“She’s from the future,” Duncan declared, a hint of excitement in his voice.
“Och, lad. I told ye no to believe in those falsehoods,” Angus snapped.
But Malcolm held the woman who resembled Evie, his brother’s wife, and was certain she had fallen through time. When she had fainted, her fist relaxed and her fingers half opened. An object nestled against her palm. Gently, he pushed open her fingers and saw the jagged little stone. The stone that had similar markings to the one Evie possessed.
His heart clawed its way to his throat as he plucked the stone from her hand and held it up in the firelight of the torch.
“What’s that?” Duncan asked, moving closer with his torch, which was what Malcolm needed to see the stone clearer. Duncan leaned down to get a closer look.
“It’s a stone,” Malcolm said.
“’Tis nothing but a jagged piece of rock,” Angus said with a snort.
Malcolm lifted his gaze to Duncan, who shook his head, dismissing his da’s explanation. Knowledge twinkled in the depths of his eyes.
“We best get back to the keep,” Malcolm said. He pocketed the stone in his sporran, then lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
“What about the lass?” Duncan asked.
“She’s going with me.” There was no way he was going to let her out of his sight. He suspected he knew who she was and what she held. “We’ll stay the night at yer keep, if ye permit it, my lord. And then be on our way to Dundale in the morn or as soon as she’s ready to travel.”
Angus lifted a brow as he eyed the lass in his arms. “Aye, I permit it.”
He stepped a little closer, eyeing her as the light from the torch played along her features. She was a bonnie lass, to be sure. High cheekbones, much like Evie. Porcelain skin, smooth and perfect. Emerald eyes fringed in dark lashes. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks. Thick auburn hair fell over Malcolm’s arm as he held her.
A flicker of recognition went over the laird’s face as he gazed at her.
“She…seems familiar, though I cannae say where I’ve seen her.”
“She looks like Evie, Callum’s wife,” he said.
“Aye, that must be it.” He brushed away the thought as he headed for his horse. “We best be on our way if we’re to make it back to the keep before morn. We have a long night of riding yet.”
Knowing he was right, Malcolm followed Angus. Duncan fell in step beside him.
“I think we ken where she came from, don’t we?” he asked, his voice low. He had a knowing grin on his face.
“Aye,” was all Malcolm said.
Wouldn’t Callum and Evie be surprised when he arrived at Dundale with her?
***
When Chloe came to her senses, the first thing she noticed was the pungent animal smell accosting her nose. The second the thing she noticed was the warm, solid body next to her. And the third thing she noticed was the soft rocking to and fro as though she were on a…horse.
That must be the animal smell.
She cracked one eye open to see that she was cradled against a man who smelled a lot like leather and musk. He held her in his lap. His hands clutched what appeared to be reins.
The first signs of panic pounded through her. Where was she? Who was he? What the devil was going on?
She had to think to keep her wits about her. What was the last thing she remembered?
She was in her flat. Bruce was…oh, God, Bruce! He had attacked her, tried to take the stone from her. But she had held onto it and the thing was humming and the lines were glowing. He had clawed at her hand, trying to get her to release it but she wouldn’t. He had gripped her so hard, he hurt her.
Deep desperation pounded through her as she hung onto the stone. Then… what…what had happened? She swiped her thumb over it and—
Oh.Oh! There had been a terrible free-fall feeling as the ground collapsed under her. The breath had been sucked out of her. Her lungs burned with the pain of it as it had hit her hard. Bruce was still near her as they had tumbled through the bright light together. He had tried to grab her but she managed to kick him away.
