“But how?” he implored. “I am not from this time. I cannot offer Helene any of the things she sees in San Francisco.” His mission was beginning to seem like a fool’s quest.
“You don’t have to. You just have to remind her that you love her.”
“She knows I love her. She’s me woman.” Dougall thought that much had to be clear to her.
“You keep saying she’s your woman. You don’t own her. Just because you love each other doesn’t give you the right to decide for the both of you.” Sara placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. “I’m not explaining this very well.”
Dougall smiled warmly at this unusual woman. “You explain yerself verra well.”
“That’s a relief. I wasn’t sure I was making any sense.” Sara returned his smile.
“Ye remind me of Ashley and Jenna back at Breaghacraig. Ye have the same way about ye.”
“Helene told me about them. They’re both from this time, right?” she asked.
“Aye. They are.” Dougall knew them both to be strong, independent women who often put their husbands’ authority to the test. Helene had never been like that. She accepted that because he was the man, he was the one in charge and never questioned him. He made all the decisions for both of them, but he had a sneaking suspicion that Helene would not settle for that role any longer. He wondered if he could be like Cailin and Cormac. Could he have a strong woman for his wife, or did he prefer the old Helene? “Mayhap ye can help me. It seems ye ken the ways a lass likes to be treated. I would do whatever I must to have Helene back in me life.” Dougall examined the room from ceiling to floor. Some things were familiar to him, yet very different than in his time, but several items caught his eye and he couldn’t resist the urge to pick them up and examine them.
“That’s the remote control,” Sara said, retrieving the item from his hands. “It’s for the TV. I’ll show you what that is later, but to answer your question, yeah, I can help,” she conceded.
Logan hadn’t said a word, instead staring like a starry-eyed young lad at Sara. Dougall whacked him on the shoulder. “Logan, what do ye think of all this?”
“Of all what?” He appeared dumbfounded.
“As I suspected. Ye were somewhere else and from the look on yer face, I know where.”
Logan appeared suitably embarrassed to have this brought to light. “I’m verra sorry.”
“No need for apologies,” Sara said. “Do you guys want to go do something? I can show you around and we can get some lunch if you want.”
Dougall and Logan exchanged glances.
“I’d enjoy seeing San Francisco.” Logan looked to Dougall. “We’ve been given a chance to see something that few people in our time will ever see. I think we should do it.”
Dougall was beginning to feel as though he was not only losing sweet, biddable Helene, but Logan seemed to forget that he was Dougall’s second in command. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this place and this time. As much as he didn’t wish to admit it, he agreed that Logan was likely right. “Aye. Lead the way, Sara.”
Sara spentthe rest of the day showing Logan and Dougall around San Francisco. She took them to all of the popular tourist attractions. They saw the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39. Had a lunch of clam chowder in a sour dough bowl, walked through Chinatown and finished with a climb to the top of Twin Peaks where they were able to look out over the city. On their way back to her apartment, Sara stopped in the grocery store to buy some snacks to munch on that night and found herself laughing as she watched both men, eyes wide and mouths agape as they strolled up and down the aisles examining everything in sight. She hadn’t had this much fun in a very long time, perhaps years. Dougall, and especially Logan, were easy to be with. They were total gentlemen at all times and their wide-eyed wonder had her looking at her home town in a very different light. Seeing San Francisco through their eyes made her realize just how much she took this beautiful place for granted.
They climbed the stairs to Sara’s apartment, arms loaded with grocery bags and exhausted from their day of exploration. Sara unlocked the door and showed them where to put the bags.
“Sara, that was the best day I believe I’ve ever had,” Logan said. “Thank ye. I’ll nae ferget it.”
“Aye. He’s right,” Dougall added.
“You’re welcome. I enjoyed it too.” Sara began putting the groceries away and with Logan’s help everything was in its place in no time.
Dougall made himself comfortable on the sofa and Logan took the recliner, which once he discovered it moved, kept it going back and forth.
“Logan, I know that’s fascinating to you, but if you don’t stop it’s going to break.” Sara smiled indulgently at him.
“Sorry. Do ye have any whisky, Sara?”
“No. That’s not my drink of choice. Would you care for some tequila?” she replied.
“Tekilla? What would that be?” Logan adorably mispronounced it.
“It’s alcohol. I don’t think you would have had it in your time. It’s not whisky, but it should have the same effect.”
“I’ll try it,” Logan said.
