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C rystal must have looked distraught because Courteney sat back down across from her with a look of pity.

"Miss, you look a fright," Courteney said.

"Thanks," Crystal replied wryly. "I'm very tired. I don't know how to handle all of this, and whatever is to come next. Jamie said that I need to go to a castle to see the Laird— I can't even believe I'm saying that out loud." Crystal shook her head in disbelief.

"Aye, the Laird will want to know of your arrival."

"What exactly is the Laird?" Crystal said with her brows raised. She'd heard of them, of course, but what kind of power did they wield, she wondered.

"I don't understand what you're askin', Miss. He's a man?"

Crystal shook her head and tried to reframe her question. "No, I mean is he like the King?"

"Oh, aye, of a sort, I suppose. He is the Chieftain of the area.

The English King rules over Scotland, however, everything in our area is owned and managed by the Laird.

There are some English who like to think they're in control of us, but we pay them no mind.

" Courteney twisted her lips into a moue of distaste and rolled her eyes.

"Okay, why would it matter that I've arrived? I mean what does it have to do with the Laird?" Crystal asked.

"Oh, he has taken in all of the women like you."

Crystal frowned, thinking he'd turned all the women Elena and Melanie had mentioned into a harem. "Like some kind of Sheik? He's sleeping with them?"

Courteney looked appalled. "No, of course not.

Only his wife, Anna, as far as I'm aware.

She's one of you, a woman from Loch. She'd have his head on a platter if he were to stray.

" She giggled. "What I meant was, he allows all the women to stay at the Keep.

" She paused for a moment. "He'll probably want to know what happened to bring you here, and how you ended up in the village. That sort of thing."

Though it relieved her to know that he wasn't keeping a harem, she didn't like the idea of being questioned like she'd done something wrong.

"Great. Just what I need is some macho dude interrogating me.

Maybe I can do that later, right now I just want a bath and to get out of these clothes, and a bit of privacy to process all of this. "

Courteney scanned the room, pausing when she came to Jamie still talking to his group.

Then she leaned in and quietly said, "You have been kind to me.

If you like, my cottage is here in the village.

It's empty at the moment because I've been caring for my brother-in-law at his home.

We spent yesterday cleaning the inside and seeing my sister brought to the church for burial.

You could stay there. If Jamie allows it, that is. "

"Really?" Crystal perked up. The idea of having some space to herself was appealing. "That's very kind of you to offer. I would love that. Do you think Jamie will allow it?"

Courteney sighed and looked down at the table. "Probably not. It's dangerous being on one's own at the moment. I don't want you to meet the same fate as my sister."

Crystal knew that she was right, but who would know that she was in the cottage anyway?

Only the few people who had come into the tavern even knew she existed and most didn't seem interested in her at all.

She had to bring it up at least because she was tired and wanted some peace of mind for a while.

Going to the castle, however far it was, and being questioned by the Laird would not give her that.

She watched as Jamie and the Watchmen as well as Melanie and Elena stepped out of the tavern to continue their quiet talk. She could see them through the narrow window. It was now or never she thought.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to speak to them, will you join me?" she said. Though her words leaned toward asking, she wasn't actually planning to ask.

Courteney stood up and walked with Crystal out the door. Crystal approached Melanie and Elena first.

"Good news. Courteney has offered to let me stay at her cottage for the night since she isn't using it anyway," Crystal said quietly so that no one would overhear.

"That's very nice of her, but not a good idea. We can't let you stay there alone," Melanie said. "It's not safe. Not even here in the village."

"It's just for one night. No one will even know I'm there," Crystal replied.

"It's not the people who are the problem—" Elena started.

"What's this I hear?" Jamie stepped toward them.

"Courteney has offered to let me stay in her cottage for the night and I'm going to do that," Crystal said. She squared her shoulders and faced Jamie head on. She wasn't going to let him intimidate her or talk her into going to the castle which was who knew how far away.

"No, lass, that will not be happening," he said.

"I'm not asking for your permission. I'm simply informing all of you what I'm going to do." Crystal smiled. "Consider it a courtesy."

Jamie looked her up and down, a small smirk on his lips. "You're a fiery one, aren't you?" He shook his head. "Stubborn, just like the others who've shown up from your time. You women are different."

Crystal couldn't tell if was a compliment or not, but she stood her ground. "Fiery? If that's what you call a woman speaking her own mind and making her own decisions, then yes I am."

She felt the tension rise between them and she wondered if anyone else noticed. Her cheeks flushed and she realized that she must still look a mess with mascara down her face and stringy hair that had dried in clumps, however she wasn't going to back down to the attractive Scottish Watchman.

"Aye, speak your own mind if you wish, lass, but I cannot let you out of our sight, it is too dangerous. I will have my men take you to the Laird at the castle where you will be safe. It is my duty."

"And how far is that?"

"On horseback, no more than an hour or so," he said.

"So you want to send a newly arrived woman with two guards on an hour's long trip when the sun is close to setting and a murder to deal with?

That doesn't seem like a logical idea, nor does it seem like a safe thing for me to do.

I think I would be far safer if I'm indoors before nightfall, in a local cottage.

Courteney says it's here in the village and not out in the countryside. "

"I know where her cottage is," Jamie snapped, a frown marring his face.

Crystal stared at him, willing him to listen to reason. And her idea was much more thought out and reasoned than his, despite the fact that she was bone tired and still a bit woosy.

He was quiet for a moment and put his hands on his hips as he scanned the village.

Finally he gave in. "Very well. Your reasoning is sound, so you can stay in the cottage, but I will have one of my men posted as a guard outside.

You will stay inside and not open the door for the remainder of the night. Is that understood?"

"It is. I won't want to leave anyway, I'm very tired and all I want is to wash up and sleep. This day has been exhausting."She lowered her shoulders in relief.

Jamie turned to his group. "Rory, you, Miss Crystal and Miss Courteney come with me," Jamie ordered. "The rest of you, please wait for me in the tavern. I'll return shortly."

Crystal enjoyed seeing him in acting with authority.

It only made him more attractive. Melanie and Elena gave her a hug with promises to check on her in the morning.

Then they went inside with the other Watchmen while Rory followed Jamie and Courteney escorting her through the village to the cottage.

A row of cottages stood on the far side of the village, away from the tavern and the shops.

It wasn't too far of a walk, and there was a church just across the way.

"This one is mine," Courteney, murmured, pointing to one in the middle of the row.

Crystal was shocked by how rough looking it was.

She had expected something a little more sturdy, like an English cottage with fresh paint and quaint shutters, but this was more of a dingy stone shack with a thatched roof and not what she had thought it would be at all.

"Here we are. Come inside," Courteney said.

Courteney opened the door and stepped in, followed by Crystal, where it was quite dark until Courteney lit a couple of candles.Rory

Upon the room being lit up, Crystal was relieved to see that it was much better on the inside, almost like glam camping. It was a large one room cottage on the inside with a fireplace and kitchen area, a single bed, and a sitting area.

"It's not much I know. Not as fancy as the castle will be, but it is comfortable," Courteney said as she opened two wooden shutters to let in some fresh air and more light.

"No, it's perfect. Thank you."

"The hearth is used for cooking. Swing the kettle over the fire to boil water. There are some dried herbs hanging from the rack, here. I have not been to the market for a few days, but it is near the tavern."

"I'm sure it's all fine. I think I can manage," Crystal said looking around.

"I will lay out a night dress for you and I have an extra dress you can borrow for tomorrow. Right now I should fetch you some fresh water to wash up with," Courteney picked up a bucket and headed for the door. "The water well is just behind the cottage if you need some in the morning."

"Thank you, Courteney. I truly appreciate it."

Courteney walked out and then Jamie stepped through the doorway making the small cottage seem even tinier. It was the first time that Crystal had been alone with him and she suddenly found herself nervous, not because he presented a danger to her, but because she was attracted to him.

He held a bundle of logs in his arms. "I'll build up the fire and get the cottage warmed up for you." He moved to the fireplace and squatted down, setting the logs next to it.