Abby stopped, turning back to the woman whose voice resonated with one she knew well. Of Gwen’s. “Yes. That’s me.”
“Wow, I had no idea that an image I’ve looked at since I was a child would be something that would actually be standing in the flesh before me.” She shook herself, holding out her hand. “I’m sorry, where are my manners? I’m Kenzie, great, great, so many greats I forget, granddaughter of Gwendolyn MacLeod. Does that name sound familiar to you, by any chance?”
The girl’s eyes twinkled with the same laughing gaze as Gwen had and Abby laughed. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kenzie. You look like Gwendolyn. Did you know that?”
“Aye. I do. Her features have been most prominent in all her descendants. Must be the magic.”
Abby raised her brows. “You seem to know quite a lot about Gwen.” Did the woman know what had happened to her? Kenzie’s presence told her she had, in fact, survived the fire, so why hadn’t she brought her back? Did they not think her suitable for Aedan after all…
“I know what ye thinking, and I think we need to go downstairs to a private room and have a chat. Would ye mind?”
“No. Of course not.” Abby followed her downstairs and they walked into a small room off the main hall.
They sat in plush sofas, the walls surrounded by bookshelves and large carpet squares. It felt very homey and comfortable. Instantly, Abby felt at ease.
“I suppose I should begin with telling ye that Gwen survived the night ye left, did in fact go on to have a family with Braxton and a long life. The tale of your arrival in her time is known in the family as a folktale now, but I always knew you’d arrive one day. I just didn’t know when.”
“If you know of Gwen’s abilities, why hasn’t she brought me back to their time? I don’t understand.”
“She couldn’t.” Sadness tinged Kenzie’s tone. “After the fire, something changed within her. It wasn’t until her own daughter started showing signs of the ‘gift’ that she realized the only way to have you return was through her descendants. She made a vow and it was passed down through the female line, each child brought up to know of yer story and Gwen’s wish to bring ye back. I so happen to be the granddaughter who is fortunate enough to be born in the same era as you. And so, I’m to help ye.”
Tears blurred Abby’s vision, along with the flicker of hope. Did this mean… “So, you’re going to help me go back to the seventeenth century?”
Kenzie smiled, sitting back in the chair with an air of excitement. “I am. I’ll help you as soon as you’re ready.”
Abby’s heart leaped to her throat, hearing the words she’d longed to hear. To think that in a few short hours she could be back in Aedan’s arms, talking to him, loving him as she desperately wanted, was a relief that poured through her like wine.
“I’m ready. There is nothing left for me here.”
Kenzie raised her brows, a little shocked. “Wow. You must really love Laird MacLeod.”
Abby’s heart thundered and she touched her chest, needing it to calm down before it jumped out onto her lap. “I do love him. Very much.”
Kenzie smiled at her admission. “I know ye do, but there was two stipulations Gwen wanted ye to know of. I’m to return ye twelve months after the clan battle against the O’Cains—after ye left. The first reason being ye cannot travel into the past if you’ve already been there at that time. ’Tis an unwritten time travel law. Secondly, things change fast in the Highlands, and in the hard time in which they lived, she wanted ye to know that no matter what ye see on your return, that ye trust in Aedan’s love. Can you do that?”
Abby nodded but wondered what that meant. Was Gwen trying to warn her of something? Had Aedan found another? Had been badly injured perhaps? “I can.” She swallowed, hoping what she’d said was true. “Twelve months later seems like a long time. Did Gwen say why she’d marked this date and not any other?”
“There was a lot of conflict in the area, uncertainty with the clans. I think she thought this would be the best and safest time for you to go back.”
Nerves pooled in Abby’s belly, and she wondered what she would find on her return. Had Aedan missed her as desperately as