Prologue

            If it hadn’t been for the little man who appeared in her car, chances are Alexandra Williams would never have embarked on this journey. While she had wished for many years to visit her father’s homeland, the mere idea of flying over the Atlantic Ocean terrified her. Now, gazing at the blue water far below, she couldn’t begin to think what had possessed her to actually undertake this trip to Scotland. She didn’t know a soul in the small country.

            ‘I should have listened to Sammy, or better still, waited until she could come with me’. Belatedly, Alex was panic stricken at even the idea of such things as going through customs and finding transportation to the small hotel her travel agent had booked her into in Edinburgh. Then there would be a train ride across Scotland and north into the Highlands to the village her grandparents had left so many years ago. If there had been the slightest possibility of talking the pilot into turning the 747 around, she would have stormed the flight deck. But there wasn’t, so Alex prepared for a sleepless night. Edinburgh loomed in her near future.

            Her closest friend, Samantha Murphy, had originally planned to accompany Alex to Scotland until family matters intervened. By then Alex had made so many arrangements she was reluctant to cancel her vacation. 

            She could still see the small figure that had been standing in the passenger seat as she drove to work. Alex was too stunned to wonder until later why someone in a kilt of her family’s tartan and with a bushy gray beard would only be three feet tall. When the episode was over and the apparition had vanished she vowed to tell no one what she had seen. And she hadn’t done so until something or someone began turning her life topsy-turvy.

                                                            CHAPTER ONE

            Dear Alexandra,

            This is something I’ve been putting aside since before your mother passed on. We had hoped to go back where our families came from, but then she got sick and I knew we never would. Now when I might, my health won’t allow it. It is my wish that you take the money from this account and visit the Highlands.

            I can hear you telling me this money must be divided with your sister. Not so my girl. If you hadn’t been the caring daughter you are, it would have been a nursing home for me and you know how I would have hated that. Cat understands why I have done this, knowing you’ve not had the opportunities she has.

            Your loving Dad,

            James McKean          

            Drying her eyes, Alex opened the savings book she had found in her father‘s belongings. ‘Ye Gods! I can’t keep all of this.’ She dialed her sister Catherine in Arizona. Upon hearing the cherry hello, Alex swallowed her tears. Cat usually managed to brighten her day.

            “Hi, yourself.” Alex caught up on the MacMillan family news and then changed the subject. “Sis, I was going through some of Dad’s stuff and found a letter from him. He says you know about it. He wrote it just before he died. It’s about...”

            “It’s about the money and you going to Scotland for him, right? Yeah, I knew. He called and we talked for a long time. I agreed with him. God knows, Doug and I don’t need the money and you deserve to take a trip. I wish I could get away to go along, but not this time. You are going aren’t you?” Cat held her breath; Alex wasn’t much of a traveler.

            “Oh, Cat. I don’t know. If you could go, but if you can’t...” Her voice trailed off forlornly. “Maybe I’ll ask Sammy if she...”

            A giggle interrupted. “Why would you ask her? You’d never get all of her baggage sorted out.”

            It was a fact that the immaculately groomed Ms. Murphy traveled with all the trappings of a movie star. And, was no favorite of Cat’s.

            “Come on! She’s not that bad; she’s my oldest friend and we get along fine.” Alex had never understood why the two women had such a mutual dislike.

            “Well, don’t blame your problems on me, honey.” Cat’s laughter rippled over the line. “Why don’t you go by yourself? Doesn’t that cousin back east know some kin you could visit over there? Call her and ask.”

            It was all so easy for Cat. She and Doug MacMillan had done so much traveling when he was in the Air Force, and now retired they hadn’t slowed down.

            “I might do that. But I want to talk to Sammy first, no matter what you think, Kitty Cat.” 

                                                                           ***

            So, with a nest egg of slightly over $20,000, Alex began to realize she truly could take the journey she’d always dreamed of.

            Sammy was excited and pleased to be invited. She had been widowed shortly before Alex‘s father died and money was not the problem for her that it had always been for Alex. A successful real estate broker, George Murphy had left Sammy amply provided for.

            “I’d love to go with you.“ Sammy enthused. “A vacation like that would do us both good. I’ll talk to my travel agent; she can book us with a really good tour company.” 

            “Whoa, just a minute, Sam.” Alex saw the tiny blonde’s face cloud as she learned Alex did not want a touring vacation. “I don’t want to be tied to a schedule. We can do this ourselves, can’t we? I’ve been told train and bus transportation are the best over there.” Typically she would defer to Sammy’s wishes; it had always been that way, but not this time. “I want to go to the village where my dad was born. From what I’ve been able to find, no tour goes there and anyway they wouldn’t stay long enough to really look around.” What Alex wasn’t ready to tell her were the odd and strange things happening in her life, which appeared to be drawing her to Scotland.

            Since the death of her father she had experienced glimpses of shadowy forms and strange noises with no explanation. Noted for her frugality, Alex had come home several times to find the lights on and her television set playing. This was just not possible; never would she have left her home with anything unnecessarily operating. The episode with her beloved ‘Mr. Cat’ bothered her more than the use of her utilities, though. Close on the heels of finding the cat outside when she had not put him there, she woke from a dream both familiar and puzzling.

                                                                        ***

            Mairi sobbed as the bearded young Highlander wrapped her in his cloak and held her close, comforting her. “S-s-sandy, I’m so cold.” she shivered. Some of the soldiers chased me, I was so afraid of what they would do.”

            Sharing the uneasiness of some of his kinsmen, young Alexander MacKean had talked with Mairi’s father John MacDonald, speculating why the troops had come out from Fort William in the dead of winter. A few were Highlanders but the majority came from the lowlands of Scotland and from England itself. There would be no good come of this occupation by the king’s men!

            Mairi’s father looked up as the two entered the low-beamed hut. “Where hae ye been, lass, your mother was worried and we couldna’ find ye.”

            Sandy related to the older man what Mairi had told him. “The younger women must leave before something happens. These English dogs aren’t to be trusted.”

            Thoughtfully the older man nodded knowing how much Sandy cared for his daughter. He worried too, for he had seen the way the soldiers watched the women.

            “Aye, Sandy, ye are right. We will send them to the upper farm; they will be safe there.” Both men had talked of their fear that the chief was too trusting of these troops who had come to their glen and demanded lodging.

            The chief of their small clan had chosen to ignore his cousin‘s concerns; therefore, John and Sandy laid plans to get the women away to safety that night. Then, pushing his plate aside, Mairi’s father left the two alone.

            Lifting Mairi to her feet, Sandy held her tightly, looking into her face. “Lass, ye ken I love ye. I dinna’ want to be parted from ye, but I want ye safe. It won’t be for long.”

            “Sandy, I’ve always loved ye, since I was a wee lass. That won’t change ever. I wouldna’ want to be here without ye.”

             The smile left Sandy’s handsome face, “Dinna’ talk like that Mairi. We’ll be here a long time and have a cottage full of lads to tease other little lasses.” He bent down to find her mouth.

            Mairi wanted to cling and keep him with her, but she knew better. Sandy usually knew what he was about.

            He raised his head and smiled at her “Now sh-h-h and bide a wee and I’ll be back by dark. We’ll hae an adventure!” With another kiss and a squeeze that left her ribs aching, he was gone.

            It was the twelfth of February, in the year of 1692. In less than twenty-four hours their world as Alexander MacKean and Mairi MacDonald had known it in their glen would cease to be.

                                                                        ***   

         Unable to shake the eerie aftermath of her dream, Alexandra Williams couldn’t get the individuals who peopled it out of her mind.

             Who were they? They were so real and I can still feel the cold. Questioning her mental state, she called a friend who had studied psychic phenomena and would be the one person to believe her wild tale. “Claire, you’ve got to help me...all of these strange things are getting to me; this dream is the last straw. You are probably the only person who will believe what is happening to me. Can we meet for lunch?”

                                                                     ***

            “Have you had these kinds of dreams before, or has anything else happened to you?” Claire Allison asked after the two had ordered lunch.

          “I don’t think you have enough time today to hear all of it.” Alex pushed her taffy colored hair away from her face. “Something let Mr. Cat out of the house last Saturday morning. I heard the front door open and close and found the cat on the front porch. I know I didn’t put him out. Then, there are the lights and TV; several times they’ve been on when I come home from work.”

            Claire laughed, well aware of what this would have done to her friend’s frugal soul. “You’ve mentioned strange things going on since your dad died last year. Is he trying to tell you something?”

            “Well, how would I know? That‘s why I called you. Seriously, this is beginning to bother me a lot. My mother had things happen around her and she saw things the rest of us didn’t. Those people in my dream were dressed as I have seen pictures of old-time Highlanders.”

            “Maybe this has to do with the trip you and Sammy have planned. We could do a reading before you leave.”

            Not wanting to become more entangled in the supernatural, Alex said she would wait. Until...

                                                                                   ***     

            Driving to work a few days later Alexandra saw, or sensed, a little man in the passenger seat. He was clad in what she knew to be her family tartan, his features hidden by a bushy gray mustache and beard. She guessed her apparition was about three feet tall. But who was in any shape to guess? Through his healthy beard, strong, white teeth gleamed in a particularly wicked grin.

            ‘Oh my God, I have finally lost my mind!’ In spite of her near-hysteria, Alex had an impression that who or whatever this was certainly enjoyed his ride in a car. His expression, which she sensed more than saw, was gleeful, his deep blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

            ‘How would I ever, in this world, explain what I’m seeing...especially when I’m

not even looking at him? No one will ever believe this, not even me!’

            He remained with her until she drove into the parking lot at work and then was just no longer there. She had felt some form of communication with him and no animosity emanated from whatever the apparition had been.                                                                           

            Keeping her latest experience to her self, she told Sammy that through a mutual relative she’d received a letter from a family connection in the Scottish Highlands. Her cousin, Jean Millard knew the man and had written, telling him of Alex’s proposed journey. The result was an invitation to visit him in Fort Augustus, Scotland. She was surprised at Sammy’s reaction.

             “Oh, I don’t think so! You know nothing of him...we could get into a lot of trouble going with someone we don’t know anything about. I don’t think it’s a good idea at all.” The tiny, blonde was adamant in her objection.

            Alex, determined to the core, let her friend know nothing would stand in the way of her meeting her kinsman if at all possible. “How could I know anything about him, having never met him? There's only one way to solve that problem,” she grinned at Sammy. “After all, we MacDonalds aren't all bad...regardless of the old tales.”

            ‘We’ll see what you drag me into, my girl!’  Sammy didn’t care at all for Alex’s plans. 

                                                                        ***

             Late that night, Alex’s unknown guest chose to wake her out of a deep sleep at one a.m. Her closet door flew across its metal track with a loud bang, disturbing Mr. Cat who flew into the second bedroom and under the bed. She awoke from a sound sleep terrified because she was positive she had closed that door before going to bed. Enough was enough.

            The next day she called Claire, who again suggested a reading and Alex agreed. Fortunately for her frayed nerves, the unknown guest behaved and nothing untoward happened in the next few days.

                                                                        ***

Saturday, regretting her appointment, she forced herself to drive the few miles to the psychic's house.

            Claire explained she would be speaking in a different voice--- that of her spiritual guide in control at that point, and there was nothing to fear. This entity could possibly tell them who was trying to get Alex's attention.

            “That would be nice. Whoever it is has my undivided attention.” She removed her shoes and stretched out on the sofa. Relaxed, she felt a light touch on her head just above each ear! ‘Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into?’ 

            Claire seemed to go into a trance and when she spoke again it was in a guttural voice quite unlike her own. The voice told Alex that she would be taking a long journey.

            ‘No joke!’ She didn’t realize the entity might divine her thoughts.

            “You will find answers to many of the questions you have. I see you with a man in a brown suit. He will become very special to you. This journey you are taking will not always be as you have planned. You should follow your instincts; they will lead you in the right direction. You must be watchful of someone close to you. Are there questions?”

             “Yes, have I ever been in this place before?”

            “In another time.” the guide replied. “I see you as a young woman; there is much sadness in this place. You will feel this sadness again but then you will have great happiness. You must follow your deepest feelings. Are there more questions?”

            “Well...yes. There is someone or something in my home doing strange things. I have only seen a glimpse of a shadow out of the corner of my eye. Who or whatever it is does things I don’t like.” Alex replied.

             The answer came. “Yes, there is a presence in your home. This being means no harm; it only wants to have your attention. It is there to prepare you for a journey you will take. This may not be a journey in the sense you know. Do you understand?”

            Alex murmured that she did.

            “This entity wants you to know it is your protector and you should have no fear of what will come of this journey. You must trust this entity for it was very close to you in another time. If there were no other questions, I would wish you peace and love.”

            Alex hesitated a moment, reflecting on another problem she was trying to deal with.

            “Yes, I do have one other thing. I have an opportunity to meet with a distant kinsman in Scotland. The woman who will be traveling with me thinks this might be a bad thing but I am determined to meet him. Will it be harmful to me, or can you tell me?”

            “Yes, I can see this kinsman of yours. It would be very beneficial to you to become acquainted with him. You must follow your own instincts; do not let yourself be influenced by other. I wish you peace and love.”

            Claire stirred and spoke in her normal voice as though from a distance. “Alex, are you all right?”

             “Oh yes, but I don’t know what to think.” Her brown eyes were wide as she stared at Claire. “This was more than I bargained for.”                                                                                                                                                     ***

            “Of course I want to go, Alex; it just isn’t the best time right now. How was I to know my family had planned this cruise for my birthday? I can’t tell them no.” Sammy knew it was terrible timing all the way around. “Couldn’t we go later, maybe in the fall, or next spring?”

            “No, I don’t want to wait, Sam. I’ve done so much planning with our travel agent and she has most of the reservations made.” Alex heard the sharpness in her voice. “Couldn’t your kids change their plans?” She didn’t blame Sammy though. It was very seldom that her three children did anything for her. But of all times...!

            “I’m so sorry.” Sammy mopped at her soft, blue eyes. “I did talk to them and they say they are sorry but they just can’t change the dates. Oh God, Alex. I don’t want to back out on you. You have to believe that.” She covered her face with her hands.