Page 82 of A Thistle Beyond Time
Cormac appeared stunned by the admission. “Do ye, Jenna?” he responded quietly.
“I do, Cormac,” she said, realization dawning. She really did. Back in San Francisco, she thought she might be falling in love with him, but she’d just confirmed it in her own mind. It wasn’t a romantic dream she’d been having. It was something so much more. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Cormac. You’re kind, you’re patient, and you’re fun to be with. You make me feel so special. I’ve never had that before. I didn’t think it was possible for me to fall in love again and I’ve been denying it ever since we met. I thought I was a really bad judge of character because of what happened with Jonathan, but you’ve proven me wrong.”
Cormac seemed speechless. The love in his eyes was apparent. After a moment, he said, “Ye fill my heart, Jenna. It feels ready to burst with happiness. Does this mean ye’ll stay? Please, stay, Jenna. Ye can’t leave now.”
The euphoria Jenna had been experiencing vanished as she realized that this was not going to work. She had just told Cormac she loved him and she’d made the mistake of letting him think they had hope of a future together. Irene was right. She was going to break his heart and hers was going to be broken as well.
“Jenna?” Cormac sounded worried. “What’s wrong, lass? Ye were so happy and now ye seem…” His voice trailed off. He must have guessed exactly what Jenna was thinking.
“I’m sorry, Cormac. I shouldn’t have said any of those things to you. I’m a terrible person. Please forgive me.” Tears welled up in Jenna’s eyes as she realized what a dreadful mess she had made. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Cormac hugged her tightly to his chest. “Dinnae greet, Jenna, love. I understand. I truly do. ’Tis a terrible trick that has been played upon us. ’Tis nae yer fault. There is nothing for me to forgive.”
Jenna sniffled and gulped for air. Tear filled eyes gazed into Cormac’s and she saw that he too had eyes full of sadness. Why had this happened to them? She silently cursed Edna and once again was thankful she wasn’t standing in front of her. If she had been, Jenna might have knocked her on her ass. Cormac put one arm around her and holding the lead rope in the other hand, led Jenna and Rose back to the stables. Jenna was inconsolable as he handed Rose off to the stable boy.
“Come, Jenna, we can’t have the others see ye like this. Let’s sit for a moment.” He led her to a bench just outside of the stables, but hidden from the view of any passersby. There they sat, each in their own world of hurt. Each wanting something they knew was not going to be possible. It took a while, but eventually they were able to express their feelings.
“I’m sorry, Cormac. I’ve made a complete mess of things,” Jenna apologized again.
“Jenna. Ye must not feel that this is yer doing. ’Tis not.”
“I know. I guess on some level, I wish I could stay here with you. Not go back home. I’d have you and Ashley.”
“Ye’d have much more than just the two of us. Ye’d have my family, my clan.”
“I don’t think your sister likes me very much. I don’t know that I’d fit in here.”
“Irene and ye are verra much alike. She is my sister and she believes ‘tis her role in life to take care of Cailin and me. Ye’d think she had enough to do with looking after her own bairns, her husband and being the Lady of the castle,” he chuckled. “You may not have brothers, or bairns, but ye have Dylan. Ye take care of him and ye’d be verra suspicious of any woman who was in his life for more than a mere night. Ye love him as though he were yer brother. Ye have yer friends and yer life in San Francisco. I cannae ask ye to give all that up for me and as much as I love ye, Jenna, I dinnae believe I could survive in San Francisco. I fear I would be lost and that I’d become a burden to ye. I couldnae live with that.”
“You’d never be a burden to me, Cormac. But, you’re right. It would be much too difficult for you to jump ahead by five hundred years and fit comfortably into life there. It was a fun vacation, but living it every day is something else altogether.”
“Well, then, I think we agree that we only have a few days together. So, I’d like to spend them with ye, Jenna. But I want to see yer smiling face and know that we are making the most of every second we have together. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Jenna smiled for the first time since they’d sat down.
“Then let’s go see what mischief we can get into, shall we?”
He took Jenna’s hand and they wandered off towards the castle doors.
* * *
Cormac opened the doors to Breaghacraig and peeked around in search of his sister. It was totally silent inside. No one was around to disturb them. When he’d suggested that they see what mischief they could get into, both he and Jenna knew exactly what he meant. He wanted to be alone with her, but he had a few things he needed to get in order first.
“Wait for me up in yer chambers, Jenna. I willnae be long, I promise.”
“I hope not. I can’t get out of this dress on my own, Mister,” Jenna playfully eyed Cormac as she headed for the stairs.
Cormac laughed as he headed off to find someone to help draw a bath for them. Well, technically it had to be for Jenna. He couldn’t exactly tell anyone it was for both of them, but what they didn’t know couldn’t hurt anyone. He rounded up the tub, the largest one he could find, and the boys to bring the hot water. He also found some of Robert’s fine wine and two goblets. Cheese and fruit were next and for good measure, he went out to the garden and picked a beautiful red rose for his love.
Arriving upstairs in Jenna’s room, he found her waiting patiently for him in a chair by the fireplace, where he presented her with his treasures.
“I tried to start a fire, but I’m not very good at it,” she admitted.
“I’ll take care of that for ye, my sweet.” Cormac got the fire started and it was blazing merrily before long.
“Don’t you think that might be a bit too much heat?” Jenna asked.
“Not at all, love,” Cormac replied. There was a knock at the door and he opened it up to a troop of young boys with buckets of hot water and a large tub, which they set by the fire. Jenna seemed to be catching on as her tongue darted out to wet her lips.
