THE LAST LAIRD

Chapter 14 - Very Much Alive

William was in a conversation with the man seated to his right, they were discussing politics in a lighthearted way and he seemed to be enjoying himself. The long tables had become quite crowded and a woman about my age was now sitting thigh to thigh with me and eating noisily while pointedly ignoring me. Blair sat on the end of table and it was she who noticed Malcolm's suspicious movements and elbowed me in the ribs to draw my attention. I kicked William beneath the table and nodded toward the head table. He looked sideways, trying not to appear to be staring. Blair and I were concentrating on our food but peering through our lashes. Malcolm had arisen and was leaning over each guest and laughing and sharing toasts. He was making his move.

William arose and walked suddenly toward the table, stopping in front of Jamie and Margaret.

"Malcolm Duncan, is it not?" He nodded toward the man and Jamie looked back over his shoulder, unaware his cousin had been standing there. "We met earlier today. Garrick McGinty."

"Aye, I recall," Malcolm was obviously annoyed but trying to hide it.

"James, might I ask if you and your bride might like to speak to my daughter, Maggie. She is shy but has remarked on your lady's beauty and grace, she would be most delighted to meet her."

"Of course, I would love to meet her!" Margaret clapped her hands. "And we have the same name, so how can I say no?" James helped her to her feet and they both brought their goblets with them to meet Blair. My cosy companion and her husband had moved to another table to sit with friends so we all moved down and Margaret sat beside Blair, and Jamie beside William. My heart ached for him, to be so close to his brother, but he must get some comfort from knowing he was doing everything he could to save the boy's life.

I let them all chat away and as I did so, the truth slowly dawned on me. I felt sick to my stomach and had to look down to hide my distress. We had all been so focused on saving Jamie's life, but I realised now that if we did so, we would be changing the future, and my entire reason for being at the castle for the dig would be gone. Not only that, but there would be no need for the old woman to send William back to help me discover who the skeleton was and how he had died. Not only would I then not write my book, the basis of my entire career, but we would not be together, and most importantly, there would be no Blair. Assuming that I got to go back to the future at all. And if we were stuck here, where would we go? Would William revert to the William who lived here now? Would Blair disappear? What would become of me? Maybe I would be going back on my own, maybe none of it would ever have happened. And what of all the people we knew from the village, most of them good friends, who earned their living from the tourism that sprung up from the dig, and even more so from my book?

Yet what was the alternative? To let Jamie die and the castle burn down? Something that had haunted William since I met him.

"Excuse me," I muttered, getting up from the table and heading for the door. I needed air. I needed to get away and think for a moment.

Out in the court merriment reigned. I wasn't the only guest who had finished their meal and headed out for some entertainment so I blended in easily. I began to realise I was looking for the tent, but I didn't think I would find it since it had disappeared behind us, yet there it was. I was inside before I could think twice.

We stared at each other, the old woman and I. "I'm not here to go back," I warned her. "My husband and daughter are inside eating their meal."

"He is with his brother," she said sadly. "But you have realised the paradox here."

"We can't save him."

"No, you cannot. Even if he tries to stop the murder, it might still happen, as will the fire. If he does stop it....I don't know what will happen."