constantly wondering when she could get him alone.
Walking along the side of the castle they came upon a vegetable garden where linen sheets billowed on a line. At the very back of the castle the yard was flat and well maintained, with low grasses that looked similar to lawn, but native. Kenzie walked up to the wall at the edge of the garden and looked down to the rocky shoreline below. The beach was sandy and possibly safe enough to swim. This part of Ross would be a little more troublesome to access if anyone wanted to invade via the sea.
It would probably end terribly, with the boat smashed to smithereens against the stones.
“I love the ocean. It’s so vast and deep. Did you know that the highest mountains on earth are below sea level?”
Ben threw her a puzzled look. “Ye tease. ’Tis impossible, lass.”
She leaned against the wall, pulling her shawl a little closer around her. The wind off the ocean was cold. “It’s true. Can you imagine how deep some parts would be? How dark? It’s kind of scary when you think about it. A whole other world we know nothing about.”
He laughed, and she smiled, her enjoyment at hearing his deep masculine chuckle warming her blood. “You think I’m mad now, don’t you?”
“Nay, not mad. Mayhap a lot wiser as to the wonders of this world than I am, but that’s to be expected when one is from the future.” He pulled her against him, heedless of anyone who saw them. “What else do ye know?”
Kenzie wrapped her arms about his waist. “Let me see…there’s lots of things, like, all the land masses of this world have been found and are populated. We have planes that allow us to fly around the world. From here, for instance, I could travel to America, what you would know as the English colonies in seven hours or so. Bees can smell fear. Scotland just voted to remain part of England.”
At her last statement Ben held her away, his face a mask of shock and outrage. “That cannot be true. A true Scot would never do such a thing.”
“They did, but times are different in the future. Scotland relies on a lot of income from England for support. Most industries have closed or moved elsewhere. Some think Scotland wouldn’t be able to survive on its own, and so they voted to stay part of the United Kingdom.” She stepped back into his embrace, rubbing his back when he still didn’t reply. In fact, Ben looked like he could be ill.
“It breaks my heart to know that.”
Kenzie could understand how it would. It had broken her own a little when the country had voted to stay. But that was the word of the people, and what the majority had wanted. “You must know that Scotland is a lot different from this time. It’s no longer so harsh to make a living. The divide between the wealthy and poor has lessened, for the better, I think. The country relies heavily on tourism, people visiting it for its beauty and history. It still is a wonderful place.”
“But it is not free.” Sadness tinged his voice and Kenzie regretted telling him of his homeland’s current political situation.
“I didn’t tell you to upset you, Ben. I think, if you were to see my Scotland, you’d like it. It’s hard not to.”
He didn’t reply, just turned them toward the castle and back indoors. “We’ve wanted our freedom for so long. Hell, my own ancestors fought and died for that cause. How could our descendants vote to stay? It makes no sense.”
The distraught look on his face broke her heart, and she hated that she’d even brought the subject up. What had she been thinking? She needed to keep her mouth shut from now on.
A guard walked briskly toward them when they came into the great hall, and Kenzie’s attention snapped to the large sword that bounced against his leg. The tall, muscular man looked her up and down, and Kenzie had the oddest feeling that he knew she didn’t belong.
“Riders, my liege, coming from the southwest. It looks to be Clan Grant.”
A chill ran down Kenzie’s spine, and like a flick of switch, Ben stilled, his body tensing under her hold.
Close the gate, and we’ll see what they want when they arrive.”
“They have a wagon traveling with them,” the guard said, stepping back, bowing a little.
Ben swore and met her gaze. “Then it’s not a war party,