The Highlander's Curse (21 page)

“Aye,
and ye didnae start again until ye were out. I couldn’ae wake ye.”

“As
soon as ye were home, Cameron kent what happened. Cailen told him o’ it before
he left.” Ailsa leaned in closer. “Cameron’s doonstairs waitin’ for news o’ ye.
He’s been fair worried.”

“We’ve
sent someone for Liam,” Conall added. “He’d want tae be here wi’ye. Wi’any luck
he should arrive shortly.”

Oh,
God. Breath in, two, three, four. Breath out, two, three, four.

“Would
the two o’ ye excuse us? I’d like tae speak wi’Elizabeth alone.”

My
eyelids popped open at Ailsa’s voice as Conall glanced at the doctor. “Aye,
dear,” he said before the two men left the room, talking in hushed voices.

“I like
ye, Elizabeth—”

I
cringed, not for the first time, at hearing that name. “Please don’t call me
that.”

“That’s
one thing I wanted tae talk tae ye about. I ken there’s somethin’ ye’re no’
tellin’ me. Why dae ye no’ want us tae call ye Elizabeth?”

“Because
that’s what he called me.” It was our thing. He called me Elizabeth, and I didn’t
want anyone else to.

Ailsa
studied me for a little while, opening her mouth to talk only closing it again,
until she finally said, “What name dae ye want us tae use?”

“I
haven’t decided yet. My name belongs to my old life. It has nothing to do with
this one.”

“Cailen
told us ye dinna hae family anymore. What happened?”

I
picked at the blanket that rested on my lap as she pulled her legs up onto the
bed and sat Indian style. “I can’t really tell you. Cailen made me promise.”

“Why
would he make ye dae that?”

“He
said people wouldn’t believe me, and that bad things could happen if I told
anybody.”

“Well,
that’s prob’ly ma fault. He came tae us about somethin’ years ago, and neither
Conall nor I believed him. I think that’s why he left. I may no’ believe things
happened the way he says they did, but I’ll ne’er again dismiss anyone the way
I did him.”

“I don’t
know.” I shook my head. “It sounds completely insane. I think Cailen’s right, I
should just shut up and leave the past in the past.” Or the future in the past.
That was confusing.

I’d
never seen that expression on Ailsa’s before, but I suddenly felt six years old
again, gaping up at my mom when she’d caught me coloring all over my bedroom
walls with her Sharpies.

“Talk.
Now.”

“Please
just don’t think I’m crazy, okay?” After she nodded, I continued, “I know I’m
different than everyone here. I don’t sound anything like you or dress or act
like you. I’m not used to your customs, and I’m used to sitting on my butt all
day unless there’s something fun to do.” In the last two weeks, I’d helped milk
cows, sheer sheep, witnessed two babies’ births, learned how to make bread by
hand, and discovered the art of catching fish—which I hated. The days of going
for long drives, playing video games, flirting with guys at the mall, and
bathing daily were long gone. “And it’s because I’m not from here.”

“Aye, I
ken that. Ye’re from the Colonies.”

“Yeah,
only where I’m from, we call it the United States, and the state I live in isn’t
even a state yet. I’m from the year 2013.”

Ailsa’s
eyes bugged momentarily before she closed her eyes and mouthed some words
before looking at me again. “Ye think ye’re from the future?”

“Yes, because
I am. Where I’m from, there are big cities with paved roads and hardly any
trees. We have cars that can go a hundred miles an hour with a press of a foot.
We buy all our food at big grocery stores that have more food stocked in them
than everyone in Ardmoir could eat in a month. I came to Scotland by flying in
a huge airplane that had over a hundred people on it, and I made it from where
I live in the U.S. to Glasgow in less than a day.”

She
shook her head. “It isn’ae possible.”

“It is,”
I insisted, grabbing her hands. “I don’t know why I’ve been sent to this time,
but I promise you that I’m telling you the truth. The clothes that I had on
that one day were what I was wearing the day I got dumped here…now.”

“Ye
told Cailen o’ this?”

I
nodded. “That’s why he brought me here. I showed him proof that I don’t belong
in this century, and that was when he decided that my only chance was if I
found a husband. I can tell you don’t believe me, and I don’t have any proof
anymore other than a dead cell phone and a few things in my purse.”

I slid
off the bed and bent down next to my bag, pulling out my phone and the pocket
watch that started this whole mess. Sitting down again, I offered my phone to
her, which she inspected.

“It’s
my cell phone. It’s how I proved everything to Cailen. And then there’s this.”
I handed over the pocket watch. “This is what I was holding when I got sent
back over two hundred and forty years.”

Ailsa’s
face stiffened and she took it from me, studying the design on the outer case
before opening it and peering at the face. “Where did ye get this?”

“Some
guy in a pub. I was having lunch with my friend and he freaked out before
practically throwing that thing at me. Next thing I knew, I was here.”

“What
did he look like?” Her eyes were wide, desperate.

“I don’t
know. He was wearing a cloak so he was mostly covered, but at the end, I did
get a glimpse of his eyes.” I met her gaze. “They looked a lot like yours.
Actually, he kinda looked…like you.”

Ailsa
gripped the pocket watch so tightly that her knuckles had gone white, her face
was almost equally as pale.

“Ailsa,”
I said slowly. “Are you okay?”

A tear
slid down her cheek. “What is yer name, dear?”

“What?”

“Yer
name. What is yer real name.” She gripped my wrist with one of her hands, and I
felt the trembling of her body. “E’en if ye dinna want tae go by it now, I must
ken it.”

“Scarlett.
My name is Scarlett”

“Scarlett,”
she whispered to herself. “Michaelson?”

I
nodded.

She
slumped on the bed, exhaling with relief.

“Ailsa?”

She
launched forward and pulled me into an embrace. “Oh, Scarlett. I’ll ne’er be
able tae repay ye for this. For two years he’s been lost, wi’nae word on where
he is.”

“Cailen?”

“Nae.”
She pulled back, meeting my eyes. “I bought this watch for ma son for his
birthday. I gave it tae him the morn he disappeared. Dinna ye see? This is
Kieran’s.” She held up the pocket watch as  more tears welled in her eyes. “Kieran’s
gone tae yer time tae send ye tae Cailen.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Liam had returned to Ardmoir
a lot sooner than anyone expected, and his arrival had sent the entire village
into an excited frenzy—everyone but me, and surprisingly, Conall and Ailsa.

I hadn’t
learned anything new about what Cailen’s mom had been mumbling about in my
bedroom, and Cameron’s sudden disappearance meant I had no one to give me
intel. I missed the boy and his shy smile and quick wit, and wished that I knew
where he’d gone. I’d asked his parents, but neither of them had told me,
immediately changing the subject to village business. Their excitement over the
wedding had diminished noticeably, now seeming to match my own. Now if I could
only get everyone else on board with not wanting my forced wedding. The entire
village of Ardmoir was buzzing about Liam’s return with one of their favorite
reverends, who I’d met one of my first days here when Ailsa had hauled me to “kirk”.

Even
now, I knelt behind the sheep that Merna MacKinnon sheered, hoping Liam and
Reverend Astor wouldn’t spot me as I held the sheep still for her. I’d seen
them strolling through the village, visiting with clansmen and women, and—as I’d
feared—searching for me. One of the older men they’d spoken to pointed in my
direction and I ducked down low, smiling up at Merna as she narrowed her eyes
on me.

“Just thought
I’d get more comfortable.” I grinned, hoping I didn’t look guilty.

I wasn’t
sure what type of response I was about to get from her, because she turned
suddenly, brightening at the sight of the two men strolling toward us. “Och, if
it isn’ae Reverend Astor and Liam Black,” she chimed. “I’m certain they’ve come
tae discuss yer marriage, aye?”

“That’s
what I’m afraid of,” I mumbled as I peered to my left and right. Damn, there
was nowhere else I could hide.

“Miss
Michaelson. How nice tae see ye again,” Reverend Astor said, his red, round
face smiling down at me from over the sheep’s back. “Mr. Black and I were hopin’
tae hae a wee chat wi’ya. If ye’ve the time.”

“Umm.”
I cleared my throat. “Do you think we could meet later? I’m helping Merna with
the sheep.”

“I will’nae
hear o’ it,” Merna grunted. “Go chat wi’yer man and the nice reverend. I can
manage on ma own.”

Liam
rushed around the sheep and offered a hand, helping me to my feet. “Good day
tae ye, Elizabeth.”

Seriously.
Did I have to tell every person in Ardmoir individually? I didn’t want people
to call me that! “Uh, hi Liam.”

“Would
ye join the reverend and me? We’ve much tae discuss.”

“Sure.”
I stared at the ground as I fell into step beside him.

Astor
walked on the other side of me so I was between the two men. “I understand the
two o’ ye would like tae marry as soon as may be?”

“Aye,”
Liam answered.

“I don’t
know,” I said at the same time. “I’m not sure we really have to rush.”

“Oh,
but we dae. Conall told me o’ yer wee problem wi’the MacDougalls.” Liam pulled
me in close, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as if he were consoling me. We
walked in silence for a few steps before he faced the reverend. “Would ye mind
terribly if Elizabeth and I speak in private?”

“Nae. I
hear the Smytt’s had a wee baby they’d like me tae visit. I’ll be wi’them. Good
day, Elizabeth. Good day, Liam.”

We both
nodded and he took off down the hill, on his way to the Smytt’s house. I mostly
kept my eyes on his retreating form, but finally glanced up at my fiancé as
Liam turned toward me.

He
sighed. “Dae ye mind if I speak frankly?”

“No.”

“Good…I
like ye. Verra much so. That’s why I spoke wi’Conall MacKinnon about makin’ ye
ma bride.” He shrugged slightly. “I ken I should’ae talked tae ye first, but,
well…ye dinna hae a faither for me tae ask first, so I went tae Conall. I’ve
watched ye since ye came tae town wi’us that day, and I ken that yer thoughts
are wi’Cailen.”

I
blinked, unable to keep the flush from creeping up my neck to my cheeks. Was it
that obvious to everyone?

“I
think I could make ye happy if ye’d just give me a chance. I may no’ be as
learned as he is, or be in line for the lairdship o’ Ardmoir, but I hae a good
family, and I’m a hard worker. I’ll spend ma days providin’ for ye and our
bairns, and I’ll dae everythin’ in ma power tae please ye. If ye’ll give me the
chance.”

“I—”

“I ken
ye dinna love me. All I ask is that ye give me a chance. E’en if it’s only tae
keep ye from the MacDougalls.”

****

Bloody hell. It’d been
weeks since he’d seen Elizabeth, and he’d spent every waking—and
sleeping—moment thinking about her. At times, it was her feistiness that
occupied his mind, while other times, he’d lose himself just thinking of the
way she’d reacted to that wee toy in her bag. He’d spend the rest of his days
dreaming about that, and didn’t much want to regret leaving her behind. He’d
left her in capable hands, kenning well enough that his mam and da would take
care of her and see her to a good husband. But the thought of her married to
someone else sent him into fits of rage. Sometimes he felt sick over it.

Which
is why he’d never left Mull, and why he’d spent every day scouring the land for
the bloody witch who cursed him.

In
times past, he’d searched for her with an entirely different plan in mind, but
this time, he’d meant only to speak to her, to learn more about the curse that
had destroyed his family.

Ducking
down low in the heather, he trained his eyes on a group of men and women
traveling on horseback over the hills. They could be MacLeans, but he was too
far away to tell for certain.

Once
they passed, he set back into motion, approaching a small cave he’d stumbled on
years ago, not far from where he and Kieran found the witch. Dropping into the
cave from the upper ledge, his feet smacked against the small rocks, the sound
echoing off the cave walls. He ducked inside, following it as silently as
possible, listening for signs of anyone, or anything, inside.

No one
was there, nor had they been for quite some time.

Sitting
down on the cold rock, he leaned his back against the wall and pulled a bit of
dried seaweed from his sporran. A few bites into it, he put it back. He just
didn’t have an appetite. Not when every thought was with Elizabeth. He’d not
only left his mind with her, but his heart, too.