Read Online Love Across Time by B. J. McMinn - Free Book Online

if,” she lowered her voice to barely above a whisper, “I have traveled back through time.”
    “Lass, if ye nae be me wife, where is she, and why do ye look just her? I ken ye think ye be telling the truth, but ye havenae left this bed. I saw ye every day these past two months. Ye cannae have left and me nae ken it. Aye, ye be me wife.” With a brisk nod, he leaned back and folded his arms across his chest as if to proclaim his statement irrefutable.
    The stubborn line of his jaw suggested further explanations would be wasted on his granite attitude. He’d made up his mind, and nothing she said would change it.
    She leaned back, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at him. She could be just as obstinate as he was. Let him think what he wanted, she’d solve the problem herself. When the time came and she possessed the gown, ring, and brooch, she would go home where she belonged.
    She didn’t know how long they would have sat there glaring at each other if Ursula hadn’t whispered his name from the doorway. He rose from the chair and in an unexpected gesture, brushed a finger down her cheek and across her lower lip, stirring those unfamiliar feelings in the pit of her stomach again. Her eyelashes fluttered closed at the simple pleasure.
    When she opened her eyes, all she saw was his retreating back.
    The minute the door closed, she flipped back the covers and rose cautiously to her feet. Weakness assaulted her, and she had to clutch the corner post of the large bed to say vertical. Pain gripped her lower leg, and she preformed several exercises the therapist had shown her to relax the muscles. The pain receded.
    She scanned the room. The gown still hung from a peg on the wall. Memory of how the gown had swirled around her and how the ring and brooch appeared to catch fire sent her skin into spasmodic rippleslike the surface of water on a windy day. If the items had propelled her back in time, then they should be able to send her in the opposite direction.
    She took one-step to test her legs strength. When they didn’t collapse beneath her, she took another, then another. The gown was within her reach when the door swung open.
    “What ye be doing, lass?” Ursula screeched from the doorway. She sat the tray she carried on the floor and hurried toward her. “Yer leg hasnae healed. Ye’ll be doing yerself more harm than good if ye fall. Come, let me help ye back to bed.”
    Exhausted from her meager effort, she allowed Ursula to lead her away from her intended goal: the gown.
    “I wanted to get dressed. I am bored to tears.” How could she find a way home confined to this room.
    Her gaze dropped to her hand. The ring! It was gone. Someone had taken her ring. She glanced over her shoulder. Was the brooch still attached to the gown? They had to be here somewhere. Her gaze swept the room, searching for hiding places, while Ursula continued to fuss at her.
    “Och, I leave ye alone for a wee while and ye get bored. I see we cannae leave ye to yerself afeared ye’ll do something foolish.”
    With her arm around Maggie’s waist, Ursula hefted her closer to her side. “A messenger came fer the Laird, and he needed to speak to the mon,” she explained. “He’ll be back soon.”
    “I do not need someone to watch over me.” She squirmed. Positive she’d have bruises where Ursula gripped her.
    “Lass, ye ne’er been alone since ye fell. Liam ne’er abandoned hope that ye’d awaken. This chair has been his bed most nights. He dinnae stray from yer side for more than an hour this whole time. I had to force the lad to eat and drink.”
    Drat, if he continued his constant vigil at her bedside she’d never find the ring and brooch.
    Ursula managed to limp, drag, and haul her to bed. During the whole process, she kept up a litany of orders. Don’t get out of bed. Don’t overdo. Don’t refuse to ask for help. The list grew and grew. Her bottom had barely touched the bed when Liam barged in without any