Page 103 of Promises to Keep

“A year?”

“Aye. Tis tempting tae ask Magnus tae go rescue me earlier. I would prefer tae hae it happenbeforeI caught the eye of George MacLeod, who stunk tae high heaven and had nae teeth,” she gave a small sad smile. “But tae be rescued earlier might loop and set the timeline off, something terrible might happen.” She picked at the blanket that was spread over her lap.

I said, “George MacLeod sounds horrible.”

“Aye, fortunately he had enough power on the homestead tae keep the rest of the men off me, but I had tae put up with his gruntin’ upon me in exchange. I find solace in that he is dead now, shot by my son. I warned him the day would come.” She exhaled. “I am a woman, I can accept a horrid man gruntin’ upon me in exchange for my safety while I wait tae be rescued. He smelled of horseshit and sulfur, but a proper bath removed his stench.”

I said, “Thankfully you couldn’t get pregnant.”

“I am thankfully too auld for that. Though sadly, I am unsure if I will be able tae...” She sighed forlornly. “How will I enjoy my friendship with Abby if I arrive there and I am a decade older than she remembers me?” She shook her head. “And I had a lover, a wonderful lover in Cornie, and now he winna even recognize me.”

“We dyed your hair, perhaps you’re not giving yourself enough credit and—”

She gave me a wry smile. “Kaitlyn, I always give myself more than enough credit, ye ken tis one of my most endearing traits.” She dropped her head back. “I miss Hammond verra much.”

“Me too, I am so sorry he is gone. I... I know he was very important to you.”

“He was my... I relied on him foreverything. I am unsure how...” She shook her head. “I find myself at a low moment, in my son’s guest room, dependent on him, grateful for my rescue, and now for what...? How will I manage?”

“I have never known you not to have a plan, we... we saw you, back at Balloch, you were younger.”

She sighed. “I was everywhere at one time. I could do anything, I had a great deal of power. To be young again, it breaks my heart.” She flicked a piece of something from her bedding. “Has Haggis been in here, upon the bed?”

I sighed. “Haggis roams far and wide.” Then I said, brightly, “We have a kingdom to run, we need you for that. You will have power again.”

She waved a hand. “Och nae, I ken for certain, the kingdom is nae ours tae run. We must fight again — and the art museum! Dost ye think the art museum is still there, Kaitlyn?”

“I honestly don’t know.”

“She destroyed so much art, twas horrible tae see it lost tae history, nae one will ever see the beauty of it.” She asked, “How is Elmwood? Is it...?”

“It’s gone.”

She dropped her head back on the towel. “I think I need tae rest.”

I stood. “We will figure something out, Lady Mairead, we will, we just need to—”

She narrowed her eyes. “Ye are with child again.”

I screwed up my face. “No, not — did Magnus tell you to...?”

I sank back down in the chair.

“Ye can see it, Kaitlyn,anyonecan tell.”

“Well, if I am, then it has only been a few days, it’s not… no, I’m not...” I suddenly wondered if I should have asked Emma to get a pregnancy test from the drug store.

“Well, it took ye long enough tae fulfill yer duty tae Magnus, ye hae been lax about it. I will pray tonight that it will be a son.”

“Fine, pray all you want, I’m not stopping you.” I huffed. “See this is what you do, you have these moments with me, where you seem chill—”

“Chill?”

“Yes, where you seem considerate, almost kind, but then you switch and say or do something very mean, so cruel — it’s unsettling.”

She smirked, “Tis part of m’charm.”

I huffed.

---