Timeless Mist (28 page)

"Nay." He said short
ly
. He turned to walk away,
but Kris put her hand on his arm to stop him.

"You mean you
have
no idea where she
is?"

"Cait
ly
n
has
always
had
an
adventurous spirit. She
was
wont to disappear for days, e'en weeks, at a time wi' little or no word about
her whereabouts. I cannae tell ye how many times on of my brothers or I stopped
her from runn
ing
off
to find adventure and excitement as she put it. As if the battles wi' the
Campbells'
were
nay
excitement enough." He shrugged, "Many's the time we dinnae discover
what she
was
up to
until it
was
too late.
We soon found it nigh impossible to track her down."

He offered her a somewhat
lopsided grin, "'twould seem we taught her too well how to hide and cover
her tracks. When we taught her such th
ing
s,
howe'er, we did it for her safety and protection. We ne'er realized she would
use it to her own advantage against us. But she
was
that
determined."

"She always comes back
though, right?"

"Aye. She eventual
ly
returns and enjoys tell
ing
us her tales. It worries
my
màthair
when she
does this, but there isnae much she can do about it. Ye should hear tell of
some of the antics she pulled as a lass. 'Tis lucky she
was
still alive when my father
was
ready to wed."

"Oh, and why is
that
?"

"Because, accord
ing
to my
màthair
, my granda
had
threatened to either
lock her in the tower chamber or beat her." Iain's eyes twinkled with
merriment.

"I hope he
was
jok
ing
."

"Oh, aye, he
was
. My
màthair
was
his on
ly
daughter and he e'er
doted on her. She tells me he
had
a wonderful wit and I often remind her of him."

Kris smiled. She wanted to ask
more about his sister, but did
n't
wish to put the s
had
ow
of sadness back in his eyes again.

"To hear my
màthair
tell it, 't
was
nigh impossible to keep her
in one place." He looked at her and winked, "Which is probab
ly
why she ended up so far
from her own time."

"I imagine she must miss
them
very
much."

"I would say aye. She
has
told me
that
she doesnae regret it. She
and my father
were
verra much in love."

Someth
ing
in his tone made Kris' head snap up. "Do
n't
you believe in
love?"

"Nay."

"But you witnessed it with
your parents, or so you said."

"Aye, I did. But what they
had
is a once in a lifetime
th
ing
. I doonae
believe e'eryone is as lucky or blessed as my parents
were
. They shared someth
ing
special. And from what I've seen and
experienced, 'tis nay
likely
to happen to e'eryone. 'Tis someth
ing
that
on
ly
a few chosen get to
enjoy." He eyed her for a moment, "What of ye, lass. Do ye believe
there is such a th
ing
as love?"

"I used to, once upon a
time. I suppose I still do." She avoided his gaze, concentrat
ing
instead on her feet. The
thought struck her
that
she could care about this man,
that
she
did
care about this man. Why or when it
had
happened, she could
n't
exact
ly
say. Maybe it
had
been the day they'd
spent together, or maybe it
had
been
that
very
day when he'd led her
to the high table.

Maybe it
had
been the first time he'd held her and she'd
felt so safe, as if she
was
final
ly
where she
belonged. Whenever it
had
happened, it
was
there
and she recognized it for what it
was
,
although she'd never felt it before. She'd certain
ly
never felt anyth
ing
remote
ly
like
this with David.

Now the on
ly
th
ing
she
had
to do
was
keep it from Iain. She
struggled to remember what they'd been talk
ing
about.

"I tend to agree with you,
though, I do
n't
think
many are lucky enough to find it." She finished, thankful her voice
hadn't
squeaked or given
anyway any of her newfound feel
ing
s
for him. She
was
go
ing
to
have
to get away from him
soon, or she'd sure enough give someth
ing
away. Especial
ly
if he
looked in her eyes too long. They
were
always a dead give-away to what she
was
feel
ing
.

The sudden sadness in Kris
disturbed Iain. He wanted to ask her more, wanted to know what
had
happened
that
she did
n't
share e
very
young girl's dreams
about love and romance, but decided it would probab
ly
be better if he did
n't
know.

Instead, he changed the subject,
ask
ing
, "would ye
like
to see the
library?"

Kris looked up at him, startled. "Would
it bother you if I did?"

"Nay. I shut it up because
my
màthair
tended to
spend too much time in here. Though she knows it will nay br
ing
Cait
ly
n back, 't
was
as if she couldnae help
it. She realizes
that
mayhap she told Cait
ly
n
too many adventure tales about her own youth. My
màthair
is a brave woman as well as wise. But some of the tales she related to us in
our youth I thought
were
verra far-fetched. Now I know they
were
future tales and nay made up stories to entertain her children. Cait
ly
n
has
ne'er seen this room, but her favorite
items are in there. All the books and manuscripts she
like
d to l
ing
er
o'er."

"When did your sister
disappear?"

Iain
had
started up the steps, but turned around to
look at her, "she
was
last seen just before my father left for England, but nay since." He
turned away and started back up the steps, Kris at his heels.

Chapter Seventeen

Kris
had
no idea how long she'd spent in Cait
ly
n's library until Iain
came to collect her for the even
ing
meal.

"Ye
were
lost in your own world, lass. I ha'e nay
seen anyone so taken wi' dusty old manuscripts since Cait
ly
n
was
about. If she
was
nae dogg
ing
mine or my brother's heels, we knew we could find her in her favorite
place." He smiled at her, "I dinnae think ye would e'er emerge from
this chamber. So I came to kidnap ye from it."

Kris' heart did a flip-flop in
her chest when he grinned at her. Beneath his hard exterior
was
a playful boy who wanted
to get out. He
was
so
handsome, so good look
ing
.
She shook her head. Man, you got it bad girl.

 "I do tend to get a bit
lost when I'm read
ing
.
This stuff is fascinat
ing
.
I never realized the MacGregor's
had
such a vast collection of history." She did
n't
tell him
that
most of
her time
had
been
spent day dream
ing
of
him and examin
ing
the
extent of her feel
ing
s
for him. He'd probab
ly
have
laughed at her
anyway.

She'd come to the conclusion
that
a man as handsome and
sure of himself as Iain MacGregor could
have
any woman he wanted, so what would he want with a scrawny, too short th
ing
like
her.

"Aye, we've kept many
manuscripts to pass on." He took Kris' hand in his and pulled her to her
feet. When he did
n't
immediate
ly
release
her, she looked up at him.

His eyes
were
a darker s
had
e
of blue in the dim light. She licked her lips,
not
realiz
ing
how entic
ing
a sight
that
was
to Iain.

"Thank you." She said,
try
ing
to avoid what
she sensed
was
com
ing
. "For lett
ing
me up here, I mean. It
was
very
generous of you."

Iain shrugged, "it kept ye
out of my hair for the day so I could final
ly
get some work done." The grin he gave her set dozens of butterflies loose
in her stomach.

"You grinned." She met
his gaze, "
that
makes twice in one day."

"I ne'er." He frowned,
but his eyes danced.

"Oh yes, you did." She
insisted. "You know, you're
very
handsome when you're
not
scowl
ing
."

He grunted a response. Before he
knew what she
was
about or could do anyth
ing
to stop her, she leaned into him and kissed him on the mouth.
Not
h
ing
big, just a quick touch of her lips on his.

Iain's breath caught in his
throat. "What
was
that
for?" he
managed.

"For be
ing
so sweet." She
smiled at him, chid
ing
herself for giv
ing
into
that
impulse. She
was
on
ly
go
ing
to make it harder on herself when she
had
to leave. "You
know, you
like
to act
big and tough, but I think, beneath all the grumbles and scowls and growls,
you're
not
h
ing
but a great big marshmallow."

"Hmm. And just what is this marshmallow?
Though I
like
not
the sound of it."

Kris laughed and shook her head. "I
do
n't
think I should
tell you. You might
not
like
it. Just think on
it for a bit, it'll probab
ly
come to you. You're a smart man, I bet you'll figure it out." Her stomach
growled then, sav
ing
her from answer
ing
further. "I'm starved. Let's go eat before I fade away to
not
h
ing
." She grabbed Iain's hand and started
for the door.

"Aye," he agreed,
"ye are
not
h
ing
but skin and bones as it
is. A stiff wind 'twould
likely
carry ye off I dinnae get some food into ye. Besides, my
màthair
will be at the meal
and will wish to see ye."

"So who
was
that
boy who showed up, anyway?"

"He is my eldest brothers'
son."

"Oh. And you never met him
before?"

"Nay."

"Where is your brother
that
you never met his son
before this?"

Iain sighed as he followed her
down the stairs, "I doonae know."

"Hmmm."

"What?"

They reached the bottom and Kris
turned to him, "ye doonae seem to know verra much, do ye laddie?"

Iain looked at her, one eyebrow
quirked but a twinkle in his blue eyes. "Are mock
ing
me? Or is there someth
ing
ye wish to say?"

"No,
that
's just the way you interrogated me a few
weeks ago. It seems to me, you do
n't
know a whole heck of
a lot
either." She looked at him a long moment. "Just exact
ly
how many fami
ly
members
have
disappeared on you,
anyway?"

Iain remained mute.

"Well?" Kris persisted.

Iain gave a long-suffer
ing
sigh, "three,"
he final
ly
said.

"Three?" Kris
was
incredulous. "And
you
have
no idea what
happened to any of them?"

"Nay. Well, my two elder
brothers went off to fight the Campbells for a bit, then decided they would try
to find someth
ing
they
could use to keep them from start
ing
any more unnecessary battles wi' us. They
were
nay successful, if the last battle
was
any indication. We ha'e nay heard from them in near
ly
six years. They are either dead, or they are
be
ing
held captive
somewhere."

Kris whistled soft
ly
through her teeth. "Wow.
I ca
n't
imagine how
hard
that
must be for
you or your
màthair
."

"'Ye ha'e lost your fami
ly
as well, lass."

"I know, but I know where
they are. I'm still hop
ing
to find some way to return to them."

For some reason, Iain did
not
like
to think about her go
ing
back to her time. He
was
becom
ing
accustomed to her. Enjoy
ing
more and more her
company.

"'Tis the way of life in the
Highlands, Kristianna. Too lose loved ones is someth
ing
we all ha'e to come to terms wi'. Although
I will admit I am hearti
ly
sick and tired of los
ing
members of my kin and clan to war, famine and the
like
. Especial
ly
now wi' the Campbells' breath
ing
down our necks for the verra land we live on. By order of the K
ing
, 'tis illegal to e'en
carry the name of MacGregor. To do so means death."

Kris shook her head, unable to
speak for a moment. She'd read about this stuff, but never
really
understood what it
must
have
been
like
. Oh, she could imagine,
but one never
really
knew or understood until you lived with it. She put her hand on Iain's arm
before he could continue down the hall.

"I know it's inadequate, but
I'm
very
sorry for all
your losses." She could
n't
stop a tear from roll
ing
down her cheek.

With a tender touch, Iain wiped
the wetness from her cheek. "Ye would weep for me, lass?" he asked,
stunned
that
she would
do such a th
ing
.

Kris shrugged, afraid to speak,
afraid it would start more tears flow
ing
and she would
n't
be
able to stop. Be
ing
here, in this time, she
was
well aware of what it felt
like
to lose your fami
ly
. But
to
have
no idea what
had
even become of them? She
had
a small glimpse of
what her own fami
ly
must be go
ing
through
right now and wished with all her heart
that
there
was
at least
some way to let them know she
was
alright.

"Doonae weep for me, lassie.
As I said before, 'tis a part of life in the Highlands. We dinnae always
like
it, but there isnae
much we can do to stop it either. There are also the beautiful parts.
Not
a
not
her place ha'e I visited
that
has
such glorious mountains or such a feel as
the Highlands do."

"It just seems so
unfair." Kris managed between sniffles.

"And whoe'er told ye life
was
fair Kristianna
Armstrong?" He asked, a look of skepticism on his handsome face. "Whoe'er
told ye such a verra great lie?" He chuckled when she stuck her tongue out
at him. "Come, lass," he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose,
"if we doonae hurry, there willnae be any food left for us."

Kris shook her head but allowed
him to lead her down the hall.

"You know," she said as
they reached the stairs to the Greathall, "you'd better
not
smile too much around
me. I may start to get the impression
that
you're beginn
ing
to
like
me or someth
ing
."

"Humph."

"Do
n't
worry," she whispered conspiratorial
ly
as the entered the hall,
"I wo
n't
tell if
you do
n't
tell."

Iain saw her seated beside him
before he took his own chair. He nodded to his
màthair
,
then began load
ing
his
plate with food.

"Ye
were
nay beaten much as a child,
were
ye?"

Kris frowned,
not
wish
ing
to think about her
childhood. She shook her head and began to look around at the even
ing
s offer
ing
s of food.

"I dinnae mean to upset ye,
Kris."

"You did
n't
.
Not
really
.
I did
n't
really
have
a great childhood. My
parents
were
too
involved with each other, either fight
ing
or mak
ing
up, or runn
ing
off somewhere together,
to care much about us kids. I think I might
have
told you
that
before
though."

"How many of ye are
there?"

"I
have
one younger sister, Aleksa, and three
brothers. Lucas is the oldest and the twins, Keith and Tristan are the
youngest."

"Ye must miss them verra
much."

"I do actual
ly
. More than I ever thought
I would."

"Ye doonae
really
wish to talk about
them right now, do ye?"

Kris shook her head and tried to
swallow the sudden lump in her throat.

"We will discuss someth
ing
else, then."

"
Like
what?"

"I doonae know. Whate'er
will make ye happy. Ye pick the topic."

"Oh, sure, just put me on
the spot why do
n't
you? I hate it when people do
that
.
I can never think of anyth
ing
to talk about. How about we just eat our food. If a conversation comes up, so
be it. If it does
n't
,
that
's fine too. No big
deal, we'll just be quiet."

Iain nodded and dug into his food
with a vengeance.

Kris
had
no idea how men, or any male for
that
matter could eat the
way they did. "You know, I've often wondered if you guys ever even taste
the food the way you swallow it whole
like
that
."

"Course we do," Iain
managed around a mouthful of bread slathered in honey.

"It's a wonder you do
n't
have
perpetual heartburn." She glanced at
Sorcha and smiled.

"I doonae know what this
'heartburn' is," Iain said between mouthfuls, "but I ha'e ne'er
had
a problem with my
food."

"So I see."

"Aye, so ye do."

Iain eyed her for a moment,
finish
ing
what
was
in his mouth before he
spoke again. "There is someth
ing
I wish to discuss wi' ye after we eat, Kristianna."

Kris looked at him,
not
certain she
like
d the seriousness of his
tone, nor the look on his face.