Laird of the Mist (14 page)

It had taken less than an hour to see the tattered family on their way, Carrick giving final orders and warnings to Dougal to ensure their safe trip to Beinn Fhithich.
The lad seemed competent enough and had a skill with the two horses they had managed to find after the Sasunnach had released them from the shabby corral. Cat could only pray they would remain safe. She had no doubt they would find some small measure of security at Beinn Fhithich. Molly would certainly see to it.

Finally viewing Inverness from the crest of a hill, Cat sucked in a stunned breath. ―‘Tis nothing like the Inverness of my time,‖ she commented. ―Not that I would have expected it to be, but surely I though it would be more developed than this! Most of the houses are veritable huts!‖ She waved her hand across the vista to indicate the small houses with thatched roofs.

―Aye,‖ Carrick agreed. ―I was in yer Inverness,‖ he said, allowing Breamus his head to graze in the tender grass. ―It is still a major port, but the people are poor. And ye see there?‖ He pointed to an enormous heap of rubble in the distance. ―That is what is left of Fort George. Theybuilt it incorporating parts of the old castle.‖

―What happened to it?‖Cat a sked. She had been to Inverness Castle in her time, but it had been rebuilt in 1836 and was red sand stone.
―The Jacobites blew it up,‖ he answered, matter of factly. ―Ironic though,‖ he continued, shaking his head. ―A French officer - L'Epine, I believe his name was, directed the placement of the explosives and they went off prematurely. He was killed in the explosion.‖
―I guess he wasna that good at his job then,‖ Cat remarked. ―At least it isn‘t a fortress now. Lucky for us.‖
―Aye,‖ he agreed. ―Let‘s on to town, then,‖ he said, pulling the reins in and urging Breamus down the hill. ―And mind ye,‖ he added, ―We must be even more watchful than before, aye?‖
‖Aye, Carrick,‖ Cat nodded her assent, the chilling warning making her flesh prickle.
―What is it, Cat? I can see yer troubled.‖ He signaled Breamus to stop and turned to Cat, who appeared strained.
―Oh,nothing.‖ She rubbed her arms to chase away the chill. ―I just feel overwhelmed at times. I am living the history I learned about in my time. It‘s a verra odd experience.‖
―So it must be,‖ Carrick agreed. ―Yer time was a shock to me as well. I wonder, do we ever become accustomed to it?‖
―I dinna ken,‖ she answered somberly. ―But I do wonder if my coming back here with ye—well, I have changed some history already. Perhaps Ian would not have been injured, Anne would still be alive, if I had stayed in my own time. Perhaps I should have…‖
―Cat,‖ Carrick attempted to sootheher concerns. ―Wecan never ken if yer comingcaused those things to happen, aye? How could we ever ken it? If ye were not meant to be here for some reason, I think ye would no have been sent back. Mayhap there is something good to come of it, ye ken? Ye must think of it as a good thing. Yer knowledge of the future canna be but useful. Andyer grandda‘s skill as a doctor will only serve to help in the days to come, aye? I can tell ye those things for a certainty. Events will unfold as they must and we may see the answer, or we may not. But it does ye no good to believe it bad.‖
―Aye, Carrick.‖ Cat did her best to smile at him. ―Ye‘re right. I‘ll do my best to make it a good thing, to contribute in a positive way in all things.‖ She brushed away a stray lock of hair the breeze had lifted. ―Do ye think we will ever go back to my time?‖
―I dinna ken, Cat,‖ he answered, casting his eyes to the cloudless sky. ―Do ye miss it so much?‖
―Some things I miss, but I‘d rather be with ye, no matter where,‖ she assured him. ―As long as I do no harm.‖
He put his hand out to her shoulder in affection and reassurance. ―Nay, Cat,‖ he said gently. ―Ye could never do that. It‘s not in ye to do harm.‖
―But maybe I will without meaning to,‖ she answered.
―Nay, never.‖ He squeezed her shoulder. ―Let‘s on to town, aye? Think of the good ye will do for the family and clan. Ye are their Lady now,as before. Only good can come of that,‖ he said as they began their descent from the hill into Inverness.

Olivia sat in the garden, one iPod earbud tucked discreetly in her ear. She had placed it strategically under her hair, bushy from the lack of conditioner in this time. Everyone was busy with their chores and she sorely needed a break from Morag‘s tutoring on herbs, so she snuck out to a secluded spot to relax and listen to music. She was sketching a nice grouping of Foxglove when she dropped her pad, startled at an unfamiliar sound.

―What the…?‖ She turned to see an equally startled Ian behind her , leaning on padded crutches. ―Oh!‖ She breathed a sigh of relief. ―It‘s you. What are ye doing out here?‖
Ian gingerly lowered himself to sit on the bench beside her. ―Practicing with the crutches yer grandda gave me,‖ he answered, obviouslyproud of his progress. ―Do ye mind if I sit with ye for a bit?‖
‗Uh—no, not at all.‖ Olivia put her hand to her ear, trying to figure a way to get rid of the earbud before he noticed it. ―Ye‘re doing verra well with those, Ian. I dinna expect to see ye up and around so quickly. It isna too painful, I hope.‖
―Abit,‖ he said with a small grimace. ―But worth it to sit in the garden with ye.‖
―That‘s verra flattering.‖ Olivia put her hand up under her hair to retrieve the earbud. It caught in a tangle and she couldn‘t free it.
―What is it, Olivia?‖ He looked at her oddly. ―Is something caughtin yer hair? Do ye need help?‖ He reached a hand to offer her assistance.
―No!‖ She grabbed his wrist to stop him. ―It‘s fine. Just a twig or somethingfrom when Iwas lyingon the grass…‖
―A twig? Then what is this?‖ Ian lifted the wire that was hanging over her shoulder and began to pull on it gently. It caused the iPod to peek out from the skirt pocket where she had secreted it.
―Leave it be!‖ Olivia pulled the wire from his hand and the earbud dropped from her hair. ―It‘s nothing,I told ye,‖ she reprimanded, quickly pushing it all back into her skirt and accidentally disconnecting the earbuds from the unit.
―Aye, it‘s summat.‖ Ian‘s curiosity was fierce now. ―What is it? I havna seen anything like it. Some new contraption from Edinburgh? Do let me see it.‖
―I canna!‘ she exclaimed, slapping her hand over the pocket. In her anxiety to hide it, her hand slapped too hard, the pressure hitting the on button and causing music to play over the builtin speakers. ―Oh, shit!‖ she cursed as she fumbled in her pocket to turn the thing off.
Ian reached over and grabbed her hand away. ―Now Iken for certain ‗tis summat. Is that music I hear? Let me see it, please.‖ He firmly pulled her hand from the pocket, the hand containing the iPod and the disconnected earbuds. Carrie Underwood‘s voice filled the space,
I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights…
―What is thisthing?‖ Ian was fascinated and stunned, his mouth gaping as he turned the iPod over and over to examine it. ―What‘s a
Louisville slugger
? And ye attack cheating men in Edinburgh? Isna it easier just to leavethem?‖
―Give it back, Ian. I‘m not supposed to have it!‖ Olivia jumped up and stood before Ian, trying to wrest it from his hand. ―My grandda is going to kill me! Please!‖
Ian grabbed her wrist, keeping her at bay and held the iPod behind him. ―Nay, Olivia. Not until ye explain what this is. Calm down, lass. Sit down and tell me. I willna tell yer grandda, I promise ye.‖
Having no choice but to do as he said, Olivia sat back down beside him and heaved a sigh in resignation.
―All right, Ian,‖ she began, dropping her accent. ―But you won‘t believe me. Damn!‖
―Mayhap I will. Ye don‘t ken that until I hear the truth.‖ He smiled at her as the song ended and the iPod went silent. Ian brought it from behind his back and examined it closely. ―Where does the music come from? How does it work? Where did ye get it?‖
―Okay, Ian.‖ Olivia took a deep breath and looked him square in the eye. ―I‘m from the future,‖ she began in earnest. ―I‘m from 2010, and that is called an iPod. You put your music on it so you can listen to it whenever you like.‖
―From the future ye say? 2010?‖ Ian laughed at her. ―Are ye mad, Olivia? Have ye a fever or summat?‖He reached his hand to her forehead to check.
―No, Ian. Just listen. You said you wanted the truth, so listen.‖
―Right then. Go on.‖ Ian sat back against the bench and folded his arms, iPod tightly clenched in his fist. ―Tell me.‖
Olivia went on for some time, telling Ian all that had happened and what led up to this point.
Ian sat quietly throughout the telling, making faces at certain parts of the tale, leaning forward in intense concentration at others. When she finished, Olivia sat back and waited for his judgment.
―Well?‖ she said at last. The silence was disturbing.
―Isuppose it could be true,‖ Ian said slowly. ―Moragtrulysent Carrick through time to find Jennyand bring her home? Amazing. Who wouldha thought?‖ He relaxed a little, seemingto accept all that she had told him.
―Aye, Ian.‖ Olivia placed her hand on his. ―I wouldna lie about it. It‘s been a verra difficult time for us all. And ye must keep this knowledge between us. I beg ye.‖
―Oh,aye, I will,‖ he promised emphatically. ―But I will talk with Morag, if ye dinna mind. Just to be certain, aye?‖
―Fine,‖ Olivia spat. ―Ye willna believe me until ye do, so go ahead. Can I have my iPod back now, please?‖
―Well…‖ Ian smiled devilishly. ―Ye can,if ye play some more tunes for me.‖
Laughing, Olivia took the iPod and turned it on. ―Want to hear the Beatles?‖ she asked.

They remained in town only long enough to purchase what they needed and from merchants whom he trusted. Working in haste, they managed to leave within a few hours and head back the way they had come.
They arrived at the Invergarry Inn without incident and, feeling a sense of relief and relative comfort, were able to enjoy a hot meal and welcome by Carrick‘s friend and the Inn‘s owner, John Anderson.
―The lobsterbacks havena returned, Laird,‖ John told him as he joined them for a pint over a savory beef pie. ―We set a watch all over the glen for them. Some of the crofter‘s bairns are runners to alert the folk should they return.‖
―Do they ken I‘m alive?‘ Carrick asked between bites. ―Camden is vicious and will cause suffering to all should he think ye hide me.‖
―Aye,‖ John answered with a pull on his ale. ―Everyone kens it. But they‘re loyal to ye, Carrick, and willna breathea word of yer presence. Ye‘ve done good for yer people and they dinna forget it. No need to worry on that, I assure ye. Ye must excuse me...‖ He stood at the sound of an arrivingcoach outside. ―It seems we have a guest.‖
He gave a slight bow to Cat, who nodded in response as John turned toward the door at the end of the room.
As he reached for the door, a force threw it open from the other side, and a woman in expensive finery blew through with an air of importance. John stepped back quickly in astonishment
Carrick dropped his fork at the sight of her and cursed.
―Fiona! Hell‘s teeth!‖
―Who is it?‖ Cat leaned over to whisper.
―Yer bloody, fukitmother!‖
Cat blanched at his use of the profanity. She had never heard Carrick utter that particular word, and it shocked something deep within her.
She felt nausea rising and her head began to spin wildly. Vivid memories of this hateful woman washedover her like a bucket of ice. She suddenly couldn‘t draw a breath and gripped the table to right herself before she fainted.
―Well, look who‘s here.‖ The garishly attired and painted woman sauntered to their table and glared at Cat. ―If it isn‘t the Laird and Lady themselves. A bit dirty and ragged for such high positions, aren‘t you?‖ She spat the venomous words at them. ―Have the mighty fallen on such hard times? You Jacobites got what you deserved, I say. Get me a chair, Carrick,‖ she commanded. ―Try being a gentleman for once in your life.‖
―Get it yerself, ye cursed cow,‖ he refused, and picked up his fork to resume eating. ―Ye‘re no welcome here, ye
buidseach.”
―Now, Carrick,‖ she said sweetly as she pulled up a chair and sat. ―Is that any way to speak to a lady? And if you are going to call me a witch, you could at least not use that vulgar Gaelic. And after I worked so very hard to rid myself of that filthy Highland accent. Besides…‖ She let out a sigh, ―French or English are so much less common.‖
―The only lady in this room is my wife.‖ He laid down his fork and glared at her in disgust. ―And in any language, yeare common and still a witch and worse.‖
The flamed-haired Fiona threw back her head and laughed—a throaty cacophony that resounded to the rafters. Despite her forty-five years, she was still a beauty, the only good thing she had passed on to her daughters.
―You always did have a sense of humor, Carrick.‖ She leaned over and patted Cat, who had been silent. ―And mydarling daughter. Not pregnant yet, are you? Either you‘re barren or, can it be? Yourhusband doesn‘t enjoy the company of women?‖
Cat began to rise infury, but Carrick grabbed her arm to stop her. ―Nay, Cat.‖ He pulled her down to sit. His eyes said leave it be, so she kept her peace and looked at her plate.
―What do ye want, Fiona?‖ Carrick said calmly, not wishing to fuel the woman. ―Why have ye come hereafter all these years away? Did the Frenchman tire of yer poison?‖
―He‘s dead,‖ she said nonchalantly, settling back intoher chair. ―A year now,‖ she continued, removing her gloves a finger at a time. ―The ungrateful pig barely left me a stipend. About the same time dearest William died, making me a widow.‖ She looked at Cat as she referred to her late father, Fiona‘s abandoned husband. She reached out a hand to Cat in mock sympathy. ―I came as soon as I heard, dear.‖
Cat turned her head away in refusal and said nothing. She fervently groped for memories of her father‘s death and, once retrieved, tears sprang as though hearing of it for the first time.
She recalled how much she had loved Laird William—what a wonderful, doting father he had been. She also vividly remembered the torment and insufferable pain Fiona‘s leaving had caused him. William had been broken for years after, and was never able to love another woman.
He had allowed Hamish to take the younger Olivia with him to Edinburgh, to educate her and raise her away from the scandal. That, too, had broken his heart.
William‘s onlytrue companion at his death had been Cat who, even though married, continued to care for him. Her marriage had been one of the few consolations of her father‘s life. She kept her face turned to the wall so as not to encourage more of Fiona‘s malice.
―Why do ye come now when Laird William died well over a year ago, Fiona?‖ Carrick was fighting the ire rising in him, but he had to know.―There is nothing for ye here. And William‘s estate went to Cat. Ye should go back to the hole ye crawled out from.‖
―Cat,is it now?‖ She looked at Cat with a wry smile. ―Using your middle name, eh? Well, why not? I went by Lorraine in France. More sophisticated than the Fiona my da hung on me. How is the old turd, anyway? I heard he lives with you now, along with that changeling child I birthed.‖
―Leave her be, Fiona.‖ Carrick‘s voice was a low, threatening growl. ―Can ye no see the lass is distressed by yer appearance? Must ye do her to death as ye did William, and most likely yer Vicomte as well? Must we murder all yeken?‖
―I take it by your non-response that the old bastard is well.‖ She ignored his insult and rose to leave. ―Well, I shall see soon enough. I sent word to Beinn Fhithich of my arrival. And we‘ll just see who owns what. I am William‘s widow, after all. The prick never would give me a divorce so I could marry the Vicomte,‖ she said with a menacing gleam in her eye. ―The English are not well-disposed toward handing over estates to Jacobites these days. I will see you at Beinn Fhithich. Till then…‖ She gathered her heavysilk skirts and, with nose held high, strode aristocratically out of the Inn.
―She just threatened to turn you over to the English!‖ Cat exclaimed in alarm the moment the woman was gone. ―What are we going to do, Carrick? Oh,my God!‖
―Fiona has always been full of bluster,‖ he assured her as if it was not important. ―My guess is that she‘s bluffing. Bullies usually do,and she doesn‘t really want all that land or the house. She just wants money. Ye pay her off and she‘ll slink away.‖
―I hope yer right. But what about grandda and Olivia?‖ She stiffened, suddenly remembering Fiona‘s reference to Hamish. ―They don‘t even know who she is! We‘d better get on to Beinn Fhithich and warn them…‖
―Well, who wouldha kent Fiona MacHendriewould ever show her face here again?‖ John said as he returned to the room. ―I just gave her lodgings for the night. She willna spread trouble at Beinn Fhithich for a day, at least.‖
―Thank ye, John.‖ Carrick stood and extendeda hand to Cat. ―We‘ll be on our way,then,‖ he said, handing John payment for their meal. ―Fine hospitality, as always.‖
―A pleasure, Laird,‖ John answered as Carrick led Cat out to their tethered horses, fresh and ready to ride. He helped Cat mount, and they began the climb up the glen to home.
―Carrick?‖ Cat broke the silence. ―What about grandda and Olivia?‖
Carrick was hesitant to share his thoughts on the matter. He was fearful that Cat would think he had lost his mind.
―Well…‖ he began. ―Do ye recall when I first told ye the story of Fiona? I told ye I thought it possible yer grandda and Olivia were reincarnated, too?‖
―Aye, I recall,‖ Cat answered slowly.
―I do think it possible, Cat.‖ He pulled Breamus to a halt and looked at her squarely, compassion in his eyes. ―I didna tell ye. I didna want to cause ye pain until I was forced to. But it is time ye kent it.‖ He steeled himself for her coming emotions. ―Before we traveled here, yer grandda and I made inquiries. We discovered that Jenny‘s – yer– sister and grandda, died in Edinburgh over a year ago. We dinna ken how, just that they did.‖
Wrenching grief filled Cat as memories of her sister and grandda in this time surfaced. ―Oh,no!‖ she cried out, sobs seizing her and tears beginning to pour.
―I‘m so sorry.‖ Carrick dismounted and came to her, reaching his arms up to lift her down into them. Envelopingher closely, he whispered into her hair, ―I‘m so sorry, Cat. I‘m so verra sorry.‖
He held her for a long time, letting her spill her grief into his chest until she could cry no more. Slowly, she gathered herself and pulled away from him. Looking up into his worried face she said, ―You really do believe they are the same souls?‖ She wiped her face with the edge of her shawl. ―But that would mean...‖ she sniffled, trying to digest the idea and think it through.
―It would mean they arena dead. They are here with us now, and we must protect them from Fiona.‖
―But they dinna recall any past lifetimes,‖ she gently argued.
―They may well do when Fiona arrives at the house,‖ he answered ominously. ―And I‘ve a notion it willna be a pleasant recollection. Let‘s on to home,‖ he said, lifting her back onto Solas. ―And let‘s make haste at that, aye?‖
―Aye,‖ Cat agreed, resolute to prevent the evil that was Fiona from doing further damage.