A Journey Out of Time (5 page)

"Ewan." he stated as he walked over to the bed.

"What a nice name. Do you know I haven't named her yet?" Sonya pat the bed with her hand & the dog wagged her tail. She licked Ewan's face & he giggled.

"So, what shall we name her?"

"Aaralyn."

"That is a beautiful name. You have been thinking about it."

Ewan kept petting the dog & said, "It was my mother's name."

"I see," Sonya said quietly, with a gentle smile. "I bet she was as beautiful as her name."

Ewan looked over at her from where he laid his head on the dogs. "Aye." He gave the dog another pet & said, "I must go now."

"Okay. Thank you for giving her such a beautiful name."

He smiled, looking at her with his bright green eyes. "Bye."

"Bye," she called after him. "His mother's name, did you hear that? I think that means you had better take extra special care of him." Sonya ruffled her fur & she licked her hand. Glancing at the laptop she decided she wouldn't turn it on again. She didn't want to see what she already knew; there would be no way to go back. No way to let her family know that she was okay & that she loved her family very much. She shoved it under the bed. It was time to dress for dinner, but she was in no mood to sit in a room full of people.

Letting out a sigh, she watched the women hurrying back & forth with the trays of food & drinks. After a bit there was a lull & she descended the stairs, quietly walking to the door. Instead of going in the hall she crept past the door. She wanted to walk down to the stone wall. She liked it there. It was comforting somehow & she could think. She took in a breath of the cool air as she walked out the door. The air smelled so good, so clean. The sky was full of stars. It was beautiful. It seemed to be the one thing that hadn't changed. Stretching out her arms she twirled herself around in a circle as she looked up.

*

Back in the hall neither Cami, Kerry nor Duncan missed Sonya slinking by. Duncan leaned over & said something, got up & went out the door. Cami & Kerry smiled at each other around the children.

Where was the lass off to? Why did'na she come eat?
Duncan certainly had a strange pull to her. He never had this type of feeling before, not even when he was younger & almost asked a lass to wed him. It was more than the feeling that he wanted to take her in his arms & kiss her.
I want to kiss her as she has never been kissed before. I want to make love to her & keep her wrapped in my arms. To feel her skin & grasp her hair in my hands, pulling her body close to mine. I want to make her want no one but me. I never wanted anyone else to touch her, but me.
Duncan froze. His own thoughts surprising him. Why was he so possessive? The feelings welling inside him was making it hard to continue walking. It was making him hard, period. He shook his head. He needed a dip in the cold loch!

*

Sonya heard a faint noise behind her & turned to find Duncan only a few steps away. Sucking in air, her stomach lurched. He was way too quiet! She felt her cheeks burn as she looked at him. "Hello, Duncan," she said as she turned back & rested her arms on the stone wall, trying to control her breathing. She suddenly wondered if her dress showed too much cleavage & then she wondered if it showed too little!

"Hello, Sonya, lass," he said as he leaned on the stones next to her. He was at least 6 inches taller than her. He & Ewan looked so much alike, except for their eyes. She looked back in front of her.

"Ye did'na come to eat."

"No. I didn't feel like being around people tonight."

"Shall I go?" She laughed. He liked the sound of it.

"No, I just mean so many people. I don't mean to be rude, especially when you are allowing me to stay in your home."

"I doona think any of ye have been rude. I canno' imagine what ye have been through. Ye lost a lot of yer people & are far from yer homes." He gazed out. " I know they were very happy ta see the things ye brought from the plane." He watched her smile & then look down. The lass was modest, too. The more he learned about her the more he liked her.

"You have been very kind to us. Have the others told you what they have decided to do?"

And a subject change away from her. Hmm. "The Andrews family is moving into one of the but-ah-bens." Duncan pointed to the right, across the field where there were several small cottages. "They have three bairn & would like to get them settled. I am having their things taken down tomorrow. Chris & his wife will have a slow start, but in the mean time I have other work he can help with. I told him what ye said about using the outside of the plane. He explained why it would be good & agreed to start work on it. It would seem that they too know their home has changed."

Sonya looked at him. Did he understand what had really happened? How could he, he didn't even know what a plane was! If it had happened before, he would know. "Yes, Chris is good with that sort of thing."

"You ken him well?" He didn't like the idea of her knowing any man well, even if he was married.

"Yes. I consider him like a brother. His wife, Kerry & I have been best friends for years. I am very attached to their girls." She smiled & Duncan stepped back from the wall. He walked past her & she fell into step at his side as if it was second nature. It felt second nature.

"I almost forgot, Ewan said he would feed the dog after he ate."

"I will be sure to thank him. Your son, Ewan, will he take over here when he is grown?"

"Aye."

"How did you come by your land & home here? The MacLeod Clan head lies further on."

Duncan smiled. Maybe she impressed him with her tiny bit of knowledge. And that was about it on the knowledge front too!

"My da was given it for his services to the king."

"Oh, wow."

"Aye." He smiled proudly. "He designed it himself, my da."

His smile was breathtaking. "That is awesome."

Duncan frowned. "Awe-some?"

"Uh, incredible?"

"Aye. Aye."

Sonya took a deep breath & before she lost her nerve she asked, "What year is it?" She looked over at him & his eyebrow shot up.

"1390."

She nodded once. 1390. 1390. 1390. Could that sink in? She started laughing so hard that she had to sit down on the ground. As she fell back, Duncan couldn't seem to help letting out a chuckle as well, although she was sure he had no idea why. Here she was laying on the ground & she couldn't stop laughing. Maybe all of the emotions had come full circle & she had finally lost it. Sitting up she took in deep breathes, trying to calm herself. Duncan squat down in front of her. He pulled something from her hair. He was so gentle. Then he tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. Even this light touch felt like lightening running through her body.
Well this isn't helping me breath!
She
looked up & extended her hand & he pulled her up, sending the same shock through her. Did he feel that too? He stood just inches away. She really wished her breathing would control itself because she sure couldn't do it! She also really wish the man in front of her would kiss her.

"More than a little far from yer home, are ye naught lass?" he said in a low voice.

"Yes," she said softly. She dusted her skirt off & when she looked back up he was smiling at her. She could just imagine him wondering how he gave refuge to a crazy woman! Yet all she could think was how she wished he would wrap his arms around her.
I want to know how it feels to have his body against mine. What the heat of his body feels like.
She
suddenly realized her other hand was still in his & she was
still
staring at him. Thank God he couldn't read her thoughts! His eyebrows rose & she felt sheer heat surge down her. Maybe he
could
read thoughts! She looked down & let her hand fall from his.

She stirred feelings in Duncan that he could hardly control. Feelings he didn't want to control! He was grateful he put on his sporran & it was where it was so she couldn't notice the rise in his kilt. He grinned & wondered what she
would
think if she saw it. Duncan chuckled & took her arm & wrapped it around his. They continued walking.

Sonya stole a glance at him, still unable to control her breathing. She was grateful no one could see her stomach doing flip-flops! As they came to the end of the stone wall they stood there looking out as the moonlight shimmered off the loch. Duncan glanced at her & as their eyes held he stated in an even tone, "Our tattoos are generally blue."

She moved her hand down to the Celtic cross on her chest, smiling at him. "Do you have any?" she asked. He looked at her & chuckled.

"Aye, lass, I do."

She looked out over the loch, the heat in her face making her turn away. "And I have more," she stated out into the night air.

"Really? Where?" She laughed as Duncan actually looked briefly surprised at his own question & then he laughed. His eyes were shining. "Maybe one day I will show you."

"Aye, lass."

Sonya felt like she could scream.
Oh my God!
That
was a statement!

Upon reaching the door, Duncan turned & said, "I will be gone when ye get up in the morn, lass." He chuckled. "Och, doona worry, lass, I will return soon."

She felt her face turn hot & decided to look at her shoes, which she couldn't see. What was wrong with her? Trying to clear all traces of caring, she looked up. "Have a safe trip."

"We will speak upon my return & I will tell ye all about it." They both smiled.

"I would really like that." They walked to the stairs.

"Goodnight, lass."

"Goodnight," she felt giddy & wanted to run. She could barely controlled herself. At the top of the steps she turned back & saw Duncan speaking with a couple of his men. She continued up to her room.

*

Duncan watched Sonya as she appeared to float up the stairs. He recalled the way her chest heaved up & down when he touched her. It was that Celtic cross he had seen on her chest earlier in the day. He smiled. Sonya was destined to be here long before she came. She was destined to be his & he hers. She was not the only one that felt the power flow. He now understood what his da had once told him about finding his one true mate. A feeling that could never be compared, his da had said. He was so right. Sonya was his mate. The question now was, did she know it?

*

As Sonya entered the room she was taken aback at finding a little boy asleep, curled up next to the dog, Aaralyn. She smiled. How can you not look at that & smile? She reached down & touched his soft hair. She quietly crept back out to see if she could find someone to help get him to bed. She had no idea where the boy's room was. As she turned she ran right into Duncan & it was like running into a brick wall! He looked down at her, his hands holding her arms so she didn't fall back. Her hands pressed against his chest. The pulse that shot through her seemed drowned out by the sound of her heartbeat ringing in her ears.

"I am sorry, lass. I was wondering if ye had seen Ewan.". Neither of them moved away. The hard body against hers made her ache from her breasts to between her thighs. Breathing? What was that?

"As a matter of fact," she said quietly. She looked at him, not wanting to move. Backing up a step, with her hands still touching his hard chest, she still looked into his bright eyes. Sonya hesitated, turned & opened the door. Duncan was so close behind her…

He saw his son & smiled. Duncan picked up Ewan & smiled down at her as he went passed. Sonya whistled softly to the dog. "Come, Aaralyn."

Duncan stopped & turned, Ewan fast asleep in his arms. "What did you call her?" He had an odd look. Then it dawned on her. If Aaralyn was Ewan's mother…

"Aaralyn. Ewan named her." Sonya couldn't read Duncan's eyes.

Following Duncan across the landing to the other wing she opened the door he stopped in front of. Candlelight lit the boy's room. Moving past Duncan she quickly pulled the blankets down as he laid his son on the bed. Then she leaned down removing the boy's boots, handing them to Duncan. Duncan smiled & set them on the floor. Sonya pat the bed &
Ewan's
dog settled right next to him. She leaned down & kissed Ewan on the head & then Aaralyn. "Goodnight Ewan. Goodnight girl. Sweet dreams." As she stood up, Duncan's face had a look of tenderness. Perhaps he was surprised by her actions, she wasn't sure. She went to the door & waited, watching as Duncan kissed his son goodnight. He ruffled the dogs fur & they went out.