Across Time Part 23

Jessie glanced at the clock. "My parents worry so much, they don't see how I have changed. I've grown up, and to be honest, I think that scares the c.r.a.p out of them. So they hang on to my past transgressions as a way of hanging on to the little girl who did them." Jessie lay back and folded her arms across her chest. Let Dr. Uhl psychoa.n.a.lyze that.

" Changed in what way?" Dr. Uhl had thin lips beneath a silly putty nose that looked like it was about to slide off her face. Her eyes, a hazelish-brown, were hawk-like in the way they narrowed whenever she asked a question. Like most folks in town, she was underdressed in khaki dockers, a white collared shirt and a blue blazer. J. Jill all the way down to her black Simple loafers.

Jessie thought she would scream. "Do you know who I hang out with? Madam Ceara."

Dr. Uhl gave nothing away. "Oh?"

"Yeah. Look, I'm seventeen, in a new town, in a new state working my a.s.s off in a house the locals call the Money Pit. Ceara reached out to me and I reached back. There are no drugs. I don't do drugs, my new friends don't do drugs. There. Are. No. Drugs."

"And you think drugs are the only reason they're worried about you?"

"My parents sent my little brother away because they believed the story of a kid I threatened to kick the s.h.i.t out of."

"Why did you do that?"

"Because the little p.r.i.c.k was ha.s.sling Daniel about drugs." Jessie leaned forward in her chair. "I let him know what would happen if he did it again. End of story."

"So, what happened?"

"The kid beat me to the punch and told my folks a bunch of bulls.h.i.t. Hence, they shipped Daniel out of town thinking I was using again when all I was trying to do was protect him. It's so unfair."

"Is fair important to you?"

Jessie rolled her eyes at the tediousness of the question. G.o.d, an hour ago, she was in the first century talking to a Druid about saving lives, and now here she sat answering inane questions about fairness.

"The truth is what's important to me, Dr. Uhl, and the fact that no *

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one believes it when it comes out of me."

"Trust has to be earned."

Jessie groaned. "Right. And as long as the dog is on a leash, we trust that it won't run away. That's not trust, is it, Doctor? No, it isn't. Real trust is letting the dog off the leash and knowing it won't bolt in front of a car." Rising, Jessie sighed. "The difference between me and a dog is that, unlike the dog, I can take off my own leash."

"What are you doing?"

Jessie turned back to her. "The only important thing here is that I know I'm clean. I can't waste my time running around trying to prove my innocence to anyone; not my parents, and not you. A few weeks ago, I would have stayed till the end to humor everyone, but frankly, I have more important things to do than sit here dissecting what's been, up to now, a pretty unremarkable life." On that, Jessie started for the door.

"Why up to now, Jessie? What has happened to make your life more interesting?"

Grabbing the doork.n.o.b, Jessie said over her shoulder, "If I told you that, I'd be in padded cell so fast, I wouldn't have time to unhook this leash." With that, Jessie walked out of the building.

Madam Ceara had just finished with a customer when Jessie burst through the door all out of breath. She was talking so fast, Ceara had to stop her several times and ask her to slow down.

Inhaling deeply, Jessie started over. "I met Cate."

Ceara headed for the kitchen with Jessie close on her heels.

"Where?"

"In her dreams. Her Dreamworld. She felt my presence when I went through so she induced sleep or something so we could meet.

Why didn't you tell me we could do that?"

Ceara turned on the faucet and watched as the water entered her teakettle. "We can't. She apparently can. She is very good, my dear, to be able to make something of that magnitude happen. She knows the craft well." Setting the kettle on the stove, Ceara turned up the flame.

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"Go on."

Jessie told her all about their conversation, and Ceara stopped her only a few times for clarification. When Jessie began describing Lachlan, Ceara's eyes grew wide and she held her hands up. "Are you certain she said Lachlan?"

Jessie nodded. "Are you okay? You don't look so hot."

Ceara nodded slowly and motioned for Jessie to continue, the color completely gone from her cheeks. "I'm-fine. Please-continue."

"Cate saw what horrific thing might happen to Maeve and the others, so she and Lachlan decided Cate would go through, although I don't know why he made her go and not himself. Cate made it sound like he was the bomb."

"They need him to lead the people. If the Romans are going to attack, they need their chief Druid to a.s.semble everyone together and devise a plan."

Jessie watched the flame lick the bottom on the teakettle. "Anyway, my job is to find out as much as I can about Druids and Romans, England and all that history I never paid much attention to. If they have a general idea of what happened-"

"They can work around that, yes. It's a brilliant notion, really."

Ceara nodded as she watched the steam rise from the mouth of the teapot. "Fortunately, my dear, you have friends who are well- connected. I have studied a bit about the Celts and their society, and I should be a great deal of help to you. Add my Internet connection on the boat, and we will provide you with more than enough reading material." Ceara checked her watch when the kettle blew. "I do have several appointments this afternoon. Can you meet me at my boat tonight around eight?"

"You bet."

Ceara smiled and patted Jessie's hand. "Don't panic my dear, or go off half-c.o.c.ked. There's a method to compiling the evidence we need to help. At least now you know what is required of you. Now, we have a direction in which to travel."

Jessie couldn't stop thinking about her conversation with Cate. "It's as weird as it is incredible."

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"What is? Soul travel?"

"That, too, but I was thinking about them. Cate's so connected to her. It makes me feel-"

Ceara leaned closer to Jessie and looked intently at her. "Are you telling me you can feel Cate's feelings for this Maeve?"

Nodding, Jessie was surprised by her own answer. "Yeah, I think I do."

"Oh-my. That must be something then."

"Is it a problem?"

Ceara stared out the window and sighed loudly. "Love should never be a problem, dear girl, but what you're feeling between them goes far beyond our meager definition of love."

Jessie barely nodded and felt as if she were hardly there at all. Deep inside her, she experienced that life-giving kind of love they held for each other. She felt it as if she had someone in this time that she loved with just as much intensity and power. It was real, it was potent, and it filled Jessie with an unexpected joy.

Ceara cupped Jessie's chin in the palm of her hand. "What you're feeling is your soul mate."

"My-soul mate? You mean-Maeve?"

Ceara nodded. "Yes. Has it not occurred to you yet that she or he is out there now?"

Jessie had to sit down for this one. "I never-I never thought of it. I mean, for the last couple of years, I felt like I was missing something- like there was a puzzle out there with a missing piece and I was it."

"And now?"

Inhaling deeply, Jessie said very softly, "Now, I don't feel that way at all. Ever since I went through I've felt more at peace, more whole than I ever have. Is that-"

"Because of Maeve? It very well could be. It could also be because you are finally on the right path. When we are where we're supposed to be, life just becomes so much easier."

"Well, all this history and time travel isn't really easy, Ceara. It's d.a.m.n scary and super confusing."

"And yet?"

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Jessie looked up at her and grinned. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Ceara nodded and pulled out two mugs. "Good for you."

"You know, as weird as it is to find myself constantly thinking about Maeve, there's something about Cate that's irresistibly adorable. She is just filled with goodness."

"And love?"

"Oh yes."

"If you can feel Cate's emotions for Maeve, then she is a far stronger priestess than I ever thought existed."

"Then you think we can do this? Can we really help them?"

Nodding, Ceara poured the steaming water into two small teacups.

"Can, my dear, and will."

"And then, she just disappeared, as one would expect one to leave a dream."

Maeve brushed a stray hair from Cate's face. "You have done well.

I am so proud of you."

Cate started to smile, but was prevented by a huge yawn and stretch. "It was so very weird."

Maeve tilted her face. "Weird?" She said it as if it were a foreign word.

Cate yawned again and nodded. "Yes. Strange. Odd. To stand there and speak to the person who will have your soul in two thousand years defies logic. It is . . . an odd experience mere words just can't convey."

Lachlan rose and strode over to the door. He stood there staring at Cate for a moment before speaking. "I, too, am proud of you, Cate.

You have done well on your quest."

"It is easier since Jessie is also a quester."

This caught Lachlan by surprise. "A quester? Are you certain?"

"As certain as I can be about anything in the twenty-first century, yes. She has my soul, after all; the soul of a quester cannot stay silent long, Lachlan."

"What does she know of us?"

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Cate shook her head. "As to history, she knows virtually nothing, but she is willing to learn-to find out."

Lachlan nodded. "Excellent. I must go. The Chieftain needs to see me this morning. I will see you both in the grove this eve."

Cate watched Lachlan leave, wondering if he had ever experienced any joy in his life. She could not remember the last time she saw him laugh.

"How do you feel?" Maeve asked, helping Cate off the bed.

"Fine." Cate straightened her robe when she stood. "Do you know the strangest thing? I was thinking about your question the other day; the one about Jessie. I like her. I truly do like her."

"Of course you do. Why do you think so many of us like you?"

Maeve stroked Cate's cheek with the back of her hand. "She is not so very different from you, is she?"

"She is young, but willful. I was clear with her about what to do and she understands our need and the urgency of our request. Without complications, I believe Jessie will do what must be done."

Just then, the door swung open and Lachlan rushed back in.

"Governor Paulinus's men are on the move and marching this way. It is said they are leaving Londinium in the morning and will be coming south."

Maeve quickly moved to his side. "What must we do?"

"Pack only what you can carry, hide anything that would show you are a Druid, and spread word we will be meeting in the grove within the hour to discuss what the Chieftain wants to do."

"So. It has begun."