Page 28 of The Empire and the Wolf King

There was the shift of his head against mine as he nodded.

“Drat. Now I think we should have told Thomas Jefferson we were going to Richmond, or Boston, we might need our information in more journals, on more contracts, what if it wasn’t enough? And then…” My eyes went wide. “But we can’t leave! When we get to Charlottesville, how will we leave? We said we will be there, now we’re stuck there.”

“Ye hae gone through all the emotions, mo reul-iuil. I dinna mean tae frighten ye, but ye need tae be prepared. Tis just as likely that we will be livin’ in this time as that there will be a rescue party awaiting us at the Oakhurst Inn in Charlottesville. Ye must be thankful if we are rescued, and prepared tae survive if nae rescue is forthcoming.”

I nodded. “I have to be strong. I can’t worry about the fact that Thomas Jefferson might drop his journal in a mud puddle and never mention us at alleverexcept in passing and no one will ever know that we are here…”

“Aye, we are both dependin’ on each other for strength, I need ye.”

I nodded. My hand enclosed in his, I kissed the soft side of his forearm. “When will we go?”

“We leave at dawn.”

“Maybe, just maybe by the time we get up, someone will be here to rescue us, three day buffer and all, butmaybe. Maybe we’ll be reunited with the kids when we wake up.”

I felt the press of his lips against my hair again and then the slowing of his breath as he fell asleep.

CHAPTER 12 - ARCHIBALD

BALLOCH CASTLE - OCTOBER 9, 1683

Iwoke up with a groan. I had not time jumped in over a decade and hadna remembered it hurting so badly.

I muttered tae m’self, “We forgot the golden threads.” Then I wondered,Who is we?

Then I said, “M’self, tis me, I am the one on this god-forsaken journey tae rescue everyone in m’life.” I groaned, “Och nae.”

Had Ma gone without the gold threads all that time?

I owed her a hug if I ever got tae see her once more.

I sat up, blinkin’. “Och, tis bright, is it bright tae ye, Mario?”

I looked around blearily. “We need tae go tae Balloch, ye remember where tis? My best guess, that direction.” I chose northwest. I was almost certain.

I stood up, brushed off dirt and sand, and looked around.Twas familiar, I would go that way. I recognized this?—

Horses were coming. I grabbed the vessel and Mario’s reins, and raced for the trees, breathing heavy.

I got deep enough inside the woods tae be certain they wouldna find me and quietly tied Mario tae a tree. Then I crept forward tae watch the clearing.

Three men entered and looked in all directions. I backed slowly away intae the deeper woods and crouched beside Mario, pressin’ my finger tae my lips, warnin’ him tae be quiet. When I felt twas safe, I pulled him quietly away, creepin’ even further into the dark forest.

Finally in the distance I heard the men leave the clearing.

I stroked Mario’s withers. “They came because of the storm. I ken ye were frightened, but tis okay.”

He shook his head and whinnied.

I said, “Aye. Dost ye remember what Uncle Lochie looked like?”

All I remembered was ginger and big, but then again I had been eight years old at the time. I was also big, now.

I led Mario and usin’ long ago memories tae direct m’path, traveled in the direction of the castle. I had been trained by Uncle Fraoch and Uncle Wallace how tae move through the woods with stealth when we were messengers during the Battles of Stirling Bridge and Falkirk. Ben and I had worked as a team, usin’ hand signals and eye movements tae communicate. Twas disconcertin’ tae be out on m’own, when Ben and I had always worked taegether.

I crouched behind a tree, then peered around it.Och aye, the castle is there.

I was relieved, that had been much more like a guess than I was comfortable with.

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