Highland Shifter (MacCoinnich Time Travel) (23 page)

Chapter Nineteen

Helen was a photographer, not a jewelry maker. But since she was in possession of the piece for over a year, she knew exactly what it looked like. Unfortunately, she had no knowledge of how to create the piece from scratch. She didn
’t even know what the thing was made of. Only that there weren’t any precious stones or metal on it at all.

Amber studied the sketch and asked questions. “Is this a Celtic knot?”

“Not in the truest sense. The weave was looser.”

“Less perfect.”

“Right.”

Helen picked up the small sacred stone and turned it over in her hand. “It
’s hard to believe what this thing is capable of.”

“
’Tis hard to believe I’ll be leaving here forever.”

Helen put the stone down and gave Amber all her attention. “You have a great family. I can
’t imagine what you’re going through.”

In the days since the declaration of Amber
’s departure they hadn’t spoken of leaving. Because the daggers they decided to make didn’t have a predetermined image, they went to work on them first. They’d used a standard metal for the time to create the knife and were working on a sturdy handle for both. There was one small sacred stone left over with no clear purpose. They had no idea what to do with it. Not that it mattered. Amber and Helen hadn’t finished the necklaces or even truly started work on them outside of their concept.

“When I was young, a child, I expected to one day marry. I knew the possibility of my husband taking me away from my family. Yet once Tara arrived, then Simon and the others, I knew leaving my family wasn
’t an option.”

“What happened that made you think that?”

“I couldn’t stand the touch of anyone, let alone a man not of my kin.”

“Wow. No one?”

“Aye.”

“Not one kiss?”

“Nay.”

“That means you
’re a virgin.”

Amber nodded. “Aye.”

“I guess I should have realized that before now. Wow. That sucks.”

Amber let a coy smile cross her lips. “You don
’t miss what you don’t know.”

“Yeah, but…damn. I
’m sorry.”

“So was I for a while. Everyone around me found love. Part of me yearns for that life.”

“According to your mom, you’re going to find it.”

Amber shook her head. “My mother said a man will find me in the future, and that he will be the balm that saves me. Nowhere did she say I
’d find love. Or even passion.”

Helen watched a rosy blush creep onto Amber
’s cheeks with the last part of her comment. “When I think of a balm, I think of someone who makes me feel safe, warm, and taken care of.”
Loved.
“I think the man behind this balm will be more to you than a blanket.”

A knock on the door pulled them out of their conversation. “
’Tis Simon.”

Amber crossed the room and unlocked the door to let him in. He wore leggings and a white shirt that hung past his hips. For the first time in days, he appeared rested. “You look well,” he told Amber.

“I feel much better.”

“But you worry about the future.”

“Aye.”

Helen felt like a stalker watching the two of them talk. They were as close as brother and sister, and obviously loved each other deeply.

“You’ll not be alone. We’ll help. Won’t we, Helen?”

“Of course.”

Amber laid a hand to the side of Simon’s cheek. “Thank you.”

Simon patted Amber
’s hand and moved to stand beside Helen at the worktable. He stood close enough that she felt the heat of his body, the smell of his skin. Every part of her sparked into awareness and leaned closer. Simon didn’t back away when her side rested next to his. He ran one finger on the back of Helen’s hand and she knew he was just as happy to see her. “How far have you gotten?”

“Not far enough. You
’d think this would be easy. I wore the darn thing all the time. The chunky details I remember. The chain was thick. This stone is supposed to be surrounded by a loose Celtic knot. But there’s more to it, and this picture doesn’t quite show the details.” Helen waved at the book that managed to travel to Scotland with her. In frustration, Helen tossed the book on top of her backpack. “I know all the materials used to make the thing are virtually useless. No gold, copper, platinum. Just steel compounds.”

“Like that of the knife?”

Helen nodded. “Right. Maybe that’s what we need to use. The steel of the knife is less likely to rust.”

“I seem to remember a backing to the stones, and six prongs holding it in place.”

“I forgot about that.”

Helen sketched the prongs in place on her drawing.

“It’s still missing something,” Simon said.

“If only I had a photograph.”
My camera.
Helen scrambled to her backpack and grabbed her camera. “I had someone take a picture of me with an old guy wearing a kilt at a pub the first night I was in Scotland. I wore the necklace.”

Amber moved to stand behind them while Helen turned her camera on. Thankfully, it fired up without incident. She scanned the images she
’d taken. Landscape shots, people milling about the hotel. Old abandoned castles from a distance.

“What are those?” Amber asked.

“Cars.”

“Moving carriages?”

Helen stopped scanning images and turned to Amber. It was then Helen realized just how awkward it would be to go forward in time. At least Helen knew enough about history to expect a lack of cars, computers, and technology. Sure, Amber had been told about the future, but she hadn’t seen anything until now. “Motorized carriages. We call them cars.”

A tiny fleck of excitement met Amber
’s eyes. Helen made a mental note to go through the pictures she had in the camera with Amber to help her prepare.

“Here we go.” Helen found the photo and zoomed in. Memory of the necklace flooded her mind. “No need to guess anymore.”

“This is amazing,” Amber took the camera from Helen and stared at the display. “The image of you is perfect.”

Something Helen took for granted everyday was a miraculous invention to Amber. “Here,” she said, taking the camera from Amber
’s hands.

With a couple adjustments, Helen kept the flash from flooding the room and stood back. “Move closer Simon,” she instructed.

“I haven’t done this in years.” He moved close to Amber and placed an arm around her shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

“Look over here,” Helen told Amber. “Smile.”

Amber
’s smile was as fake as they came. Helen took the shot anyway. After a couple, Amber started to relax and ask questions. “Are you taking our photograph?” Helen kept shooting.

“I am.”

“But it only makes a small noise.”

“But it does a big job.”

Amber cocked her head to the side and the perfect smile lit her face.

“Got it.”

Helen walked over to her subjects and revealed what she’d captured.

Simon glanced at the photographer with a look of serene pleasure while Amber held an expression of amused fascination. “
’Tis me.”

A soft chuckle fell from Helen
’s lips. “It is.”

Amber placed a hand on Helen
’s arm. “Please take these of all our family. Our home. So that I might look back on them when I miss my family.”

“Consider it done.”

Without warning, Amber crushed Helen into a huge hug. “You’ve given me such a gift.”

She glanced at Simon who winked at her. “I haven
’t done anything yet.”

“You
’ve given me something to remember everyone by. Not that I could ever truly forget, but this will make my leaving less painful.” A tear fell off Amber’s cheek.

Helen felt her eyes well up. “Oh, stop that. You
’re going to make me cry.”

Pushing away, Amber picked up her skirts and hurried to the door. “Where are you going?”

“To tell my mother.”

Then she was gone.

The second the door closed Simon placed an arm around Helen’s waist and kissed the top of her head. “You’ve given her something money can’t buy.”

“It
’s just a picture.”

He shook his head. “What does a family grab when their home is on fire?”

“Valuables.”

“No, lass, they grab pictures. Snapshots of family memories money cannot replace.”

“I didn’t have family photos. Didn’t have a family to take them with,” she mumbled.

Simon took the camera from her hand and placed it on the table, then wrapped a second arm around her. “I
’m sorry you’ve lived your life alone.”

The hard armor built around the emotions of growing up an orphan started to crack. “It
’s hard to miss what you didn’t know.” Amber’s words flowed from her mouth.

Simon didn
’t appear convinced.

He tilted her head and brought his lips to hers. His kiss was full of emotion. It stole her breath and plucked away at the steel around her heart. Her arms crept around his shoulders, but he didn
’t probe further, just took his time savoring this sweet kiss of promise.

Someone behind them cleared her throat and Helen nearly jumped back. Simon kept her from moving far.

They both looked at the door at the same time.

“Mom.”

Lizzy filled the doorframe and smiled. “Don’t let me interrupt.”

Simon rolled his eyes. These two had such a healthy relationship.

“You know…?” She walked in and shut the door. “You really should lock this door.”

“We were only kissing,” Helen defended them.

Lizzy waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Not that. Your camera is sitting there, and the stones. What would someone think coming across them?”

“Amber just left.”

“Yeah, I know. She said you were taking pictures.”

Slipping out of Simon
’s embrace, Helen picked up her camera and took aim. “Amber wants pictures of everyone.”

Lizzy slid beside Simon and smiled. “I would too if I were leaving.”

“You are leaving,” Simon reminded her.

“Only for a little while. Fin isn
’t getting rid of me that easily.”

Helen managed several shots before Liz stopped her. “We
’ll get the whole family together before we leave. No need to do a bunch now.”

After turning off the camera, she tucked it into her bag. Keeping it in the open was asking for trouble. “I should get back to this anyway.” Helen started to weave the bands of metal together for the chain. At least that part should be easy.

“Can I have a minute with you?” Lizzy asked her son.

“Sure.” Simon turned back to Helen. “I
’ll be right back.”

* * * *

The family hall was vacant. Simon knew a guard was stationed at the top of the stairway, far out of hearing range.

“So, you and Helen?” Liz asked Simon.

This was new. His mother never took an interest in his love life. For all he knew, she wasn’t aware he had one. Lizzy wasn’t stupid. Pretending she was would be insulting. That didn’t mean Simon had to share much in the way of details.

“Helen and I.”

Liz placed her hands on her hips and attempted a scowl.

She sucked at scowling.

“I like her.”

Simon smiled. “So do I.”

“She’s smart.”

“I think so, too.”

“Smart, but not completely prepared to be here…with you.”

“What are you dancing around, Mom?”

“There aren’t corner drug stores, you know, to pick up things. I had to raise you for the first thirteen years of your life by myself. It wasn’t easy.”

Ah, got it. His mother was giving him a delayed speech about birth control. Not that it existed much in this time.

Lizzy went on. “The way we all breed around here…. It’s like it’s in the water or something.”

“It
’s in the sex, Mom.”

She slapped his arm in a playful manner. “You do right by that girl.”

“Do you really believe you have to tell me this?” In a way, he was offended by the conversation. His mom should know him better than anyone. They’d been through hell and back together.

“I
’m a mom, I worry. I have a right to worry if I want to. Sex makes babies, not that I need to tell you this, and yours will be
my
grandchildren. You grew up without a father for a lot of years. I know you won’t want that for your children.”