A Bridge Through Time: Book 1 of The Thistle & Hive Series (22 page)

They all surrounded Ashley and she could sense their concern and worry. Lena held her hand, Cormac gently brushed her cheek with his fingers and Irene, who had arrived just before it happened, had tears in her eyes.

“Ye’ve been a blessing to us all, Ashley. I am forever grateful that Cailin found ye,” Irene announced.

“Me, too,” Ashley said, still clinging desperately to Cailin.

“Lady?” a small voice said.

Ashley turned to find Mary looking a bit disheveled from their roll through the dirt, but otherwise unharmed.

“Yes, Mary,” Ashley smiled.

“Thank ye.”

“You’re very welcome, little one. I could never let any harm come to you.”

Mary reached up her arms for a hug and Ashley squatted down to her level, taking the little girl in her arms.

“I be forever in yer debt, Lady Ashley,” Heather tearfully vowed, as she took Mary’s hand and walked away.

“Come, love, let’s get ye inside. Yer still shaking,” Cailin said.

Irene was busily brushing the dirt off Ashley’s gown. “I think we’ll need to repair yer gown. It’s ripped from yer tumble.” She followed behind, clucking like a mother hen as Cailin led Ashley back inside. He settled her beside the fire as thunder began to rumble overhead.

“This calls for some Uisge.” Robert handed her a cup. “To calm yer nerves, lass.”

Cailin sat down next to Ashley and wrapped her small, soft hand inside of his large, work roughened palm. She wanted so badly to curl up in his lap and be comforted by his warmth, but she had to remember where she was and suspected it might not be acceptable behavior.

A loud crack of thunder reverberated through the hall and Ashley jumped, almost spilling her drink. Cailin was aware of her fear of thunder and lightning, and after what she had just been through he obviously wasn’t going to be content until he held her in his arms. Cailin pulled her out of her chair and straight into his lap. Ashley found herself right where she wanted to be and as he wrapped her protectively in his arms, she sighed and rested her head against his solid, comforting chest.

*****

That evening’s meal was eaten amidst stories of Ashley’s heroic deed. It seems everyone took a turn telling the tale from his or her own perspective, and with each retelling, the story became more fiction than fact, but it was all in good fun and Ashley found she was enjoying her super hero status, even if it was vastly exaggerated. She’d never before thought herself capable of putting her own life at risk to save another, but in this case, there had been no time to think. Only time to react. So while she was being treated like a heroine, Ashley didn’t feel she really deserved it. She just happened to be in a position to grab Mary, long before anyone else would have reached her. She loved the little girl, and couldn’t bear to see her get hurt.

Glancing around the room, Ashley saw Helene was seated with Dougall, both completely engrossed in one another. They talked; sharing food and loving looks. Ashley smiled and reached under the table to squeeze Cailin’s knee, just as someone was commenting on how they’d never seen such a wee lass run so fast in all their days. Cailin looked at her, adoration plain in his eyes.

“Look,” Ashley nodded in Helene’s direction. “My plan worked.” She beamed with happiness.

“I can see poor Dougall is as smitten as I am,” Cailin teased. “‘Tis a good days work ye’ve done, love. Ye saved a bairn and her pup and ye gave love a helping hand. Ye are a wonder. What have ye planned for tomorrow?”

Ashley playfully slapped his arm and he leaned in to kiss her cheek.

“I almost forgot with all the excitement today,” Ashley began. “Was Robert terribly angry with you this morning?”

Cailin shrugged nonchalantly. “Robert’s temper is quick to come and quick to go. He was angrier with me for being with ye last night, than for nae coming when he called this morn.”

Ashley was disappointed. “Oh, no! Does that mean you can’t stay with me again tonight? I mean,” she blushed uncertainly. “I wouldn’t want to upset Robert by disobeying his rules.”

“Dinnae fash, mo chuisle. He was concerned for ye, that be all. Robert feels very protective of ye. As the Laird of Breaghacraig, yer his responsibility. I set his mind at ease. He knows I love ye and that ye feel the same way about me.”

“So that means it’s okay for us to be together? Even though we’re not married?” Ashley asked curiously.

“Aye, it does.”

Ashley expression must have melted into obvious relief, because Cailin chuckled softly, lifted her chin and softly kissed her lips.

TWENTY-NINE

The men’s departure date was approaching rapidly and yet Cailin found time to spend with Ashley every day. He cherished their time together, and he knew Ashley was aware, as much as he was, that anything might happen during the upcoming confrontation with Sir Richard’s troops. He tried not to think about it, and definitely didn’t want to talk about it. Instead, he reveled in their days and nights together.

Two days before their departure date, Cailin had a surprise planned for Ashley. After a morning of training with his men, he went to the kitchens where he picked up the basket of food the cook had packed for him at his request. He’d asked Ashley to meet him at the postern gate shortly before noon, telling her he had a surprise for her. Whistling a spirited tune as he walked, Cailin rounded the keep to find a radiant Ashley waiting for him. When she saw him, her face lit with joy and she ran to him with outstretched arms.

“I am a lucky man,” Cailin remarked, using his free arm to scoop her towards him for a kiss.

“Where are we going? Is that food you have there? I hope so, because I’m hungry.”

Cailin couldn’t get a word in, but he was a patient man and knew that if he waited long enough the questions would stop. Or he could just kiss her, as that always worked as well. He chose option two and was glad of it. Not only did the questions stop, but she returned his kiss with such passion, that he had to remind himself of the surprise he had for her and that it didn’t involve retiring to their bedchamber - at least, not yet.

“Someone’s happy to see me,” she purred, when she felt his erection poking against her belly.

“Verra happy, love.” He kissed the tip of her nose and taking her hand, led her out through the gate. “I know how much ye love the beach,” he said, “so I’ve had cook pack us some food. ‘Tis a beautiful, sunny day to sit near the water and be with ye.”

“Awww… You are the sweetest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever known.”

“Come, love. I cannae wait to get there,” Cailin said as he pulled her closer and led her along the top of the bluff. The ocean breeze ruffled their hair and carried the fresh scent of the water to them as they strolled along, wrapped in each other’s arms.

“What will we do when we get there?” She gave him one of ‘those’ looks - the type that had him thinking of her lying naked on the beach, with only him to cover her, and what pleasure they might find with each other.

Cailin growled low in his chest and gritted his teeth. That would have to wait, he reminded himself, and it would be all the better for the waiting. “Ye’ll have to wait and see,” he teased. “It’s a surprise.”

Once they reached their destination, Cailin laid a plaid on the sand for them to sit on. He set out an array of foods, along with some very good wine he’d pilfered from Robert’s stocks. There were meat pasties, cheese, fruit and Ashley’s favorite little apple tarts, which he had requested especially for her.

They ate sitting side by side, arms touching in a companionable silence as they watched the waves rolling in to shore. The water was a deep, sapphire blue and the sun shone on it making it sparkle as if the surface was covered with thousands of tiny diamonds. All was quiet, but for the sounds of the waves and the birds.

“Oh, Cailin, this is so perfect,” Ashley sighed, as she rested her head on his shoulder. “You know, I’ve been thinking,” she said quietly.

“And what have ye been thinkin’ of, mo chuisle?” Cailin felt his heart stutter in his chest, even as he lightly spoke the words. He knew Ashley had been thinking long and hard about whether to go back to her time, and he’d feared what her decision would be and that he was about to have his heart broken.

Ashley inhaled a deep breath and he watched her cautiously. “I’ve decided to stay. That is, if you still want me to.”

His breath left his lungs in a relieved rush of air. “I do want ye to. I want ye to stay, more than anything. Do ye really mean it?” he asked. He’d brought Ashley here to surprise her and she had a surprise of her own. “Ashley, love, ye make me so happy. The reason I brought ye here today, was to ask ye to stay here in Breaghacraig with me.”

He watched Ashley as her forehead creased with concern. “Oh! I hope I didn’t ruin your surprise.”

“Nae, nae at all. There was more to the surprise than just that.” He reached into his sporran and pulled out a small velvet pouch, which he handed to Ashley. “I wanted to give ye this.”

“What is it?” she questioned, anticipation shining brightly in her eyes.

“Open it. Ye’ll soon see.”

Ashley opened the bag and gasped when a beautiful pendant spilled out into her hand.

“It’s beautiful,” she said breathlessly.

Cailin gazed down at the pendant in her hand, warmth in his gray eyes. “It belonged to me mother.”

“Your mother? It’s beautiful, are you sure you want me to have it?”

“‘Twas given to me, by me mother, to be given to me ladylove. And ye are me ladylove, are ye not?”

Ashley nodded her agreement, staring at the beautiful jewel.

“So, it’s yers now.”

It was so lovely, she couldn’t believe he was choosing to give it to her. An elongated teardrop-shaped pendant, it had an amber center which echoed the shape of the piece itself and was set in gold and surrounded by small round pearls, set in silver.

Cailin took it from her hands and placed it around her neck. The pendant nestled between her breasts and he reached out to touch the skin tenderly where it lay.

“The stone matches yer eyes, love. I wonder now, how me mother knew that I would fall in love with a woman with amber eyes?” He gently took her face in his hands and gave her a kiss that said everything he was thinking and feeling at that moment.

“Ashley, will ye be me wife?”

Tears of joy sprang into her eyes and she threw her arms around him, almost knocking Cailin onto his back.

“Oh, yes, yes! Yes, I will!”

*****

As if it had been rehearsed, Ashley noticed Irene, Robert, Lena, Ewan and Cormac, heading their way.

Robert spoke first. “Well, did she say yes, brother?”

Cailin grinned. “Aye. She did.”

“Then will the two of ye come and stand before me?”

Cailin helped Ashley to her feet and she stared at him, suddenly confused. He smiled his reassurance and escorted her to where Robert stood.

“Please face one another and Ashley, put yer hands in Cailin’s if ye will, lass.”

She did as he asked and Robert took a length of ribbon from Irene and used it to bind their hands together.

“As the Lord of Breaghacraig, and the MacKenzie clan, it is my honor to pronounce that ye Cailin and ye Ashley have been hand fasted for a year and a day. He reached out and clapped Cailin on the shoulder, and then kissed Ashley’s cheek, which was damp with tears. “Oh, and welcome to the clan, Ashley, me dear,” Robert added with a delighted smile.

The others offered their congratulations one after the other. Irene and Lena were barely able to speak because they were so overwhelmed, but they threw their arms around the happy couple and managed to convey their congratulations with delighted hugs. Through her tears, Irene finally spoke. “Ma would be so proud of ye, Cailin. Ye have chosen well.” She kissed her brother’s cheek and then turned to Ashley. “We will plan a beautiful wedding, for when the men return. We will use the time while they are gone to get everything ready.”

Ashley couldn’t remember a happier time in her life. Who knew she’d find all the happiness she’d ever wanted in sixteenth century Scotland? Looking at all the happy faces surrounding her, Ashley realized she’d also found a family she could love, and in return be loved by them.

*****

Watching the scene unfolding below him, Thomas lay on his belly at the top of the bluff and sneered. “Enjoy your time together, for now. Soon you’ll be mine, woman.”

“We could take them now, sir,” suggested Roger, the very large man who was lying next to Thomas.

“And ruin this happy moment? I think not, Roger. We’ll wait for our opportunity. I want the girl, and Sir Richard wants Irene. Cailin will suffer endlessly, knowing that I have her, and what I’ll be doing to her. There won’t be a thing he can do to stop it.” He laughed coldly. “When I’m done with her, he’ll never want her again.”

“If I might be so bold, sir, why do you hate Cailin MacBayne so much?” Roger asked, wiping his heavily sweating brow with a handkerchief.

“My wife killed herself because of that bastard. She did not want a marriage to me. She wanted MacBayne.” Thomas spat out the words bitterly. “Laird Scott wanted his daughter to be happy, so he tried to arrange a marriage through the MacKenzie’s at first, but when that didn’t work out, he did what suited him. Being a border laird, he wanted an alliance with the English, specifically with Sir Richard. It was agreed by all parties that a marriage to me would provide the alliance he required. I was very happy to marry Elise, she was a beauty, but she looked at me from the beginning with utter disgust. The foolish girl thought she was in love with MacBayne and it ruined everything! He was in her every thought and she refused to let me touch her. As her husband, I was entitled to take her to my bed, but she fought me tooth and nail. She hated me for taking what was rightfully mine, accused me of raping her! How can a man be accused of raping his own wife? Rather than endure a lifetime with me, Elise chose to end her own life.” Thomas narrowed his eyes, his rage apparent from his clenched fists. “So you see, Roger, Cailin MacBayne deprived me of my wife - and I intend to deprive him of his.”