Page 11 of All In Good Time
Chapter 4
The door slammedbehind Logan with a resounding thud. Having always been a good guest, he didn’t remember ever having been thrown out of any place he’d ever been. This was not the best way to start the day. Aisla’s Da was being unreasonably stubborn and he had no idea how he was going to get through to him. Head down, he walked towards his horse, muttering to himself the whole way.
“What seems to be the problem?”
Logan looked up to see his friend Dougall astride his horse, Broch. “Nae a thing. Were ye seeking me out this morning?”
“I was. I’m going off on patrol and I thought ye might like to join me.”
“Do I have a choice?” Logan snarled.
“Nae. Ye dinnae,” Dougall chuckled. “It seems ye could use some time away.”
“Aye. Ye may be right.” Logan mounted his horse and rode the short distance back to Breaghacraig where they were joined by a small group of men for their journey around MacKenzie lands.
It was his own fault that Logan now found himself in this predicament. Aisla was his friend and she needed his help. He had no idea that her father’s reaction would be so explosive. He’d need the time away to think about how he was going to navigate this.
“How’s Helene?” he asked. He knew the answer to that question already. Helene and Dougall were happily married and living the life he wished he had. He wasn’t jealous of his friend’s good fortune. In fact, he was quite happy for him. It was just that ever since he’d been back from his travels to San Francisco, he’d done nothing but think about Sara. He’d realized early on it was of no use. She was in another time and verra far away. He would simply have to forget her and get on with his life. Perhaps his plans to help Aisla were just what he needed. She was nothing more than a good friend, but he felt he could learn to love her.
“Logan! Dougall had been speaking to him and he hadn’t heard a word. “Yer mind appears to be elsewhere. What troubles ye?”
“Many things, my friend. Many things.”
“Why dinnae ye tell me about them. Perhaps I can help.”
“My problems are just that, mine. I cannae expect ye to help me solve them.” Logan looked out towards the horizon. There really wasn’t a thing that Dougall could do.
“Why nae? Ye’ve helped me in the past with mine, havenae ye?”
“Aye, but ’twas different.”
“How so? What is so different about yer problems that I am incapable of helping?”
“I didnae mean to say that ye were incapable of helping, but it would take far too long to explain it all to ye.”
“We’ve got nothing but time, my friend. Two or three days to be exact.”
They rode back through the gates of Breaghacraig and assembled the men who’d be joining them. It was the same group every time and so they had developed a strong bond with each other, as was evident in the way they got under each other’s skin.
“Logan, I was hoping Dougall wouldnae find ye,” Fearchal said. The others all laughed.
“Why is that?”
“More food for the rest of us.” This brought another round of laughter.
“Laugh all ye like, but I’m still a growing lad, ye ken.”
“Ye’ll be growing the wrong way if yer nae careful,” Fearchal ribbed.
Logan shook his head and harrumphed. This was just what he needed to get his head out of his troubles. Three days with these idjits would do him a world of good. They set off to the north, with plans to skirt the edges of MacKenzie lands where they butted up against their neighbors the Cromarty clan. They each had a saddle bag full of food and supplies. Fearchal had been kind enough to put a bag together for Logan, which he handed him as they made their way off on their journey.
“Thank ye, Fearchal. ’Twas most kind of ye.”
“Ah, ’tis nae a thing. This way ye’ll stay out of me food supplies.” He barked a laugh and Logan couldn’t help but join in.
* * *
The wagon brokethrough the trees and into a clearing just beyond Breaghacraig. Sara’s heart beat wildly in her chest. This was it. She’d be seeing Logan soon. How would he greet her? She didn’t really care, all she knew was that she was going to throw herself into his arms and hold on for dear life.