Tangled in Time (The McCarthy Sisters) Read online

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  ALSO BY BARBARA LONGLEY Heart of the Druid Laird Love from the Heartland Series, Set in Perfect, Indiana Far from Perfect The Difference a Day Makes A Change of Heart The Twisted Road to You The Novels of Loch Moigh True to the Highlander The Highlander’s Bargain The Highlander’s Folly The Highlander’s Vow The Haneys Series What You Do to Me Whatever You Need

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Text copyright © 2017 Barbara Longley All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Published by Montlake Romance, Seattle www.apub.com Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake Romance are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. ISBN-13: 9781542048231 ISBN-10: 1542048230 Cover design by Erin Dameron Hill

  Physicists and other scientists push the boundaries of our understanding of time, space and everything in between. This book is dedicated to those modern-day wizards who continue to forge new paths of understanding.

  Contents Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Epilogue Dear Readers Acknowledgments Glossary About the Author

  Chapter One Present day, County Meath, Ireland Regan couldn’t see the passage tomb in the predawn darkness, yet every single internal here-be-spirits antenna within her stood on end. And the closer she got, the more those antennae boogied. Newgrange, aka Brú Na Bóinne, was like Mecca to beings not of this world, not to mention a central hub for magic. She’d sensed the powerful vibrations the day before, while visiting the ancient tourist attraction. What she’d sensed had compelled her to come back to take a closer, more private look. If she could tap into the energy here, perhaps she’d figure out how to harness a portion. Maybe then she’d be able to use the magic to shut out the ghosts once and for all. That was her hope anyway, and the driving force behind her trip to Ireland. Legend had it her family’s giftedness sprang from the fae, a boon bestowed upon an Irish ancestor in their distant past. She wished she could give the gift of sight back to that ancestor, or at least learn how t

  Chapter Two Regan stood on Dublin’s Kildare Street, staring at the impressive columned entrance of the archaeology branch of the National Museum of Ireland. She climbed the marble stairs, entered the rotunda and gawked at the opulent, dimly lit interior. A gift shop on one side and a café on the other lined the outer rim of the rotunda, and an intricate circular marble mosaic of the astrological signs took up the entire center. A tall glass case holding museum reproduction jewelry in the gift shop caught her eye, and she drifted over to get a closer look. She wandered through the shop, finally buying a book filled with the histories and pictures of the museum’s permanent exhibits, along with a great foldout map of the interior. Here I am. I know you can see me. Why won’t you listen? I want back what was taken from me. Unhappy spirits clamored for her attention. She set off for the Ireland’s Gold exhibit, pretending she couldn’t hear them. Fáelán had piqued her curiosity with the mentio

  Chapter Three Regan had done it this time. Her words had wounded her boasty ghosty, and judging by the way he’d snapped at her, the hurt ran deep. She’d been too blunt, too honest and not the least bit compassionate. “I’m sorry, Fáelán. You’re right. I know nothing of the past but what I’ve read, while you lived it. Who am I to say what is fact and what is faerie tale? If I promise to let go of the academic version of Ireland’s history, and to be a better listener, will you forgive me?” He flashed her a hurt-filled look, distrust clear across his handsome features. “Will ye cease your doubting and quit your persistent nagging?” Nagging? Was that what she’d been doing? That stung, mostly because he was right. She’d been pushing him to accept her version of his truth. Hadn’t Meredith admonished her to keep an open mind, while at the same time accusing her of the opposite? Her eyes prickled, and she got that tingly feeling at the back of her throat. Why was she so sensitive when it came t

  Chapter Four “I’ve lost my mind,” Regan said, her computer open to Google Hangout. “I’m making dates with a ghost! What’s worse is that he . . .” She’d been about to say Fáelán turned her on, but that was not the sort of thing she’d admit to her sisters. She couldn’t admit that to anyone. “He’s not like any ghost I’ve ever encountered. Today, he and I argued, and—” “You argued with a ghost?” Grayce asked, looking bemused. “Yes, because he’s stubborn and won’t accept he’s dead.” She waved a hand in the air. “Anyway, he got angry and took off . . . on foot.” Why hadn’t he simply disappeared? Any other ghost would have. “He said he needed to go for a run, and when he came back, he was all flushed and sweaty.” “A ghost who exercises and sweats?” Grayce said. “That’s a new one. Does anyone other than you see him?” “Does anyone we know—not counting immediate family—see ghosts? You don’t, Grayce.” Regan raked her fingers through her hair. “He’s not my imaginary friend, if that’s what you’re i

  Chapter Five Regan sat at a small table in the dining area of the B&B in Tralee, sipping strong coffee and watching the other guests. One couple spoke German, and another group, a boisterous family of five, had American accents. She set her mug down and studied the two round patties left on her plate. They’d been described as puddings, one white, one black. Both smelled strongly of sage and onion sausage, but she had no idea what might be in them. Black and white puddings were part of a full Irish breakfast experience, and she was on an adventure. She cut off a sliver of the black pudding with the edge of her fork, and Fáelán appeared in the chair opposite hers. “Augh!” she cried, dropping the fork on the plate with a clatter. A few of the other guests looked her way, and she pretended she’d dropped something on the floor. She leaned over to pick up her imaginary dropped item and grabbed her phone from her purse as she straightened. “Hello,” she said, her phone pressed to her ear. “Are

  Chapter Six Yoga had always been the cure-all for whatever ailed Regan, but today not even Ashtanga helped calm her. Still, she persisted, moving through the postures while her mind continued to twist and turn along its own chaotic path. Today was the day, the nineteenth of June. Fáelán had told her to expect him anytime after noon. He’d be with his family for a while first, and they lived in County Waterford, two and a half hours away from Howth. He’d said he had business to see to, and once he’d taken care of it, he’d come for her. She gave up on yoga and opted for a hot bath, hoping a good soak might help untangle the knots she’d tied herself into. By the time she’d wasted an hour in a hot bath, dressing and applying makeup—on the off chance Fáelán really would show up—it was nearing lunchtime. Too bad she was too nervous to eat. She’d already packed a bag, since they’d be spending the night in Waterford. Now what? She fought the compulsion to stare out the window like a lovesick te

  Chapter Seven Fáelán ushered Regan into his house, and the sound of voices and laughter drifted to her from a spacious room to their left. The wainscoting on the walls of the room were the same golden oak as the double doors opened wide. A sectional couch faced a large fieldstone hearth, and several other seating arrangements were grouped throughout the space. This room alone had to be close to the square footage of her entire town house in Howth. Regan stood at the threshold, eyeing th
e twenty-plus individuals within. A bar took up one corner, and a young man bearing a remarkable resemblance to Fáelán stood behind it, pouring drinks for an older couple. The bartender’s hair was short, more blond than auburn, and he didn’t have as many freckles. Still, if his hair were darker, he and Fáelán could easily pass for twins, or at least brothers. Fáelán set his hand at the small of her back and gently moved her forward. All eyes turned to them, and greetings flew like swallows, dipping and s

  Chapter Eight “You want to lean your hips back to find the sweet spot where you can hold the pose without strain.” Regan corrected Fáelán’s downward-facing dog. Any excuse to touch him worked for her. He’d asked her to teach him yoga, and since he insisted on practicing naked, of course she’d agreed. Because of the naked part, she’d suggested they practice in her bedroom with the blinds closed. She didn’t need her neighbors getting an eyeful of her gorgeous Fiann, and the curtains over the living room windows never closed completely. “On your next exhale, go from downward-facing dog into the lunge. Let me demonstrate again.” She moved into the lunge, conscious of his appreciative stare. Of course, he’d insisted she be naked too. Coming to standing, she gestured. “Now you try.” She slid her hand down his back to fondle his fine butt as he moved into the asana. “Regan . . .” “Yes, Fáelán?” “Ye are distracting me.” “Am I?” How could this already be the end of day three together? Panic car

  Chapter Nine It was already late afternoon, and Regan had hardly moved from the couch since her phone call with Jim. She still hadn’t pulled herself together enough to come up with any kind of rescue plan for Fáelán. She still hoped it was all a mistake, and he’d walk through the front door any minute. A jarring ring startled her out of her lethargy. She grabbed her phone from the coffee table, checked the ID and had to swallow a few times before she could answer. “Hey, Meredith. I was just about to call you.” “Rae, what’s going on?” Meredith asked. “Grayce and I are both picking up on your distress, and we were supposed to be having our Google Hangout date with you and Fáelán now. We got worried.” Since the day Fáelán had appeared at her door, Regan had been texting photos to her sisters and keeping them up-to-date, and today she’d arranged for them to meet. “Oh, God. He’s gone, Meredith. Fáelán is gone.” “What do you mean he’s gone? Start from the beginning. Wait. I’m going to put my

  Chapter Ten No matter how far or how fast Fáelán ran, Morrigan’s accursed window into the earthly realm kept pace beside him. He refused to look, lest he be drawn in by what he might see. His lungs heaved, and sweat dripped from his bare skin to combine with the gray mist of the void. Though his muscles burned and cried for mercy, he kept moving. Options were few as to how to spend his time. He’d chosen to expend his energy through physical exertion, working his body until exhaustion dulled the cutting edge of his pain. ’Twas the only way he knew to stay sane. Only in sleep and dreaming could he be free, and then he dreamed of a life with Regan. Shortly after his confrontation with Morrigan, he’d inadvertently caught a glimpse of Regan crying herself sick whilst sitting on the couch in her town house. That brief look had set off an unbearable inferno of grief and rage, and he’d quickly learned to be more careful. He’d tried to will himself elsewhere, but Morrigan had put a stop to his

  Chapter Eleven Third century, Ireland Fáelán drew his cloak close around him and hurried down the path toward Nóra’s cottage. When he’d left to bathe in the stream, she’d been stirring a savory stew, and the scent of wood smoke and their supper hung in the air, enticing him to hurry. What should he have first—her or a hot meal to fill his belly? He grinned, grateful for his good fortune. He’d been taken in for the winter by Nóra’s kin. Luckier still that her family had gone to visit their son, whose wife had recently given birth to a fine, healthy boy. Of course, he knew her parents had left their daughter behind with the expectation she and Fáelán would grow closer in their absence. Her da had made it clear they all hoped the association would lead to a wedding, and perhaps it would . . . someday. ’Twas well past time he took a wife, but did he love Nóra with his whole heart? Nay. Perhaps that would never happen for him. He was quite fond of her, and he did find her pleasing to the ey

  Chapter Twelve Fáelán followed the woman through the woods to the trail and watched as she disappeared around a bend. Regan, she called herself, and she had claimed to love him. Even more outrageous was her claim that he loved her. Never once did she look back as she fled, and for some inexplicable reason, his chest tightened and ached. He continued to gaze down the trail in case she might return. She didn’t. Ye lie! That was what he’d cried out when she’d told him she carried his babe. Impossible. She had to be lying, didn’t she? Then why did those two words strike at him so grievously, and why did regret bite into him the way it did? Mayhap ’twas due to the hurt his denial caused, which had shown plainly upon her lovely face. He shook his head at the strangeness of it all, of her incredible tale—none of which could be true. Still, ye lie echoed through his mind as if he’d shouted the very same words to someone else but a short time ago—and for the same reason. He hadn’t. He couldn’t

  Chapter Thirteen Still bleary from lack of a good night’s sleep, Fáelán leaned over the trough set by the well within the timber walls of Fionn’s stronghold and thrust his head into the icy water. He straightened, shook himself and swiped the water from his face. “Brr.” Shivering and awake now, he washed quickly and dressed. Then he headed back to Fionn’s hall to break his fast. Dawn broke upon the eastern horizon, revealing a menacing gray sky. The scent of peat smoke, salty sea air, cattle and humanity permeated the air. Stinging sleet pelted Fáelán before he reached the keep, deepening his dour mood. “Too much worry and too little sleep,” he muttered. He jogged the rest of the way and strode inside, rubbing his hands together for warmth. “Fáelán!” Fionn’s voice boomed from the high table. “Come, laddie. Break your fast.” He pushed out the chair across from him with his foot. Fáelán wended his way through the numerous tables filled with Fenians. All the Fianna rotated through duties

  Chapter Fourteen Fáelán paced and gesticulated before the fae king. Lir’s throne was positioned at one end of a grand courtyard surrounded by cloisters and crowded with curious courtiers. Avid interest pulsed from the Tuatha Dé Danann nobles, becoming a palpable force pressing in around him. Fionn stood nearby, and so did his captain’s fae relation, lending Fáelán courage. He couldn’t help but get caught up in the retelling of all that had befallen him at Morrigan’s hand. He poured all the emotional turmoil he’d suffered into his words. “I was deceived, tormented and held captive for nigh on two millennia by one of your own,” he called out, meeting the eyes of several of the spectators. “My mate risked her life, coming back through the ages to warn me. Because of Regan’s bravery, I evaded Morrigan’s curse this time ’round, but still the fae princess continues to hound my every step.” He turned back to the king. “I am beside myself with worry for Regan, Your Majesty. Your daughter choke

  Chapter Fifteen The sight of Regan, her face battered and bruised, cut Fáelán more sharply than any blade ever could, and in a flash, Morrigan’s scheme became clear. Sweating, his lungs straining for air, Fáelán acted reflexively. He dropped and rolled. The blow meant to sever his head from his neck met naught but air, and the momentum unbalanced Múiros. Fáelán sprang up from the ground in a flurry of offensive strikes and blows, forcing Múiros to retreat. This was no contest of skill; he was in a fight for his life. How had Morrigan gotten to the fae warrior without King Lir’s knowledge? The princess knew him not at all if she believed using Regan to distract him would make him an easy target. Seeing her only renewed his determination, and resolve surged through his veins. Fáelán’s need to get to Regan, his instincts to protect, lent him strength. “King Lir,” he shouted. “Look to your daughter.” The clash of steel against steel reverberated through him, and Fáelán’s focus sharpened. H

  Chapter Sixteen It had taken Regan more than a day or two before she cou
ld pretend to feel more like herself. All she really wanted to do was sleep and grieve, with the occasional meal thrown in for good measure. She had two reasons to get out of the house: her sisters, and she’d sworn to continue helping ghosts. She had a particular ghost in mind, and there was where she meant to begin. Sighing, Regan faced the imposing, columned entrance of the National Museum of Ireland. This time Grayce and Meredith flanked her. The museum would open in two minutes. Was it too much to hope they’d remain the only people visiting this morning? Yep. This was the last day of June, and a Friday morning at the height of the tourist season. The museum would likely be teeming with tourists by lunchtime. Hopefully she could push at least one ghosty into the light before the place was packed. “OK, here’s the plan.” Regan turned to her sisters as the entrance doors were unlocked from the inside. “If the ghost

  Epilogue Three months later, County Waterford, Ireland Regan sat at the vanity in the bride’s room of the two hundred-year-old stone church. This church on the outskirts of Waterford had been attended by Fáelán’s family for generations. She stared into the mirror while her mother placed her wedding veil upon her head. Turning her head left and right, she checked to see that it was straight. “Perfect, Mom. Thanks.” Her mother stepped back, her eyes growing overly bright. “Beautiful. You positively glow, Regan, with happiness and from pregnancy.” She sniffed and dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re going to live an ocean away. I’ll hardly ever get the chance to see you, my new son-in-law or my first grandchild.” Regan’s eyes misted too. “We’ll visit often, and with the Ahearns moving into a cottage in town, we’ll have room enough for you and the entire family to visit whenever you want. In fact, I expect all of you to visit when Baby O’Boyle arrives.” Jim and Kathry

  Dear Readers There are many perspectives and theories about the space-time continuum. Since Einstein identified time as the fourth dimension, the science community has argued that there are anywhere from ten to twenty-six dimensions. All agree, however, that time is not flat, linear or one-directional. In fact, physicists at the University of Queensland, Australia, were able to send light particles into the past, proving that time travel is possible. For the purposes of this book, I went with a simplified version of the multiverse theory. The simplest explanation for this theory came to me through a documentary on public television. Physicists explain there are a finite number of elements in the universe, and these elements combine in different ways to make up all matter. Think of these elements as a deck of cards, and start dealing poker hands over and over with that same deck. If you keep dealing, you’re going to get duplicate hands. Scientists posit the same occurs with the finite n