A Bridge Through Time: Book 1 of The Thistle & Hive Series (13 page)

“All will be well, Ashley, love. Dinnae fash.” He took her hand in his and standing upright, pulled her gently to her feet. “Ye look tired, lass. I’ll walk with ye back to yer room.”

*****

Upstairs, Cailin opened the door to Ashley’s sleeping quarters and followed her inside. She hadn’t said a word since they left Robert and Cormac behind. He watched as Ashley sank wearily into the chair beside the fireplace. Cailin started a fire in the hearth, and then stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders.

“I’d feel better if I could help somehow,” she stated quietly.

“I’ll talk to Irene tomorrow. With all the families arriving, there will be much to be done. She will need yer help.”

Ashley nodded and offered him a shaky smile over her shoulder.

“I’ll have Helene bring a tray of food up for ye and I’ll check on Destiny. I’m sorry to leave ye now, but I must speak more with Robert and Cormac.” Cailin didn’t want to leave her, she’d been so happy all day and in a split-second, that had all changed. He desperately wanted to stay and be alone with Ashley, to continue what they’d started earlier, but those were selfish thoughts. There were more important things to worry about, for now.

She stood up and turned around, so she could search his eyes. “It’s okay. I understand.”

Cailin gently cupped her chin in his hand. “I wish today had ended differently,” he admitted.

“Me, too.” She smiled up at him and her beauty nearly made his knees buckle. He pulled her close and his lips met hers, in a kiss that said everything he believed they were both thinking and feeling. He was the first one to pull away, albeit unwillingly.

“Good night, Ashley, love,” he murmured. He pressed another brief kiss against her forehead and slipped out the door, before he could talk himself into staying.

TWENTY

The rain continued the next day, making a muddy mess everywhere. People were arriving from all directions, some on foot, and others riding horses or bundled in carts. Irene put Ashley in charge of supervising the children and they were all led into the great hall as they arrived, to keep them safely out of the way of the preparations taking place. The kitchen staff had been hard at work all night, and kept a steady flow of broth, bread, and sweet cakes coming. The smell of wet clothing from so many bodies was a bit overwhelming, but Ashley did her best to ignore it and made sure each child was well fed and happy.

Heather and Finn’s children arrived in the great hall just before the noon meal, and excitedly ran to greet Ashley.

“Lady! Lady!” Mary threw her little arms around Ashley’s legs and hugged her tightly.

“Mary!” Ashley was relieved to see the little girl. She’d been worrying that they wouldn’t make it to the castle safely. She lowered herself to Mary’s level and gave her a big hug.

“Da brought the puppies, lady!”

“I’m happy to hear that,” Ashley reassured her with a smile.

William stood next to Mary, and his demeanor suggested he wanted a hug, but he was trying to be tough. Ashley pulled him in and put her arms around his back and he shyly returned the embrace.

“The puppies be in the stables,” William said.

“Maybe we can go and see them later, William, but for now, would you take your brothers and sisters to a table to get some food? I’ll talk to you afterwards, when you’ve had something to eat.”

“Aye, Lady Ashley.” Taking Craig and Mary by the hands, he guided his siblings to the nearest empty table.

The room was filled with the sounds of children, happily eating and talking together. It was important to keep them busy while their parents were being settled and it took Ashley’s mind off her fear of what was going to happen.

Ashley spent the rest of the day with the children, making sure they were fed, calming fears and gathering groups together to tell them numerous stories. She began with nursery rhymes she remembered from her own childhood and progressed through every fairy tale she could recall.

“Ashley, it’s pleased I am, that yer keeping the bairns busy while their parents get settled. I’m especially grateful that ye’ve got mine with ye as well,” Irene said with a grin, when she hurried by at one stage.

“You’re welcome. I’m just happy to help.”

Late in the afternoon, mothers began to arrive, to reclaim their children and take them back to their temporary homes for the evening meal. After the last of the children were collected, the men began to arrive in the hall searching for food, after finishing training for the day. Ashley was emotionally and physically exhausted and had slumped at one of the tables when she spied Irene heading towards her.

“Ashley, thank ye again for yer help this day,” Irene said warmly.

“You’re most welcome. I enjoyed spending time with the children, it made me feel useful.”

“The children love ye. My own can’t stop speaking of ye.” Irene rubbed Ashley’s shoulder affectionately.

“I love them as well. I was impressed with how well behaved they were, under such trying circumstances.”

Irene nodded in agreement and glanced around the great hall, which was rapidly filling with hungry men.

“Ye’ll likely want to eat in yer room tonight. Robert and me brothers will nae be joining us for the evening meal and I still have much to do before I retire.”

“Okay. Can I help you with anything else?”

Irene shook her head. “Nae. Ye should eat and then have a good night’s rest. I’ll have a tray sent up for ye.”

Ashley stifled a yawn. “Good night then. I’ll see you in the morning.” She was disappointed not to see Cailin, but exhaustion was rapidly overtaking her.

“Good night, Ashley,” Irene said warmly.

*****

The next few days passed in a blur of activity, but eventually the clan was settled in and life returned to a more normal routine for the clan members. Ashley had not seen Cailin since the night he’d escorted her to her sleeping quarters and she found she was missing him. He was her anchor in this crazy world she’d found herself in. Cailin had the ability to calm her nerves and made her feel safe in a world where she didn’t belong. She had a desperate desire to see Cailin and set about trying to locate him.

Ashley wandered through the interior of the castle and not finding Cailin there, she decided to check the inner bailey. She swung the doors open and scanned the courtyard. There were so many people working and making their homes here currently, that it was difficult to distinguish one person from the next. Ashley checked inside the stables and some of the other buildings, but he wasn’t anywhere to be seen. She was about to give up and head back inside, when she caught sight of him, striding towards the main gates.

The sight of his handsome face brought an excited smile to her lips and Ashley opened her mouth to call out a greeting. The words died in her throat, when a very beautiful blonde woman ran to Cailin and threw herself into his arms. The woman gazed adoringly into his face and said something, her voice too low for Ashley to distinguish the words. Ashley froze in her tracks when Cailin laughed; appearing delighted by the gorgeous woman’s close proximity. Ashley couldn’t believe her eyes and watched in rapidly increasing dismay as Cailin draped his arm over the woman’s slender shoulders, leading her out of sight.

Tears stung at Ashley’s eyes and she turned and ran back inside, flopping onto the bed in disgust.

How stupid are you, Ashley?
She berated herself angrily.
He’s just like every man you’ve ever dated. Just because he seemed very interested, and he said and did all the right things, doesn’t mean he’s the one. You know better than to trust any guy, even one who seems so sweet and sincere. What a joke that is. He’s probably got something going on with dozens of women. He’s the sixteenth century equivalent of a player.

This wasn’t good. She had no one to talk to about this situation, she was stuck in the wrong century, and she had no way of finding her way home. She needed her friend Jenna and she couldn’t even call her. Tears streamed down her face as she conducted a running dialogue in her head.

You need to get out of here, Ashley. You haven’t been thinking clearly since all this craziness began. You don’t belong in medieval Scotland! You can’t just sit around and wait for someone to rescue you! You’re going to have to figure this out yourself.

She pushed herself up from the bed and paced back and forth across the room for a few minutes, thinking feverishly. She was angry, she was jealous and she was in full fight or flight mode, determined something had to be done immediately.

If I leave now, I can probably make it halfway back to the bridge by the time darkness falls, and then travel the remainder of the way tomorrow.
The weather had improved after the storm blew over, so now was the perfect time to leave. She’d show that Highland Romeo - she didn’t need him, Ashley Moore didn’t need anyone.

With a new sense of determination, Ashley grabbed up the few meager belongings she’d unpacked and stuffed them in the backpack, and then headed downstairs.

TWENTY-ONE

Cormac watched Ashley, as she quickly walked away from the keep. Where could she be off to, in such a hurry? Cailin would nae be pleased with Cormac, if he let her come to any harm and so he decided to follow her, partly out of curiosity and partly to ensure the lass’s safety.

He was thoroughly enjoying the view of Ashley’s rounded and shapely buttocks, when she suddenly spoke.

“I know you’re following me, Cormac,” Ashley snapped, sounding none too pleased. “How am I supposed to find my way back to town, when no one will take me and I get watched like a hawk whenever I try to sneak away? Someone’s always hovering,” she muttered angrily.

Cormac ignored her rant. “These are dangerous times, Ashley,” Cormac said calmly. “Cailin would have me head if I’d seen you leaving the castle and didnae escort ye properly to yer destination. I was merely giving you some space.”

“I don’t need an escort,” she yelled.

“No need to be angry, lass. We’re only concerned for your safety.”

Ashley just growled and increased her pace.

“Where are ye off to in such a hurry?”

“Glendaloch.”

Cormac raised an eyebrow. “And where is this Glendaloch you speak of?”

“I’m not sure, but I think it’s this way.” Cormac thought she looked uncertain, but she pointed straight ahead.

Cormac smiled knowingly. “Why do ye walk so fast, lass?”

“I always walk fast.”

“I ken that, but why?”

“Because it’s how I stay in shape.”

Cormac reached out and caught her arm, puzzled by her strange words. “In shape?” he repeated.

“I don’t want to get fat,” she explained tersely, her voice confirming to Cormac she’d rather be anywhere but here and dealing with him. Again, he wondered why she’d stormed off from the castle in such a state, but he would find the underlying cause of it in time.

“Fat?” he echoed. This lassie was beautiful, but she had some strange ways of talking and thinking, which he nae understood.

Her response was to puff out her cheeks and try to make her slim body look rounder.

Cormac laughed, but spoke quickly to reassure her. “Yer nae fat, lass. Truth be told, yer quite bonnie.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but where I come from, men like women who look like they haven’t eaten in months.”

“These men where you come from must be daft,” Cormac growled. “When I said I was walking behind ye to give ye some space, it wasnae the entire truth. ‘Twas because ye have such a sweet wee bottom and I like the way it swings back and forth when ye walk.” He offered her a cheeky grin. “I think it would be even better though, if ye slow down a wee bit.”

Her face reddened with embarrassment and she lowered her gaze to the grass. “Thank you, I think,” she stammered.

Cormac shrugged. “Come, lass, let me walk with ye, but there be no Glendaloch where ye be headed.” He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm.

Ashley started muttering again, but Cormac could make nae sense of her words. “How am I ever going to get back to my hotel?” she grumbled in a low voice. “Obviously, I’m not going to get there today, not with you tagging along. Besides, I have to admit, I’m not even sure which direction Glendaloch
is
in.”

“Did ye say something, lass?” Cormac tried very hard to hide his amusement at Ashley’s way of dealing with problems. If this is what she did every time she had troubles, Cailin was surely going to be kept well amused by this woman he seemed so besotted with.

“It’s not important.”

Cormac decided to ignore her ranting and do his best to figure out how to abort her escape plan. Cailin would surely thank him later, if he could convince her to return to the castle.

*****

They walked on in silence and came to the top of a bluff. Down below was a beautiful beach and Ashley let out a small cry of delight. “Is there a way down?”

Cormac nodded and gave her one of those breathtaking MacBayne smiles, before he led her towards a narrow path winding its way down towards the sand. He went first and held his hand out for her to take. Holding her fingers tightly in his, he carefully guided her along behind him.

“Thank you, Cormac. I can use all the help I can get with this damn gown I have to wear.”

Cormac suffered a twinge of guilt as he guided Ashley, aware that it was wrong of him to be enjoying her company. He didn’t want to think about what Cailin would do to him, if Cormac let anything happen to Ashley, so he needed to be here with her, he rationalized.

The sheer joy on Ashley’s face was worth the pounding he’d probably take, if Cailin discovered where they were.

They sat side-by-side on the sand and watched the waves crashing on the shore.

“It’s so beautiful,” Ashley sighed. “I’ve always loved the beach. When I was a little girl, my family would rent a cottage every summer. My Dad and I would hunt for beach glass, pretty rocks, and seashells. One summer I found a beautiful moonstone on the beach. Dad had it professionally cut, polished and made into a pendant for me. I told him I’d never take it off. I’ve worn it every day for years.” Her hands touched her neck absently where the moonstone had once lain, but she must have lost it back at the bridge.