The Wellspring (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #12) - Diana Knightley Page 0,97
go.” I looked around the table. “Raise your hand if you’ve already been to 1557 and the original horrible scrum for vessels.”
Quentin, Hayley, Beaty, Lady Mairead, and I raised our hands.
Magnus said, “Tis fine. Fraoch, are ye ready tae go storm Balloch, tae steal some treasure from Campbell barbarians?”
“Och, worse barbarians than the ones I ken a’ready?”
“By two centuries.”
“Aye, I will go. I winna be happy about it, but I will go.”
James said, “I’ll go.”
“Ye will go on a dangerous task with Fraoch and me, Master James? Twill be verra dangerous.”
“Aye,” said James, “but you need three, it’s the magic number, right? And no one else can go.”
Archie said, “I want to go.”
“Nae, I need ye tae stay with yer ma.”
I looked away, my fury was rising, mixed with fear.
Fraoch said, “What do we need, Og Maggy?”
“Horses, swords, the usual.”
I leveled my eyes on James. “Take the defibrillator. No one cares what I think, but at least take it.”
Fifty-four - Kaitlyn
Later, the men were all ready. They had gone out and gathered their things, gotten their horses, and were all convening on the beach in front of the hotel. I had, like a terrible, terrible person, hung out with the kids and been generally unhelpful.
My mind was going round and round. I had been taking care of Magnus for days after rescuing him and so much worry, so very, very, very much worry. And now he was off again. Doing the thing we had sworn never to do — mess with the original time.
And I had set myself in opposition to it, so I was pissed at myself for not being helpful.
I felt a pretty big measure of guilt and remorse and deep deep shame.
The kids were playing on the wide deck, and I leaned on the rail, watching the beach, the men standing out there, wearing swords and kilts, dressed to survive in a cold night of the sixteenth century, preparing to leave.
Hayley came up and leaned on the railing beside me. “So whatcha doing?”
I squinted against the high sun. “Being pissed off.”
“I see that. How’s that helping?”
“It’s not. Don’t be a bitch. You know it’s not.”
“Oh sure, I know it. Your feelings are hurt and you are clamping down and then what? You’re gonna sulk. Seems like some messed up reaction, like the only person who’s going to get hurt is you — wait, I take that back, your whole family. You’re going to hurt your whole family.”
“He’s never not listened to me before.”
“That’s amazing. Think about it, Katie, he asks your opinion. He works like a team, almost always, except now. It must be huge. It must be important. He must really hate going against your will.” She looked at me. “You’re on the same side as Lady Mairead.”
“I know, I want to puke just thinking about it.”
I stared out at Magnus, standing beside his horse. “What if he doesn’t come back, what if this interference changes the timeline?”
“It means I would lose Fraoch too, right? Or maybe I would lose him, maybe not, we don’t know. Not really. I know for the next day I’m going to hold on tightly to my wedding band.”
“I have kids.”
“True. I’m not saying that your worst fears aren’t real. I’m not saying I know what’s about to happen. I have no idea how you’re going to get through the next day. But I will tell you this: if you don’t go say goodbye to him you are going to regret—”
I shoved away from the railing and bounded down the boardwalk, thud, thud, thud, yelling, “Magnus! Magnus!” I sprinted across the dunes and down to the beach and threw my arms around him.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, please be careful, please. I love you. I want you to know that. I love you and you’ve been my whole world and please take care of yourself.”
He held my face and looked into my eyes. “Thank ye, mo reul-iuil.”
We hugged and as his arms went around me, his hands holding me tight, it came to me, finally — this was what he had meant. The voice of Old Magnus had been telling me this.
Tell me to go get them.
I thought it was about people. I sobbed and said into his shoulder. “I was wrong. You need to do this. I don’t know what will happen, but you need to.”
“Aye, twill be easier if ye are in agreement.”
I nodded. “Yes, go.”
He said. “I love ye, I will see ye on the morrow.”