“What do you think happened to Malcolm’s stone, the one he used to travel back to your time?”

“If Malcolm lived in my time for thirty years, he arrived long before the small stones evolved from the larger ones. They didn’t exist. The fact that you and Amber have stones stayed with you during travel, proves you’re the only ones who should possess these stones during your lives. Cian’s disappeared, proving he isn’t meant to travel in time at will.”

“Are you sure?”

“No.” Simon laughed. “I know only what I’ve seen.” His gaze traveled back to the tiny specks of ash on the ground.

“It’s over,” Helen whispered.

Simon ran his hand over her hair, kissed the top of her head. “It’s over.”

Now they could get on with their lives.

Chapter Thirty

Helen transferred a few of the MacCoinnich’s at a time to take them home. On her final trip back, to retrieve Simon and Cian, Ian and Lora asked that she take them with her to say goodbye to Amber.

It was all happening so fast. Helen hardly had time for goodbyes herself. Lizzy embraced her and reminded her they were but a thought away if she ever needed them. But living in the sixteenth century simply wasn’t a sacrifice Helen could make. Besides, Mrs. Dawson needed her. Amber needed a friend and mentor. Her place was in her time, not in Simon’s.

The two of them didn’t speak, the inevitable parting brought tears to her eyes every time she thought about it.

With the majority of MacCoinnich’s safely deposited in the Keep, Helen took Ian and Lora back.

When the vortex cleared, Lora noticed Amber first. The two ran toward each other and embraced.

“God’s blood I’ve worried about you.”

Lora pulled away from her daughter, glanced down her body and back up. “These clothes suit you.”

“They feel strange,” Amber admitted.

“They won’t forever.”

“Are you sure? Must I stay?” It was the only time Helen heard Amber come close to a complaint about her fate.

“Aye, lass. Your happiness will be found here.”

Amber stared at the ground.

“You must be Laird and Lady MacCoinnich. I’m Mrs. Dawson.” Mrs. Dawson walked down the back steps and interrupted them.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Dawson, I should have introduced you,” Helen said.

“You’ve had a lot on your mind, m’dear. Don’t fret. Please, let’s come in out of the cold. You don’t have to rush back, do you?”

Ian glanced up at the home and over to his daughter. “A few minutes.”

“Good, good. Come in.”

They walked through the back door of the house. Ian’s head snapped back and forth. “Cian, show me this fortress. Tell me what it lacks.”

Instead of going with them, Simon stood by Helen’s side, his hand on the small of her back guiding her to the sofa where he sat beside her. Ian and Cian disappeared around the corner.

“I don’t think anyone has ever called my home a fortress.” Mrs. Dawson chuckled.

“And never will again I’m sure.”

“Can I get you anything?”

Lora’s eyes scanned the room and marveled at the modern delights. “Thank you but no. Helen tells me that you’ve welcomed our daughter into your home as if she were your kin.”

Mrs. Dawson patted Lora’s hand. “I wasn’t blessed with my own children but always prayed for them. Seems God has given them to me a little late. First Helen, now Amber. Though I know they aren’t mine, they are welcome to all I have and any protection I can give.”

Lora grasped the older woman’s hand. “I cannot measure my gratitude.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

Helen glanced at Simon who watched the two women talk, the expression on his face unreadable.

Ian stepped back into the room. “The structure is strong. Bound to withstand Finlay’s earthquakes.”

“It’s been through a share of those. Mr. Dawson insisted on an earthquake retrofit in seventy-one. We had a bomb shelter placed in the basement in the sixties.” Mrs. Dawson went on.

“I didn’t know you had a basement,” Helen said. She’d never seen it before.

“Couple of secret rooms, too. Those panic rooms were popular about twenty years ago.”

Helen glanced around, wondering where such a room could possibly be.

“It isn’t in here, dear. I’ll show you. Might as well let you know about Mr. Dawson’s gun collection while we’re in there.”

“Mrs. Dawson, I had no idea.”

“I loved my husband but he was a bit paranoid at times. Guess that happens when you serve in a war or two, which he did. Then we had the arms race, the Cold War. We all thought we’d be nuked then.”

Lora’s eyes lit up.

“Don’t you worry. That’s all behind us now. Our economy is going to pot quickly but we’ll be okay.”

“Are you sure Amber won’t be a hardship?”

“Please. How much can one girl eat? We’ll be fine. Mr. Dawson left me quite comfortable.” Mrs. Dawson smiled into the thoughts of her late husband.

Ian removed a pouch from the satchel around his waist and handed it to Mrs. Dawson. “This should help.”

Mrs. Dawson waved him off but he placed it in her hand with a final word. “’Tis yours. She is our youngest daughter.”

Without looking in the bag, Mrs. Dawson set it on the table. “She’s safe here.”

“Aye, that we already know,” Lora told her.

Ian glanced at his wife. “We need to go.”

Lora nodded and stood.

Their goodbyes were brief. Amber’s tears misted as she embraced her brother, Simon, and her parents. “I love you all.”

For one final trip back, Helen shifted time. Either she was getting better at it, or the Ancients were showing pity on her for her efforts. This final time felt easier somehow. Less taxing.

Ian gifted Helen with a rare smile and thanked her for all she’d done. Lora hugged and kissed both her cheeks. “God’s speed, lass.” She really didn’t have a clue what that meant, but everyone tended to say it as if it was a blessing so Helen smiled and thanked Lora for the sentiment.

The children said their goodbyes and went to their rooms, their grandparents leading the way. Tara and Duncan said goodbye next, then Myra and Todd. When only Fin and Lizzy were left in the room, Helen said a tearful goodbye for the last time.