Love Knows Not Time: An Outlander Tale [Chapter 8]

Several weeks passed by. Jeffrey slowly healed and Catriona was kept very busy caring for him. And they slowly started to make preparations for going to the American Colonies. And finally, it was the day Surgeon Brown was coming for a final check up. I declare you fit and sound as a bell, Major Foster. But I would advise you to leave the army for good. Because if this were to happen again, you might not be so lucky. Then I will take your advice, Surgeon. My wife and I are already making plans to leave for America. That is good news, sir. Thank you for everything, Surgeon Brown. You are quite welcome, Catriona. Now I will take my leave of you. And then he was gone. Where in the colonies are your parents, Catriona? They are in North Carolina, Jeffrey. ''This is it, I have to tell him the truth'', she thought. Is something wrong, Catriona? There is something I need to tell you, Jeffrey. But before I do, will you promise you'll believe me no matter how crazy it sounds? Yes, of course, my love. Just tell me what it is. As you know I came to Scotland to visit some relatives and I became lost in the woods. My parents are in North Carolina but if we go there, we will not find them. What do you mean by that, Catriona? There is no easy way to say this, but my parents have not been born yet. In other words, I'm from the future. Almost two hundred years from now, in fact. The year 1947. I swear on God's holy word I'm telling the truth. I believe you, Catriona. I know you would never lie to me. But how did you get here? Near my relatives home there is a stone circle called Craigh na Dunh and when I picked a flower it sent me through the stones and now I'm here. An old Scottish woman I met told me the tales of the people who disappeared as you did, but I never believed they were true until now. What will you do now, Catriona? And at once Catriona knew what he was really asking her. Would she go or stay? I'm staying right here, Jeffrey. You are my husband and I love you. I know my parents would understand. Maybe you could leave a letter for them to find in the future. That's a wonderful idea, Jeffrey. You are my family now. When the minister said ''For as long as ye both shall live'', I said I'd keep that vow until the day I died. And that means staying here with you. And I have beforehand knowledge that can be of help to you and our family if we are to have children. I won't go into detail now, but there are things that are going to happen in the future in this century that will not be too pleasant. All that aside, I'm glad you're staying, Catriona. I love you. And I love you, Jeffrey Foster. And we must speak to Surgeon Brown to ask him when it will be safe for me to travel to America. Your dinner is here, Major Foster. Bring it on in, Collins. Good evening, sir. Thank you, Collins. You're most welcome, sir. Shall we start, my dear? Oh, yes, I am quite hungry after everything that has gone on today. It has been quite a zoo. Indeed it has, my love. And I am certainly ready for bed. I'm sure we will have a busy day tomorrow. That was delicious, was it not, my dear? Indeed it was, Jeffrey. Goodnight, my love. Goodnight, Jeffrey.