Highland Shifter (MacCoinnich Time Travels #4)(26)
Author: Catherine Bybee

* * * *

“It looks like the two of you have been busy,” Mrs. Dawson greeted them when they arrived at her home an hour later.

“You saw the news?”

“You’re quite the celebrity, Simon. What on earth possessed you to confront that beast?”

Helen watched as Simon leaned over and kissed Mrs. Dawson’s cheek. “Saving small children is one of my many talents,” he joked.

Mrs. Dawson blushed and patted her hand on his chest. “He’s good with kids and animals, Helen. You know what they say about that, don’t you?”

“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.” Helen had been spinning in circles since leaving the bar. Their plans to sneak into Philip’s home were on hold. “Too dangerous,” Simon had said earlier when he suggested they return to Mrs. Dawson’s where they could explore their options without as many neighbors watching.

“He’s a keeper. Men who are good with kids and animals are a rare find.”

As if! Simon wasn’t a stray Helen could keep. And he wouldn’t be around forever, so the whole ‘keeping’ theme was moot.

Not that she was considering keeping anything. Getting her life back to normal…now that had a nice ring to it.

Normal. What would that look like? Philip couldn’t be trusted, and the pendent around her neck might whisk her away to unknown times. The only way normal would occur again is if Helen escorted Simon back to his time, returned, then found another job where her boss didn’t break into her apartment. Then things could be normal.

Helen ignored Simon’s eyes as she placed a small suitcase by the stairs. “I’ll go get the books,” she said turning toward the door.

“I’ll do that,” Simon said.

Fine! Let the macho, muscle bound guy do the heavy lifting. Hell, he was probably having withdrawal not carrying around his big sword and whacking off people’s heads with it.

Helen took Mrs. Dawson’s arm to help keep her steady as they walked into the library.

“Are you okay, dear?”

Helen forced a smile to her lips. “I’m fine. It’s been a crazy few days.”

“An exciting few days I’m sure. I’ve not felt this alive in years.”

The sparkle behind Mrs. Dawson’s brown eyes spread to the crow’s-feet beside them.

“Excitement is fine, danger…not so much.”

Mrs. Dawson took a seat and pulled Helen down beside her. “Danger? Who said anything about danger?”

“Simon and I spied my boss sneaking out of my apartment.”

Mrs. Dawson’s smile faded. “What was your boss doing there?”

“I haven’t a clue. He broke in but didn’t take anything. Not that he’d need any of my things.”

“Did you confront him?”

Helen shook her head. “Simon thinks we need to watch him to see what he’s up to. Now that Simon’s mug is plastered all over channels four, five, and seven, hiding behind bushes and not getting noticed isn’t doable.”

Simon returned to the room with boxes of books and set them on a table. “That means we need to find someone else to help determine what the man’s motivation is.”

“But who?” Helen asked. “Mrs. Dawson’s a little too old for breaking and entering. No offense.”

Mrs. Dawson winked. “I’m afraid you’re right about that. Though I’d have loved to try it if I were a few years younger.”

The woman’s enthusiasm made Helen smile.

“We can use your help by having a sanctuary in your home,” Simon said.

“Helen is always welcome here. And you, too.”

“Much thanks, lass. But I have to ask you to extend that welcome to others in my family.”

Helen twisted in her chair. “Who?”

“We need an extra set of eyes and talents I don’t possess.”

“Any family of yours is welcome here, Simon,” Mrs. Dawson said.

“You don’t have to do that,” Helen told her and offered a glare to Simon. The last thing she wanted was to bring any danger to Mrs. Dawson’s doorstep.

“You worry too much,” Mrs. Dawson said. “This home is lonely. When Mr. Dawson passed away, I considered selling it and moving to a smaller, more manageable place, but something kept me from calling the realtor.”

“I thought you said you felt closer to your husband here and wouldn’t have the same memories in a new home.”

“That’s true, hon, but now I think there’s more to it than that. Things happen for a reason and perhaps my keeping this big house wasn’t only for me, but for others.” Mrs. Dawson smiled at Simon as she spoke.

“My family will compensate you.”

She waved a hand in the air. “When will I meet the others?”

“When we return.”

Helen’s head shot up. “Return? Have you figured out how to leave?”

When Simon responded with only a smile, Helen’s entire body broke out in gooseflesh. He had. Her kilt wearing, animal talking, fire starting, druid, gorilla-man had figured out how to move them back in time. Which meant Helen was about to experience medieval Scotland for a second time. Oh, joy. The first was so much fun. Why not do it again?

* * * *

“Why do we have to leave tonight? Isn’t tomorrow soon enough?”

Simon gathered Helen’s hands in his and forced her to look at him. “We’re told to never attempt to be in two places in one time. The sooner we return here with Amber and Cian, the easier it will be to spy on Philip. By morning, he’ll know you’re not in the hotel in Scotland and will either be returning here or searching for you there. You’ve left a trail for him in Scotland, one he’ll probably search.”

Simon had directed Helen to call the hotel back and forward all her calls to another hotel deeper in the Highlands. Depending on how determined Philip was, he’d follow the path they’d left and deter him for a few days. Keeping him there felt safer than him searching for Helen in Los Angeles. And Mrs. Dawson didn’t need danger on her doorstep without Simon there to protect her.

“But tomorrow is only a few hours away.”

He could see the fear in her eyes. “I’ll protect you, lass.”

“But—”

Simon placed a finger over her lips. “My solution to move us back may not work.” It would work, but he wasn’t going to tell her that. Simon’s mother Lizzy had drilled into him how she and Fin had returned to the sixteenth century with only one stone. The words of her chant drifted in his head like the lyrics to the birthday song.