Page 86 of Edge of Yesterday

“I am sure my father would understand if you have other business to attend. I could get David to accompany me.”

His eyes lit with amusement. “I wouldn’t hear of it. I am happy to escort you.”

He was clearly teasing her, but she wondered if he wasn’t just doing as her father had requested and cared little for her company.

They walked on and she found she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. “‘Tis an unusually warm day for spring.” God help her, she was an idiot.

“It is a beautiful day,” he replied, and she bit back a laugh. Perhaps he felt as nervous as did she.

She hitched her skirts and stepped around a puddle in the road. “What information concerning your family do ye hope to find at the monastery?”

He looked down at her. “You are a curious one, aren’t you?”

“I feel certain ye know the answer to that.”

He laughed. She liked his laugh, carefree and sincere.

“You and Lennox told me that a priest by the name of Father Andrew came to Heatheredge and brought the townfolk to redemption for their part in the attack on Lady Elizabeth,” he said.

Of all the things she imagined he would say, that hadn’t been one of them.

Julianna nodded. “I remember.”

"I was taught that Valdar Ross returned to Heatheredge as a monk.” He took her elbow, steadying her as they navigated several long wooden planks set across a particularly muddy section of road. “I grew up believing he was the area’s greatest hero.”

“Do ye have any idea why you were told such untruths?”

He answered after they stepped off the planks. “Who knows? Stories have a way of changing over time.”

“But usually the changes are written by victors, singing the praises of their own. It is strange—”

“What did you say?” He stopped short.

“I said, it is strange.”

He shook his head. “Nae, before that. You said the changes are written by victors. That they laud their own.”

“Aye, and they do. Like your clan claiming it was us who attacked the wedding party when, in truth, James Ross used the betrothal between his daughter and Patrick to enter Heatheredge and destroy us. Why does it matter who returned to Heatheredge and brought them to redemption for their part in poor Elizabeth’s fate?”

He didn’t speak for a long moment and she thought perhaps he wouldn’t answer. Then he said, “I’m not sure. I only know it is important.”

She thought about that, about how his clan had taught him many falsehoods about the past in Heatheredge, and understood. He needed answers. What better place to search for them than with God?

“What brought ye to Heatheredge?” She touched his arm, lightly.

“A boyhood dream,” he said, as if speaking to himself.

“I dinnae understand.”

“It’s funny, when you think about it. I came here looking for the past, and that’s exactly what I found.”

“Yet things are no’ what you expected, are they?”

He grunted. “No.”

Was that good or bad? She started to ask, then thought better of it.

She touched his arm again, this time letting her fingers linger a bit. “I havnae yet thanked ye for what you did the night I met you…or the day you rescued me from Hugh.”