Binding Vows(44)

****

Duncan, on the other hand, struggled with the decision to shave his skin bare. He had done so before his journey, knowing he would blend more with the people. Now, he saw his reflection and heard Tara’s voice vowing she wouldn’t get close. He turned his blade over in his palm and considered his options. He took his bath, replaying Tara’s words in his mind. Her mere presence in the dining hall brought a smile to his face. He knew the pall hanging over their relationship had lifted slightly.

While water cooled around him, his eyes drifted down. Sleep was easy once he no longer sensed Tara’s desire to leave. ****

She didn’t think it possible to adjust to Medieval Scotland. But adjust she did, and in a short amount of time.

About the time Tara would be settling into a new routine of classrooms and clinical work at a hospital, she was in a different type of school.

The school of the MacCoinnich clan.

As promised, Myra and Tara fell into a friendship more like a sisterhood. Myra was fascinated by Tara’s stories of the twenty-first century. Her mind craved knowledge. She longed to know what the future would look like.

Tara spent her time observing everyone’s behavior. She learned what was expected, what was 129



Catherine Bybee



proper, and what was not. Myra was Tara’s personal sixteenth century encyclopedia.

The women wore dresses all the time. This wasn’t a surprise to her, but getting use to it was.

She longed for the simplicity of t-shirts and shorts.

When she was alone in her room at night, she would slip into her twenty-first century clothes.

“Why do all of these men bow to your father?”

Tara asked Myra while they watched the men train.

“My father is Laird over this land.”

“What does that mean? Is he like a King or something?”

Myra laughed. “He might think he is at times, but nay. My father is the authority here, he and my brothers.”

“Who gave him that title?”

“I suppose you could say it was his father, but in reality he earned it himself. My father has defended this land from the men who would take it. Although the sieges of the past are not as frequent of late.”

Tara turned a worried look over to Myra. “Are you saying that at any time anyone could come along and take all of this from you? All they would have to do is fight you for it?”

Myra attempted a smile. “Aye. But don’t worry.

My family is strong. The men here would fight to the death to keep it from being occupied by another.”

But Tara did worry. Being under siege might sound mysterious in a novel, but in her new reality it didn’t seem the least bit romantic.

Myra explained that the people of the village depended on the MacCoinnich’s for direction and safety. Ian and Lora would often council the population. And when needed, act as judge and jury to their troubles.

“How do you get used to all the people?” Tara rested her leg on a bench. “I can’t go anywhere without running into someone.”

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“It was worse before my brothers started their journeys in the future. It was common for the knights and squires to spend their days and nights in the main hall.”

“All of them?” Tara stared down at over two dozen men in the yard. All of them heaving heavy swords and sweating. Duncan’s sweat didn’t bother her, but the others... “I hope they bathed.”

“They didn’t!”

“Yuck!”

Myra chuckled. “It was quite horrible at times.”

“I should be grateful I arrived when I did.”

“My father needed privacy for this family, because of who we are. If you were to visit our neighbors in the North you would find their halls filled with men.”

“These men here don’t mind that they are treated differently?”

Myra nodded. “I think they prefer their privacy, as much as we do.”

Tara scratched the nose of one of the dogs who prattled around after her. “What do they know about me?” “That you are under Duncan’s protection.”

“Ha,” Tara scoffed.

Myra went on, “They think you are distraught from the loss of a family member. They’ve been told to avoid approaching you at this time. Your accent will be difficult to explain. Even if you came from a neighboring village your speech wouldn’t be as different as it is. You must keep who you are from them.”

“I know. Your mom told me.”

“It wouldn’t hurt if you tried saying a few things as we do, aye and nay perhaps.”

Tara smiled and took Myra’s hand. “Now don’t ye be worrying about me, lassie. I can hold me own.”

Myra wiggled her nose. “That was much too 131