Page 96 of A Thistle Beyond Time
Jenna wasn’t sure if this was a ploy to buy them more time, but she was grateful that Sophia would even attempt to delay their movements.
“Fine. Make it fast. And you,” he pointed at Jenna. “Stay where you are.”
Sophia disappeared behind some bushes, and when she didn’t reappear in a reasonable amount of time, Jonathan’s frustration started to show.
“Sophia!” he yelled. “Get your ass back on that horse. We’ve got to go! Believe me, I don’t have a problem leaving you here all alone.”
Jenna believed him. “Sophia, let’s go,” she suggested anxiously.
“Okay,” a voice came from behind the bushes. “I’ll be right there.” The rustling of the leaves let them know Sophia was on her way back as she appeared out of the bushes and headed to her horse.
“I didn’t know you knew how to ride, Jonathan,” Jenna commented.
Jonathan shrugged nonchalantly. “Nothing to it. I watched some of the guys at the castle and figured I could pull it off.”
“And what about you, Sophia?” Jenna asked.
“My family had a ranch out in the central valley. We had horses, cows, and chickens. I learned to ride almost before I could walk.”
“I’ve just learned,” Jenna said. “Cormac taught me.”
“Awww… isn’t that sweet? True love at last. So sorry you won’t get to enjoy it,” Jonathan said derisively, and then laughed that maniacal cackle again. It sent a chill down Jenna’s spine. “Oh, wait. I’m not sorry.”
“I didn’t think you would be. You know, Jonathan, no matter how much money you get from that insurance policy, it’s never going to be enough, if you don’t stop gambling.”
“I don’t need you to tell me what I should do. It’ll last me long enough and then I’ll find another rich bitch to take advantage of,” Jonathan sneered.
After hours of riding and getting lost, despite Jonathan’s supposed excellent sense of direction, they were approaching the bridge and Jenna couldn’t think of a single thing she could do to slow them up further. She could only hope the fog wouldn’t appear.
“What if the fog doesn’t show up?” she asked.
“We’ll wait,” Jonathan stated.
“Cormac is bound to come looking for me,” Jenna said.
“Well, he can look all he wants. I’ve got the gun. Gun trumps sword, every time.”
Jenna shuddered to think what would happen if Cormac did show up. She suddenly hoped he wouldn’t. She didn’t want to see him hurt or worse, killed, trying to save her. She suddenly found herself praying he’d stay away.
“Sophia, do you think Cormac and Latharn will be okay?” she asked.
“I hope so. Jonathan gave me the sleep potion and I poured it into the ale I was serving the men. It was just supposed to knock them out,” she explained. “That Sir Richard… I don’t know what his deal is, but he hates the MacKenzies. He said he didn’t want to get personally involved in Jonathan’s fight, but he didn’t mind helping from afar. He said he knew it would kill Cormac to lose you and he seemed pretty happy about the idea.” Sophia explained everything that had transpired between Jonathan and Sir Richard after they ran into him.
“Cormac told me Sir Richard had it in for the MacKenzies. You’re certain he went back to England?” Jenna asked quietly.
“He said he was. He rode off in the opposite direction, after he showed us how to get to Breaghacraig.”
“Jenna, what’s the secret to getting the fog to show up?” Jonathan demanded restlessly.
“I don’t know. It shows up on its own,” she replied honestly.
“Don’t lie to me! You know and you’d better tell me,” he threatened.
“Edna makes it happen,” Jenna said. “I’m not lying. I don’t know anything else.”
“Who’s Edna and where is she?” Jonathan was starting to look frazzled, as if he might lose it at any moment.
“She’s a witch and I don’t know where she is.” Jenna hoped he would believe her.
