Page 15 of Love Beyond Words
“I told you that book was a sign! The documentary too! You know, Laurel, I’ve never been jealous of you. Not once in our whole lives. I always thought I’d lose my mind if I had a life as isolated as yours, but right now I’m so green with envy I could burst.”
“I suppose if Mom starts to drive you too crazy, you could always come. Morna knows who you are, and I’m pretty sure she already likes you. Just have her send you back, too.”
The words slipped out unthinkingly, and I regretted them right away. It wasn’t right of me to assume that Morna would be willing to do any such thing, and I knew Kate well enough to know that before the fire, it would’ve been just the sort of thing she would jump on.
“Mmm…if only, big sis. This century has enough difficulties for me now. I imagine several hundred years in the past would be even far less accessible for someone with my challenges. If you can though, if there’s any way, please let me know what’s going on with you. And promise me you won’t stay too long.”
“I promise.”
The door to the bedroom Morna had placed me in opened and Marcus stepped quietly inside before gently closing the door. He looked frightened. Covering the speaker so Kate couldn’t hear, I mouthed to him,
“What’s wrong?”
“Laurel, I’m scared. I think we need to get out of here right now.”
I held up a hand to stop him and hurriedly bid my sister farewell. The moment I ended the call, I stood up and walked over to him.
“Why? What are you talking about?”
“I was in the bathroom just about to brush my teeth when I heard voices from what I assume is their bedroom. It was coming through the vent. Jerry seemed to be trying to keep his voice low, but with his bad hearing, he speaks more loudly than he realizes.”
Marcus was shaking he was so worked up.
“Okay, and what did they say?”
“He was scolding Morna, telling her she shouldn’t have lied to us, but if we believed her we were daft fools. He said we had a right to know what we were getting ourselves into. That it wasn’t right for her send us back without us knowing there was no way to return.”
“What?” I dropped to the edge of the bed. He might as well have kicked me straight in the stomach for as ill as I suddenly felt. “Are you certain that’s what he said?”
“I’m sure. Laurel, I have a life back home. People I love. A job I love. I don’t want to be here. Not for even a minute more.”
I nodded in agreement and stood as I began to pace. My bag was still packed.
“Where’s your bag?”
“I packed it before I came in here. We need to go. Now.”
Reaching for my bag, our biggest obstacle came rushing to the forefront of my mind, and I had to reach for the edge of the bed for support.
“We don’t have a car, Marcus”
“I saw Jerry’s keys laying on the entranceway table. We’re stealing the car. I’d rather end up in a Scottish prison than trapped in another century for the rest of my life. Let’s go.”
I was inclined to agree with him.
We exited the room as quietly as we could, and Marcus lifted his bag from the top of the staircase before we made our way downstairs.
I could see the keys glistening under the lamp on the table right by the front door. Marcus moved ahead of me to grab them and hurriedly opened the door. As I moved toward it, the handle swung out of his hand and the door slammed shut in my face.
I’d never experienced such overwhelming fear in my life.
We faced the stairway together and stared into Morna’s rather surprisingly sympathetic eyes.
“I really am sorry about this. I’d hoped for the journey to be consensual, but I’m afraid I canna allow ye to leave. Neither of ye know just how important ’tis that ye go.”
Marcus stepped forward with rage in his eyes, but just as he opened his mouth to speak, the room began to spin. I reached for him, and as I latched onto his arm, everything went black.
Chapter 9
