Page 4 of A Promise Through Time

“How are ye feeling?” Edna asked Elle.

“Pretty good. I think this might be the first meal I’ve been able to eat without feeling sick.”

“Must be Dylan’s good cooking,” Edna said, a suspicious twinkle in her eyes.

Tina wondered if Edna had put some spell on Elle to keep her morning sickness at bay and a second later when Edna winked at her, she knew she had. She also got the feeling that Edna was reading her mind.

“I’m actually feeling great right now, knock on wood.” Elle said as she rapped on the wooden dining table.

“I’m so happy to hear it,” Edna said.

Tina glanced at Angus who seemed to be done eating and was sitting back in his chair with his arm across the back of Edna’s. “You’re very quiet Angus,” she said.

“Aye. I’ve nae much to say. Edna does enough talking for the both of us,” he teased.

Edna elbowed him in the ribs. “Don’t let him fool ye. He talks plenty when he has something to say and I’ve learned over the years it’s best to listen when he speaks.”

Dylan and Maggie nodded their heads in agreement.

“It’s true. He’s a man of few words, but much wisdom,” Maggie said.

“Yer making me blush,” Angus said and they all laughed.

“It would take an awful lot to make ye blush,” Edna said, leaning over to kiss his cheek.

Tina took in all the love at the table and began to feel a little depressed about her own situation. “Dinner was wonderful, Dylan. I’m a bit tired. I think I’ll head up to bed. I could use a good night’s sleep.”

“Are you okay, sis?” Elle asked.

“Fine. Just tired. Good night, everyone.”

***

Alone in her room, Tina wondered what it might be like to meet a man like her sister’s husband. He wasn’t your typical guy and she liked that about him. He never felt like he needed to do what all the other guys were doing. Sure, he enjoyed the sports he was learning about and he loved spending time with the guys in the band, but Elle was his priority and he made that clear to anyone who’d listen. They just don’t make men like that anymore, or at least not many of them. She got into her pjs and climbed into bed, giving in to gravity and allowing her head to sink into the pillow and her body to completely relax. She wished Edna hadn’t suggested time travel, because now it was all she could think about. She hadn’t asked Elle too many questions about her experience. It seemed like it was a huge surprise to her, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Tina did it. She’d know it was going to happen and yet she was sure that the control freak in her would be a nervous wreck because her take charge attitude would do her absolutely no good. That didn’t sit well with her. She didn’t like being out of her element and she avoided it at all costs. It was like flying. She knew she had to do it, but she wished she was the one flying the plane. Tina wondered about this guy Edna had mentioned. What did he look like? Was he big and tall like Hamish? Was he handsome? The answers to those questions were unknowable unless she went back in time. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t doing it. She missed her family back home, missed her own bed, missed her niece and nephew. No. She was going home and that was all there was to it. She cleared her brain of the unwanted thoughts and closed her eyes only to dream of a broad shouldered man with dark hair and blue eyes

Chapter 2

Breaghacraig – 1518

Donal McCabe was having a good day. He’d bested every man he’d come up against on the practice field and he was feeling very happy with himself. Head high, shoulders back and chest puffed out, Donal accepted the praise of the other warriors as they passed him on their way by. Some clapped him on the back, others, those he’d defeated, merely nodded their appreciation of his efforts. Yes, he was feeling pretty good about himself and to top it off, later in the evening, he planned to spend some time with the new kitchen maid. He couldn’t remember her name, but that had never stopped him before. He’d simply call her love or lass or some other endearing term. It always worked.

“Donal,” Logan approached him. “Good work with the men today. Hamish would be proud of ye. Ye’ve taken on his responsibilities as if they’d been yers all along.”

He missed Hamish, although he didn’t miss being yelled at for whatever transgression it was that Hamish thought him guiltyof. He’d always known he was as good a warrior as Hamish and he was sure his old friend would agree.

“Do ye miss him?” Logan asked, a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

“Aye. As much as I hate to admit it, I do. He was a good friend to me, even when I dinnae deserve such friendship.”

“Come have dinner with us tonight. Sara has become quite a good cook.” Logan threw an arm over Donal’s shoulder.

“Nae. I cannae,” he replied.

“We’d love to have ye.” Logan gazed at him, obviously hoping to change his mind.

“Ye dinnae need to feel sad for me, Logan. I’m nae lonely. If all goes well, I’ll be wooing the new kitchen maid out of her apron and into my bed this night.”

Logan laughed out loud at him, giving Donal a playful shove. “Ye need a woman,” Logan said.