Page 5

That afternoon was rather fun, with Beth, Heather, and Holli showing Alyssa the proper way to make clothing for Scottish bairns. “We’re sewing for all the beautiful grandbabies Holli is going to give me,” Heather said with a smile.

Holli laughed and patted her still nonexistent baby bump.

“You can’t pretend you’re showing yet, Holli,” Alyssa said, shaking her head.

“I don’t know why not!” Holli frowned at her friend.

“Because no one can tell you’re pregnant.”

Beth shook her head. “I can argue against that. My husband knew immediately.”

“His powers sound almost scary. I knew a kid once who ran around saying everything was OP! He meant that it was overpowered. Is Gavin overpowered?” Alyssa asked.

“Not at all. If he used his powers for evil, maybe I would think so, but he uses them for good and only good.” Beth shrugged.

“There’s a tale in the family about the three sisters who weren’t McClains, but one’s daughter married into the McClains.

The youngest of the three, who is an ancestress of the McClains had the power to heal.

At least according to stories, and seeing what my husband can do, I’m not going to quibble.

Well, she put her hand on someone who was well, and shriveled them up and they died.

Now story passed down from generation to generation, but I could see it happening. ”

Alyssa felt a shiver run up her spine. “That’s creepy!”

Heather looked at Beth. “I hadn’t heard that one!”

“I think Gavin is the only one who tells it, and I think he may have stopped telling it to people after my reaction to it.” Beth shrugged. “He’s never tried it, and never intends to try it, but I think he could do it. His power can be used for good as well as evil. I’m sure of it.”

“Have any of the McClains ever used their powers for evil?” Alyssa asked, looking between the other three women.

“Not really,” Beth said. “I’ve heard of some mischief they’d get into and even some practical jokes, but no real evil.

” She smiled. “My mother-in-law used to tell me a story about how she’d fallen in love with her husband as a little girl, and they were kept apart because her father didn’t want her marrying a boy with strange powers.

She told them of how he’d saved her life by sticking his hand into the chest of a wolf and removing its heart. Nonsurgically.”

“Wow. But that wasn’t mischief, was it?”

“No, but she thought it was at the time by the way her family reacted. She was a Campbell, daughter of the laird of our neighboring clan. The sweetest woman you’ll ever meet.

She didn’t come for the wedding. She and her husband are both well over a hundred now, and they stay in more often than not.

But Gavin does the job of keeping his parents healthy. ”

“She’s really sweet!” Holli said.

“I can’t wait to meet her,” Alyssa said.

“What’s she like?” Alyssa asked.

“So kind. So loving. Her children come first in everything, and she loves them with all her heart. She didn’t care if she was married to a laird or a pauper. She would do what was best for her family,” Beth said.

Heather nodded. “She was the most welcoming woman. She still is. She just isn’t moving quite as well as she used to.”

“Can Gavin keep people alive indefinitely?” Alyssa asked.

“I believe he can,” Beth said. “He kept his grandparents alive until they were over one hundred and twenty. No one lives that long, especially not in medieval Scotland. Come to think of it, Gillian has to be older than that. Kennan as well, of course.”

“I hope he survives long enough to help out with the plague,” Heather said, shuddering. “I don’t even want to think about how bad that’s going to be.”

“It’s so weird knowing the future,” Alyssa said.

Bryson and Kendrick strode into the keep then, walking straight to the parlor. Bryson put his hand on Holli’s shoulder. “Are you feeling well, my love?”

Holli’s eyes lit up when she looked up at Bryson. “I’m doing well today. Your father has been healing me at night, so I don’t have the terrible morning sickness I did at first.”

“Good. I hate to think of you suffering.”

Kendrick wasn’t nearly as sweet. He took Alyssa’s hand and pulled her to her feet, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her, right there in front of everyone. “I hope you’re enjoying your day, lass.”

Alyssa nodded, still a little embarrassed, but getting over it quickly. “I am. What have you done today?”

“I’m having the men move rocks to build a strong wall around the village. It’s not so much that we need a wall, but we need them to be stronger, and what better way to get strong than to move heavy rocks?”

Bryson shook his head at his brother. “I’m surprised they don’t resent you. That sort of work is awful.”

“They don’t hate me,” Kendrick said. “They all agree we need a wall, if only to keep out raiding parties.”

Alyssa’s eyes widened. She’d read a great deal about the raiding clans of the Highlands. “Does this clan raid others?” she asked.

Heather shook her head. “We do not. We have everything we need. But others come and steal livestock and sometimes crops. We always get our revenge, but we do not take part in reeving.”

Alyssa sighed. “Glad to hear it.” While she understood that it was something that most of the Highland clans did, she didn’t like the idea that they would make enemies that way. It wouldn’t be good to have people constantly trying to steal from them. There were better ways to do things.

Holli looked at Alyssa. “You two are staying for supper, and Beth, you, and Gavin as well. We’re having tacos.”

“Tacos? We can’t have tacos. What would we make them with?” Alyssa asked.

Heather frowned. “I want tacos.”

“Well, of course you’re invited!” Holli said, shaking her head.

“How are we making tacos again?” Alyssa was determined someone would answer her.

“You know how obsessed you three are with Irish nachos?” Beth asked.

“Well, sure,” Alyssa said.

“That’s how I was with tacos. Now we grow corn, tomatoes, peppers, pinto beans… We may be doing things out of time, but in our little corner of Scotland, people don’t really know about it, and we don’t tell.”

“Wait…” Alyssa said. “We can have tacos as well as Irish nachos? I should have come back in time a year ago! That’s amazing.”

Kendrick frowned at her. “Did you come here to reunite with your friends and meet your soulmate or eat?”

Alyssa took too long to answer the question, and Kendrick pulled her back up against him. “You are on thin ice, wife.”

It was the first time he’d called her wife and not lass. She liked it. Leaning back against him, she said, “I guess I came back to be with my friends and marry my soulmate. And eat.” The last two words were much softer, but he heard them.

“Oh, is that so?”

“It is so!” She turned around and faced him. “Kendrick, you must understand that I have a mind of my own. You cannot control it.”

“I have no desire to, lass. I know what a woman of the future is like. My grandfather, father, and twin brother married women of the future as well, remember.” He was grinning at her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him.

Bryson groaned. “Some things are meant to only take place in the bedroom,” he complained.

“Then why did we…” Holli was cut off by his hand over her mouth.

Everyone in the room laughed at that, but Bryson looked down at his wife with a look of long-suffering. “And why did I say I would marry the first lass who appeared from the future? Would someone remind me of that?”

“You thought you could get out of marrying quickly that way,” Kendrick reminded him. “And you found your lass less than an hour later.”

“It seems to always work that way, doesn’t it?” Bryson asked, shaking his head. “Of course, she’s having my first son, who will not be named Herbert as she keeps saying.”

Heather laughed. “Herbert is an awful name, Holli. Why are you tormenting my baby boy?”

Holli shrugged. “He doesn’t want me to say the real name we want to name him, because he worries it’s bad luck. Well, I can say Herbert then.”

“I would really rather you didn’t,” Bryson said.

Holli giggled. “Herrrberrrt.”

Bryson decided to stay silent and not encourage his wife in her silliness. It was probably for the best anyway.

“What kind of tacos are we having?” Alyssa asked.

“Beef. We have had mutton tacos, and pigeon tacos, but mostly we like the beef tacos.” Heather shrugged. “You make do with what you have.”

“Which kind of beef? Steak or ground?” Alyssa hadn’t had a taco in a good long while. She wasn’t sure how she’d existed without them.

“Steak tonight,” Holli said. “We have ground a lot too, but the steak is better. Cook does such a good job on them!”

“Oh, think of a potato with steak taco meat on it.” Alyssa sighed. “I’m making myself hungry.”

Holli shrugged. “We’ll do that later in the week.” She looked at Kendrick. “Do you have food in your home so Alyssa can cook?”

He shrugged. “I’ve always eaten with family.”

“We’ll stock you up before you go home tonight,” Holli said. “We have a great deal more food than we need for the winter.”

Kendrick smiled. “I would like that. Then my wife could cook for me.”

Heather nodded. “She’s the best cook of the three of us. I’ve adapted to cooking for us, but I think Alyssa will be cooking amazing meals in no time.”

“I do believe my wife can do anything. And she’s not always sitting with her face in her phone smashing sweets.”

Beth looked at her grandson. “It’s called Candy Crush . And it’s an amazing game.”

He shook his head. “Only a grandmother would say such a thing.”

When it was time for supper, Bryson was sent for Gavin, and Kendrick was sent for Derek. They all gathered around the table and Gavin prayed over the meal, thanking God for the beautiful women he’d sent back in time to complete his family and for the ability to make tacos.

Beth smiled as she patted Gavin’s arm. “You said that well, dear.”

“I’ve been married to you for a very long time.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek, and Alyssa loved the way they were with each other. It made her feel like this was a family where love continued forever.

The conversation was lively as they ate their supper, corn tortillas, refried beans, and steak, with a tiny bit of cheese. “Why no more cheese than this?” Alyssa asked.

“You have no idea what it takes to make cheese in this time period,” Beth said, shaking her head.

“We’re low on it right now because everyone is involved in the harvest and drying the foods we’ll need for winter.

We’ll have more again soon. All our favorites include cheese as well.

We’re a cheese-eating family. We try not to complain when we get low on it.

So much work goes into it that we’re just happy to have it for the time we do. ”

“Oh, I’m sorry for breaking a McClain family rule. I didn’t know.”

“It’s not breaking a rule unless you know about the rule in advance,” Kendrick said. “Right, Grandmother?”

Beth nodded. “I suppose. We won’t put her in the dungeon this time.”

At the look on Alyssa’s face, Heather said, “Don’t worry. Beth is just trying to scare you. We don’t have a dungeon.”

Holli put her hand over her heart and said, “Oh, good. I was so worried for a minute there.”

Bryson shook his head at Holli. “Grandmother is teasing, as usual.”

Holli sighed. “Beth don’t scare me like that! I’m pregnant. It can’t be good for the baby!”

“Remind me to heal you before we leave tonight,” Gavin said. “I don’t want you losing more nutrients in the morning.”

“Thank you,” Holli said. “It’s great having a healer who is as invested in my pregnancy as I am.”

“You are one of the two most important people to the future of Clan McClain. Of course, we’re all invested in your future, lass.”

“I’m starting to think my name is turning from Alyssa into Lass,” Alyssa said. “Never have I had so many people call me something other than my name.”

“You could go by Lyss,” Heather said, trying to be helpful.

“Not so sure about that one,” Alyssa said, shaking her head. “I am not a big fan of nicknames.”

“Then the rest of us will try not to use them for you,” Gavin said. “I canna control Kendrick though. I believe a man has the right to give his own wife a nickname that suits him.”

“Thank ye, Grandfather,” Kendrick said, his hand going to push a strand of Alyssa’s hair that had fallen from her face.

Alyssa looked at Kendrick. “I suppose that since your grandfather decreed it, you may call me Lass.”

“Dinna think I won’t.” Kendrick said, grinning at her.

“I think we need to go for hard shells next time,” Beth said. “They’re a little harder to make, but I know Cook enjoys the challenge.”

Holli nodded. “I’m all for it. Oh, I wonder if we have the stuff for pizza. I’m craving a pizza.”

The men looked at one another and looked back at Holli. “And what is this pizza?” Gavin asked.

Heather explained. “It’s a large round piece of dough, like a white bread dough, that you add tomato sauce, and meats and cheese onto. Sometimes you put on things like olives or peppers or onions.”

“That sounds like it could be delicious. Is a great deal of cheese needed?” Gavin asked.

“Yes, but any other time of year, we could do it,” Heather said. “Pizza was always one of my favorite food groups.”

“Well, why haven’t we had it yet then?” Derek asked.

“Pizza, tacos, and Irish nachos,” Alyssa said. “Those are the only three things we ever really went out for.”

“And the main things we ate at home,” Holli agreed.

“Do you ever wish you could go back to our time, just to eat?” Alyssa asked.

“Not usually,” Holli said, “but this pregnancy sure has me wishing we could.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever stop thinking about pizza now,” Alyssa said.

“We’ll do a pizza party in a few months,” Heather said. “Maybe we can ask Dr. Lachele for some modern cheesemaking supplies!”

“How will we power something that big?” Beth asked. She shook her head.

Holli shrugged. “I’d sure be willing to try it!”

“We should. Maybe next week.”

“Or tomorrow…”