
he
is a
she
."

"Oh! Well," she shrugged, "either way!" She grabbed a few things she had tossed outside & they began walking up to the castle. Sonya wondered if Duncan could see how she was feeling inside. Did it show on the outside? Could he tell how much she hoped that lovely young woman wasn't his wife? Boy how she hoped! She stole a sideways glance at him. He didn't even have to flex for his muscles to bulge. Oh, my! There was that tingle again & she was pretty sure it shouldn't be where it was! She saw Duncan grin & quickly looked away.

*

When Duncan saw Sonya looking at him he wondered if the lass fancied him or if she was just curious. He was curious about her, but it wasn't just about her mind that he was curious, and that was taking up a lot of his thoughts at the moment! The shape of her was nice. A pair of hands, his hands, would fit nicely on the curves of her hips. She was tall compared to the women he was used to; Just tall enough to be his counterpart. They would fit together…
perfectly
.

*

Duncan walked the dog up to Sonya's room & placed her on the floor at the foot of the bed.

"Thank you," Sonya said. She lay the first aid box & a backpack on the bed.

"What is it ye have there?" he pointed to the pack.

"I thought I would get some things off the plane."

"Plane?" he asked looking at her.

"Yes. It is called an airplane."

Duncan looked at her as if he was seeing if she spoke the truth, then walked to the door. Over his shoulder he said, "If ye need a hand, let me ken."

"I will."

He shut the door behind him. Sonya squatted down next to the dog who lifted her head & thumped her tail. Sonya scratched her ears & then got her a bowl of water which she lapped up greedily. "Well, I will go see what they can get me to feed you. I'll be back."

As Sonya headed down the stairs she saw Duncan down on one knee, talking to the little boy she saw the night before. He ruffled the boy's hair & the boy ran off. She had stopped midway down the stairs watching. Duncan looked up at her. Butterflies! And darn it, there was that smile spreading across her face again! Did she have to look like a total idiot?

"Off again are ye?"

"Yes, but I need to get something for the dog to eat first."

"Ye doona have'ta worry about that lass. The boy is going to get her something."

"Oh, great."

As if by cue the boy appeared next to her at the stairs.

"Can I feed her?"

"Yes. Go on up," Sonya said.

The boy dashed up the stairs with a huge grin. "An' doona get into things, Ewan!" Duncan yelled after him. Sonya smiled. 'Did ye want some help?"

"Sure, yes."

They started toward the doors.

*

Duncan looked at Sonya as they walked down to the big steel beast. It was easy to look at the lass, she was very striking. She was a head shorter than he was. Her hair hung just past her shoulders, but it was tied back with a ribbon. He had the urge to reach out & touch it. Was it as soft as it looked? It was blonde but there were streaks of red running through it. Duncan could see the pale color of her breasts through the loop that tied in the front of her shirt. There was something on her chest, just centered above them. What was that? It wasn't something hanging around her neck. Was it a tattoo? It was unlike their tattoos that were blue from the Woad plant. She had been plaguing him with feelings he hadn't felt before. As she spoke he watched her lips moving wondering what it would be like to kiss those lips. To show her what it felt like to be a woman with a man that wanted her as much as he did. What
was
it about this woman? Because he definitely wanted her.

*

"The metal," Sonya pointed, "on the outside, may be useful to use on your out buildings. Any building really. They are strong."

Duncan looked at the shell of the huge plane. "How do ye get something that big into the air?"

"Well, that could be hard to explain." As they got to the plane she said,"Inside here, this is the engine." How was she going to explain this to someone that hasn't even heard of a car?

"An' whit does it do?"

"The blades here go around. The air comes in & goes out the other side. The force pushes the airplane forward. It goes very fast. Those are flaps. They move up & down & help turn the plane." Duncan looked at her with interest, but not disbelief. After all, it was right there in his field!

"And where were ye going?"

Sonya laughed. "Scotland."

"Well, ye are in Scotia."

"Yes, I sure am!" she smiled.

"But if ye were coming here, why have'na I e'er seen one o' these before?" He waved his hand at the plane.

Sonya walked over to the opening in the side of the plane & glanced around. How did she tell him that she came from another time? Era; whatever it was. "If I tried to explain, you would lock me up for being addled!"

Duncan looked at her so intently that she felt her stomach do a flip flop & realized she was holding her breath. Why was she holding her breath? Her arms & legs suddenly felt week under his intense gaze.

"Whit were ye coming for?"

Sonya turned & stepped inside. She wondered what Duncan would think of the things he was about see. "I was coming to visit."

"Oh aye. Ye have kin here?"

"I have kin that died...a...some time ago."

"Oh?"

"Um, yes. My family used to live here." She didn't add,
hundreds of years ago
.

"And now they live where ye are from?"

"Yes."

"Perhaps ye can show me this home of yours some day."

Sonya smiled, warm inside. Somehow, she really doubted it would look the same, but she replied, "I would like that."

"But?"

"But my home is no longer my home."

"Och, lass, I am sorry." Every time he called her lass tingles shot through her. She stopped & looked back at him. He was so serious & looked… concerned. "Ye can make this yer home, lass. I bid ye welcome on behalf of Castle Ronin & the Clan..."

"MacLeod," they said at the exact same time. He looked surprised & she smiled.

"I know the clan tartan. My name is Sonya
MacLeod
." A broad smile spread across his face. It went up a bit on the left side, making him look mischievous. "I changed my name to MacLeod some years ago. You can do that where I come from."

"I see. Sonya MacLeod. Well," he smiled, "ye picked a mighty fine name!"

Sonya didn't know how long she stood there, but she was sure it was longer than she should have, yet again!

"This is a cause for celebration then! Ye have traveled a long way & ye are now home among yer people."

"But I told you I am not really a MacLeod. Not by blood anyway."

"Nor are many of the people here. Adopted, or under the protection & care of the Clan MacLeod, it matters not."

"I am not big on celebrations."

"Perhaps that will change, aye?" he said.

"Perhaps," she smiled, "but not likely!" He laughed. Parties were never her thing. "Thank you…for saying I can stay," she said quietly & smiled. "I would like that very much." Duncan smiled back at her & she wanted to melt into jelly! She turned back & she could have sworn she felt the heat of his body behind her.

*

Could it be that she was destined to come here? She
chose
to be a MacLeod. She was very independent. She didn't even ask him to give her a hand up, like it didn't even cross her mind. Hmm. As he stood there behind her, inhaling her scent, his arms ached to reach around her & pull her to him. It made no sense to him. Maybe he didn't need it to.

*

"How do I ken if ye want something or nay?"

"Well, if it looks familiar, we can always use it."

"What be this?" It was a laptop!

"Oh! Let me see."

Duncan raised an eyebrow. He seemed amused at her enthusiasm & she smiled up at him. She was hoping it had a full battery. Pushing the on button she was happy to see that it did! As the screen lit up Duncan let out a, "Hmm." She looked up & turned it off. Snapping it shut she put it in the pack.

"What happened to it?"

"Oh, it's okay. I just don't want to waste the uh, what makes it work. It won't last too long. If you see any more, let me know. Hopefully mine is in here somewhere."

"When ye find yers, will ye show me what it does?"

Sonya glanced at him. "Yes, sure."
Why wasn't he freaked out by this stuff? He should be freaked out by this stuff! Was I? No, I wasn't, I realized. I was excited! Reading all those books about magic & kingdoms of long ago with my mother made it all the more exciting! She would have loved this too!

In total they returned with several suitcases, carried by guards, some dog tins, 3 laptops, paper, pens & pencils. Sonya was especially happy that she had found Cami & John's luggage. She hoped it would give Cami some comfort. She also hoped that she could find the others' luggage as well. It didn't seem like much, but it was all she could offer.

*

"Come in," Cami called. Sonya walked in with two suitcases in hand & Cami looked up.

"Ah, Sonya. What treasures have you found?" she asked as she rinsed out a rag she was using on the man's face, who was laying in the bed.

"I believe," Sonya started, but John came running in from the next room & yelled, "My bag!"

Cami looked at the luggage by Sonya's feet & smiled. John grabbed his little suitcase & was trying to pull it away so he could open it. Cami came around the end of the bed & smiled. She took her suitcase, opened it, & closed it again. "Thank you."

"No, problem."

"Look, Sona, look!" John held up a bright red fire truck.

"Wow, John that is great!"

"My daddy is a firefighter." Sonya glanced up at Cami & saw sadness flash over her face. "Well, John, that is a wonderful truck." John smiled & ran off making engine noises.

"His father died in a fire," Cami explained.

"I'm sorry, Cami."

She smiled a sad smile & looked up. "Thank you, really, for this. It means a lot."

"No problem. There was one other thing I found that I wasn't sure if you could use." Sonya took the bag off of her shoulder & Cami looked in it.

"Oh, Crochet! I haven't crocheted in ages! This will definitely come in handy! Thank you."

"Maybe some time you can teach me how to do it."

"Well, after I remember myself!" Cami laughed.

"Well, I will see you all later."

"Yes, okay." Cami was still smiling as Sonya closed the door.

Going to her own room Sonya was greeted by a happy dog. "Hello girl." Sonya helped the dog up onto the bed where she sat, bringing out the laptop Duncan had found. She opened it up & turned it on. She didn't know what she was expecting or hoping. Did she think she could get an e-mail across the ocean & across time? The screen came up with a photo collage. The people didn't look like any of the survivors. Parents, children, grandchildren? Warm tears began to flow down her cheeks. Her chest ached for them. She closed the laptop & was wiping the tears off of her cheeks when a knock at the door startled her.

"Yes? Come in."

Little fingers appeared around the door before Duncan's son peered in. "Mi'Lady?"

"Come on in." He smiled shyly. "Did you come to check on the dog?" she asked him. A silent nod & grin. She held up a finger. "First tell me your name."