Page 18 of All In Good Time

“She willnae say a word. I promise ye.”

Breaghacraig was visible off in the distance. It had a dreamlike quality when being viewed through the mist, which had become thicker the closer they got to home.

Logan knew what he was doing was the right thing, but he had always hoped that somehow, some way he’d see Sara again. He knew it was a fool’s dream, but he couldn’t help himself.

* * *

“Dougall and Loganwill be back today.” Helene happily kneaded the dough she’d let rise and then bake later in the day. “Ye must be excited to see Logan.”

“My stomach is in knots. I hope he’ll be happy to see me.”

“Of course, he will. I told ye, he speaks of ye often and fondly.”

Sara smiled happily as she helped Helene. She was in charge of the sweet rolls, which Helene told her Logan loved. She was making them for him. Only a few more hours and her reason for traveling back in time would be standing right in front of her. If she wasn’t standing here in sixteenth century Scotland, she’d never believe it could be true. She’d come to accept that there were all kinds of magic in the world. Magic that couldn’t necessarily be seen by the eye and that most people ignored.

* * *

Ashort whilelater Dougall walked through the door. His large frame filled the entryway and Helene was in his arms in an instant. The way they looked at each other was filled with love. Sara could feel it all the way across the room and felt like an intruder in this coming home ritual they shared. She watched silently as Dougall lifted Helene’s chin and held it in place while he gently kissed her and caressed her face.

“Welcome home, love,” Helene said, her voice husky with longing.

“Aye.” Dougall hadn’t stopped gazing into her eyes for even a moment.

“Dougall, we’ve a surprise guest staying with us.”

“I love surprises. Who is it?” For the first time, he looked up and away from Helene. His mouth dropped open and he quickly closed it as he spied Sara waving at him.

“Hi Dougall! Surprise!”

“Sara, what are ye doing here?”

The scowl on his face wasn’t quite the reception she was hoping for, but she had caught him off guard. “I’m here to see Logan. Is he back?”

Her eagerness to see him was apparent to both Dougall and Helene. “Aye. He is. He had some matters to attend to, so we willnae see him until later today.”

“Oh, no. I’ve been waiting for days. Is there any way I could find him? I want to surprise him.”

“He’ll nae doubt be surprised, lass.” Dougall’s face went through a number of expressions as he spoke with Sara.

“You don’t seem too happy to see me,” Sara noted.

“Of course, I am. ’Tis just a shock to see ye here. Ye’ll have to tell me how it all came about.” He strode across the room and taking her hand brought it to his lips. “Excuse my rudeness, Sara. ’Tis verra good to see ye.”

“Is everything well?” Helene asked. She appeared quite confused by Dougall’s behavior.

“Aye. The MacKenzie lands are safe and secure.”

“Good.” The three of them stood in awkward silence for a moment.

“Sara, do ye mind if I speak with me wife alone for a moment. We’ll return shortly.” Dougall took the hand of a very confused looking Helene and practically dragged her from the room.

What was going on? Sara and Dougall hadn’t started off on the right foot in San Francisco, but by the time he left she felt like they had become friends. Now, he seemed put off by her appearance. Perhaps it was just a shock, as he said, seeing her in a place where she shouldn’t ordinarily be. She hoped that was the case. She certainly didn’t want to be a bother to him and Helene.

* * *

“Dougall, what’s wrong?” Helene could see that Dougall was most uncomfortable with Sara’s presence. “I thought ye’d be happy to see Sara.”

“I am, Helene, but there’s a problem with Logan. A problem ye cannae share with Sara.”