Page 56 of A Thistle Beyond Time
They started to walk away and Cormac noticed that Jenna was still favoring her ankle. He swept her up into his arms and the people who had gathered to witness the incident broke out in applause again. Jenna buried her head in Cormac’s chest. “You really don’t have to carry me, you know. I can walk,” she said in embarrassment.
“Not verra well, lass. I’m going to take you home to rest,” Cormac raised an eyebrow as he answered. “Believe me, ‘twill be quicker my way.”
“Let me call a cab, please.”
“Dinnae waste yer time, lass. We’ve nae got that far to go.” He felt her relax in his arms and knew she wouldnae continue to resist.
Chapter 18
“San Francisco has a new hero tonight and from the response to this cell phone video taken earlier today, he’s setting hearts across the Bay Area aflutter.” The evening news was on and Jenna and Cormac sat in total amazement as the news anchor continued. “Earlier today, a woman was robbed of her purse and cell phone outside a local coffee shop. The victim tells us that a man wearing a kilt ran after her assailant, and not only retrieved her possessions, but also captured the thief, disarming him of a knife.”
Cormac recognized the woman he helped when she appeared on the screen. She was smiling brightly as she described what happened. “His friend ran after him, turned her ankle and fell. He picked her up and carried her back, all the while holding my attacker by the scruff of the neck. It was unbelievable, like something you’d see in a movie.” The video continued, showing the woman hugging Cormac tightly around the waist and followed their every move, even as far as Cormac picking Jenna up and carrying her away as the crowd applauded.
“Oh my God,” Jenna said. “You’re on the news!”
Cormac’s mouth had dropped open as he watched the television disbelievingly. “Jenna, how did I get inside the box?”
“You’re not in the box, Cormac. Someone took a video of the whole event with their cell phone.”
“I dinnae ken what ye speak of.”
Jenna pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and held it up, waving it in front of him. Cormac nodded his head at her, but was still deeply puzzled. “It takes photos and video,” Jenna said. Cormac shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Watch, I’ll take a picture of the two of us. Come closer and look at the phone.” Cormac did as he was instructed and Jenna held the phone up in front of them. He could clearly see himself in the phone’s glass screen. “Okay. Smile.” He glanced at Jenna and saw her smiling brightly. He did the same and she took the photo before turning the screen back towards him. “Now look. See, there we are.”
“Is it magick?” Cormac questioned, studying the screen carefully.
“No, silly, it’s technology. I can’t believe you’ve never seen a cell phone. You must be the only person left on the planet who hasn’t.”
Cormac nodded slowly, still fascinated by the photo. “Aye. Ye may be right.”
“So, if I push this button, it takes a video.” Jenna pointed the cell phone at Cormac, who furrowed his brow.
“What is it doing now?”
“You’ll see.” She stopped the video and played it back for him.
“If I didnae see it with my own eyes, I wouldnae believe it.” He took the cell phone from her hands. “Can I see it again?”
“Sure. Touch the arrow on the screen,” Jenna showed him how to replay the video. “So you see, someone at the coffee shop had their phone out and recorded everything. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. If they find out where you are, they’ll be camped out on our doorstep wanting to talk to you.” Jenna reached over to the coffee table and picked up her laptop. She tapped on the keys and brought the news video up online. “Wow! That video’s gotten thousands of hits already, and it’s only been up for an hour. Looks like it’s going viral.”
“Viral?” Cormac was more confused than ever.
“Don’t worry about it. Hopefully no one I know will see it. If they do, and they alert the media… well, you don’t want to have to deal with that.”
Someone was bound to recognize her and that could spell trouble for Cormac. He hadn’t exactly been truthful with her and she was afraid that any extra scrutiny he might receive would bring up uncomfortable questions. If he answered them the way he had answered Jenna’s questions, it would be bad for Cormac. Jenna’s cell phone vibrated in her hands. She checked the caller ID and not recognizing the caller, decided to let it go to voicemail. Her phone vibrated again, almost instantly. This time it was a text from Dylan.‘Just saw the two of you on the news. Stay in tonight.’
“Jenna, is all well?” Cormac seemed concerned.
“Oh, yeah, it’s just Dylan. He says he won’t be able to join us for dinner.” The phone buzzed yet again. “And we should probably stay in tonight.” She smiled brightly, trying to reassure him. “I wasn’t planning on going out anyway.” Instead of responding, Cormac lifted her foot in his hands and gently probed her ankle. “It doesn’t hurt anymore,” she reassured him. “I just turned it. No big deal.”
“Good. I’d not want to see ye hurt, lass.” The expression on his face told her he cared a great deal, about what happened to her.
“I’m fine. No need to worry about me,” she said, although she was secretly delighted at his attentiveness. “We’ll just stay home and relax.”
“Jenna, tell me about yer life here in San Francisco. I ken that ye dinnae spend all yer time at the beach, or attending feasts. What do ye do that makes ye happy?”
Jenna thought long and hard about the question. She realized that Cormac must think she was a spoiled rich girl. She hadn’t shared the details of her life with him. She’d been enjoying a vacation from her everyday life and had been happier than she had been in a long time. “Hmmm… that’s a good question. Mostly, I work at my parents’ foundation. You know they do a lot of charitable work involving children and since they’re away all the time, Dylan and I handle matters here at home. I also work with the local homeless shelters and battered women shelters. I have lots of friends in the restaurant business, and I see to it that at the end of the day, they collect any food that’s left over and donate it to both groups.”
“Does that make ye happy, Jenna?” Cormac asked.
