A Bridge Through Time: Book 1 of The Thistle & Hive Series (21 page)

A large, strong hand reached up and pulled Ashley back down onto the mattress. “Helene, Lady Ashley doesnae need yer help this morning. Ye can go,” Cailin commanded, his voice gruff with sleep. Helene didn’t move.

“Now,” Cailin said.

Ashley struggled to sit up, but Cailin had her pinned to the bed.

Helene nodded, her eyes downcast and her cheeks bright red. “I should tell ye, Cailin, yer brother and Sir Robert be lookin’ fer ye.”

“Let them keep lookin’.” Cailin had a wicked grin on his lips when he stared into Ashley’s eyes. Ashley cocked an eyebrow and giggled at him, as Helene backed further towards the door. The young woman was fumbling behind her to locate the latch, when the door suddenly swung open, hitting her on the backside. Helene let out a small yelp of surprise when Cormac came through the door, his face filled with mischief.

“Sorry, lass,” he apologized to Helene, before raising his eyes to the bed. “Cailin, there ye be! I’ve been lookin’ all over fer ye!”

“Cormac,” Cailin growled as he leaped from the bed, exposing his naked form for everyone to see. “How dare ye enter Ashley’s room without invitation!”

Ashley wasn’t sure what to do. On the one hand, she was enjoying the sight of Cailin’s tightly muscled backside, and on the other hand, she was painfully aware of Helene and Cormac standing in her room and knowing exactly what she and Cailin had been up to all night. She quickly pulled the furs up over her head. Apparently, privacy was hard to come by at Breaghacraig. She was going to have to remember to lock the chamber door from now on.

Ashley peeked out from beneath the covers. Helene seemed unable to tear her eyes away from Cailin’s nudity, and the shocked expression on her face was a sight to behold. Helene didn’t seem to know quite where to look and finally let out an exasperated cry as she turned and ran directly into Cormac’s chest.

“‘Tis alright, Helene,” Cormac soothed the young woman, holding her close. “I’ve got ye. ‘Tis a shocking sight ye’ve just been unlucky enough to see,” he continued, holding back his laughter. “Cailin, cover yerself. Have ye no shame?”

With a frustrated growl, Cailin lunged towards his brother, who avoided him adeptly, even as he pushed Helene out through the doorway. “Robert and I need to speak with ye, brother,” Cormac announced.

“Ye can wait,” Cailin snapped.

“Nay. I dinnae think we can.”

“Well, ye’ll have to. Now get out of this chamber before I throw yer sorry arse out,” Cailin threatened.

“Calm yerself. I’m goin’. My sincerest apologies, Ashley, for the interruption.” Cormac sailed out the door, but not without one last parting shot. “Cailin, I do believe yer the one with the sorry arse - just look at it, brother! No wonder Helene looked so terrified. Well, not only terrified by that sorry arse, but perhaps a wee something else as well.” He roared with laughter as he closed the door and left.

Cailin turned back to the bed, the sound of Cormac’s laughter still echoing down the hallway. Ashley came out from under the furs and Cailin’s furious expression softened.

“Good day to ye, me beauty.” Cailin’s manhood was standing proudly at attention again.

Ashley smiled seductively and crooked her finger, beckoning him back to bed.

“Hey handsome,” she whispered.

Cailin didn’t need more encouragement. He leaped onto the bed, wrapping Ashley in his arms. He buried his face in her neck, growling as he nuzzled her throat and covered her with kisses.

“Cailin,” she gasped. “Your arse isn’t sorry at all. As a matter of fact, it’s quite magnificent.” To prove her point, she grabbed his backside with both hands and pulled him closer.

As he continued his assault on her senses, Ashley spoke, already quite out of breath. “Do you think we should get dressed? Robert might be angry if you make him wait.”

“I dinnae care, my love. I have started something here that must be finished.”

Ashley sighed contentedly in his arms, happily anticipating the pleasure to come.

TWENTY-EIGHT

Cailin helped Ashley with her gown and to her surprise he was almost as good at putting it on, as he had been at taking it off. Although it took a bit longer than usual, because of his amorous dallying. When they’d finished dressing, they made their way downstairs where they were greeted by a less than happy Robert.

“Ashley, if ye dinnae mind, I’d speak with Cailin alone,” he growled.

Cormac, who stood by Robert’s side, offered Ashley a wink and a nod as she walked away. As she made her way towards the great hall, Ashley met a number of people who seemed to offer her a wink, or a sly grin as she passed. Was it only in her imagination, or did everyone look as if they knew exactly what she’d been doing with Cailin last night?

“Good morning,” Lena said, when Ashley walked into the hall a few minutes later. “Irene was worried when you didn’t join us for breakfast this morning.” Lena was settled by the fire, where she was doing some sewing. “The boys are growing so fast, it seems I spend most of my time making them new clothes.”

Ashley didn’t feel like explaining her tardiness. What was the point? It seemed everyone knew why she was late getting up this morning. So instead, she sat in the chair opposite Lena with a resigned sigh.

“Are you okay?” Lena asked, lapsing easily back to twenty first century slang.

“I’m fine, thanks. Where is Irene, anyway?”

“She’s off on her morning rounds, I think. She’ll be back soon. You must be hungry.”

“I could eat.” Ashley felt a bit awkward and to top it off, she could hear Robert yelling at Cailin, although she couldn’t understand a word of what was being said. She smiled to herself when she thought of Cailin. Aside from the worry about being the talk of the castle, Ashley was quite content and gloriously happy. Happier than she’d been in years.

Helene appeared out of nowhere, carrying a tray of bannocks, a pot of honey, and a mug of warm cider.

“Thank you, Helene. I’m sorry about the scene earlier in my room,” Ashley apologized.

“‘Tis my own fault and it is I who should be apologizin’. I shouldnae have barged in to yer chambers uninvited. I thought ye were alone and I was burstin’ to tell ye me news,” Helene said, her cheeks flushed.

Lena was watching them both, with an expression which was equal parts amusement and curiousity.

“Well, Helene, out with it then,” Lena urged. “Ye’ve piqued my curiosity.”

“Oh, I couldnae, Lady Lena,” Helene protested. “‘Twould nae be proper.”

“Helene, we’ve known each other for a long time now. Ye need not be proper around me. This married woman would love to hear yer news, unless ye’d rather not tell me. I’d be disappointed, but I’d certainly understand.”

Helene worried at her lip and after a quick glance around the hall to ensure they were alone, nodded her head.

“Sit, Helene,” Ashley said, motioning to the empty chair beside her.

“Verra well then.” Helene settled on the edge of the seat, her bright eyes dancing with joy. “I wanted to tell ye, Lady Ashley, that our plan worked and Dougall kissed me in the stables. And he asked if he could court me!” she confessed.

“It seems love was in the air last night,” Lena teased.

Ashley and Helene both turned varying shades of red.

“Just one kiss, Helene?” Ashley asked.

“Nay… many kisses.” Helene’s blush deepened until she was the color of a ripe tomato.

“I’m so happy for you, Helene. That’s so exciting! I knew he liked you, I could tell,” Ashley smiled warmly, thrilled for Helene’s happiness.

“Aye and I’m happy for ye as well,” Helene said with one suggestively raised eyebrow.

Ashley giggled and Lena joined in with an amused chuckle before she spoke to both women. “Well, I’m happy for ye both. There’s nothing like a new love. The best part, my girls, is that it only gets better with time. I still get butterflies when Ewan looks in my eyes as if I’m the only woman on earth. Our bond has only deepened more with the passing years.”

“I only hope that I’ll be that lucky, but if the way I feel this morning is any indication, I have to believe it’s possible.”

“I know you will be,” Lena reassured her. “I’ve seen the way Cailin looks at ye; how his eyes follow your every move. And you, my dear Helene, Dougall will be a very lucky man to have ye by his side.”

Helene had been nodding agreement as Lena spoke about Cailin. When Dougall was mentioned, she shook her head. “‘Tis I who be the lucky one.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Ashley disagreed, wrapping Helene in a warm hug.

*****

The yelling from out by the stairway had ceased and the three women were enjoying their conversation, when they were joined by a certain handsome man, who only had eyes for Helene.

“Good day, m’ladies,” Dougall nodded politely as he addressed Lena and Ashley. “Pardon my interruption. Helene, might I speak with ye please?”

Helene looked towards her friends and then back to Dougall. “Of course.” She rose to go to him and Ashley watched curiously, trying not to eavesdrop but unable to help herself.

“What do ye need, Dougall?” Helene asked when she drew nearer to the highlander.

Dougall led her a bit further away from Ashley and Lena and Ashley saw him place his hands on Helene’s waist, caught him looking longingly into her eyes. “Ye be all I need, Helene. Will ye walk with me?”

“Aye, Dougall. I will.” Helene slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. As he led her away, Helene glanced back over her shoulder and waved goodbye to her friends.

“Wow. That was very romantic,” Ashley sighed heavily, charmed by the romance of Dougall’s words to Helene. “Who knew Dougall had it in him?”

“Did you see the smile on Helene’s face?” Lena asked conspiratorially.

“Mmmhmmm. I know exactly how she feels.”

“I’ll just bet you do,” Lena laughed.

“Where are the boys this morning?” Ashley hurriedly changed the subject.

“Off playing with their cousins, thank goodness. I’m grateful for the quiet time, no matter how brief it may be.”

“I could use a bit of fresh air. Care to join me?” Ashley suggested.

“I’d love to. These can wait.” She placed her mending on the chair and offered Ashley a devilish smile. “Shall we go spy on the men?”

“That sounds like a very good idea. They should be on the training field, I would think.”

“I agree. There is nothing I love more than watching a bunch of hunky men working out, without their shirts on. Shall we go see what they’re up to?” Lena had a surprising way of switching back and forth between sixteenth and twenty first century speech patterns. When in the company of Ashley and Helene, she had used a combination of both. When Ashley wasn’t involved in a conversation, Lena automatically seemed to defer to the speech pattern used by the clan members.

“Absolutely. Let’s go.” Ashley took one last bite of the delicious bannocks and followed Lena out through the door.

*****

The skies outside were overcast and grey. The clouds sat oppressively heavy above their heads and threatened a shower of rain soon. Lena and Ashley took a turn around the courtyard, stopping here and there to exchange polite conversation with those they met on the way to the training area.

They stopped to watch as the blacksmith worked his magic with a hammer, anvil, and a raging fire. He was shoeing a young stallion that from the looks of him was still quite green. The large horse was prancing back and forth, the stable boys nimbly avoiding being trampled by his massive hooves. As a fierce burst of wind gusted through the courtyard from the approaching storm, the horse got even more agitated. Ashley suspected the stable boys had little, if any, control over the animal. She and Lena stepped back, safely out of the way and watched as the men struggled to calm the panicked animal.

Just as the young stallion began rearing onto his hind legs and backed away from the blacksmith, Ashley was horrified to hear little Mary, calling for her puppy. Ashley looked around frantically and saw the puppy was running directly towards the frantic horse and its stomping hooves. Worse still, Mary - oblivious to the danger - ran after him.

“Oh, no!” Ashley shouted. Adrenaline coursed through her veins and with no thought to her own safety; she flew across the yard and grabbed Mary and the puppy, just as the huge horse reared once again and fell over backwards. Ashley managed to roll safely out of the way, a split second before the horse landed where they had been. She held on tightly to Mary and the puppy as together they hit the outside wall of the blacksmith’s shop. The horse continued to thrash around, trying to get onto its feet and Ashley placed her body over Mary’s, desperately trying to protect the little girl.

It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Ashley heard Lena screaming and both Cailin and Robert shouting as they ran towards her and Mary. The horse was finally brought under control, but Ashley couldn’t move, stiff with fear. She still held tight to Mary, who was sobbing and clinging tightly to Ashley’s gown and her puppy. Ashley herself was near to tears and shaking uncontrollably. Despite her fear, Ashley managed to murmur words of reassurance to the little girl and stroked her back.

“Ashley, love!” Strong arms encircled them and Cailin pulled her to her feet.

“Mary!” Heather cried. “Mary!” Taking Mary from Ashley’s arms, Heather examined her daughter to be sure she was unhurt. “Thank ye, Lady Ashley, ye saved her life.” Tears ran down Heather’s cheeks as she buried her face in Mary’s hair.

Ashley was speechless and she held onto Cailin for dear life, happy to be safely in his arms.

“Dinnae fash, love, all’s well. Ye be a brave one to be sure,” Cailin crooned. He kissed the top of Ashley’s head as the others joined them.

“Are ye hurt, Ashley?” Robert queried, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“No… No, I’m fine,” Ashley managed to stammer.

“We were coming from the training field and saw what happened,” Cormac said.

“I’m just happy I was close enough to help. Mary would have been crushed if…” Ashley stopped abruptly. The thought horrified her and she quickly put it out of her head.