Begin Where We Are

  Begin Where We Are

  Diana Knightley

  Copyright © 2018 by Diana Knightley

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  For Kevin, it’s in the breaths between the words…

  Contents

  I. Magnus and Kaitlyn

  1. Magnus

  2. Magnus

  3. Magnus

  4. Magnus

  5. Kaitlyn

  6. Magnus

  7. Kaitlyn

  8. Magnus

  9. Magnus

  10. Kaitlyn

  11. Magnus

  12. Kaitlyn

  13. Magnus

  14. Kaitlyn

  15. Magnus

  16. Magnus

  17. Magnus

  18. Magnus

  19. Kaitlyn

  20. Magnus

  21. Magnus

  22. Kaitlyn

  23. Kaitlyn

  24. Magnus

  25. Kaitlyn

  26. Magnus

  27. Kaitlyn

  28. Magnus

  29. Kaitlyn

  30. Magnus

  31. Kaitlyn

  32. Magnus

  33. Kaitlyn

  34. Magnus

  35. Magnus

  36. Magnus

  II. Kaitlyn

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  The End

  Thank You

  Also by Diana Knightley

  Some thoughts and research…

  Acknowledgments

  About me, Diana Knightley

  Also by H. D. Knightley (My YA pen name)

  Part I

  Magnus and Kaitlyn

  Magnus

  It was just before dawn when I kissed her for the last time and slipped away.

  The hospital was quiet. Nurses watched me curiously as I found my way tae the exit doors.

  Quentin was asleep in the car outside and startled awake when I climbed in. “Hey Boss, how’s Katie? Man, it’s still dark out — going home for something? I could pick it up for you?”

  “Kaitlyn is as well as can be expected. She will be released this morning. But I…” I took a deep breath tae get through the next words. “I will already be gone.”

  “Oh. That sucks.”

  “Aye Master Quentin, I need a ride home tae gather my things.”

  “Katie is going to be… whoa — this is really not good.”

  “Aye. But there is nae other way. I need ye tae take care of her tae make sure she is safe. I daena ken what danger there is, but up tae now it has been devastating. She will need a friend and a protector. I hope ye will remain with her and be both.”

  Quentin nodded, fiddling with the keys in the ignition. “Yeah, of course. Yeah.” He started the car and pulled it from the parking lot.

  I leaned on the door and shielded my eyes with a hand. “I daena think the house is safe.”

  “I don’t know, Boss, I can tighten security measures. Hire more men…”

  “Tis nae enough. I daena ken what will happen next but if I am at odds with Lady Mairead, and I will be, she may well come for Kaitlyn. I spoke with Kaitlyn about it, she is willing tae go tae the apartments.”

  “Oh, sure, that could work.”

  Quentin took a sharp turn. I pulled in some more air. My chest felt tight — a familiar constrictin’ that came on as a fight was nearing. With my eyes clamped shut I said, “The move will need tae happen today. Kaitlyn needs tae go directly there. I daena want her tae go tae the house.”

  “Yes, Boss. What about Zach and Emma?”

  “They need tae move as well, by tonight.”

  Quentin pulled the car up tae the house. “You’re sure about this? I mean, there’s nothing else that can be done? I don’t know, I don’t know how Katie will survive.”

  I clenched my jaw. “Every action I take is tae keep Kaitlyn alive. I daena need your questioning, I need your assurances. Will ye protect her and get her tae safety?”

  “Yes. Of course I will.”

  “Good. I am countin’ on ye.”

  “Where will you be and when will you be back?”

  “I will be fulfillin’ my vow. Tis no sense in plannin’ because I am unlikely tae return.”

  “Oh, that’s really…”

  I sat for a moment grasping air and pulling it into my chest. “Aye.” Then I opened the car door and headed toward my house for the last time.

  * * *

  “Is Katie with you?” Chef Zach was looking over the stair railing when I entered.

  “Nae, she will be released in a few hours.” I leaned on the kitchen counter. “I need breakfast, Chef Zach—”

  He jogged down the steps to the kitchen. “Definitely.”

  “Will ye send Emma tae be there when Kaitlyn is released?”

  Chef Zach stopped with his hand on the refrigerator door. “Where will you be?”

  “I will be gone.” I stood straighter. “You will be helpin’ Quentin tae move your family and Kaitlyn tae the apartments today.” This was easier tae say if I stared out the sliding doors while sayin’ it. “I want this house closed up by nightfall.”

  Chef Zach looked from me tae Quentin. “All right Magnus, sure, but Katie…”

  “Aye, but Kaitlyn. There is nothin’ else but Kaitlyn. Tis all there is. Yet I must go anyway.” I crossed the living room for our bedroom and paused at the door. “I expect she will need a great many friends about her…”

  Chef Zach pulled a dozen eggs from the refrigerator and put them on the counter. “Yeah, she will.”

  Emma stood at the top of the stairs, “You’re leaving Katie?”

  I clenched my jaw. “Aye. I am leavin’. I need tae—” I had been talkin’ about this for too long. I needed tae leave. Every moment was a danger tae these people. What would happen if Lady Mairead knew Kaitlyn lost the baby? And how long before she knew? I needed tae move fast and arrive before she learned the truth of it. Without our bairn my vow had nae power behind it.

  She would hold Kaitlyn against me.

  And time was passing.

  “Chef Zach, I need breakfast in a hurry. Will ye inform Emma of my instructions?”

  “Yes, I will. Eggs, bacon, and coffee coming in a second.”

  Magnus

  I dressed in a kilt. There was a bowl of shark teeth Kaitlyn kept near our bed. I sifted through it in search of the largest and added it tae my sporran.

  I collapsed back on the bed and tried tae get my breathin’ right.

  This bed I shared with Kaitlyn. This room. This house. I attempted tae slow my breaths with a deep intake. Then with as much composure as I could gather I left the bed and then the room.

  * * *

  I ate breakfast by myself. I told Zach I dinna want company and that he and Quentin should begin tae pack. Quentin was on his phone arrangin’ for a truck and Zach and Emma were movin’ around upstairs getting ready for a busy day. I ate my breakfast starin’ at a fixed point in front of my eyes, chewin’ slowly. I wanted tae relish this meal,
but I couldna taste it. Twas stuffin’ under my constricted chest.

  Emma came down when I was finishin’ the last bite. “Magnus, I rarely, if ever, question you but I don’t understand. Why do you have to go?”

  “Tis enough that Kaitlyn understands.”

  “I mean, yeah, but still — Zach and I will be the ones trying to help her through this, at least give me a reason so I can understand.”

  I pushed my plate away. “Madame Emma, I have done everythin’ in my power tae keep Kaitlyn safe but I haena been enough. In every calculation I have been mistaken. Tis because I am trying tae win. I wanted to beat Lord Delapointe, so I allowed Kaitlyn to risk her life. I have been at odds with Lady Mairead and she has threatened Kaitlyn’s life over and over. I am goin’ tae stop tryin’ tae win.”

  “So you aren’t trying to win? You’re just losing?”

  “I am nae tryin’ tae win. I am tryin’ tae keep Kaitlyn alive.”

  “But you love her and she just lost the baby and…”

  “I canna leave her, Madame Emma. Yet I have tae go. I made a vow, my life for her’s. I can only leave an empty house. Tis the only way I can go.”

  Emma watched me and then nodded. “I’m going to go to the hospital. It’s been really great working for you. I mean that. I hope you come home.”

  I concentrated on that spot again, the one just above my plate, while she grabbed her bag and keys and left.

  Zach came downstairs. “Quentin has a truck on the way, plus two more movers.” He paused just about where Emma was standin’ moments before. “I’m not good at goodbyes…”

  “I am nae good at them either, Chef Zach. I hope twill suffice tae say, I will miss your cookin’ verra much.”

  “That suffices, thanks Magnus.” He crossed tae the cabinets, opened a box of protein bars, and poured them out on the table. “I think this will fit in your bag? Take them so you don’t starve, at least not in the first two days.”

  I picked up a handful and added them tae my sporran.

  Zach said, “I’m going to go upstairs to finish packing.” He returned tae his rooms.

  * * *

  I went tae the office and opened the safe tae retrieve the vessel. I sat in the chair and considered leavin’ Kaitlyn a note — but how tae put words tae the moment? I couldna pick up the writing instrument tae begin because there wasna a beginning.

  I was only faced with the end and it seemed too brutal tae say.

  I returned downstairs and through the sliding door tae the deck.

  Quentin turned as I approached. “Boss, I wanted to say goodbye, I — you know, thanks for taking a chance on me. It meant a lot. I just wanted you to know that.”

  “Master Quentin ye never proved me wrong. Thank ye for keepin’ her safe. You have done a better job than I most days.”

  “You sure you don’t need me to go with you? I’ve gotten pretty good with a sword, I could…?”

  His voice trailed off when I shook my head. “I have tae do this alone. I canna worry over keepin’ ye alive, whether ye are good with a blade or nae.”

  “But I am good with the sword, right?”

  “Aye, ye are good. But I need ye tae stay here and take care of Kaitlyn.”

  “All right then. Cool. Next time you’ll take me.”

  I stared out at the horizon.

  “Okay Magnus, see ya soon.” He turned and walked back to the house.

  I took another deep breath, twisted the ends of the vessel, aligned the markings, and as it glowed tae life I began tae count. “One, naught, three, twenty…”

  And the brutal assault on my body began.

  Magnus

  I lumbered up into a sitting position and tried tae remain conscious. Unnnggghhhhhh. Unnnggghhhhhh. My jaw clenched against the spasms.

  This forest was nae far from Talsworth where I would turn myself over tae Lady Mairead.

  Did I want Lady Mairead to have my vessel?

  Twas the only one I possessed and possibly the only one I would ever…

  I would need tae hide it in a location where it could be found again.

  A memory flashed — the stone wall, the tree, shewin’ Kaitlyn how they aligned with the tower. I forced myself tae my feet with a groan and took stock of my location.

  I needed another hour tae rest before I would be well enough tae accomplish this, but I dinna have the time. I had tae move fast.

  * * *

  I staggered forward with the help of tree branches and leanin’ against rocks tae rest until I arrived at the tree I was looking for. The tower was aligned. Eight steps away stood the low wall. The corner was well stacked and looked as if it would stand for many long years.

  I found a rock with a sharp edge, crawled over the wall, knelt in the corner, and began tae dig at the difficult ground until I gained a hole deep enough.

  I dropped the vessel in and covered it with dirt. Then I brought more dirt from the surrounding area and created a berm up the corner. I covered the slope with rocks tae stabilize and hide it. I covered that with leaves and detritus from the nearby trees. When I stepped back tae check twas well hidden from view.

  I dinna want tae take a chance of gettin’ captured this close tae it, so I stepped over the wall, walked south, and leaned against an oak. Facing the direction of the castle, I ate a protein bar in peanut-butter flavor, and then I ate another.

  Twas afternoon. Now that I accomplished this without capture I regretted I dinna go tae Balloch first. I would have liked tae see Lizbeth and Sean before I left.

  I dug a small hole, put the protein bar wrappers into it, and buried them under a small mound of dirt. I looked at my handiwork and brushed what dirt I could get from my hands. They were filthy. It only took about two hours tae look as if I belonged in the eighteenth century.

  I straightened my shirt and kilt and strode tae the edge of the field. There, I leaned on a tree in full view of the castle and waited for the Talsworth guard tae come get me. What was left of the Talsworth guard, we Campbells crushed them quite brutally nae long ago. We had left just a few men standing, nae enough tae cause trouble with us anymore.

  After that battle I had returned tae the woods victorious and that was when I found Kaitlyn gone.

  I had promised tae take care of her, tae protect her, and she disappeared while I was fighting. I shook my head tryin’ tae clear the image of her backpack lyin’ open beside Rory’s body. And then the hours and days lookin’ for her, knowin’ any moment she might die. They were verra long hours.

  I remembered my words when I found her—

  “I have one purpose in life, tae keep ye safe, and I haena been able tae do it.”

  The Talsworth guards rode from the gates headed my way.

  Magnus

  Lady Mairead leveled her eyes. “Drop tae your knees, Magnus.”

  The ground was cold, hard stone.

  “And why are ye here? You were nae expected for two more moons.” She relaxed in a chair languidly waving her hand as she spoke.

  “Kaitlyn has lost our bairn.”

  Her gaze snapped to mine. “Oh? I would think her physicians would be better at healing than that.”

  I decided nae tae answer.

  “That is distressing. I suppose ye are quite broken about it? When did it happen?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Ah. She is still fresh with the loss and yet ye kneel here. Tis a cold manner about ye I dinna suspect.” A malicious smile spread across her face.

  “I assured ye that I would come tae protect my family. You and I have a deal tae that end. But I dinna ken ye would extend the protection tae Kaitlyn as she is—”

  “Barren?”

  “The doctors said she may soon try tae have another—”

  “But nae with ye, Magnus, because ye winna be there.” She leveled her gaze and added, “I imagine this has been a verra difficult day for ye, but I am glad ye have come without more discussion. All this conversation is wearing thin as a moth-eaten tapestry.”
>
  She watched my face.

  “And I wouldna worry over Kaitlyn, she is a verra capable woman. She will find another husband tae protect her. I winna need tae involve her anymore because without providing an heir to us she has become insignificant.”

  A growl escaped from my chest.

  She made a clucking noise then huffed. “Well, I suppose it canna be helped that ye are presenting yourself tae your father without an heir. Tis quite important tae him, ye ken. But there will be more wives, more opportunities tae gain his favor.”

  “Lady Mairead I would appreciate an end tae this part of the discussion. I have left Kaitlyn as ye asked. I have presented myself as ye commanded. I have little power in this, but I respectfully ask ye tae refrain of speaking of my wife, Kaitlyn Campbell, anymore.”

  She watched me slowly then stiffly nodded. “My guards said they found ye without your time-vessel? Where is it?”

  “I daena ken. Once I awoke twas nae with me. I believe it has been stolen.” I stared straight ahead at her left hand.