“Damn. What did I do?”
He took everything off his mantel and placed the sword there perfectly displayed. He lit a fire and wondered if Myra was staring into a fire at that very moment.
“Damn.”
Myra felt their presence long before she saw them ride up. Lizzy sat with Simon on a tattered and worn-out cot. The looks on their faces clearly defined their anticipation of what was yet to come.
Even with her heart breaking over leaving Todd, Myra’s heart leapt with joy when the silhouettes of her father and brothers rode into view.
She stood on the step outside the door. Fin bounded from his horse, picked her up and swirled her off her feet. “God’s blood, ‘tis good to see you.”
His hug was fierce, his voice sincere.
Cian, her younger brother, stepped in and hugged her. “’Tis about time you returned.”
Her father’s welcome was more stoic. Tears threatened to fall as she ran to his arms.
He held her as if she had returned from the dead. “We missed you so much.” Emotion swallowed her whole, and tears leaked from her eyes.
“I missed you all.”
Fin stepped past the reunion and noticed Lizzy and Simon standing in the doorway. His elated expression fell, his eyes shot to Myra
“Myra.” He cleared his throat. “An introduction if you please.”
Myra broke free of her father’s arms and turned to Lizzy and Simon who waited patiently for the reunion to end. “Lizzy. Simon. Come meet some of my family.”
Lizzy urged her son forward, her eyes glancing toward Fin. He stared both of them down, obviously annoyed by their presence. Myra wanted to question him, but knew she should wait.
“Da, Fin, Cian, this is Tara’s sister and nephew, Lizzy and Simon.”
Ian sized them up, his face stern. Myra’s skin started to crawl. Between Fin and her father, she worried that they would demand Lizzy return at that very moment.
To her relief her father spoke with kindness.
“We have heard much about you. Tara will be pleased you’re both here.” He kissed the back of Lizzy’s hand in greeting and motioned for Fin to follow suit.
Lizzy’s back was rod straight and tension filled the air.
Myra cleared her throat. “’Tis good you brought extra mounts, father, we have brought back so many wonderful things.”
They rode two to a horse. Simon behind Cian, Myra with her father and Lizzy begrudgingly sat in front of Fin. Lizzy didn’t complain, but Myra knew she felt her family’s disapproval of her presence. The chill from Finlay was coldest. Myra knew she would find out why at the first chance of a private conversation.
Damn, if looks could kill. Lizzy knew she stood the risk of ticking off the MacCoinnich’s when she forced Myra to bring her back in time, but this was ridiculous. The looks Finlay gave her brought the hair on the nape of her neck to a spike. His arrogance pissed her off more than worried her. From all Myra had told her, Fin would move heaven and earth to see Myra safe. Liz always acted no differently in regards to Tara. So why the cold shoulder?
Out of the corner of her eye, Liz noticed her son trying not to hold on to the waist of the MacCoinnich’s youngest son Cian. Simon had never been on a horse before, except for the pony rides at the county fair. Those small animals were led around by a rope and presented little chance for the rider to fall. These massive horses could do a hell of a lot of harm if they took off and left their passengers in the dirt.
She was about to call out a warning for her son to hold on when Fin whispered in her ear, “Leave him. The horses will do no more than walk on the way home.”
She realized he had read her thoughts and found the invasion of her mind disturbing. “He could fall.” “He won’t. If you treat him like a child in front of Cian, he will lose the respect of someone close to his age.”
“I would rather him lose respect than fall and get hurt.”
Fin rolled his eyes. “A loss of respect is more damaging than a bruise or cut. I don’t expect someone from your time to understand.”
My time? He made it sound so dirty. Her spine stiffened, putting more distance between them. She ignored his chuckle and watched Simon out of the corner of her eye. Despite her best judgment, she said nothing to her son and traveled the rest of the way in silence.
The horses picked their way through the light dusting of snow. The massive doors leading into the courtyard of the keep gaped open in welcome. As they moved closer, her father hurried his mount in front and quickly helped her to her feet.
Myra ran into her mother’s waiting arms. Tears prickled again when her eyes met Tara’s. She knew Lizzy’s sister would have questions, could tell simply by looking at her that she felt some of her pain.
Myra sent Tara a pensive smile and gave a quick shake of her head. They could talk later.
Fin and Cian’s horses focused her attention to Lizzy and Tara’s reunion. Myra smiled over at Amber and motioned toward Tara who now started to notice that her sister was being helped off Fin’s horse.
“Lizzy?”
Duncan walked Tara down the steps before she broke away and ran to her sister’s arms. “My God, Lizzy!”
Myra choked on their emotional reunion.
Despite the strange expression passing Fin’s face, she knew she did the right thing by bringing Lizzy and Simon home with her.
Tara broke away from her sister only to grasp a silent Simon and hold him tight.
“How? Why?” Tara asked her broken questions.
Lizzy stared at her sister, tears streamed down her face. “I made Myra promise to bring us. I had to see you safe with my own eyes.” Lizzy peeked over Tara’s shoulder to Fin. Myra felt his scorn.
“It is just a visit, Tara. Only a short visit.” From the sound of Lizzy’s voice, she felt Finlay’s condemnation as well.
Fin lifted a brow then turned and walked away.
“You’re here now. That’s what matters.”
They hugged again.
“Merry Christmas, Lizzy.”
They moved into the main hall and found comfortable places to sit. Wine and ale flowed with many hugs and kisses from all of them. Myra couldn’t help but wonder what Todd was doing at that very moment. Was he happy she was gone? Or surprised that she’d told the truth about coming from the past? There’d be no denying it now that he’d seen her leave with his own eyes. She pushed her thoughts aside and attempted to focus on the joy of her family.
“Did you have a premonition, Myra? A sign to say it was safe to return?” her mother asked.