Page 59 of Awakened By Time
“Dougall, stop it!” Brenna cried.
“How dare ye take advantage of me sister!” he shouted.
Zeke covered himself with his plaid as he got out of bed. “Let me explain,” he said.
“What is there to explain, I can see with me own two eyes what has occurred here.”
“Dougall, we’re handfasted. Zeke and I have every right to be together.” Brenna pulled the covers up to her chin. “Now if ye’ll leave me room, Zeke and I will meet ye downstairs.”
“She’s right, Dougall. Come.” A red-faced and obviously embarrassed Helene grasped Dougall’s arm and pulled him from the room. “We’re sorry we barged in here. We shoudnae have done so.”
They left the room, closing the door behind them. Zeke and Brenna listened as they made their way back downstairs with voices raised.
“I’m sorry, Brenna. I should have known this might happen. It’s my fault for falling asleep.”
“’Tis nae yer fault. Me brother shouldnae have come in here accusing ye of being with me when ye’ve every right to be.”
“I don’t think he ever thought our handfasting was for more than just fooling yer Da. We need to go speak with him.”
Brenna climbed out of bed and watched as the plaid that Zeke held in front of him tented. She smiled and went to him. He held her in his arms. “As much as I want you right now, we’ll have to wait,” he said.
“Aye,” she agreed. They got their clothes on and then went downstairs to face Dougall’s ire.
Dougall paced backand forth in front of the hearth, while Helene sat nearby wringing her hands.
As they entered the room, Dougall opened his mouth to speak, but Brenna had other ideas. “Dougall MacRae, who do ye think ye are? I cannae believe the way ye’ve spoken to Zeke. He’s me husband. Why is it that ye feel ye can tell me what I cannae do, when I ken ye were with Helene before ye married?”
Helene turned scarlet again and Dougall stood mouth agape.
“Me husband will be staying here with me from now on. We’ve been separated too long, but willnae be any longer.” She looked from one to the other. “If ye dinnae wish us to stay here, then we will stay with Sara and Logan. ’Tis up to ye.”
Helene seemed to get a grip on herself first. “Brenna, we’re ever so sorry. As ye’ve said, ’tis nae our business. Yer legally bound to one another. There is nae reason ye should be apart. Is there Dougall?”
“I can think of one good reason. Zeke isnae staying here. He intends to go back home to his own time.”
“I ken he’ll be leaving. While he’s here, he’s me husband. If ye dinnae approve, we’ll go.” She reached for her cloak by the door.
“Nae. Stay, please.” Helene said. “Ye are both welcome here. Brenna, yer brother loves ye and he just wants to protect ye. He cannae help himself.”
“Aye. She’s right,” Dougall said. “Me apologies to ye. And to ye, Zeke. When she was a wee bairn, it was me duty to watch over her, ye ken. And now that she’s here with me again, I want to protect her still, but that isnae me job anymore. ‘Tis yers. She is still me sister and so I must warn ye that if ye hurt her in any way, ye’ll have to answer to me.”
“Apology accepted. You can be assured I won’t ever hurt her.” He took the cloak from Brenna’s hands and placed it back on the hook.
“Good,” Helene said, apparently eager to change the subject. “Are ye hungry?”
“Very,” Zeke said.
“I’ve brought some food from the castle. Come let’s sit in the kitchen and share it.”
Brenna took Zeke’s hand and they followed Helene and Dougall into the kitchen. It was obvious this was an awkward moment for everyone but Brenna. She had a glow about her that only shined more brightly when Zeke was at her side.
* * *
The Thistle& Hive Inn, Glendaloch, Scotland - 2017
“It’s like a medieval webcam,” Maggie said, as she walked into Edna’s office.
“I’m so glad I created it.” Edna Campbell placed the snow globe on the mantle above the fireplace.