Border Lord by Julia Templeton Page B

certain it had looked different during the tour. The courtyard did not have rosebushes, and she could remember little foliage, other than the large tree in the center of the garden, a few benches and chairs.
    The knocking at the door persisted. “Annabelle, hurry. Sister Hazel will be furious.”
    Sister Hazel?
    She ran a hand down her face. What the hell had happened to her?
    Terri walked to the door, her stomach churning, afraid of what she would find on the other side. “Wake up, Terri. This is just a dream,” she said under her breath, and opened the door.
    A woman about forty years old, wearing a nun’s black habit, stared back at her, a look of exasperation on her face. “You have overslept again. Sister Hazel will be most upset.”
    “Who are you?”
    The woman frowned, her wide brown eyes narrowing. “I am Sister Helena, as well you know, Annabelle. I realize you are not accustomed to our schedule here at the Priory of Grace, but you must conform like everyone else.”
    “How long have I been here?” Terri asked, glancing down the long hallway where she saw several nuns walking in a small group. They looked at her and all smiled.
    Sister Helena rested her hand on Terri’s shoulder. “For afortnight, my dear, as I am sure you are aware. What is amiss, child? Do you miss your father still?”
    Terri’s father had been dead for twelve years. “My father?”
    Concern marred the nun’s brow. “Aye, I know you hate to be parted, but ’tis necessary for now, child. We will keep you safe, Annabelle. We have given your father our word. One day soon you shall return to Castle Blackcurn and to your sire…but not until it is safe to do so. When he feels the time is right, he will send for you. Until then, you must abide by the rules of the order. You are a guest, that is true, but you still must work for your care. ’Tis best that way.”
    Oh, my God! She had stepped into the twilight zone. “Who exactly is my father?”
    The nun reached out and touched Terri’s forehead with gentle fingers. “You do not feel overly warm.” She dropped her hand back to her side and released a heavy sigh. “Laird MacLellan is your father. Certainly you know that.”
    Terri’s stomach tightened with each second that passed. True, she believed in the paranormal, but that didn’t mean she believed in time travel. The idea had always held appeal, particularly for someone like herself who loved history, but she also realized that traveling to another place and year was impossible. Wasn’t it?
    And how could she be this Annabelle MacLellan? She was Terri Campbell from Richmond, Virginia.
    “Helena, what year is this?”
    The nun straightened her shoulders. “You are to call me Sister Helena, and I fear that given your strange questions, mayhap you should sleep this morning instead of attending mass. I shall tell Sister Hazel you have taken ill.”
    The nun took Terri by the hand and led her back inside the room, easing her down onto the cot. “Just as we promisedyour father, I will promise you that we will not let any harm come to you, my dear. We shall protect you as best we can.”
    Protect her from what?
    “What year is it, Sister Helena?”
    The nun frowned. “’Tis the year of our Lord, one thousand two hundred and ninety-four.”
    “Holy shit!”
    The nun put a hand to her chest, her mouth agape. “What say you?”
    Terri’s heart accelerated as panic took hold. What if she was stuck in this time forever? A life without all the amenities she was used to. Granted, she could never be accused of being high maintenance, but still she loved modern conveniences. Though she had no family left after her father’s death, she did have friends who would be worried about her. Then again, many of those friends were Elliott’s as well. No doubt the bastard would act the concerned fiancé, while continuing to shag the bimbo. She ran a hand down her face. “This can’t be.”
    “I assure you, it is as I say. Child, what is