you for saving me today. I’ll be forever grateful, and I promise, if I can ever return the favor, I shall.” She looked up at him, her eyes fierce with promise. “I will save your life if it’s in my power to do so.”
A cold shiver ran down his spine, and he pulled away, laughing a little to hide his unease. The lass’s words sounded more like a premonition than a promise. “You dinna need to make such promises. From what Gwen’s told me, you’ve already saved my life, and so I think that makes us even, yes? And as a man of honor, I’ll always protect those in my care.”
“Even so, as my thanks, it’s my promise.”
Kenzie yawned, and he helped her get back into bed. Ben blew out the candle and stoked her fire before leaving her room. His steps slowed as he walked to his own chamber, his mind on the men who had attacked them. Who had they been? If Kenzie didn’t have cause for concern, then their words on the cliff today were true…
Someone wanted him dead, so much so that money had been offered in exchange for his life.
It wouldn’t be the first time such a bounty had been offered…but still, since his marriage, he’d not sought out conflict. If anything, he’d become a man who looked for ways other than using his sword to stop conflict. ’Twas not right that he’d be targeted now, years after his last melee with a rival clan.
He must return home, and as soon as possible. His son could be their next target, and should anything happen to Alasdair, he’d never forgive himself, nor could he live with such grief. It was time to return to Castle Ross and be the laird he’d been born to be.
Chapter 6
A few days later, Kenzie strode into the Great Hall and found all the tables and chairs set to the side of the room, servants busy laying out platters of food, while others arranged pretty flowers atop the tables.
“Is something happening, Gwen?” Kenzie asked, coming up to her ancestor and helping her push a table to the side.
“Aye, a wedding. My maid, who’s been with me since we were both girls, is getting married today. I canna believe we’ll both be married and soon, no doubt, Gracie will be with a child of her own. I’m very happy for her.”
“You sound it.” Kenzie looked about the room, the smell of pine permeating the air. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I think we’re almost ready, lass, but we’re about to walk to the church, if ye wanted to join us. We’ll be having the small celebration here afterwards.”
“I’d love to come. I’ve never seen a medieval wedding before.”
Gwen stopped what she was doing and met her gaze. “Is that what they call this time?”
“Yes. Well, we have a few names for the past. Viking age, the Middle ages covers the time in Europe from 5th—15th century, also called the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, and then we had the Early Modern period, such as the Golden Age, Elizabethan, and Jacobean.
“This is fascinating. Were there more?” Gwen leaned on the table, her attention riveted on Kenzie.
“Yes, then came the Georgian and Regency, Napoleonic and Victorian times, and the Industrial Revolution. I live in the post-Cold War era, which is the time after 1991.”
Gwen shook her head, her eyes alight with awe. “I had no idea. How wonderful to know such things.” She turned back to her work. “It makes me quite jealous.”
“May I ask you something, Gwen? It’s a question that has been plaguing me for some time…ever since I helped Abby go back in time.”
“Of course.” Gwen called a servant to take over what she was doing and walked Kenzie to the fire, where they could talk in reasonable privacy. “What’s troubling ye?”
“When Abby arrived at Castle Druiminn she mentioned that you were able to see the future, and that was how you decided that she would be perfect for your brother.”
Gwen smiled. “I do have the ‘sight,’ which is what I call it, and as much as it vexed my brother at the time, I knew the moment I saw Abby that she was made for him, but she just happened to be born in the wrong time.”
Kenzie sighed, remembering how heartbroken Abby had been that she’d never see the love of her life again. How wonderful to be so in love, to crave someone with every ounce of your