Page 74 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“Ashley!” Jenna was shocked at her friend’s honesty.
“What? I can’t help it if I have the hottest husband in all of Scotland.”
The three women burst out laughing and Jenna had to admit that this was better than any sporting event she’d ever been to. Ashley handed out more candy. It was Helene’s first taste and her facial expressions went from surprise, to deep concentration, to joy. She held out her hand for another.
“Are you and Dougall married, Helene?” Jenna wanted to know.
“Nae yet, but I’m hoping he’ll ask me soon,” Helene blushed.
Jenna returned her focus to Cormac, who was looking amazingly hot. She couldn’t take her eyes off him and was disappointed when Ashley suggested they head back down for some tea.
“Come on. They do this every day. We’ll come back tomorrow if you like,” she coaxed.
“Okay.” She begrudgingly let Ashley tear her away from their spot on the battlements.
Once inside the castle, Helene went off on her own to see to some work and that left Ashley and Jenna alone. They went and sat beside the fire, where they warmed their hands after the brusque weather outside.
“I’ll go get us some tea and see if there are any sweet cakes around. I’ll be right back,” Ashley announced.
Jenna was about to offer to go along with her, when Irene entered the room. The tension was thick between them and Jenna was uncomfortable.
“Hi, Irene. I’m going to get some tea. Shall I have them bring some for you, too?” Ashley asked.
“That would be lovely, Ashley. I’d be pleased to sit with Jenna while yer gone,” Irene said.
“Be right back,” Ashley said as she headed out of the room.
There was an awkward silence, and Jenna stared down at her hands rather than look at Irene. The look on Irene’s face when she’d first come into the room told Jenna that she was probably not Irene’s favorite person.
“Well, Jenna, how are ye enjoying yer stay at Breaghacraig?” Irene suddenly asked.
“I’m enjoying it very much. Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Of course. Me brothers are very important to me and if Cormac wants you here, then you are welcome here.” Irene sat stiffly across from Jenna, with a serious expression on her face. “Jenna, I hope that ye willnae break me brother’s heart. It is obvious to me that he cares deeply for ye. I dinnae wish to see him hurt.”
Jenna sighed heavily before she responded. “I don’t wish to hurt him, Irene. This is an awkward situation for the both of us. A meddling witch was certainly not something I ever believed I would come across. When Cormac arrived out of the fog in San Francisco, I had no idea he was from another time. I didn’t believe it. Coming here with Cormac was not my doing, so if you have a problem with it, I suggest you speak with Edna. Cormac and I are just the unfortunate recipients of her matchmaking scheme.” Jenna was feeling a bit defensive as she sat here with Irene’s eyes boring holes right through her.
Irene softened her tone a bit. “Jenna, I dinnae mean to accuse ye of anything. I understand this was nae yer choice, but I ask ye not to give me brother false hope.”
“I care deeply for Cormac, too. I would never purposely hurt him. I don’t want to be hurt either, but I’m not sure how to avoid that at this point. I will be leaving when the time comes and I will be very sad to leave him behind, but I cannot stay here.”
“Why?” Irene asked.
“Why? How could I? I, I… I’m used to my life in San Francisco.” Jenna knew her response didn’t sound very convincing. Surely, she could come up with something better than that. Irene had her feeling off-kilter and that was the problem.
“Ashley did it. She came from San Francisco and she has fit right in here with us. I believe you could, as well. We would welcome you here, just as we’ve welcomed Ashley. She is a loved member of our family now.”
“I’m not Ashley,” Jenna said firmly.
“I know that ye aren’t. I just ask that ye take the time ye’ve been given to consider a life here at Breaghacraig.”
“The tea’s coming and I managed to get some sweet cakes, too,” Ashley announced, walking in and settling into a chair by the fire. She glanced from Irene to Jenna and back again, lifting an eyebrow. “What are you two so serious about?”
“Oh, nothing. We were just talking about Breaghacraig,” Jenna replied breezily.
The servant arrived with the tea and cakes and served the ladies while they sat by the fire.
“Don’t you just love it?” Ashley asked. “I’m certain Breaghacraig is the most beautiful place on earth.”
