Timeless Mist (21 page)

In his laughter and teas
ing
, she'd seen the boy he
had
been She could picture
him as a mischievous little boy who'd grown to manhood and
had
to deal with the harsh
realities of his world, from his brothers go
ing
off to battle and hear
ing
not
h
ing
from them for several
years, to his father's death and his sisters' disappearance. He
was
gruff and hard because
that
's what he thought he
had
to be in order to keep
his clan and fami
ly
alive. He
had
a love
of laughter
that
Kris
caught glimpses of, but
that
he quick
ly
tried to
hide from all.

Before she could continue along
with these thoughts, they arrived at the door to his
mother
's chambers.

Iain looked at her a moment, gave
her a swift kiss and proceeded to knock on the door. Kris near
ly
forgot to breathe.

"What
was
that
for?" She managed.

Iain grinned at her and opened
his mouth to speak when the door
was
opened by Elsbeth.

"Later." He whispered,
before turn
ing
his
attention to Elsie. "We ha'e come to speak wi' my
màthair
, Elsie. And doonae think to dissuade me
in this either. It willnae work. I ha'e questions to put to her
that
willnae wait for
answers."

Elsie looked from Iain to Kris
and back again, then shrugged and opened the door to let them in. Sorcha sat in
a comfortable chair by the fire, her long hair loose, her feet propped up in front
of her. She offered them a smile even as she bade them sit.

"Ye look as if ye
have
been enjoy
ing
the fresh air." Her
eyes twinkled with delight as she took
not
e
of the fact
that
Iain
held Kris' hand in his.

Kris pulled her hand out of
Iain's, clasped her f
ing
ers
together and gave Sorcha an embarrassed smile.

"We
have
. Iain took me for a ride and a
picnic." She paused, "his horse is marvelous and
very
large, but
quite
well mannered. I find
his name
very
interest
ing
, however." She
glanced at Iain then back at Sorcha, "Elvis is an odd choice for this time
period, do
n't
you
think?"

Sorcha actual
ly
flinched. She brought her
hand to her mouth and shook her head.

"Oh dear." She said
after a moment. "I
had
nae
thought of
that
."

"So it would seem,
màthair
." Iain final
ly
spoke. "Ye should
ha'e
had
more
foresight and realized when ye insisted I take Kris out to show her the
countryside what would happen. We
had
a verra long conversation this afternoon. 'Twould seem, my lady,
that
ye and she are well
acquainted wi' many th
ing
s,"
he quirked a s
ing
le
brow at her, "th
ing
s
from the same time period."

His
màthair
looked away, cleared her throat, and
gazed into the fire for several long minutes. Final
ly
, she looked at Kris and smile apologetical
ly
.

"I am sorry, Kris, for no'
tell
ing
ye the truth
of it sooner. But I
really
did
n't
know what to
say. Nobody around here knows about it, except for Elsie, of course, and she
would
have
guarded my
secret into her grave if necessary."

"I
have
so many questions for you." Kris
began.

"I know you must. I imagine
Iain
has
as well. I'm
sure neither of ye are too happy with me at the moment either." She looked
at her son, "Well, are ye go
ing
to spit it out, or are ye just go
ing
to sit there brood
ing
?"

"Why did ye ne'er tell me? Why
did ye keep it a secret all these years? If I
had
known about it, I would ha'e ne'er accused Kris of be
ing
a witch. She could ha'e been burned at the
stake,
màthair
." His
voice rose a
not
ch or
two and Kris looked at him in surprise.

Sorcha shook her head, "I ne'er
would
have
let ye go
that
far. I dinnae e'en know
ye
had
accused her of
such a vile crime, otherwise I would ha'e set ye straight immediate
ly
."

Iain shook his head, still
baffled. "Ye talk
like
a Scots woman, though. Kris
has
a pass
ing
strange
accent, one
that
disappears altogether at times. Ye dinnae
have
any, unless one listens careful
ly
to ye, of course." He looked at her a moment in silence, "although I
can recall a time or two ye lost it near to complete
ly
when ye got angry enough.
That
has
nae happened since I
was
verra young though."

Sorcha smiled at her son,
"aye, and if I recall correct
ly
,
those
were
times ye or
your brothers
had
caused some mischief I
likely
should ha'e tanned your hides for." She shook her head and put a gentle
hand on Iain's knee, "as for why I ha'e no accent for the most part, Iain,
I
have
been in this
century, in this country, since I
was
twenty-one. I am now close to sixty-three. In all those years, doonae ye think
I would ha'e picked up a bit of the Scots, as well as the attitude
that
goes along wi' be
ing
a highlanders
wife?"

"So what century are you
really
from? Or maybe I
should ask what year you are from?" Kris clenched her hands together so
tight, her knuckles turned white as she held her breath, wait
ing
for the answer.

"I'm from the twentieth
century." Sorcha stated, then smile when both Iain and Kris gasped. "Yes,
dear," she reached out and patted Kris' knee in sympathy, "I know,
'tis
quite
a wonder is
it
not
?"

"But, how? How did you get
here? I mean, what happened
that
you ended up in this time? And is there any way for me to get home
that
you know of? Why did
you never go back to your own time? Did you even try to get home? Can you tell
me if there is any way possible to return me to my own time? Do you know any
way at all?"

Sorcha held up a hand, tak
ing
quick
not
e of the stricken look on
Iain's face as Kris talked about return
ing
to her own time.

"One question at a time,
Kris. I promise, I will answer all of them," she looked at Iain, "and
yours as well, Iain. Why doonae we send for someth
ing
to eat and then we shall all ha'e a
nice
long chat and I will
answer all your questions."

Iain hesitated before he nodded
his ascent to his
màthair
's
suggestion. Kris looked ready to argue when Sorcha turned her glance her way, but
final
ly
sighed and
hesitant
ly
agreed.

A sense of relief
was
hed over Sorcha, for now
she would
have
a few
moments to collect her thoughts before the inquisition began. She shook her
head at her foolishness. She
had
on
ly
been think
ing
of how perfect for Iain
Kris
was
when she'd
convinced Iain to take her on a picnic. Elsbeth
had
warned her to proceed careful
ly
,
too just let th
ing
s
happen if they
were
meant too, but
had
she
listened? No, of course
not
.
'T
was
that
same determination and
persistence, and curiosity,
that
had
gotten her thrown
back into the sixteenth century in the first place.

She nodded to Elsie, who went to
see to a meal for them all, then sat back in her chair and let the memories
come. She
hadn't
really
thought about them
over
ly
much through
the many years she'd lived in this century.
Not
until Kris
had
appeared with her tale of be
ing
from the future.

Iain looked at Kris, then reached
out and grasped her hand in his again. Her f
ing
ers
were
like
ice in his large hand
and he sought to warm them. She offered him a small smile, but it did
not
quite
reach her eyes.

After some of the stories she
had
told him
that
morn
ing
of all her future
marvels, he could understand her desire to return home. He especial
ly
understood her great
desire to reunite with her sibl
ing
s.
He too
had
had
a close relationship wi'
his brothers and his sister. He missed them sore
ly
and again wondered what
had
become of them.

Though he'd sent scout's out
dozens of times in all directions, still there
was
no sign of his sister. His brothers
were
a
not
her matter. At
least they
had
a
reason for send
ing
no
word. If they
were
involved in battle it would certain
ly
be a hard th
ing
to
accomplish.

Kris looked down at her hand
entwined with Iain's and
was
overcome by doubts and uncertainty. Looking at their entwined fingers, she could
n't
tell where his hand
ended and hers began. The feel
ing
of his warm hand in hers
was
right. Confused by this unexpected reaction to his touch, she took a deep
breath and let it out, try
ing
to settle her emotions, put them in some kind of order so she could think and
sort out her questions.

She hoped she could ask them in a
logical manner without babbl
ing
like
an idiot. She
looked down again, comforted by the simple contact of her hand in Iain's,
amazed how the sensation wrapped around her
like
a warm blanket. If she could find a way to return home, did she
really
want to?  She mental
ly
shook her head. Of course
she did. She belonged in her own century, in her own world,
not
in his.

Elsbeth returned just as Kris
was
beginn
ing
to wonder if she ever
would. She
was
trailed
by several maids, each carry
ing
a heavi
ly
loaded tray.

"Would ye
like
to eat by the fire, my
lady?" She asked Sorcha, who nodded.

Kris reluctant
ly
released Iain's hand when
he rose to move a table nearer to the warmth of the fire. Chairs
were
placed around it and it
was
quick
ly
and efficient
ly
set up, tablecloth and
all, for them to dine at.

Sorcha rose graceful
ly
from her chaise and Iain
held out her chair for her. Once she
was
seated comfortab
ly
close to the blaze, he saw to Kris, and then sat himself. There
was
no small talk, on
ly
the sound of the crackl
ing
fire and the maids bustl
ing
about mak
ing
sure e
very
th
ing
was
seen too.

Elsbeth soon shooed them out of
the room.

"Will there be anyth
ing
else, my lady?"

Sorcha glanced at her, an eyebrow
raised. "Such formality, Elsie. Come," she waved an elegant hand at
her, "sit with us and
have
someth
ing
to eat. There's
enough here to feed an army and you know how I hate
was
te."

Elsbeth chuckled but brought over
a
not
her chair and sat
between Sorcha and Kris.

"Ye just want me here as a
buffer dinnae ye?"

Sorcha smiled, "mayhap
someth
ing
like
that
. Ye know my story well, Elsie and I would
have
ye help me in the
retell
ing
of it, if ye
please."

Elsbeth nodded even as she helped
herself to some food. "I will do my best, my lady." Her eyes twinkled
when Sorcha glared at her.

"Now," Sorcha said
after she
had
filled
her plate, "where shall I begin?"

"How about at the beginn
ing
,
màthair
. 'Tis usual
ly
the best and most logical place to
start."

"Hush." She gave him a
pure
ly
motherly
look. "I know
that
, but I'm certain ye
dinnae want me to begin wi' my birth, do ye?"