A Bridge Through Time: Book 1 of The Thistle & Hive Series (19 page)

“Look at this one, Lady.” Mary had picked up a small grey and white pup and handed it to Ashley.

“Oh, Mary, she’s lovely.” Ashley cuddled the little pup beneath her chin, and was rewarded with a wet lick. “And Mama Dog is being so good. She doesn’t seem to mind that we’re touching her pups.”

“She be a good dog, Lady Ashley.” William had found a little brown pup to cuddle and the tiny bundle of brown fluff snuggled against his chest.

“Yes, I can see that.”

Ashley and the children were surprised by the sound of Cailin’s voice. “May I join ye?”

The sound of his voice brought familiar butterflies to Ashley’s stomach.

“Cailin!” the children all called at once.

As he opened the stall door, Mary latched on to his leg.

“Mary, love, how be ye this day?” Cailin asked, as he picked her up.

“I be fine, Cailin.”

“Ye get bigger every time I see ye.”

Ashley watched Cailin covertly from where she stood in the corner of the stall, and it wasn’t long before his attention turned her way. With Mary in his arms, Cailin crossed the stall and stood face to face with Ashley. He gave her a lopsided grin and the butterflies beat their wings frantically in her tummy. He shifted his focus to the puppy in her arms.

“She’s a bonnie pup,” he announced, scratching the small puppy under the chin. His finger grazed Ashley’s neck and she fought to maintain her composure as a frisson of pleasure made its way through her body.

Mary reached for the pup and Ashley kissed its little head and handed it back to her. Cailin set her down and took Ashley’s hand.

“I’ve been searching for ye,” Cailin announce quietly. “I ken ye’ve been avoiding me.”

“I needed some time to think. I don’t know what it is about you,” Ashley teased, “but when you’re nearby, my brain gets all mushy.”

Cailin grinned. “I do have that effect on the lasses, I’m told.”

She slapped his arm playfully and he feigned injury as Ashley grumbled at him. “Oh, you… I’m trying to compliment you, and you act like a jerk.”

Cailin winked at her and gripped Ashley’s hand in his. “Walk with me. Ye can tell me what ye thought about and I’ll do me best to make yer brain mushy.”

“I’ll bet you will. You have the advantage that way.”

“Then I best not tell ye that ye do the same to me.”

“Really?” Ashley regarded him suspiciously.

Cailin regarded her for a moment, his gray eyes serious. “Aye. Ye do.”

They said their goodbyes to the children and left the stables, walking hand in hand across the muddy ground.

“I talked with Lena,” Ashley announced. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?”

Cailin shrugged. “Irene thought it best to let Lena tell ye herself.”

“And that’s another thing.” Ashley stopped walking and turned to face Cailin. “You told everyone I was from the future. They all know about it.”

Cailin had the grace to look contrite. “Aye. I’m sorry, lass. I should have told ye. I believed ye when ye told me, but the others were nae sure at first. They wanted to wait for Lena to confirm it for them. We knew she would ken how to explain things to ye.”

Ashley was quiet for a long time, turning away and stubbing the toe of her slipper against a clump of grass.

“Are ye angry with me, Ashley, for telling my family?” Cailin asked worriedly.

“No. How can I be angry when you’ve all been so kind to me?”

“Ashley, I ken yer afraid ye may have to stay here, but I would be happy if ye did.” Cailin turned her to face him, lifting her chin with his fingers so that their eyes met.

“Cailin, I just don’t know if I’m brave enough to stay,” Ashley admitted. Life here is so different to life in my time. I know Lena did it, but I’m just not sure I can do the same thing. Besides, even if I want to go back to the twenty first century, I might not be able to. Lena told me she tried a few times and the fog never appeared, so she couldn’t cross the bridge.”

“Aye, but she loved Ewan and they’ve made a good life together. They have two beautiful bairns,” Cailin pointed out.

“I know.”

Cailin ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Ashley, I’m asking ye to stay. To stay here with me. Ye are the most beautiful, strong, and brave woman I have ever known. I love to talk with ye. Ye have much knowledge and can challenge me brain. Ye make me think about so many different things. I’ve never met another who has made me feel the way that ye make me feel.”

“Cailin, I feel the same way about you, but what if you get tired of me? What if things don’t work out and I’m stuck here in the sixteenth century?” Ashley looked beseechingly into his eyes.

“I will never tire of ye, lass, and as long as we talk tae each other I’m sure we can solve any problem.” Ashley could tell from the fervent tone in his voice that Cailin was speaking from his heart. “Ashley, I’m nae verra good at this. I’ve never said this to anyone before. I love ye, Ashley. Please, stay with me.”

They were the words Ashley had been waiting to hear, but she was still afraid. It would have been easier if he hadn’t asked her to stay, hadn’t made his intentions known. Now, she knew that her decision had the possibility of breaking both their hearts.

“Cailin, you take my breath away,” she admitted. I love you, too. Just give me a little more time, to be sure I can do this.”

“I’ll give ye all the time ye need, but be warned, I’m going tae do my best tae convince ye tae stay.” Cailin leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips, caressing her cheek. His eyes never left hers, as he twirled a stray curl of her hair around his finger. “I’ll not make it easy for ye, lass.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” she smiled.

*****

As they walked back towards the keep, Ashley said, “I think I need a bath. I smell like a combination of horse and puppy.”

“Ye smell wonderful to me. Sweet as a summer’s day.”

Ashley tilted her head skeptically. “I’ll smell a lot better after a bath.”

“Would ye like me to help with that?” he asked, with a wicked twinkle in his eye.

“I don’t know whether you’d be a help, or a hindrance.” She arched an eyebrow and gave him the once over. “Hmmm… hindrance, I believe.”

He almost pouted, pretending his feelings were hurt. “I only meant to have the boys bring ye the tub and hot water. I dinnae ken what ye were thinking!”

“Thank you,” she laughed. Kissing her finger and touching it to his nose, she announced, “I’ll see you later.”

*****

Cailin watched as Ashley’s hips swung seductively back and forth, as she made her way up the stairs. God’s teeth, she was beautiful. It was all he could do to keep himself from marching up those stairs after her. The thought of her disrobing and soaking in the tub had him clenching his hands into tight fists, in a futile attempt to control his lustful thoughts. He imagined what it would be like to run soapy hands over her glistening wet skin. He thought of laying long deep kisses onto her full lips.

“Ahem… Cailin, did ye nae hear me?” Irene asked.

Cailin tore his gaze from the stairs and scrubbed his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“Be ye well?” Irene queried with a flash of amusement in her eyes. “Why are ye just standing there like that?”

“I be thinkin’,” Cailin muttered.

“Oh, I see. Well, whatever yer thinkin’ on, it has ye lookin’ like a lovesick puppy.” Winking at him, Irene poked him in the ribs and walked past him up the stairs. “Ye’d best get that water for Ashley. She’ll be waiting.”

TWENTY-SIX

Ashley relaxed into the warm water and tried to enjoy the hot bath. Her head was spinning from all of the revelations that had become known today. First, Lena’s admission of being a twenty first century girl and her true identity as the missing Arlena, and then Ashley had discovered how good the MacKenzie clan were at keeping a secret.

Of course, the most important revelation had been Cailin’s. He’d told her that he loved her. Just the thought of it sent goose bumps erupting from her head to her toes and brought Ashley so much joy she could hardly stand it. The fact that she felt the same way about him was the icing on the cake. It made the question of whether she should return to Glendaloch even more pressing. Although she was leaning towards staying in Breaghacraig, she had to be realistic. Love simply wasn’t always enough to keep two people together. Somehow, if this was going to work, she had to have faith in Cailin and she needed to trust him. After her experience with Dax, it was something she had a hard time doing. Dax had certainly proved he couldn’t be trusted and from her recent experiences with other men, she’d concluded no man could. It was the harsh reality of the world she lived in. If she really thought about it, Cailin - and for that matter, the rest of the clan - seemed both honest and trustworthy. The words they spoke had weight to them. The world they lived in required it. Ashley knew she needed to make a decision soon. The men were leaving in a week for the fight with Sir Richard. She couldn’t send Cailin off to battle with any indecision regarding their future clouding his thoughts.

The water had begun to cool and Ashley got out of the tub. She dried herself off and did her best to get dressed without any assistance. Thankfully, there came a knock at the door and Helene peeked around the doorway.

“Helene! I’m so happy to see you! I thought I might be stuck in my chamber for a very long time. I’m terrible at lacing up the back of these gowns and I certainly couldn’t go out like this in order to find someone to help me.”

“Dinnae fash, I’m here to help. Cailin told me ye were takin’ a bath and that I should come check on ye.” Helene quickly took charge and started swiftly lacing up the gown.

“That was very sweet of him. I forgot I was going to need your help. My mind was elsewhere, I guess.” Ashley marveled at the thoughtful way Cailin was always taking care of her. She could really get used to it.

“Aye, I ken yer meaning. The very same thing happens to me on occasion.”

“And what are you thinking about, that sends your mind elsewhere?” Ashley asked in a teasing voice.

Helene’s cheeks blushed to a bright crimson.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. It’s really none of my business,” Ashley said, immediately regretting teasing the young woman.

Helene remained silent for a minute as she began to brush Ashley’s hair and began working it into one of her intricate braids before she responded in a dreamy voice. “I be thinking of a big, braw man and when I do, he’s all I can think of. Any other thought that comes into me mind is instantly banished.”

Ashley nearly leaped out of the seat. She had apparently found a kindred spirit, someone equally as besotted as she was with Cailin. “That’s my problem as well,” she blurted. “Who is it, Helene?”

“Ye must promise me ye’ll say naught tae anyone. I’m nae sure he feels the same for me,” Helene said in a hushed voice.

“Of course. It’ll be our secret,” Ashley promised.

“Dougall. Dougall is the man who sets my head to spinnin’. When he’s near me, or when he speaks to me, I cannae say a word, or think about anythin’ but him, and I ken that doesnae help. He must think I’m daft.”

“Oh, my! Dougall, huh? He is very handsome, Helene. I can see why you’d be attracted to him.” Ashley had thought Dougall was a good-looking man when she met him. He was as tall as Cailin, but had lighter hair, dark blonde and curly. He was very polite and gentlemanly when he’d been introduced to Ashley. The women of the castle seemed to be quite taken with him, but Ashley didn’t think he had a woman of his own.

“I dinnae think he even kens I exist, and I dinnae ken what to do, to garner his attention.”

“Maybe I can help?” Ashley offered.

“Ye’d help me? I’d be ever so grateful.” A huge smile lit Helene’s pretty face.

“What are friends for? It’s the least I can do.”

Helene threw her arms around Ashley and hugged her. “Oh, my, I’m so sorry. I shouldnae have done that.” Obviously self-conscious, Helene backed away from Ashley and her blush deepened.

“Why not? I don’t mind at all.” Ashley offered Helene a reassuring smile.

“What can ye do tae help with Dougall?” Helene asked, regaining her composure.

“Let me think about it for a little while. I’ll come up with a plan and you work on speaking to Dougall each time you see him. You don’t have to say too much. Talk about the weather, or ask how he’s feeling. You know - talk to him exactly the same way you talk to everyone else. He’ll have to respond, and then you have the beginnings of a conversation. Oh, and flirt with him a little bit.” Ashley grinned. “I know you can do that, I’ve seen you flirting with some of the other men. In the meantime, I’ll try to find a way to get the two of you alone together and then you have to do the rest. He can’t help but fall for you, Helene. What man wouldn’t?”

“I’m worried. Do ye really think it might work?” Helene chewed on her bottom lip anxiously.

“I do. He’d be a fool not to notice you.”

The women continued to plot and plan, and by the time they were ready to head downstairs for the evening meal, they had it all worked out. As they reached the bottom step, Cailin appeared out of nowhere and extended his arm to Ashley. He gazed at her with adoration in his eyes. “I hope ye enjoyed yer bath, mo chuisle. You look beautiful this night.”

Ashley stared up into his eyes and smiled warmly, glowing from the effect of his words.

Cailin escorted her to the head table as Helene scurried off to hers. Ashley surveyed the great hall, looking for Dougall and found him in his usual spot among the other single men. Little did he know that his days as a bachelor were numbered. Ashley giggled under her breath as she thought about what he was facing when she and Helene instigated their plan.

“What do ye find so funny, love?” Cailin asked.

“Oh, nothing,” Ashley said airily, plucking at the material of her gown.

Cailin cocked an eyebrow at her. “Nothing, ye say?”

“Really… nothing.” Ashley was certain he didn’t believe her, but she’d let him in on her plan a little later.

*****