Page 54 of Only a Breath Away

Quentin said, “Coats. But…”

I said, “We need coats, guns, a great deal of food.”

“How long will we be there for?”

“Nae, I am just hungry. And ye canna go, Colonel Quentin, ye and Fraoch and Madame Hayley hae been there before.”

Chef Zach said, “So you think James is still…?”

Quentin passed me a holster from our locked cabinet

“Aye, he is looping. We must stop him afore we can solve anything else. Only Lady Mairead and I can go, the rest of ye ought tae stay here and do yer best tae say goodbye.”

I exhaled. “Everyone ought tae consider carefully what they will do from now on. We need a vessel for each person, in case we are separated. We are goin’ tae go tae the year 1589 where we will try tae stop James from looping, but we may verra well meet up with Ormr and Domnall and they may be verra fresh and ready tae battle. They might hae a full army.”

I buckled the holster and adjusted it tae m’shoulder. “Also, ye ought tae say goodbye tae yer family. If ye are married tae one of us who are out of time, there is a chance they winna be able tae bridge across once the time is affected.”

Lady Mairead said, “I daena ken if it is as dire as all that.”

“Are ye sure that we are supposed tae be in this time?”

“Nae.”

“From that first moment when I put my foot on the shore of Amelia Island I hae known I was out of time. Tis a folly tae imagine that time exists for all else in the world but us, what makes us so special?”

Lady Mairead said, “Maybe we ought nae do it if it is so dire?”

“Kaitlyn is in the past.”

Lady Mairead nodded.

I said, “Chef Zach and Madame Emma, I am leavin’ ye in charge of the bairns, as their guardians, please…” I was nae sure how tae continue.

Quentin said, “I’ll arm you up.”

I said, “I need guns for James as well.”

Then I asked Lady Mairead, “Do ye need tae say goodbye tae Hammie afore we do this?”

“Nae, whenever I leave him we say goodbye. He kens that when I time travel away it means I will likely never return, he is relieved when I do.”

We packed tae go to the past once more.

CHAPTER 44 - MAGNUS

Iwent tae the bunkhouse and asked Archie and Isla tae come with me tae the end of the dock.

They were quiet as they walked alongside me and then we sat down and both tucked under my arms and I held them while we looked out on the water. I said, “I am goin’ tae do something difficult, m’bairns, it will be—”

Archie interrupted tae ask, “Where is Mom?”

Isla watched my face, intently. I would not lie tae them, they would see it.

“She is in the year 1290. I hae been there also and somehow we canna find each other. I am verra sorry tae tell ye that I haena been able tae find her for a time now. I dinna want tae frighten ye, but ye must ken. Now, yer aunts and uncles and yer grandmother and I hae a plan. We hope it will succeed.”

Archie said, “There is a chance it won’t?”

“In life there are a great many risks, in time travel there are even more. There is a great deal of reward, but many risks. This might be the riskiest thing I hae ever had tae do.”

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