A Journey Out of Time (23 page)

"But I want you to handle it."

"
Very
funny!" she laughed. Duncan bent his head & kissed her so deeply she thought his tongue was hers. God she wanted this man right here & now! She put her hands on his hard chest & pushed away. She could feel that his kilt had risen & laughed, "I am glad I don't have that problem"

"Aye, but you do, lass, it shows in your cheeks." Sonya's hands flew to her face. She smiled & turned to get dressed. She knew he was watching every move she made & it didn't bother her at all to have him there. She had never felt so comfortable with someone before. She guessed finding that one true mate did make all the difference. After all, if you were meant to be together, what was there but wholeness? There was nothing to feel uncomfortable about. Nothing to hide. You were complete. Sonya was grateful.

When she turned she smiled at him. She wondered if he thought of things like she did when she looked at his body. His dark hair, untied, unbraided, flowing down his back. His brown skin showing, his shirt untied. That smile, so enticing. He was so gorgeous! He grinned as if he knew what she was thinking. She walked up to him, pressing herself against him. She closed her eyes & kissed him hungrily.

"I could have been quick, lass," he said softly.

"Typical."

"Nay, lass,
not
typical, I assure ye."

Sonya checked the hall & they walked down the corridor. At the end of the stairs Duncan headed to meet with Angus & she headed toward the gardens for a walk.

"Hello, Brenna."

"Hello, My Lady."

"Please, don't start calling me that or I will start calling
you
My Lady. After all, you grew up here too, didn't you now."

Brenna smiled, "Aye, I did. It all seems so long ago though." Brenna gazed around as they continued walking.

"That happens after we are all grown up."

Brenna looked at Sonya a moment.
"Ye have enjoyed yer time here?"

"Not at first. I was furious that Duncan had just left me here! I went to my room & beat the feathers out of my pillow." Brenna looked over at her & laughed. "Well, I did."

"May I ask ye something else?"

"Of course."

"Marrying Rowan…?"

"That wasn't a question, but yes, he asked me. I don't think it is such a bad idea, do you?"

"No, not really," Brenna said softly.

"He is a very interesting man. I like him a great deal."

"So I have noticed," she said sardonically. Sonya raised a brow, but said nothing. She was glad they hadn't said anything else because suddenly a hand with three daisies came around from behind Sonya. She smiled & turned. Rowan smiled back & pulled out another flower, handing it to Brenna. Brenna looked so stunned Sonya wasn't sure she was going to take it.

"Thank ye, Rowan."

"Aye," Rowan smiled & walked away. Both ladies stood there watching him as he walked towards the stables.

"Perhaps…" Brenna said.

"Aye." Sonya nodded.

"Do you ride, Brenna?"

"I…yes," she smiled.

"Go on then." Brenna looked at Sonya, confused. "I will look after Ewan."

"I think I just might. It has been a long time." Brenna raised her head & hurriedly walked to the stables. Sonya hoped maybe they would be late for dinner.

Sonya was in the sitting room sewing when Brenna returned. She came in looking very serious.

"Brenna are you okay?"

The young woman sat down on the floor in front of Sonya. She nervously played with her pale, blonde braid. "Sonya, ye were right. Rowan
is
interesting. I have seen how loving he is with ye. I have seen his kindness. I fear I have sorely misjudged him." Tears silently coursed down Brenna's face.

Sonya got down with her & held her, surprised when she hugged her back, crying harder.

"Oh, Brenna, we all do it. It is just part of being human. Sometimes we mess up. In fact, I think we do it a lot."

"Aye," Brenna agreed wiping her tears away. She looked tired. The poor girl had years of resentment all taken away. It could leave one drained & bare, open to being vulnerable. As they stood, Brenna held her head up proudly. Sonya admired the young woman.

"Ye can still be friends, even now, Brenna."

"Aye," Brenna smiled briefly. "Thank ye, Sonya."

"Any time." Sonya watched Brenna leave the room. At least something good had come of it all, Brenna no longer disliked Rowan.

*

Dinner felt much lighter that evening & Sonya hoped it would stay that way. She went to her room & donned her nightgown, happily flopping onto the bed. Sonya heard a light knock & groaned. Answering the door she found Ewan with an arms full of books & she smiled.

"Come in."

"Ye were going to sleep?"

"Not yet. Come on up." Sonya crawled under the blankets & Ewan crawled up next to her with his books.

"You have read all of these?"

He smiled proudly, "Aye, plus I brought a new one. Can I read to ye?"

"I would really like that."

Ewan wriggled close under her arm & started to read to her.

When Duncan knocked but got no response, he eased the door open. He was hoping Sonya had seen Ewan who seemed to have slipped away from Brenna. As Duncan stepped into the room he stopped & smiled. There was his woman, with her arm wrapped around his son, both sound asleep. Duncan went over to Sonya & gently removed the book from her hand. He took the other books that were scattered around the bed & laid them on the writing table. Gently he kissed Sonya & a smile stole across her face making Duncan's heart leap. He kissed his son, pulling a blanket over him. As he backed out of the door he ran smack into Rowan who was about to open his mouth when Duncan put his finger to his lips. Opening the door, he moved aside so Rowan could see in. Rowan smiled, seeing the little boy he considered his nephew sleeping in Sonya's arms. They both backed out.

As they started down the corridor Duncan said, "I could'na find Ewan. The last time he was in her bedchamber with her dog, Aaralyn."

Rowan smiled, "Aaralyn?

"Aye. Ewan named her."

"How about a drink?" Rowan asked.

"Aye, that sounds good," Duncan agreed.

Sonya woke up with a sore neck, an arm that was asleep & a smile on her lips. She was becoming quite attached to this little boy. He barely moved as she pulled her arm out from under him. Sonya thought he would make a fine laird one day. He loved to read, he had a good heart, & he would be well learned. Perhaps she was partial though. She smiled as she grabbed some clothes & got dressed. She wanted to go see how Brenna was faring at her first lesson with Rowan.

As Sonya listened to the clanging of metal outside the armory, she was almost jealous. Opening the door just a bit she peered in to see that Rowan had Brenna's sword pinned down. Their faces were close & they were breathing hard. Brenna was looking into those bright green eyes. As for Rowan, Sonya saw something she hadn't before. It wasn't that ornery, challenging, look on his face. With Sonya, he had been proud like a teacher with a student. This was something else. It was how Sonya had looked at Duncan when she first saw him. It was a look of…awe. Sonya backed out, closing the door behind her. The lesson was over.

The day beheld more lessons though & Sonya thought she loved Ewan all the more today! Being a typical boy Brenna found her charge in the library where he had decided to dangle from the upstairs banister. Brenna couldn't reach him & in her panic she ran out to the corridor yelling for help, then back into the library. Just as Rowan reached Brenna the little boy dropped, knocking Brenna back into Rowan's arms, all three of them falling to the floor. Of course, Ewan had the most padding followed by Brenna! They sat laughing on the floor. When Ewan got up, grinning, he kissed Brenna on the cheek.

"Thank ye, Brenna."

"Yer welcome, Ewan," she said trying to sound annoyed, but he just ran out of the room leaving Brenna still sitting partly on Rowan. She sat there for a moment unsure what to do next, when Rowan took her around her waist & hoisted her onto her feet as if she were a little girl. She turned around, red in the face.

"Thank ye. I doona ken what got into the boy."

"Ach, lassie, he was just being a lad."

"Aye, I suppose so. Just as ye used to jump out of the trees & land on me?"

Rowan chuckled & Brenna smiled. "Aye, I guess I did do that."

"And pull my hair, lift up my skirts…"

"Okay, okay, I get it." Rowan knelt in front of her, taking her hand. "Lady Brenna, will ye please forgive me for my past offenses on yer person?" He bowed his head & Sonya stifled a giggle from the corridor.

Brenna laughed. "Aye, ye foolish lad, I forgive ye."

Rowan kissed her hand & her face froze. Sonya was pretty sure Brenna had stopped breathing. As he stood Rowan declared, "But I am nay a lad any more, lass."

"Nay…ye are not," she said in a soft voice as they looked at each other.

Sonya decided to leave. Whatever was said after that, she didn't know, nor did she need to know. She just smiled & went to look for her little co-conspirator. She had to thank him!

*

"Good morning, Rowan."

"Oh, good morning, Sonya," he replied absently from the dais. "I thought ye were still asleep or I would have come for ye."

Funny, it never seemed to bother him from collecting her before. Sonya smiled politely.

"I see ye are ready for a practice?"

"Aye. I am ready if ye are done eating."

"Aye, lass."

Rowan & Sonya walked side by side to the Armory. He didn't offer his arm or take hers. The time was nearing. Something caught Sonya's eye & she glanced down the corridor they just passed. Brenna had just walked by. She looked lovely with her hair flowing & the pale yellow dress she wore. Sonya glanced at Rowan. She saw how his eyebrows briefly rose & looked away. If she
had
been interested in Rowan, she definitely would have cause to worry!

As they practiced Sonya knew that Rowan was not concentrating. He had let his guard down & she actually cut his forearm. Claiming that she was done in, Sonya asked if they could cut the lesson short.

"Aye lass. I will meet ye shortly. Dress to go riding."

"Okay." Sonya placed her sword in its scabbard & went to wash up. After a change of clothes she opened the door to find Rowan waiting outside her room. There was no smile of anticipation, but a look of concentrated thoughts.

"Rowan?"

"Aye," he offered his arm which she took.

"You know, Rowan," she began, "I am glad I got the chance to spend time with your family."

"Our family."

Sonya smiled. "Yes, our family. I am very glad that you & I were able to become
friends
." He raised his brows, but said nothing. "Rowan, how about we finish that chess game that we didn't finish last night?"

A challenging grin spread across his face. "What a great idea."

Like clockwork Brenna was in the library looking for a book. Sonya smiled to herself as she & Rowan sat down at the board & started playing. After a few minutes Sonya said, "Brenna, which book are you looking for?"

"Karo's Journey. I know I saw it here just yesterday."

"Ah, I know where it is. Sit here & play for me while I go get it for you."

Brenna hesitated. "That's okay, ye doona have to fash yerself over it."

"Oh, it's no problem. It is one of the books Ewan brought me last night. I will be right back."

Sonya left the room, stopped, & peered back in. Ewan had told her Brenna could play chess. God bless that boy!