Page 62 of Rory

“The Gods chose to return you to your life on that day,” the hunter guessed. “At this time, Lady Ava and the other women, they’ve no’ yet crossed over. Bodach yet lives in this world, too.”

Ben nodded, and busied himself filling three mugs with an amber brew he’d made so fast Elspeth wondered if his kettle had been enchanted.

“Sit and have some tea,” he told them. “I’ll make a call.”

After he left them Elspeth sank down on one of the chairs by the table and cupped the smooth white mug of tea in her hands. She couldn’t eat, her throat had grown so tight, but a few sips of the tea relaxed her enough to look around the kitchen. By the time Ben rejoined them they had refilled their mugs and were cautiously looking through the cabinetry at all the strange crockery and gadgets.

“Okay, this is very weird,” the healer said as he sat down and took a long drink of his tea. “I called a friend of mine in law enforcement to ask if he could get a number for Agent Ava Travars in Dallas. He said no one by that name works for the FBI. He also couldn’t find an Olivia Gibson, Grace Johansen, Esme Martinez or Harper Ensley. None of them exist in this time.”

“What of that facking goblin?” Ulf asked.

“There’s no Renard Beaumont in California. McKeran’s Castle was shipped over from Scotland and rebuilt here, but it belongs to a private research group devoted to stopping unnecessary land development in northern California.” He shrugged. “They’ve never allowed tours on the property.”

Elspeth suddenly understood. “The McKeran, they’ve returned to Scotland and their time, and took the castle and their ladies with them. ’Twas what they wished. The enchantment, it removed them all from this time.”

“How can you know?” Ben countered.

She gestured around them. “Ulf and I wished to come here with you, to your time. We never spoke of such, but ’tis the only era in which we might safely live together.”

“I never thought about that,” he admitted.

“We must take care to learn what work we may do to earn coin,” Elspeth said. “I may work as a chamber maid, and Ulf can hunt for our food.”

The healer winced. “It might help if first I tell you that I’m a very rich man, and both of you never have to work again for the rest of your lives. You can be in charge of this house if you’d like, but I have a housekeeper who comes in three days a week. As for you,” he said, eyeing the hunter, “you can’t hunt here unless you have a license, and we’ll talk about that later.”

“Aye, and you’ve much more to teach us, Benedict.” The hunter lifted his mug. “I shall take charge of making brew.”

Ben grinned. “We’ll make a trip to the supermarket tomorrow, where you can pick all the oranges you want. First we have to figure out clothes and shoes for you two.”

“First we must embrace,” Elspeth said firmly, standing and holding out her arms. As her men came to her she held them both close. “Thank the Gods for you both, and this life we may share in Ben’s beautiful new world.”