Time and Space (19 page)

One Month Later…

“Donnall stop fussing over me, I’m fine.” Cadence slapped out at his hands which were tucking a blanket around her. She had been up and out of bed for two weeks now and even though she was getting stronger each day, Donnall still worried over her like a nervous mother hen. He sighed and sat in the chair next to hers.

Everyone was gathered around the fireplace in the great hall to discuss the best way to celebrate the upcoming winter solstice. The Celts celebrated the day after the solstice to mark the rebirth of the sun after the shortest day of the year.

“I suppose celebrating Christmas is out of the question?” William winked at Fianna from across the room.

“You are more than welcome to celebrate Christmas back in England.” Fianna smirked back at him.

“You wound me, my pretty. And here I thought as your hero you would worship the ground I walked on.”

“How many more times must we hear about how you rescued Fianna from her tiny scratch?” Sarcasm dripped from Fionn’s tone.

“Tiny scratch?” Fianna yelled, yanking the neck of her dress down to expose the jagged scar trailing down her arm from her shoulder. “It’s seven inches long and nearly travels to my elbow.”

“And such a pretty elbow at that,” William gushed.

“You will stop looking at my sister’s naked elbow this instant,” Fionn roared, startling Cardinn who was lying on a fluffy blanket on the floor playing with a small stuffed lion Bree had brought with her from the future. The little boy started to cry.

“Poor little man.” William scooped him up and cuddled him against his chest. “You’re Da is so loud, I’m surprised they can’t hear him in England.”

“Put my son down this instant.” Fionn bit his lip to keep from smiling.

“Fionn, I didn’t limp out of bed and all the way down the stairs to sit and listen to you yell at William.” Cadence snorted when Will stuck his tongue out at Fionn and started making funny faces at the baby who giggled.

“That’s right little lad, Uncle Will loves you.” Will dropped a wink at Carter who was trying hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation.

“I think we should have a big feast. We have a lot to celebrate,” Donnall kissed the back of Cadence’s hand.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to work in the kitchens.”

“You work in the kitchen?” Bree asked, stunned.

“I used to bake bread with my mother when I was a girl and started doing it again when I came to Moone. It’s my small way of giving back for all Moone and Fionn have given to me.”

“Yes, but aren’t you looking forward to getting back home to Boston and the university?” Bree’s tone was serious.

“Moone Castle is my home now. Donnall asked me to marry him when my fever broke and I said yes.”

The room erupted into cheers. Carter ran over to hug his sister and his brother-in-law-to-be. Cadence couldn’t help but notice the sad look on Bree’s face and the way Islynn took a step toward her before backing off.

“Wait, why did you wait a month before telling anyone you were engaged?” Carter looked stunned.

“I was still recovering from my injury and we wanted a little time alone together to work out our differences.”

“Cadence told me how our marriage would work and I agreed.” Donnall winked at Cadence.

“Just as it should be!” Fianna laughed at the shocked look on Donnall’s face before turning to Cadence’s sister.  “I wish you would give Moone a chance Bree,” Fianna said with a smile. “I just know we’re going to be fast friends.”

“That’s exactly what you said to me.” Cadence smiled at her friend, remembering the day they’d met. Fianna had been a lifeline when being thrown five hundred years into the past was threatening to overwhelm her. Fianna had been true to her word.

“I meant every word then as I do now. Stay with us, Bree,” Fianna urged.

“I’ll be here for a few more weeks to make sure Cadence is all healed and has a nifty battle scar to show off alongside yours, Fee.”

Carter was about to protest when Aggie came into the great hall carrying a tray filled with food.

“I made you those meat pies you are so fond of, Cadence. You are nearly skin and bones after your injury. Donnall, make sure she eats at least two of these. The quicker you get your strength back, the quicker I’ll have my best baker back in the kitchen.”

Donnall hurried over to the table and put two pies on a plate for Cadence returning to her and setting the plate down on her lap.

The second Cadence caught the scent of the rabbit pies, her stomach turned and threatened to revolt. She put a hand over her mouth and gagged loudly.

“Are you okay?” Donnall hovered over her, slapping a hand to her forehead, presumably feeling to see if the fever returned.

“Take these pies away, they’re making me sick.” She held out the plate to him and tried taking shallow breaths through her nose.

“I thought those pies were your favorite?” Bree asked curiously.

“They are. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve been asking Aggie to make those for me since I started feeling better. Now the smell of them is turning my stomach.”

Bree raised an eyebrow. “When was the last time you had your monthly visitor?”

“Maybe two weeks before the battle. Come to think of it, it’s late. Do you think my injury delayed it?”

Bree laughed, shaking her head. “No, I think what happened the night before the battle delayed it.”

“No, that’s not possible. We were only together once…” Cadence looked up at Donnall who was wearing a look of complete confusion.

“It only takes once, Cadence. I guess that means my trip home will be delayed even longer.”

“Bree, stop speaking in riddles, what is all this talk about delays?” Donnall shot a look at Fionn who shrugged his shoulders in obvious confusion.

“Bree is going to stay with us until the baby is born,” Carter said, wearing a goofy grin.

“What baby?” Donnall looked at Cadence who had started to cry. “Will someone please tell me what in hell is going on?”

Cadence swiped away the happy tears that wouldn’t stop flowing down her face. “You’re going to be a father, irritable barbarian.”

Donnall got down on his knees in front of Cadence’s chair. “A father? Me?”

“Yes, you.” Cadence leaned forward to kiss him.

“I’m going to be a father!” Donnall stood up and hugged a startled Bree before moving on to hug Fionn and then Carter. Cadence couldn’t help notice the happy tears cascading from Islynn’s icy blue eyes. Her friend had nine months to make Bree fall in love with her. She only hoped Islynn wouldn’t run out of time.

Book three,
Time After Time,
featuring Islynn and Bree will be available in May 2016. Book four,
Time And Chance
featuring Fianna and William will be available in July 2016. Send me a friend request on Facebook or follow me on Twitter to find out when these books are available for pre-order.

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If you loved Cadence and Donnall’s story, and are interested in reading Carter and Fionn’s journey, book one in the Out Of Time Series,
Time And Time Again
, is available on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Time-Again-Out-Book-ebook/dp/B01914B27U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456608156&sr=8-1&keywords=pandora+pine+time+and+time+again

You can find all of my books here: 
http://www.amazon.com/Pandora-Pine/e/B013BSSBX0/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1455742290&sr=8-2-ent

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This is the first MF romance novel I’ve written although I’ve been reading them since I was fifteen years old thanks to my liberal-minded mother. Thank you so much for giving me the gift of books. As usual, you edited this book with your usual style and grace as well as serving as my historical advisor.

It took a while to find my footing with this book. Between figuring out the MF dynamic and working to hear Donnall and Cadence’s voices, I really struggled with this story at times. Dani, you were there at every twist and turn, reassuring me I could do this and you were right! It is a pleasure brainstorming with you. I know you love these characters as much as I do. Thank you so much for loving me and for always knowing how to get my characters into or out of sticky situations!

I need to thank my father for his help with the archery scenes in this book. He was very helpful with how to stand and fire and with telling me about the use of the archer’s dominant eye. 

I would like to thank Mark Wills and all of the wonderful people at Sinfully Gay Romance Book Reviews. Mark gave
Time And Time Again
an amazing review on his blog that still has me in happy tears every time I read it.  Check out Mark’s blog at:
http://sinfullymmbookreviews.blogspot.de/

Many, many thanks to the great people who run The Rainbow Shelf. If you haven’t seen them on Facebook or are not signed up for their newsletter, you are missing out. They send out a weekly newsletter with MM and MMM Romance titles that are free or are being offered at a discount. You can sign up for their newsletter here:
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I’d like to thank Jay and Choosy Bookworm for promoting my books. Choosy Bookworm features free books as well as those being offered at a discount. You can subscribe to Jay’s newsletter here:
https://choosybookworm.com/

I would also like to thank each and every one of you who have read my books.  I would especially like to thank all of my MM readers who followed this series into an MF novel. An author never had better fans!

AUTHOR’S  NOTES:

Moone Castle is modern day Carbury Castle located in County Kildare, Ireland. Moone is the name of one of the towns in County Kildare. The hill on which the castle sits is called Fairy Hill, however, fireflies do not exist in Ireland.

The English did not actually start wearing red coats until about 1650. I moved this backward to 1433 as the red coats are so distinctive and as Cadence says, makes them an easy target.

The myth of the four ancient treasures or jewels of Ireland originates around 1800 BC. It tells of ancient travelers bringing the treasures with them when they settled in Ireland. The original treasures were a stone, a spear, a sword and a cauldron. I adapted that myth to the three jewels of Ireland with Carter’s moonstone talisman being the first of the three jewels.

Obsidian does not naturally occur in Ireland. The closest location where it is found is Greece, Italy and Scotland. This of course meshes perfectly with the idea that Three Treasures of Ireland are items brought to Ireland from other countries. Islynn mentions cat’s eye which occurs naturally in Sri Lanka. Gloine is the Gaelic word for glass. Gealach is the Gaelic word for moon. Sul Cat means cat’s eye.

Ò Ciardha means O’Carey in Modern Irish.  The name Ò Ciardha originated in County Kildare in Carbury.

I’d like to address the issue of Fionn preferring men and being the ruler of Moone Castle. I have chosen to make Fionn’s people Celts. They did not have any tenets in their religion banning homosexuality. It was considered the natural course of things for men to take male lovers when they were on campaign and I extended that to when the warriors were not facing battle conditions far from home. We are going to see this issue again in Book Three of the Out Of Time series when Islynn reunites with her beautiful Breena!

Handfasting is an ancient Irish custom celebrating the “marriage” of a man and woman. It gets its name because the hands of the bride and groom are tied together. It’s also where the phrase “tying the knot” comes from. 

In modern times before same-sex marriage was recognized, many gay couples would go through the handfasting ceremony as a way of pledging themselves to each other. Carter’s foraging for items to represent sea, land and air is also part of the ceremony. Fionn would have gathered items that represented those things to him. In a handfasting between a man and a woman, the woman holds a drinking horn and her husband-to-be places the tip of his sword into the drinking horn. I had Fionn and Carter both hold their swords.