Time Walkers 2 Book Bundle: The Legend of the Bloodstone, Return of the Pale Feather (Time Walkers 1-2) (38 page)

Maggie

She did not move to stop him as he walked away. Maggie watched her husband take the trail toward the stream, and when she lost sight of his back through the trees in the moonlight, she turned to Marcus.

“Maggie–”

“He’s your son. How could you leave him? And you lied to me–my entire life, you lied to me!” she accused.

“I
dinna know about him, I swear it.”

“Don’t. Please don’t tell me any more lies,” she said softly.

He swiped at the dust on his face with one dirty hand and shrugged his shoulders, which loosened the leather straps crossing his chest. She looked at the long-handled axe lying on the ground apparently flung off during the fight, and wondered if her oldest friend might have used it on her husband if she had not intervened.

Marcus followed her gaze, and she heard him sigh.

“I never meant to keep it from ye so long. Yer grandda and I decided it was not time to tell ye yet, and then he got sick…” he said. She flinched and pulled back when he reached his hand toward her, the crushed look on his face smashing her resolve into shambles. He dropped his hands and then crossed them over his chest in an awkward motion, as if he knew not what to do with them.

“Go on,” she said stiffly.

“Yer grandda and I–well, we lived here for a time. There were many of us then, the Indians called us Time Walkers. No name of our own doing, ye see, only what they knew us by.” She saw his jaw tighten and his arms clench slightly as if the words pained him. “Opechancanough turned on us, and many were killed. Me and yer grandda, we were lucky to get away.”

She thought the ground started to sway, but it was only the sensation of her blood draining to her feet. He stepped forward and firmly took hold of her upper arm, despite her trying to wave him off.

“My Granddad? You were both Time Walkers! You lied about that, too?” she whispered.

“Nay, we
dinna lie. We planned to tell ye… you must understand, the Bloodstone magic is dangerous, it can kill ye as fast as it takes ye to another time. We could tell you nothing, less risk all our necks. Until ye were old enough, at least, to know where ye came from. It was my duty to protect my clan. I failed many, but I saved some by taking them to the future.”

“I don’t believe you. Why should I believe you now?” She wrenched her arm away and turned her back to him, unwilling to see the pain her words caused him. Never could she imagine she would be standing before him, this man she loved, spitting barbs at him as if there were no feeling left in her heart.

“Believe me or not, lamb, that’s yer right. Ye know I came through time to fetch my son, ye see me standing here before ye. Have I ever failed you? Have I ever let anyone bring harm to ye? I know I deserve your anger now, but give me some credit. I’m still the man who raised ye.”

She had no answer for that statement, trying her best to control the swell of tears that threatened to burst.

“My parents. They were Time Walkers, too?” she choked.

Maggie felt his presence beside her. She closed her eyes as he put his hands on her shoulders. He nodded.

“They are gone, like many of the others.”

“What happened to Benjamin’s mother then? Did she really leave you? Tell me all of it,” she demanded.

“Young Helgrid. We were betrothed as children. She made it through to your time with us.”

“Is she dead too?”

“She’s gone. She left when Benjamin was a lad, I don’t know where she ended up. She couldn’t handle the future, not like the rest of us. But Benjamin–”

“Your son is a good man. Both sons. Both are good men,” she murmured. She felt his fingers tighten on her arms.

“Will ye tell me of him? Of them?” he asked. “I didn’t know about him–about Winn. His mother said nothing, you must believe that.”

She sighed.

“Put away your weapons, and go up to the house. Teyas will let you in. I need to find Winn, he deserves to hear this.”

“I’ll go for the boy,” Marcus quickly offered.

Maggie shook her head.

“No, I’ll do it. He grabbed his bow before he left, I have no doubt he’d shoot your ass,” she muttered. “And Marcus?” she added.

“Yes?”

“Don’t call him ‘boy.’ I don’t think he’d take that very well, coming from you.”

She pointed to the cabin to shoo him away, and left to find her husband.

He was not difficult to locate. She found him sitting on a flat rock that jutted out over the edge of the shallow stream, a secluded spot they used for bathing. She felt his muscles tense and then relax when she put her arms around his shoulders and sat down behind him.

“Will you come home soon?” she asked. Her hands crossed over his chest, and he placed his hand on hers. When she pressed a gentle kiss to his neck, she could taste the bitterness of honeysuckle soap and salty sweat, the scent of the earth fresh upon his skin.

“Yes, I will,” he said quietly.

“He says he didn’t know about you.”

“He speaks lies.”

Winn caressed her hand with his thumb and then raised her hands to his lips to kiss her palms, one by one, hesitating for a moment over the faded silver scar knotted on her skin.

“Come home now, husband,” she said softly, her voice lowering an octave. 

“I would cause you pain,
ntehem
, when I send him away.”

“Don’t make him leave. At least talk to him first,” she urged.

She felt his muscles stiffen beneath her fingers, his chest tensed as he passed slow shallow breaths.

“Please. I’m only asking you to talk to him. If you still want him to leave then, it’s up to you.”

He stood then and pulled her to her feet beside him.

“Come on. I will hear his words, and then send him away.”

Maggie kept her relief hidden as they walked back to the yard. Her husband had already killed one man that day, and Marcus another. Perhaps they could yet avoid more bloodshed.

*****

The threesome was sitting around the table when Maggie and Winn arrived, sharing the new batch of blackberry tea and passing around a basket of fresh bread. Kwetii sat happily on Marcus’s lap, gumming a piece of crust, while Teyas tried to persuade the child to take a drink. Maggie was pleased to see Teyas had scrounged up a white trade shirt for Marcus, and he looked as if he had cleaned up a bit.

Kwetii squealed and held up her arms at the sight of her father. Maggie held her breath as Winn went to her. She could see it in his eyes as he glared at Marcus, the shadow of a strong little boy who grew up fighting for every scrap of respect he garnered. Sometimes loved, sometimes an outcast because of his heritage, Winn had lived as many lives as his Time Walker father, learning to adapt and survive no matter where his uncle sent him.  Now as she watched her husband with his father, she wondered if there was any sliver of hope left for peace between them.

“Here, lamb, go to your da,” Marcus said, urging the child to Winn. Kwetii climbed into her father’s arms and smothered him with sloppy kisses.

“Hungry?” Teyas asked, breaking the silence. Maggie took a seat next to her.

“Starving,” she murmured. Marcus and Winn did not acknowledge each other, but Winn sat down across from her and she was grateful he relented enough to join them. Kwetii babbled happily and picked at her father’s food, trying to help him eat.

“Do you want me to take her?” she asked. Winn shook his head, barely raising his eyes in acknowledgement.

The silence was blessedly broken by the door swinging open.  Winn’s brothers returned fresh from a trip to the outpost, bags full of supplies slung over their shoulders. Rebecca and Ahi Kekeleksu followed close behind. Chetan halted at the sight of Marcus and put his hand on his young son’s shoulder, stopping Ahi Kekeleksu from going near Marcus. The boy stared wordlessly at them, his eyes wide under his thick dark lashes as he waited for his father’s command.

“
Chama Wingapo
,” Chetan said slowly in welcome with a glance to Winn. Chetan stood motionless in survey of the stranger, his arms tensed at the sides of his thick-barreled chest. Maggie noticed the quick exchange between the brothers; a slightly raised brow, a twist in the corner of a lip, and an imperceptible nod. It took only a split second for Winn to convey his approval to his brothers.  Chetan let go of Ahi Kekeleksu.

“
Wanishi
, friend,” Marcus replied.

Maggie listened as the men exchanged cordial greetings in Paspahegh. She was by no means fluent in the language, but she had a conversational knowledge and understood a few of the words. She expected a show of surprise from Chetan when Marcus communicated as such, yet Chetan remained impassive. Always the calm one, Chetan regarded most situations in a peaceful manner, yet like his brothers, he was no man to tangle with. She had only seen him so provoked one time, and that had been immediately prior to the massacre when he helped save her from the English.

“What are they saying?” she whispered to Teyas. Teyas rolled her eyes.

“They act like wolves. They piss on their territory.”

“Oh, Christ,” Maggie replied. The men continued to speak rapidly amongst themselves. She noticed Ahi Kekeleksu standing aside, focused on the exchange as he tore off pieces of his ration of bread and stuffed them into his mouth.

Makedewa listened to the banter as well, adopting his usual disposition when matters annoyed him. The younger brother of the three, he was easily angered, full of rash temper and quick displays of aggression when provoked. He had become a bit less intimidating in the time she had known him, but Maggie still steered clear of him when he had a sour look on his face. Apparently he did not care for the tone of the discussion, his mouth clamped shut in a thin line and his arms folded over his wiry chest as he observed.

Winn said something loudly, causing the others to fall silent for a moment. She could see the way Marcus clenched his jaw through narrowed lips. He looked her way, his eyes meeting hers before he spoke.

“I told yer wife as I tell ye now, take my word or no. I knew naught of ye until this day. If I could change it I would, but I cannot, and I am sorry for it.” 

She bunched the edge of her cotton shift in her hand, waiting for Winn’s response.

“Keep your words. You came for Benjamin. You may stay until you find him and no longer,” Winn said. He would not look her way as he spoke, his gaze fixed instead on Marcus.

“I need yer help. That’s why I tracked ye down. That, and to see Maggie safe.” Marcus sighed. “I don’t know how much Maggie has told ye of the future. They keep records then, more than you can imagine. After I found Maggie’s letter, I found quite a lot of information on Benjamin…and on you and Maggie. You’d be surprised what people keep records of.”

“About Winn and I? What records?” she interrupted. Marcus squinted and looked down at his drink, avoiding her gaze.

“Ah, land records, for one. That’s how I knew where to find you. This head right of yours is unique. How did ye manage to convince the English to give ye a head right property, being a Paspahegh…and you, Maggie, now you’re the same, according to the English, anyway.”

“I serve as counsel to the English for my uncle. The English trust me for now,” Winn answered.

“Do they trust ye enough to give ye information on Benjamin?” Marcus asked.

Winn nodded. “I know men who will talk. I will leave for Jamestown when the sun rises, if he was there, the English will tell me.” Winn finally met her gaze before he spoke further. “You can ride there with me if you wish.”

She saw Marcus relax his shoulders.

“Yes, I will. Thank ye,” Marcus replied.

“Makedewa,” Winn said, “you can tell me about this foolish coat you wear. Join me outside, brother, I need more hands to see to the horses.”

Winn effectively ended the conversation, putting Kwetii on the ground. The toddler scurried to Rebecca and held up her hands, and the girl immediately picked her up.

Maggie watched Winn leave with his brother. Makedewa wore a scarlet coat studded with brass buttons, obviously obtained from one of the English soldiers.