Sneaks (25 page)

“Lass.”

“Mac, this is worse than whatever the truth is. Tell me.”

“The feud is resolved. The wedding is today.”

Why wouldn’t the earth open and swallow me whole? No, no, it can’t be. How cruel was this? Why had he held me so close, kissed me, why?

“Oh.” I reached for my pendant.

He reached for my fingers and pulled them away. I looked up at his blue eyes that twinkled mischievously. “Isla is marrying a man named Porter McBride. We are hosting the wedding. All is well. No more feud. That’s been long over. Ye can thank Isla for part of that. She refused to marry me, no matter what anyone said or did.”

The tears flowed down my cheeks, turning the dirt back into mud. “You were teasing me?” I wanted to punch him so hard that he bruised.

“Aye, but now I dinna think it was a good idea,” he said, rightfully shamed. He wrapped his arm around me and kissed the muddy tears on my face. “I love ye, Kally. All time will never take that away. I waited. I would have waited forever. Ye see, ye and I are getting married today, too.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

"I knew ye would be here this day. Weel, we thought last night. That’s why I’m out here looking for ye. But we’re getting married, mud and all, today.”

“How did you know?”

“Come along, I’ll show ye.”

In a haze of disbelief, relief and leftover anguish from the thought that he was marrying Isla, I took his hand and went with him toward the castle. I inspected him, the beginning of what I was sure of hours of inspection. He was beautiful. The six years had been good to him. I couldn’t wait … well, I just couldn’t wait.

“Och, I almost forgot.” Mac stopped.

“What?”

“I had to explain yer time travel to everyone. It was the only way, really. It was strange you leaving again right before we were to be married.”

“How did that go?”

“Interesting. But they’ve had some time to try to understand. Besides . . . well, come in and I’ll explain better.”

“Okay.” Frankly, it didn’t seem like that big of a deal anymore – the least of my worries, really. I was pleased that it was no longer a secret.

“Ah, lass.” Mac pulled me close for another kiss.

“Do you think we should wait a bit, get to know each other again?” I asked.

“No. No, I dinna think that at all. We’re marrying today if I have to tie yer wrists and put ye on a horse.”

I laughed. “Let’s go.”

We had a wedding or two to get to, after all.

We hurried over the bridge and through the courtyard and into the castle. They were all there and I didn’t even try to stop the tears as I greeted each of them.

“Corc,” I said. He was grayer but still the same.

“Lass, happy to see ye. I ken ye’d be back someday.”

“Thanks for . . . everything.”

He nodded and kissed my hand.

“Laird,” I said. He looked better now than when I’d left, less tormented.

“That will soon be Da if ye ken what’s good for ye. Welcome home.”

I swallowed the tears as I hugged him.

“Una.” I pulled her into a tight hug, too. 

“No clocks to fix today, lass. Best to ye.” She hadn’t changed one bit.

“Ian, Maisie.”

“Kally,” Ian said as he pulled me into a hug. “Best to ye both.” His voice cracked and when he pulled back I saw tears in his eyes.

“I’ve missed you.”

“We’ve missed ye.” 

“Aye, we have,” Maisie said, smiling.

“Thanks. Me too,” I said. They looked a little older but not much. 

Isla was next. I didn’t know what else to say except, “Isla, I’m so happy for you.”

Isla looked at me oddly. “I’ve heard of ye lass, but I dinna think we’ve ever met. Ye seem so familiar though.”

I laughed. I looked nothing like Isla Lennox, but perhaps it was some of the magic of time travel that made her thick I looked familiar.

Porter McBride, my many times great-grandfather was blonde and gorgeous. I looked nothing like him either, but he seemed like a nice enough man. And he obviously loved Isla very much.

Ivar Lennox offered me a quick nod but had no words.

“Mac, I still don’t understand, how did you know I was coming?” I said when we reached what I thought was the end of the line. 

“Kally,” a voice said from behind.

I turned and standing there, next to Una and in a beautiful dress, with her hair tied in a ribbon was my mom.

“No! I mean Mom!” I ran to her and dirtied her lovely gown with my full body hug. “I don’t understand. How?”

“Berna tried to manipulate things a bit. She couldn’t give me details, but she found someone who helped her. She knew I wouldn’t be leaving until a few months after you, but she made it so I’d arrive a day earlier. She wasn’t sure if she could get it done, so we didn’t tell you. I got here two days ago, and I arrived in the courtyard. Berna had told Una about me so she knew who I was. She found me and we’ve been preparing for two weddings since that moment. Oh, by the way, I approve.” She winked at Mac.

This couldn’t be happening. How was it possible? But it was happening. It was real. I hugged her again. “Oh, mom, it’s perfect.”

“Yes, I agree. Now, one thing.” She reached for my pendant.

Mac, Ian, Brian Duncan, Corc and Una jumped forward. “No!” they yelled.

Mom pulled the pendant from around my neck and handed it to Mac.

“Please put this someplace safe.”

“I dinna understand,” Mac said. “I thought that would send her back.”

“If this is removed during the first ten days of traveling, she can’t go anywhere until she wears it again for at least a year. A little something else Berna shared with me.” Mom put her mouth next to my ear. “And when you left, Porter’s name appeared on the family tree. Apparently, your decision was behind everything.”

“I don’t understand,” I said again.

But I should have realized that understanding wasn’t as important as just accepting.

“Me either.” Mom shrugged and pulled off her own necklace. “But we’re both here for awhile.”

“That’s a start,” Mac said, as he closed his fingers around my necklace and then kissed my muddy lips.

“Let’s get the four of you married. I think it’s time, don’t ye, Kally?” the laird said.

“Yes, it’s time.” And wasn’t it though? No matter “when” it was.

*****

Seriously, everything was perfect. Everything. We cleaned up first, getting rid of most of the mud, and then had a small and quick ceremony by the creek. I’d remembered the ring, and the carved horse was in my pocket, too. There was all day eating and celebrating. I walked around in a state of pure bliss, and it seemed like Mac kept his eyes on me and his lips mostly attached to mine. I was fine with that. 

And, really, just so you know, the wedding night was better than anticipated and even more perfect than everything else.

Somehow, some way, time had done magic tricks and placed everyone where it seemed they were supposed to be. I didn’t know how long Mom would stay, but I hoped for awhile. I believed that the laird hoped for the same thing, but I didn’t push anyone on the subject.

At once, and in sync, we had combined time and lives, all with the promise of love and happiness.

I didn’t think I’d ever understand what happened to me; why I’d traveled through time - why I was a time sneak. But I knew that the life I’d been given was real and happy, and I was grateful for every passing hour.

#####