A Bridge Through Time: Book 1 of The Thistle & Hive Series (17 page)

Cormac must have noticed it too and he spoke up, sounding sheepish. “‘Twas my fault, Ashley. Gavin and I thought it would be like old times. Just the three of us, enjoying a drink together, ye ken?”

“It’s really not a problem, Cormac. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason, and it was good that the three of you enjoyed yourselves.”

Cailin looked at Cormac in disbelief. Most women they knew would have been furious at being left to fend for themselves, while their men were off with their friends drinking until the wee hours.

“We should get back downstairs,” Ashley announced quietly. Confused, Cailin followed sheepishly in her wake as she left her chambers. Cormac fell in behind him.

Two fast moving blurs of red hair sailed past them and down the hallway as they approached the stairs.

“Ranald, Rowan, wait for yer Ma!” Lena said breathlessly, as she reached the landing, where Ashley stood to one side to let her pass. “Ah, Ashley, I wonder if I might have a word with ye privately,” Lena gasped, pressing a hand to her chest.

“Of course,” Ashley replied.

“I’m going to attempt getting the boys down to sleep, and then I’d like to do the same fer an hour or two. I’ll look for ye a wee bit later, if that would be suitable.”

Ashley shrugged. “Sure. I’ll be around.”

The sound of multiple doors slamming further down the hallway drew Lena’s attention, and with a roll of her eyes, she resumed chasing after the boys.

Cailin chuckled along with Cormac, as they watched Lena depart. “They remind me of the two of us at that age,” Cailin admitted.

“Ma was always chasing after us, wasn’t she?” Cormac was grinning from ear to ear, obviously remembering what little imps they had been.

*****

Ashley started down the stairs, thinking the two men must have been adorable and surely given their parents a run for their money when they were children. Her feet hit the last step and she was off, determined not to put herself in close proximity to the man who took her breath away, made her pulse quicken, gave her butterflies and generally turned her brain to mush.

“Ashley!” Cailin called after her.

“I’m going to check if Irene needs any help. I’ll see you later.” She didn’t look back. She knew doing so would be a mistake.

TWENTY-FOUR

Irene was pleased when Ashley spent the better part of the day with her, glad of the company. They sat by the fire and did some needlework to pass the time, while their visitors slept. As the noon hour approached, Irene brought up the topic of Ashley’s staying with them.

“Ashley, it has been such a pleasure having ye here with us, even though it’s only been for a few short days. I hope ye’ll think about staying for a good while longer.”

“That’s kind of you to say, Irene, but I really need to get home.”

“That may take a while yet, what with the risks of travelling with Sir Richard about,” Irene said. “I’ve enjoyed yer company, Ashley. I never had a sister, but if I did, I imagine she might have been much like ye.”

Ashley reached over and touched Irene’s hand. “Aww… that’s so sweet. I feel the same way.”

“See, we are sisters in spirit. I hope ye’ll give it some thought. I know I’m not the only one who would miss ye, if ye left us.”

*****

Ashley knew exactly whom Irene was alluding to, and if she really allowed herself to think about it, she knew her heart would stay at Breaghacraig, long after Ashley herself had left. She just didn’t belong here, though. Sooner or later, she’d start to miss her friends, drinking coffee, hot showers… Besides, Cailin hadn’t
asked
her to stay. They were attracted to each other, but maybe attraction was all there was to it. Maybe he would turn out to be like all the other guys she’d known, and then where would she be? She’d already had one scare with him, even though it had been resolved innocently enough. She wanted to believe there was more between them than sexual chemistry, but she couldn’t trust it would be the case.

“I’ll think about it, I promise. I just don’t know if I could do it.” Ashley shifted uncomfortably in her chair, uncertain how much to say to Irene, when the other woman knew nothing of the truth about where Ashley had come from. “It’s so different here. Different from what I’m used to. Different from what I know and what I’m comfortable with.”

“You’ve promised to think about it and that’s all I can ask. Now, are ye hungry?”

Ashley chuckled - it seemed everything in Breaghacraig revolved around eating. “Starved, actually.”

Irene smiled. “Let’s have our noon meal then.”

As they ate, they chatted about the castle, and the family. Irene had selected some fabrics and designed some gowns for Ashley and they made plans to sew them. There was a comfortable, relaxed feeling between the two women. Anyone observing them would have believed they had known each other all their lives, not merely for a few days. Jenna was the only other woman in Ashley’s life, with whom she felt completely at ease. It was nice to know she now had another friend she could count on.

They were finishing up their meal when Lena entered the room, appearing much more relaxed and rested. “I feel so much better now,” she said. “The boys are still asleep so I thought I’d sneak away for a while.”

“They’re adorable,” Ashley said.

Lena flopped down onto a chair. “Aye, they are, but they never stop moving. From morn ‘til night, they keep me quite busy.”

Irene laughed. “Their cousins will keep them busy once they’re awake, and if that doesn’t work, me brothers are always willin’ to amuse the bairns.”

“That would be wonderful. I might actually get some rest while I’m here,” Lena smiled, as if the thought was heavenly.

The servants arrived to clear the table and Irene requested a tray for Lena, before she stood up. “I must go see to things in the kitchen, and then I’m going to go out to the courtyard to check on the rest of our guests. Ashley, would you mind keeping Lena company?”

Ashley shook her head and smiled warmly. “Not at all. I’d be happy to.”

“I will see ye both later in the day then.”

They watched as Irene disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, before Lena spoke. “She is a wonder.”

Ashley nodded in agreement.

Lena stood up and walked across to settle in the chair Irene had vacated. “I’m so glad to have this time to speak with you, Ashley. Irene wrote and told me you were here, and I couldn’t wait to meet you.”

Ashley didn’t quite know how to respond. Why would Irene tell Lena about her, and what could she have possibly told her, which would have Lena wanting to speak with Ashley privately?

“I’m sorry,” Lena continued. “You’re obviously confused, and I didn’t mean to…” Lena sighed heavily. “Well, I guess what I’m trying to say, is that Irene says you came here from Glendaloch. Is that right?”

“Yes. You’ve heard of it?”

“Yes, I have.”

Ashley’s eyes widened. “But how, when no one else here has?”

Lena bit her bottom lip before continuing. “I’m originally from Glendaloch.”

Ashley raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You are?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, my family still lives there.”

“Really?” Ashley could hardly believe her ears.

“Irene told me you were attacked by a man, when you were crossing the bridge and Cailin rescued you.”

Ashley was struggling to understand what was going on. She was happy to know that someone else had heard of it and knew where it was. It meant she might have help to get back there, when the time was right.

“I wonder if you met my family while you were there.” Lena regarded Ashley with curiosity in her eyes.

“Oh, I wouldn’t think so. I was staying at the inn called The Thistle and Hive, and I was only there for a few days.” Ashley certainly wasn’t going to admit she had been in the Glendaloch of the future. Lena would no doubt think she was crazy.

“Ashley, my parents are Edna and Angus Campbell. They own The Thistle and Hive,” Lena said patiently.

The color drained from Ashley’s face and she could hear her heart pounding in her ears.

“I’m sorry - did you say your parents are Edna and Angus Campbell?”
Could there possibly be a sixteenth century version of The Thistle and Hive, owned by another Edna and Angus Campbell?

Lena grinned. “Yes, Ashley, I’m Arlena Campbell. About five years ago, I crossed the same bridge you did. I walked through the fog and straight into the sixteenth century. Ewan found me wandering in the woods, and brought me back here to Breaghacraig. Everyone here was so kind and accepting. At first, I thought I’d lost my mind. It was more than I could comprehend. Eventually, I realized that I belonged here with this family and especially with Ewan, who is the love of my life.”

Ashley tilted her head, regarding Lena with amazement. “So everyone here knows you’re from the future?”

“Only the immediate family and a few others. Irene sent word as soon as you got here, and I’ve been dying to get here to see you.”

“Irene knows about me?”

“Yes, they all do,” Lena chuckled.

Ashley considered what she’d learned for nearly a full minute before she spoke. “Wow. I’m shocked. I mean, I’m so happy I’m not alone in this, but why didn’t they say anything?”

“They wanted me to tell you. I think they were surprised it would happen a second time. Even though they knew it was possible, they weren’t one hundred percent sure you were really from another time. I guess I’m the expert on the subject.”

“You must have a million questions. I know I do. Have you tried to go back?”

“At first, Ewan tried to help me go home, but the fog seemingly has to be there at the bridge, in order for it to work. Each time I tried, it wasn’t there. Then I fell in love with Ewan and I was afraid if I went back, I’d never be able to return, so I stopped trying, and now I have even more reasons to stay here.”

Ashley considered her next words carefully, anxious about upsetting Lena. “Your mother and father are so sad to have lost you. They’re the sweetest people.” She smiled softly. “I almost felt like Edna was my mother, the way she took care of me while I was there.”

Tears brimmed against Lena’s eyelashes. “I miss them very much, too. I think they may have sent you here, trying to find me. My mother used to tell me stories about the fog by the bridge, when I was growing up. As a child, it all sounded so magical and I believed in it completely, but as I got older, I lacked faith and needed proof. Mother was always warning me to stay away, and I did for a long time. Then one day when I was out for a walk, I saw the fog and I was… I don’t know,
drawn
to it.” Lena shrugged. “I honestly didn’t believe anything would happen, but it did, and here I am five years later.”

“So you think your mother guided me here?” Ashley asked in disbelief.

“Mother is an unusual woman; some might say she’s a witch. She’s got the magic, if you will. She knows things that she shouldn’t know and can do things that are beyond comprehension. I am my mother’s daughter and I share some of her abilities. I believe she’s been communicating with me all these years, usually though my dreams. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to communicate back. In my dreams she speaks to me and tells me things, which might happen.”

“Did she tell you I was coming?”

“Not you specifically, but I knew she’d send someone. How is it that you came to cross the bridge?”

Ashley inhaled deeply before she spoke. “I guess I should start at the beginning. I was visiting from America, I had gotten to a stage in my life where I needed to push myself out of my comfort zone. Do things I wouldn’t ordinarily do, you know? I guess this is a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’,” she chuckled.

Lena nodded in agreement and Ashley continued. “I started having visions of Cailin, only I didn’t know who he was at the time, and I thought I was going crazy. I needed to prove that I wasn’t, so on some level this trip was about finding him. I became obsessed with Scotland and I found I was drawn to Glendaloch. I don’t know how or why, but when I got there, I knew it was the place I had been looking for. Your mother made me feel so special and cared for. It was as if she was looking at me and seeing you. If that makes any sense?”

“It does, actually,” Lena admitted quietly. “Now that I have children of my own, I understand the love only a parent can feel for a child. I’m sorry I’ve caused them such pain.” A single tear ran down her cheek as she spoke. “Tell me more, please.”

“There was a creepy guy named Teddy, who followed me everywhere I went in Glendaloch. Edna told me not to worry about him, she said he was harmless.” Ashley rolled her eyes, and Lena laughed.

“I know Teddy. He really is harmless. If he was following you around, it was probably because mother told him to.”

“Do you really think so?” Ashley asked, with a hint of disbelief.

“I’m sure of it.”

“You might not think so, when you hear the rest of my story.” Ashley paused a moment, gathering her thoughts before she continued. “I wanted to take a hike into the countryside. Back home I would never think of doing something like that by myself, but for some reason, I thought it was a great idea and I couldn’t wait to go. I asked Edna for the best route and she sent me towards the bridge. She packed a backpack for me and I was on my way.”

All of a sudden, things started to fall into place. Edna obviously did know.

Lena was smiling at her and nodding. “She did send you.”

“She did. It all makes sense now. That backpack had everything in it that I could possibly need. I should have realized sooner. It was almost… as if she knew what was going to happen.”

“And Teddy…” Lena prodded gently.

“He was waiting for me by the bridge. He attacked me, he grabbed me and knocked me down. I fought him off, and then Cailin appeared and rescued me.”

“Do you think Teddy might have been trying to stop you from crossing the bridge?”

Ashley shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. He kept yelling ‘no’. I was so frightened, even if Cailin hadn’t been there; I was ready to run across the bridge just to get away from Teddy.”