Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Ship ahoy, Captain!" a lad called from the ship's crow's nest.

John barely viewed the outline of another ship as it sailed in the rainy distance. God, how he wished Marie traveled this close, so he could reach out, grab her, and take her to safety.

His father stood next to him with a spyglass. "Too far to tell, and in this rain. I don't know, son."

John closed his eyes. He sensed her call him, and while his logical mind told him this was nothing more than his yearning, his heart told him differently. They sailed close to Iona and might catch up with the priest and Marie. He feared they missed them altogether.

His father spoke softly. "Ye know, John, fear—it's a good and bad feeling."

John opened his eyes and gazed at the ship across the sea as his father's voice calmed him. "Fear can apply to many different areas of yer life."

Douglas leaned on the railing. "At times ye fear losing yer friends, or ye fear for yer children's health." Had his da feared for him when he chose to leave the future? John would have.

"Ye fear for loved ones, especially the one closest to yer heart." His father was right. His fear for Marie was so high at times he couldn't think straight, but other times, so clearly.

His da huffed a laugh. "Fear of losing yer quick wit—" Douglas took a deep breath. "—and so much more."

John turned to his father, who tapped his arm. "What defines ye is how ye deal and cope with fear." His father made a fist. "The emotion can either eat ye up inside or ye use it to fuel yer actions to help ye steer to a better outcome." His da released the fist and waved his hand out over the ocean. "Whether by fate or choice."

They stood silent momentarily, the waves lapping against the ship as the rigging creaked.

Fate or choice echoed in John's mind. Fate acted on people. Yet choice, well, that was what someone made of a situation—choose to sit back or decide to act.

He glanced at his da, who winked at him. "Facing yer fears, John, it's what defines ye as a man."

His father clapped him on the back. "Have no fear, son. We'll find her soon."

John nodded as his father walked away.

He closed his eyes trying to find peace and remembering the kayak trip they took together on Loch Etive rolled into his mind.

****

Marie wobbled in the small craft as she adjusted her seat for the tenth time. "John, I am not as experienced a kayaker as ye. Ye will have to help me if things get rough."

John smiled at her. "Ye will be fine. We are in the same kayak, and I'm in the back so I can control it all the time. Just do as I say and follow my lead."

They steered out of the marina in the two-man kayak. John sat behind Marie, and she kept glancing back at him.

He grinned and winked. "What do ye call a rock that bunks school?"

Marie laughed out loud. "Wait, I know this one. A skipping stone."

John grunted. "Aw, now she's on to me."

John steered them toward the Falls of Lora. The time neared, the change in tides, and the rapids churned as they created a rushing set of waves. He enjoyed the falls every spring and wanted to share this with Marie. He hoped Marie remained up for the challenge.

Marie looked around. "John, we aren't going to the falls, are we?" She glanced back at him; her voice faltered. "John, I am not skilled enough for the falls."

John lifted his paddle and rested it across his lap. "Marie, I am skilled enough. I run the falls all the time. They are light this time of year and I promise, ye will be safe with me."

John picked up his paddle, and they continued to the falls as she spoke. "The Falls of Lora is a narrow gap hemmed in Loch Etive and a shallow underwater cill."

John switched his paddle to the other side of the boat. "Depending upon the tide, the level of the loch can vary by several feet from the sea level. As the ocean level outside the loch rises or falls, vast amounts of water spills into or out of the body of water. The resulting conditions range from a strong current or a rough rapid forming midstream."

Marie turned and gazed into his eyes. He looked back with the affection in his heart. He wanted her to see he would always be there for her.

He set his paddle in his lap as they freely drifted. "The falls are a law unto themselves. But don't fear, this is a mild time, and we'll have a good ride."

As they neared the falls, Marie tensed when the roar of the waves reached them.

John needed her relaxed, ready as he shouted commands, so they would make it through the rapids safely. "Marie, listen, all ye need to do is keep yer paddle in the water with the edge out to help guide us. When I say switch sides, just change sides of the boat. I'll do the rest from back here. Keep yer weight in the center and I'll rock the boat to the sides. Okay?"

Marie peeked back at him and nodded.

She smiled. "If ye can control it, I think it'll be fun to ride the waves."

John guided them into the falls, and they rolled a little to the right. "Change sides," John yelled.

Marie flipped her paddle. They rolled to the other side and rushed out of the falls. Marie yelped as John laughed.

Marie panted and peered back at John. "I did it. We didn't die."

John laughed out loud. "Want to try again?"

Marie nodded as her grin went wide. They rode the waves for an hour before the tide changed and they paddled back to the marina.

John maneuvered the small craft near the dock, caught the side, and tied his end to the cleat. "Marie, stay in the boat. I'll get out first then help ye out so ye don't dunk in the loch."

He stood and the boat wobbled as he stepped out.

Marie cried out. "John!"

Her end of the boat drifted from the dock. He quickly bent and grabbed the side of the ship.

He pulled the vessel closer, took the rope, and secured her end of the kayak. "Nothing to worry about m'eudail."

John helped her out of the boat, she stumbled, and John caught her in his arms.

She huffed. "John, my body feels like a noodle."

He smiled. "Aye, my goal all along. To make ye so tired ye will fall into my arms."

Marie smiled and righted herself. "John, if ye wanted me in yer arms, all ye had to do was ask."

John held her closer and kissed her deeply. He slowly finished the kiss and gazed into her eyes. "Why was the geologist never hungry?"

Marie shook her head.

John kissed her nose, "Because he lost his apatite. Let's go get a fish 'n chips and a beer at the pub. I'm starved."

****

Rain fell on his face as it carried him out of his memory. He recalled the night she experienced the nightmare, and he held her as she slept. He reached her in time then; he hoped he would get to her in time now.

He stared out at the ship crossing the opposite direction and prayed he hadn't made a mistake and possibly cost Marie her life. "Please don't let me be too late."

****

"Ye just missed 'em." John's heart sank. "Awful strange fellow, he was, too, dressed funny and a Sassenach at that. The lady with him, though, fine stock and a lovely woman."

John grabbed him by his collar. "The woman, was she okay? Had he hurt her?"

His da pried him from the harbor master, who brushed his coat off and stepped back from them.

"Come on, son, no need to attack Mac here. He's just telling the news, that's all."

Mac straightened his collar. "Nay, Dougie, it's fine. I can see a lovesick pup for what he is." He scratched his chin. "Strange, though, she wasn't going against her will. I mean, she went with him willingly."

He nodded, then raised his head. "Well, she didn't look happy, though, and she had a roughed-up look about her as if someone punched her a few times, but the bruises are fading."

John shook his da's hands free and ran both hands through his hair. "I'll kill him. Priest or not, I'll kill the son of a bitch."

His da sighed. "Thanks, Mac. We'll dock for now and head out with the tide. Would ye know where they might have headed?"

Mac looked at John briefly, then at his da, and shrugged his shoulders. "Islay, they headed to a chapel in Islay. The damn man kept muttering it and something about a stone."

His da clapped Mac on the back. "Well, isn't fortune smiling upon me? I must head that way anyhow. Need to complete the whisky partnership for the laird."

Mac grinned. "Ye get a hold of an extra cask, ye send it my way."

John walked down the dock and left the two men to their chatter. He wanted to kick himself a hundred times and again for good measure. She stood on the ship they passed, just within his sight but out of his grasp. He sensed her and should've listened to his heart. She probably stared at him as he gazed across the rain-swept sea. God, he failed her. The priest hurt her, maybe abused her in God knows how many ways, and he couldn't get to her soon enough.

He shoved his hands in his pockets as his imagination drove him mad. His right hand hit his Iona stone. He gripped the gem, and it warmed in his hand. He hadn't thought of the charm this whole trip.

He pulled the stone from his pocket, held it tight, and prayed, "Marie, if ye have yer stone, feel me; feel my love. I'm coming."