Page 19 of A Promise Through Time

“I like that. We’ve got a big family and we all live in the same house. It is not as big as the castle, of course. Elle and Hamish live right next door, so we’re all under each others’ noses all the time.”

“We are, too, I suppose, but it is more fun than I thought it would be. Jenna and I have been friends forever, we were practically sisters before ending up here, so it just feels right to be raising our kids together. Which bridge did you come by way of?” Ashley asked as she leaned in to kiss Elena’s cheek.

“Glendaloch.”

“That’s the way I got here, too.”

“If I hadn’t experienced it, I’d never believe it,” Tina said.

They dressed Elena in a beautiful blue velvet dress.

“Don’t you look pretty?” Tina asked of wee Elena.

“It looks like it was made for her,” Ashley said.

“Did you make this?” Tina asked, realizing there wasn’t a mall down the street to buy baby clothes from.

“I sure did. I make all their clothes.”

“Wow! I know how to thread a needle, but that’s about it.”

“If you live in this time, you do what you have to do. No modern conveniences.”

“I guess not,” Tina said. “Do you miss them? The modern conveniences?”

“Sometimes. I think the thing I miss the most is a hot shower.”

“Yeah. That would be a tough one for me.”

“I take it you’re not planning on staying here.”

“No. I couldn’t leave my family. I’m only here for the experience.”And to find my man.

***

Donal walked outside into the bright sunshine and stood there feeling lost. The courtyard was crowded with people rushing to and fro, but he hardly noticed them. He wanted to run, but where and why? Escaping his current situation would be easy enough, but it would hardly be the right thing to do. His head was spinning with thoughts of Sionaid, or the lass he thought she must have been, little Elena and how, above all else, he was going to get out of this mess. The lass Tina could be the perfect solution to his problem. He could see if she’d be interested in raising Elena as her own, leaving him to go back to life the way he liked it, without responsibility. Or, he could marry her. He’d have a wife to care for his daughter and a woman to share his bed. All this thinking was giving him a headache. He needed a drink.

He headed back to the barracks. He might as well get his clothes. He’d be staying in the castle. That was a boon he hadn’t expected.

“Donal, I hear yer a Da,” Marcas laughed, joined by Tam and Jock.

“I am. I dare ye to saying anything more of it.” It riled him that word had already spread to the men and that they thought his situation so funny, but he knew if it were one of them in his spot, he’d do the same.

“Where are ye going?” Tam asked.

“I’m staying in the castle with the bairn.” He knew that would get them.

“Aye?” The joy they seemed to find in his misfortune disappeared. “How long will they let ye stay?”

“I cannae say. I’ll have to find me own croft and someone to care for wee Elena.” Once again, it hit him as if he’d run headlong into the castle walls. He was a Da. Would his life ever be the same? “There’s a lass just arrived. I plan to marry her. She’ll care for the bairn and I can go about my life as if nary a thing has changed.” He had no idea whether any of that would ever work, but he wanted these oafs to believe it would.

Once alone in his room, he reached under the bed to find the flask of whisky he kept there. He needed a swig to settle his nerves. He was as fearless as they came in battle, but the thought ofhiswee bairn put fear in his heart like he’d never felt before. He wished Hamish were here. He’d know exactly what to do, he always did.

“Och…Hamish, what will I do?” he asked aloud.

There was no need for Hamish to be there with him because Donal could hear him now. “Donal, ye ken ye must do what’s right. The wee bairn needs a Da. Yer days as a randy bull must end and ye must find a lass, settle down and raise yer wee daughter.”

Donal knew that was what he should do, but without his old friend to make him feel guilty, he probably wouldn’t. Instead he’d focus on what needed to be done now. As a soldier, if there was a task that needed his attention, he saw to it. He might be irresponsible in the rest of his life, but he never shirked his duties. He made a mental list, find a croft of his own and find a wife, or at the very least someone to take care of Elena. It was a simple enough plan, now he had to execute it. He took another long drink of whisky and eyed the chamber that hadbecome his when Hamish left. It was small, as was the bed and fireplace that kept him warm on cold nights. A thin wooden door separated him from the other men who shared these barracks with him. One thing was for certain, he wouldn’t miss climbing over them to get out of his chamber. The more he thought about it, the more he decided that discovering he was a father was a blessing in disguise. Nothing seemed to be going right for him, but evidently someone was watching out for him. After all, he’d be spending this night and many more in a soft bed where he would surely sleep well. So, for now he’d see where things would lead him and enjoy his stay in the castle.