Page 79 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“If you’re talking about Liz, she’s long gone. After you left me penniless, she couldn’t find a single reason to stick around. But that’s old news; you aren’t thinking of staying here, are you?” Jonathan asked.
“No. I’m planning to return to San Francisco soon,” Jenna was uncomfortable stating her intentions in front of Cormac. She knew he would be upset by it. She gave him a quick glance and sure enough, his eyes were focused straight at her and Jenna couldn’t help but see the pain there.
“Okay. Good. So you know how to get out of here then. Sophia and I were worried we’d be stuck here forever.” Jonathan glanced to Sophia for back up and didn’t get any support. Sophia was obviously smitten by every man she saw. She hadn’t been able take her eyes off Cormac and then Cailin and now Robert, who had entered the room.
“What have we here?” Robert asked. “I hear ye’ve come from the future. Is that true?”
“Yes, sir,” Jonathan answered, showing uncharacteristic respect for someone other than himself.
“I be Robert MacKenzie, the laird of the MacKenzie Clan. Yer welcome in our home. Irene wishes ye to join her in the kitchen where she has some food for ye and then she will lead ye to yer sleeping chambers.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jonathan replied.
“Cailin, would ye show them to the kitchen, please?” Robert asked.
Cailin led them out of the room and Robert waited until they were gone before explaining to Cormac and Jenna that Jonathan and Sophia would be under constant surveillance. “We have arranged beds for them in the barracks and the woman’s solar. There will be someone keeping an eye on them at all times.” He looked to Jenna. “Ye needn’t fash, lass. We will see to it that ye are well protected.”
“Thank you, Robert, I appreciate your help.” And she really did.
“Now, if you’ll both excuse me. I have duties to attend to.” With that, Robert left them alone.
Jenna turned to Cormac, anguish apparent in her eyes. “What am I going to do, Cormac? When I leave, do I have to take them with me?”
“I dinnae ken if Edna knows of this. Mayhap she will have an answer for ye. At any rate, I dinnae like the idea of Jonathan being in the same century with ye, whether it be here or back in yer own time.”
“Me either. I really think he’s up to something. I don’t know what it is, but it can’t be anything good. Did you see the way he tried to pretend that he was worried about me? And Sophia, what’s her deal? I can’t believe she has any idea what kind of guy he is.”
“I dinnae believe Sophia is aware of his plan. Not completely. Mayhap she believes he is interested in her.”
“I suppose that’s possible, but I don’t get it. Her eyes are about to pop out of her head every time she sees you, your brother, or Robert.” She’s obviously not that interested in him. I’d love to know what he told her, to get her to leave the diner with him. Maybe I can speak with her alone and find out.”
“Be careful around either of them, Jenna,” Cormac warned.
“Don’t worry, I don’t have any intention of letting Jonathan get the better of me… again,” Jenna assured him.
* * *
The evening meal brought everyone together once again. Jenna sat next to Cormac, who was attentive, as always. Ashley and Cailin were deep in conversation and Jenna thought Ashley was more beautiful than ever with her pregnancy glow. Robert and Irene were speaking with some of their guests as they made their way to the table. All seemed normal, at least until Jonathan and Sophia entered the room. The room lapsed into silence as all eyes turned their way. Someone had gotten them appropriate clothing and as was normally the case for Sophia, she looked like she just might pop out of her gown, as her breasts were practically overflowing the bodice. Jonathan caught sight of Ashley and practically ran across to greet her, as if she was a long-lost friend. For her part, Ashley gave Jonathan an ‘I-can’t-imagine-you-think-I-believe-this’ look, before turning to Cailin and completely ignoring Jonathan’s attempts at friendliness. Sophia’s expression was of someone who was lost, confused and definitely out of their element. One of the nearby men came to her rescue, offering for her to come and sit with him for the meal. He offered her his arm and Sophia looked relieved as she accepted it. Sophia glanced Jonathan’s way and then shrugged her shoulders dismissively, sitting down at a table with a group of highlanders who all seemed very pleased to meet her.
“Who’s that,” Jenna asked Cormac of the young man who had taken Sophia’s arm.
“’Tis Latharn. He’s one of Cailin’s men,” Cormac responded. “Dinnae fash, love, he’s a good man.”
“Good. I guess we’ll just have to hope Sophia won’t lead him astray,” Jenna responded, and she knew she sounded a bit more snarky than she had intended. Cormac tipped his head and gave her a quizzical look, before Jenna shook her head and laughed. Cormac joined her and before they knew it, everyone at the table was looking at them with a question in their eyes.
“’Tis nothing,” Cormac reassured those turned their way.
Jenna watched Jonathan’s reaction when he found that Sophia was already seated at a full table and he was now without a dining partner. No one seemed in any hurry to help him out, but he eventually found a spot at a nearby table filled with couples. Jenna watched as he turned on the charm and made himself at home while the food was served.
“Jenna, are you okay?” Ashley asked quietly.
“Yeah, I’m fine, I just don’t trust him. You never know what he might be up to.”
“I’m amazed he’d actually think I believed his false show of friendship. He hated me in San Francisco, I’m not certain why he would think that would have changed,” Ashley quipped.
“How could anyone hate ye, my love,” Cailin asked. “He must be a fool.”
Jenna smiled at that. Cailin truly loved her friend and she was so happy for Ashley. Happy that she had found a man who could appreciate her for all of her wonderful qualities. Jenna turned her gaze to Cormac, who as always, only had eyes for her. His brilliant smile and smoldering blue eyes turned the heat way up. She could feel it, all the way from her head to her toes and every place in between. Jenna had to look away, so she could catch her breath. Maybe she could be as lucky as Ashley had been. Maybe she had found the perfect man for her. Maybe Cormac could love her, the way she had always dreamed of being loved. Or, maybe she was living in fantasyland. A sigh escaped her lips.It doesn’t really matter. I’m not staying here and he’s not going to come back with me. It’s all just a dream I’ll wake up from, before too long.
