His gaze dropped to the orb the man was holding. “Who are ye?”
“It’s all right, Iain,” Abigail said as she moved around Iain and ran to the three intruders. “How did you get here? Where’s Bree?”
The man held up the orb, and Abigail frowned at it as if she’d never seen it before.
The small blonde lass threw her arms around Abigail as the man spoke. “Bree stayed behind.”
The small one spoke between great sobs at the same time. “Oh, Abby, we were so worried about you.”
The trew-clad, dark-haired lass pulled the blonde away and gave Abigail a hearty hug. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
As she spoke, she eyed Iain before her gaze went to the bed.
“Why didn’t you come back with the device?” The man’s voice was brusque.
The dark-haired lass laughed and nodded her head toward Iain. “I think he might have had something to do with that.”
Abigail pointed to her treasure. “How did you make the orb bring you back in the exact same place I am?”
“I have no idea,” the dark-haired one said. She waved a hand in the air at Abigail’s confused look. “The orb just appeared on the basement bench and I picked it up. Izzy and Garrett touched it at the same time and”—she shrugged—“here we are.”
The blonde lass said, “Bree said you couldn’t come back without the orb. Oh, Abby, I was so worried we’d never see you again.”
The man glared at Abigail. “She also said it wouldn’t have come back to us unless you sent it.”
“Ah, I didn’t mean to. It was an accident,” Abigail said.
The man huffed.
“Maybe,” the dark-haired one said, “the orb is linked to the person who used it last.”
“Cool, huh?” the blonde said.
Iain rubbed the palms of his hands down the sides of his face. He didn’t understand anything any one of them was saying.
The blonde narrowed her eyes at the young man. “Garrett still refused to believe you’d time traveled.” She beamed at Abigail. “Bet he believes it now.”
“Only because I have no choice now,” the man said.
Iain cleared his throat to let Abigail know he was still there.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Iain.” She held out her hand, and Iain took it. “These are my sisters.” She pointed to the dark-haired lass. “Maxine.” Then, to the blonde. “And Elizabeth. And the surly man there is my brother, Garrett.
“And guys? This is Laird Iain MacLaren.”
“A laird, huh?” Maxine said. She regarded Iain with admiration in her eyes. “Not bad, not bad at all.”
Abigail laughed. “Don’t, Max. He’s not used to people from the future popping up out of nowhere and talking like that.”
“Come here.” Garrett pulled Abigail close. “You too,” he said to the lasses. “We’re out of here.”
Iain took a step forward but hesitated. He had no right to stop Abigail if that’s what she wanted.
She twisted out of her brother’s grip and ducked out of his reach. “No.”
“What?”
“I said no.” She turned to Iain. “Do you still want to marry me?”
