Shared by the Highlanders by Ashe Barker Page A

here?”
    “We’re carrying letters from the English queen to Mary, so have the right of passage through this land. Even so, we avoid encountering the local populace where we can. This is a lonely enough spot though; we’re not likely to meet any curious Sassenachs here.”
    “You didn’t avoid me.”
    “Ah, wee Charlie, are you still holding a grudge because we tied you to a tree?”
    “It wasn’t very nice of you.”
    “Granted. So, shall we make up for it this night, then?”
    “I expect you could. Do you have something particular in mind?”
    “He always has much the same thing in mind, lassie. As do I. Can we eat first though?” Will calls out to us as he appears from a copse of trees. He must have ears like a bat to have overheard our conversation. Still, nothing surprises me now about these two. He strides toward us and drops a couple of rabbits at my feet, victims of his uncanny skill at trapping. Trout, rabbits, is there no end to his talents?
    I’ve always prided myself on my independence but I smile to myself, loving the feeling of being desired, protected. And fed. Cooked fresh meat trumps cereal bars any day. I crouch beside the pile of twigs to light the fire and soon we have a crackling blaze. I avert my eyes from the gory sight of the two men skinning the rabbits. I’ll cook our supper, but given a choice I prefer to obtain my meat pre-packed at Tesco.
    I wonder if I’ll ever see Tesco again, or my car, or my flat, or the ambulance I crew around Manchester. Given my circumstances I couldn’t be in better company, but I’m homesick. And seriously scared of what the future holds.
    “Lass?” Will peers at me, his expression curious. “Is something amiss?”
    I shake my head. “No, not really.”
    “Lass, you’re falling back into bad habits. Do we need to be cutting another switch for your bottom? It would be no trouble.” His tone has hardened, just slightly, but enough to catch my attention.
    Robbie’s too. He pauses in his task. “There’ll be no need to trouble with another. I kept the one you cut this morning, I can bring it to hand readily enough.”
    I shake my head fast, clenching my buttocks. This morning’s experience is still vivid in my memory and I’m not eager to revisit it. “I was thinking, that’s all.”
    “Aye?” Will regards me, clearly expecting more than that.
    “Just, about what’s going to happen. To me. What if I can’t find my way back to my own century?”
    Will shrugs. “Then you’ll stay here in ours, I suppose.”
    “I can’t stay here. I have a life, a home. Friends.”
    “Aye. And family?” Robbie has resumed his task, but is watching me carefully.
    I shake my head. “No, well, yes. My mother lives in London. I don’t see that much of her though. And I have a younger sister too. But I live on my own. Apart from my dog.” I left my little toy fox terrier with my neighbour while I came on this trip. She’ll be in good hands if I don’t return, I know that. Still, I miss her.
    He offers me a tight smile. “While you’re here, you’ll have a home if you want it, either at Kinrothy or with clan Sinclair in the Highlands. You won’t have to live alone.”
    “I don’t mind being alone. Or, I didn’t…”
    Robbie’s features are sympathetic. “It’s a lot to take in, lass. But it’ll work out. Things usually do, eventually.”
    I gaze at the pair of them. “It all feels so strange though, sort of mixed up. And crazy. I have no idea what might be in store for me, yet I know everyone else’s future. I know what’s going to happen. To Queen Mary, and Elizabeth. Lots of things. I learnt it in history at school.”
    Will chuckles. “Aye, and hindsight is a truly wondrous thing. It might be best you don’t tell us our future though. Or anyone else. We don’t want you being taken as a witch.”
    I gape at him. “A witch! Why would anyone think that? I’m not a witch!”
    “No, we understand that, but there are those who might