I woke suddenly from a bad dream, not remembering what it was about but it left a horrible taste in my mouth and I couldn't get back to sleep. One word kept ringing through my mind; Simon.
I could have been dreaming about him but it seemed deeper than that. I was getting a bad feeling just thinking about him. I had to get home. He was in trouble. I couldn't let Simon get into trouble for my disappearance, for the fact that I was still alive, just in a different time.
Suddenly tears streaked down my face and I burst out crying. My wonderful best friend who would do anything for me was in trouble. I knew it. I didn't know how I knew but the acidy taste in my mouth was telling me far more than it should.
Home; I had to get home! I couldn't think of anything but the fact that I had to get home! Home to where I belonged.
I got quickly out of bed and started speed walking and opened the door. Running out I made my way swiftly down the stairs and out the door of the farmhouse. The only thing that kept going through my head was that I needed to get home to Simon and that was it. Nothing else seemed to register with me.
Abruptly a hand came onto my shoulder and I could feel myself getting angry because this person was stopping me from seeing Simon. No one had to get in the way, no one.
I screamed and then turned round and everything went black and nothing made sense.
Minutes later I woke up absolutely drenched in sweat. My mouth was like sandpaper; dry and rough. I coughed trying to get some air and life back to it. A flask was shoved into my hand and I gulped it down eagerly enjoying the cool wet feeling running down my gullet.
My eyes were still closed and after a few deep breaths of getting myself back to normal I opened them to find an entourage of people standing round my bed. Names clicked with faces; Hugh, Claire and Jamie.
"Are you ok?" Claire asked.
"I'm fine, what happened?" I asked taking another sip of the water.
"What do you remember?" She asked.
"Em…not a lot to be honest. Its pretty patchy."
Hugh coughed and Claire looked at him. Claire stayed silent and Hugh answered, "Well I heard ye moving about. Ye were shouting for yer friend…em Simon and then ye started crying so I came to see what was happening, to see if ye were ok. When I got to yer door I was about to knock when ye came rushing out and bashed into me. Ye almost fell and I grabbed and I suppose ye could say ye feinted. But I'm thinking ye were sleep walking and that certainly makes sense as ye dinna ken fit happened."
"I see." Oh no. Simon, I knew it. That was the one name that had came to me when Claire had asked did I remember anything but with things in my mind so blurry I had blocked it away hoping to hell it was nothing. But it was. I didn't remember the dream and I didn't remember getting up in the night. But every time that name came to me it was like being slashed in the heart. My best friend and lover was in trouble and I couldn't get out of here because I was being watched day and night.
The tears welled up but I managed to say, "Well I thank ye for checking I was fine but I'm sure yer tired so I'll let ye go back to bed."
They nodded and left the room but Hugh held back. "Are ye sure yer ok? Ye look awful pale."
"I'm fine Hugh. Its just I think my best friend is in trouble and I'm stuck here. I just feel so helpless. I'd do anything for Simon but I can't."
"Where do ye live Kayleigh?" He said sitting back down on the bed.
Uh oh! Better to just say the truth. "I'm from Inverness." I had an overwhelming urge to add, aye but in the 21st century. That would shock him but I kept my mouth shut.
"That's not far ye know." He stated looking at me suspiciously.
"I ken. That's why I hate being stuck here. My friend is only days away," try 361 years from now, "and I canna do one little thing to help him."
His attitude changed and he didn't look strangely at me. "Ye know Inverness is only a few days ride."
"What are ye suggesting Hugh?" I looked at him closely. I was sure he was grinning.
"I could take ye." He smiled.
I looked at him as though he were speaking in a foreign language. "But ye have order's from Jamie to make sure I do nay such thing."
"Weel to be honest Kayleigh I've taken a liken to ye and ye seemed so desperate when ye bumped into me so I want to help ye." He sat on the stool he had recently vacated.
I took a deep breath thinking things over. I really really wanted to go back to see Simon. I would have done anything. But… the problem was that Hugh would have to take me to Craig Na Dun, not Inverness and there was no way I could trick him. If I told Hugh that I was from the future he likely would have me burnt for witchcraft or something. He would never believe if I told him that I was from the 21st Century.
No Jamie was right. There was a very good reason why I had to stay. As much as I wanted to get home as fast as my legs could carry me, to many people knowing about me could cause havoc.
I sighed, feeling defeated by those great lumps of rock that hunted my dreams, "Unfortunately I really must wait until Jamie is ready to take me…em…for personal reasons. But I thank ye for offering. It is most kind, especially when I ken how hard it would be to disobey Jamie, which is another reason, I wouldna want to get ye into trouble for me. Enough people are in trouble from my actions already without adding you too."
"I see. Are ye absolutely sure?" He stood up again and started walking backwards towards the door.
"Positive, but thanks. I should probably get some sleep now. See ye in the morning."
"Ok. See ye then Kayleigh and if ye do change yer mind dinna hesitate to ask cause I do it in a second." He opened the door and made his way out, turning back in the doorway.
"I dinna think that will be necessary Hugh but thanks anyway. See ye in the morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed." I grinned.
He didn't, "Er…aye…see ye in the morning." And he left.
Had I done something to upset him? For goodness sake, ye would think he would be glad I hadn't wanted him to disobey Jamie but no, all he does is stamp into his room like a sulky child. Men! Can't live with them, can't live without them!