Page 7 of Love Set Apart
“A never-ending supply.” Edna beamed a huge grin. She was feeling more and more relaxed. She could do this. She could do anything, just as she’d conjured the coins in her purse. Her witchy ways, as Angus called them, would serve them well.
“How long will the journey be?” Edna casually asked the man.
“More ’n a month.” He said, walking away.
“That cannae be.” Edna turned to Angus. “We’re going to have to find another way. We doona have a month to spare.”
“We cannae swim,” Angus said.
“Nae. Of course no’.” She glanced around not sure what she was searching for.
“Is there a bridge nearby?” Angus took a look around.
“Angus, ye’re a genius. There’s got to be one nearby. Let’s go.” She grabbed his hand and they hurried off the ship and away from the pier.
“Where are ye going?” the man yelled. “We’re shoving off. I’ll no’ give yer money back.”
“Keep it,” Edna called back over her shoulder. “Now to find a bridge. I doona imagine we’ll find familiar ones. Me best guess is there’ll be one across the Firth of Forth.”
“To the Firth then,” Angus said.
They hurriedly made their way through the crowded streets of Edinburgh, dodging the throngs of people everywhere and the occasional shout of “gardyloo” followed by the contents of a chamber pot being emptied from an upper window.
“Oh, my!” Edna said after a particularly close call. She stepped gingerly around the mess and practically broke into a run.
“We’ve got to find a carriage, love. Be on the alert.” Angus lifted her off the ground and over a large puddle.
“There’s one,” Edna said, pointing ahead of them.
The carriage belonged to a gentleman who was now standing beside it and eyeing a building. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Sir.” His driver acknowledged him.
“Excuse me,” Angus said, catching the man’s attention. “Me wife and I wondered if we could pay ye to have yer man take us to the Firth.”
“That’s some distance,” the man said.
“Exactly why we need yer help.”
“Yer name, sir?” The man was looking them both up and down, which was understandable. How did he know they were trustworthy?
“I’m Angus Campbell and this is me wife Edna. Our driver went in search of water for the horses and has vanished with our carriage. I’d be happy to make it worth yer while.”
“How worth me while?” the man asked.
“Verra.” Edna reached into her pouch and took out a handful of coins along with a dose of magic that would make the man more amenable to their request.
“Verra well then.” He turned to his man. “Return as soon as ye can.”
Edna poked Angus in the side with her elbow, winking once as he glanced down at her. “Shall we?”
He opened the carriage door and followed her in. They sat comfortably next to each other as the driver carefully wound his way through the streets of Edinburgh and onto the road that would lead them to the Firth.
The trip took longer than either of them had anticipated. Edna fidgeted with the bag she’d brought along, tying and untying the leather thong keeping it closed. She was impatient to get things moving along and her frustration at the situation was bubbling over as she gazed out the carriage window in search of a bridge. Any bridge would do, but there wasn’t a single one to be found. As the carriage drew to a stop, Edna once again gazed out the window at the wide expanse of water wondering why on earth the driver was leaving them in this spot. Frogs hopped about in the tall grasses along the water’s edge in search of buzzing insects to fill their bellies. Ducks and geese glided through the water as other birds circled overhead occasionally diving into the Firth as they spied a fish from high above. All this beauty and not a single bridge in sight.
Angus stepped out of the carriage and extended a hand to help Edna. “Thank ye,” he said to the driver, who seemed eager to be on his way.
Edna turned to her husband. Sheer exasperation had her pinching her lips together. She spun around to view the ferries lined up along the banks and her hand went immediately to her forehead. “This cannae be. The only way across appears to be by way of a ferry.”
