She shook her head. “You’ll freeze your ass off here in that. You need layers. Trust me on this. I’ll be back soon.”
Evie headed for the door.
“Evie?”
Her sister turned, her hand on the doorknob. “Yeah?”
“I’m glad we’re together again,” she said, and meant it.
A smile played upon her lips as she nodded. “Me, too, Chlo. Me, too.”
When Evie left, Chloe stood and removed the borrowed cloak and tossed it on the bed. She peered down at the fire. All of this was too much to take. It was hard to grasp she had time traveled and ended up in what appeared to be the Middle Ages. She understood enough about history to know this time period was not kind and, frankly, she was terrified. Not only for herself but for Evie.
This was a brutal, unforgiving world, especially for women.
Though the way Evie talked about Callum told her she had managed to be okay.
What worried her the most was that Bruce had traveled back in time with her. Where was he now? What was he doing? Did he have plans to find her again? It was apparent to her he was desperate to get his hands on the stone. He knew Evie had apiece and that’s why he had chased her through the museum. What was to stop him from coming after them both now?
Fear trickled through her as she leaned on the mantel, peering down into the fire. It was something she couldn’t worry about now. She was safe here with Evie and Callum and, yes, even Malcolm. Perhaps even Jamie. She had to trust everything was going to be fine.
The door opened, then, and Evie returned with an older woman carrying a tray with a tea pot, a cup, some bread, and a wheel of cheese.
“Chloe, this is Roslyn.”
“I’ve heard a lot about ye, lass,” the woman said, her face crinkling into a bright smile. She placed the tray on a table near the fire. “Pleased to meet ye at last.”
She excused herself to return to her final nightly chores, leaving the two of them alone once again.
Evie handed her the thick shift as well as a pair of woolen stockings. “Here. You’ll want these, too. There’s extra wood and peat for the fire when it starts to die. Toss on the peat and it should keep going.”
Chloe didn’t know what else to say except thanks.
“I’m down the hall if you need anything,” she said. Then she reached for her and pulled her into a fierce hug. When she pulled back, she held her at arm’s length. “In the morning, I’ll show you that proof. I promise.”
“All right,” Chloe said.
Evie smiled, her face glowing with joy. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Then she bid her good night and left her alone. Chloe stood a moment by the fire, numb, staring at the closed door, holding the shift and the stockings, and wondering how she was going to survive in this world.
Thankfully, she had Evie to help her navigate it all. With a sigh, she changed into the shift and the woolen stockings. Evie was right. She was freezing and grateful for the warmth of the stockings. Exhaustion burned through her. She opted to ignore the food and climbed into bed, pulling the blankets to her chin. In a matter of minutes, she was fast asleep.
CHAPTER 12
“Do ye want to explain to me how you came upon the lass?” Callum asked.
Malcolm sat at the long table in the great hall, tracing the scarred wood where Callum’s claymore had landed. That was the day he was banished from Dundale for torching the MacDonald village, something he regretted now. His legs, crossed at the ankles, were stretched out in front of him.
Jamie, the youngest, was across from him with his boots propped on the table and a tankard of ale in his hand.
“I told ye,” Malcolm said on a sigh.
“Aye, ye did. But no the whole story.” Callum stood across from him, his thick forearms folded across his chest.
Since becoming laird, he had been a pain in the arse. Och, aye, his brother was doing what was best for the clan, but did he have to do it with such headstrong authority?
“Ye said ye were with Angus Sinclair,” Callum said.
