He urged Dragon into a gallop and headed straight for her. For several seconds disorientation made her sway, and all her surroundings began to swirl before her eyes.
She was falling.
Seconds later, she opened her eyes and found herself sitting on the ground. As she looked up she saw Tynan standing next to her. Joy blossomed in her heart like a new rose.
"Thank God," she whispered. "You … you’re here with me."
His soft smile of happiness lifted her senses until she almost shouted with the ecstasy. Looking around her, she realized instantly something was very different. "It worked, Tynan. We’re here together."
He gazed about. He helped her stand and then brought her close to his side in a protective gesture.
"Sweet Alenna, is this what I ken it is?"
Curtain walls completely repaired, the castle didn’t look quite right. And there were a lot of other changes that couldn’t have occurred in the last few seconds. Including the test pits, right next to where they stood.
"I think so, Tynan."
Alenna knew something monumental had happened when two people walked out of the Black Tower wearing parkas, jeans, and athletic shoes.
"Zounds!" Tynan said as he held her closer. "‘Tis no as it was before. What has happened?"
Obviously, they had both ventured to the twentieth century. She turned in his arms and looked at his ragged fourteenth century clothing.
"Well, you could pass for someone in creative anachronism, I suppose."
"Eh?"
She smiled and looked up at him. "You’re in my world now, Tynan of MacBrahin. There is a lot you’re going to need to learn."
His eyes widened almost comically. "But how? Why?"
Slowly she urged him around the corner, out of sight of the tower. She showed the ring to him.
"The ring, Tynan. Somehow this ring was what transported me through time."
He held her hand and stared at the jewelry as if he’d never seen it before. "This is the bobble ye thought I stole when I first met ye? This ring?"
"Yes. But now I know the ring was always the baron’s … in the past."
"But how did it come to ye in the future? How did ye have it before?"
"Remember I told you I was looking for artifacts and found this ring in the test pit next to the Black Tower? I’d just slipped the ring on when I was hurled back through time."
He nodded solemnly. Slowly, he removed the ring from her finger.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Do ye want to stay with me always?"
"Of course—"
"In this time, Alenna? Or in my time?"
She saw his eyes, warm with love for her, and her heart did double time.
"Wherever you are is where I want to be," she whispered.
"Then I’ll stay here with ye," he said and deftly dropped the ring down a drainage hole near the wall.
She gasped. "Tynan!"
He turned her toward him, putting his arms around her again. "I am sorry, sweet, but I dinna wish to take any chances that time might take ye from me. When I … when I saw that mist gatherin’ around ye again, I knew I had to get to ye. I could no stand the thought of losin’ ye. I love ye."
Alenna sighed, gratified by the heat in his gaze and the warmth of his smile. He kissed her softly, his lips molding to hers for a sweet second. As she broke the kiss, she remembered his beloved horse.
"Where is Dragon? I mean, he didn’t come forward in time with you."
A line formed between his brows as he frowned. "I jumped off him as a I reached the mist. I’ll miss him sorely. He was a guid warrior." When a plane flew overhead, he almost jumped out of his skin. "The flyin’ machines Elizabet told me about?"
"Yes. But there’s a lot more." She cleared her throat. "I suppose I should ask you before you have a chance to change your mind."
"Ask me what?" he asked gently.
"Will you marry me?"
"Eh?"
She nudged him gently in the ribs. "Will you marry me?"
Tynan grinned. Then he kissed her again. A hot, bone-melting kiss that set her on fire. Alenna heard someone laugh.
"Nice costumes," a teenage boy said as he strolled by. They broke from their kiss.
"Costumes?" Tynan asked.
"What is the date?" Alenna said to the boy.
"September 25," the boy said.
"What year?" she asked.
The boy screwed up his face. "Nineteen ninety-seven."
Tynan’s mouth fell open.
"Close your mouth, dear," Alenna said as the teenage boy strode away. "I’m back on the same day I left. I can’t believe it!"
Just then Alenna saw Demi striding toward them. She waved. Happiness at seeing her friend surged within her.
"We have a lot of explaining to do," Alenna said.
"What kind of clishmaclaver will ye tell them? Wad ye rather I speak?"
"I’d better do the talking. I’m wearing a dress from the fourteenth century, and I’ve got a gorgeous hunk of a man at my side."
"Hunk?"
She sighed. "Never mind." Alenna reached up to thread her fingers through his thick hair. "You didn’t answer my question, Tynan."
His expression softened, his smile one of deep love. "Aye … I mean, yes. Yes, I’ll marry ye … you and love you all my livin’ days. How did ye … you ken I was goin’ to ask ye today?"
"I didn’t. I just didn’t want to wait any longer."
"Ah, dinna give me that clishmaclaver." Shifting on his feet, Tynan gave her a wary look. "Now that we’re in yer … your world, I suppose ye will be givin’ all the orders from now on?"
Alenna winked. "Yes."
His face sobered slightly. "I will miss our friends in the past."
Sadness toned her initial feelings of happiness down to a dull roar. "I wish they could have come with us."
"Nay. They wadna be happy in this world."
Allowing all the love she had for him to show in her eyes, she reached up and cupped his face. "I have something else to tell you before Demi gets over here."
"Aye?"
"Remember Elizabet’s prophecy … where she saw me carrying your child?"
For a moment his expression remained blank, then flashed to joy. "Jesu!" He pressed his hand to her stomach gently. "My bairn? Yer havin’ my bairn?"
"Yes. It’s been more than a month. I think it was the night we first made love—"
His lips smothered her words, and in front of all the tourists, Tynan of MacBrahin kissed her so well everyone could see they belonged to each other.
"Alenna," Demi said from right next to them, so they practically jumped out of each other’s arms.
Alenna smiled at her friend. "Demi, meet Tynan of … I mean Tynan MacBrahin. He works at the castle and—"
"I am her hunk," Tynan said matter-of-factly.
Alenna felt her face flame as Demi laughed.
"Well, I’ll say you’re a fast worker," Demi said, grinning and winking at Tynan.
When Demi took his hand and shook it, Alenna almost laughed at the droll expression on his face.
Demi turned to Alenna. "Where on earth have you been? I’ve been looking all over for you. I was about ready to call security. Where did you get that costume?"
"I’ve been a little distracted. I wasn’t feeling too well, and Tynan … uh … took care of me.
Demi looked at Tynan and gave him a huge grin. "I’ll bet. He looks a little frazzled himself."
Linking her arm through Tynan’s and Demi’s arms, Alenna started walking and they were forced to follow.
"Demi, have we got a tale for you. You’re not going to believe it. Oh, by the way, I owe you five pounds," Alenna said.
Demi’s eyebrows twitched. "You saw a ghost?"
Alenna nodded. "Much more than that, Demi. Much more."
Alenna smiled and looked at Tynan over Demi’s head.
With a sexy smile promising love forever, he winked at Alenna.
&
nbsp; "Much more," he affirmed.
* * *
Glossary
Athair
father
Bairn
child
Bairned
pregnant
Bawbee
half penny
Blether
idle chatter
Bogle
ghost
Brathair
brother
Braw
handsome
Canna
cannot or can’t
Claymore
two handed sword
Clishmaclaver
idle chatter
Clootie
devil
Cuif
foolish
Destrier
war horse
Dinna
don’t
Fash
trouble
Feckless
tiny
Gloamin
evening
Graffe
type of small dagger
Guidman
husband
Hie Burde
wooden platform
Isna
is not
Kelpie
demon (water horse)
Ken
understand
Mathair
mother
Sassenach
English
Shouldna
should not
Spae
foretell
Spaewife
fortune teller
Sumph
stupid, soft
Taet
little
Taet doup
little ass
Taupie
stupid young woman
Trebuchets
a type of siege engine
for hurling weights and missiles
Trews
pants
Wad
would
Wadna
wouldn’t
Whingin’
complaining, worrying
Willna
will not
Wud
wild
* * *
Denise A. Agnew
As a child, Denise loved to read and also enjoyed inventing her own stories. As a teen she discovered a love for romance, mystery, and horror novels that stands unabated to this day. Most of all, she loves the combination of "things-that-go-bump-in-the night" and romance. Intertwined with her love to read and write, Denise was determined she would one day visit Ireland and Great Britain.
A native of Colorado, Denise has visited Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. She has also lived in Hawaii and England. Her travels in these countries, and her experiences with archaeology, have made their way into much of her writing.
Currently living in Arizona with her real life hero husband, she writes full time. She is currently working on a romantic suspense novel.
Denise can be reached at: danovelist@yahoo.com
* * *
JUNE 1999 SWP RELEASES
THE BINDING
by PhyllisAnn Welsh
MoonStar-ISBN 0-9668209-8-0
THE BRIDE OF SEA CREST HALL
by Clara Wimberly
Gothic Mansion (Re-release)-ISBN 1-929034-05-9
FIXATION
by NC Anderson
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 0-9668209-1-6
THE LOST DIARY OF GLAMORGAN CASTLE
by Patricia Werner
Gothic Mansion-ISBN 1-929034-04-0
SECRET LEGACY
by Carolee Joy
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 0-9668209-6-7
TANGLED MEMORIES
by Jan Scarbrough
Gothic Mansion-ISBN 0-9668209-8-3
THUNDER DANCE
by Victoria Rivers
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 0-9668209-2-4
VIGIL HOUSE
by Jane Toombs
Gothic Mansion-ISBN 1-929034-03-2
* * *
AUGUST 1999 SWP RELEASES
ANTHOLOGIES
-------------------
MORNING STAR
Edited by Lorraine Stephens
MultiStar-ISBN 1-929034-01-6
Supports Prevention of Domestic Violence
EVENING STAR
Edited by Lorraine Stephens
MultiStar-ISBN 1-929034-02-4
Supports Prevention of Domestic Violence
VOICES
Edited by Barbara Cummings
MultiStar-ISBN 1-929034-00-8
Supports Literacy
-------------------
BEST OF ALL
by Janet Mills
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-29-6
CARESSE; A LOVING TOUCH
by Margaret Lawrence
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 1-929034-09-1
ESCAPE THE PAST
by Gail McAbee
MoonStar-ISBN 1-929034-18-0
FREE SPIRIT
by JennaKay Francis
MoonStar-ISBN 0-9668209-7-5
GOLD OF ISIS
by Hugh Zachary
BlazingStar-ISBN 1-929034-50-4
GROOM ON THE LAM
by Gail Shelton
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-28-8
KINGDOM BY THE SEA
by Stephanie Marie Wilson
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 1-929034-06-7
MOONS' DREAMING
(Children of the Rock: BOOK I)
by Susan Sizemore & Marguerite Krause
MoonStar-ISBN 1-929034-19-9
A TIME TO HEAL
by Kristi Goldberg
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-51-2
A WING & A KISS
by Melinda R. Haynes
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-30-X
OCTOBER 1999 SWP RELEASES
A BAND OF ANGELS
by Bev Haynes
StarryNight-ISBN 0-9668209-0-1
THE BRIDES OF OWL'S HEAD
by Allison Knight
Gothic Mansion-ISBN 1-929034-07-5
BUMPING INTO BUCHANAN
by Sara V. Olds
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-32-6
DÉJÀ VU
by Kerri-Leigh Grady
StarryNight-ISBN 1-929034-12-1
FLIGHT OF FANTASY
by Shauna Michaels
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 1-929034-10-5
MOONS' DANCING
(Children of the Rock: BOOK II)
by Susan Sizemore & Marguerite Krause
MoonStar-ISBN 1-929034-20-2
MUSK RAIN
by Terri Branson
StarryNight-ISBN 1-929034-13-X
STAND ON YOUR OWN
by Christine Janssen
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 1-929034-77-6
TEARS OF THE HAWK
by Barbara Clark
StarryNight-ISBN 1-929034-14-8
TOGETHER AGAIN
by Ann Bachman
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-76-8
WINDGATHERER
by Zach Hughes
StarFarer-ISBN 1-929034-33-4
* * *
DECEMBER 1999 SWP RELEASES
APOLOGY FOR THE DEVIL
by Stewart Thomas
MoonShadow-ISBN 1-929034-79-2
ARRES
by Elaine Daly
MoonStar-ISBN 1-929034-61-X
BRIDGE THROUGH THE MIST
by Denise Ann Agnew
StarryNight-ISBN 1-929034-16-4
DOMINO
by Victoria Rivers
StarDust-ISBN 1-929034-25-3
FATAL VISION
by Monette Michaels
MoonShadow-ISBN 1-929034-52-0
GIDEON'S PRIDE
by Celia Collier
StarDust-ISBN 1-929034-22-9
LYLA'S SONG
by Kay Sisk
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-17-2
NO MOTIVE
by Ann Marie Duquette
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 1-929034-54-7
STALKING HORSE
by Kathleen Cleary
MoonShadow-ISBN
1-929034-78-4
SUNDANCE
by Janet L. Mills
StarDust-ISBN 1-929034-23-7
TARLETON'S WIFE
by Blaire Bancroft
StarDust-ISBN 1-929034-24-5
TICKET TO ROMANCE
by Sandi Haddad
DreamStar-ISBN 1-929034-31-8
WAIT THE MORNING LIGHT
by Bonnie Drury
Deadly Kisses-ISBN 1-929034-80-6