Page 70 of Love Set Apart
“Perhaps we will see you again,” the innkeeper bowed his head and left them.
Edna and Angus ate heartily, but Emilie and Robert only picked at their food.
“Is everything all right?” Edna asked.
“I thought I was hungry at first, but then my appetite left me,” Emilie said.
“Are ye nervous?” Angus asked.
“I think that must be it,” she replied.
“I feel much the same,” Robert said.
“It’s understandable. This will be a big change for both of ye. All I can say is that I’m sure ye’ll think it’s worth it but if once we get there ye find ye are not happy, we can send ye back.”
That seemed to give them some reassurance, though they were still uninterested in eating.
* * *
After breakfast,they took their time gathering their things and then rode their horses in the direction the innkeeper had sent them. It was further than they’d anticipated, but it was a beautiful day and they enjoyed the scenery along the way.
“I feel bad that we’ve taken Louis’ horses,” Angus said. “But I doona believe there’s any way to get them back to him without riding to Tuileries, and we’re no’ going anywhere near there.”
“He’ll be fine about it. He probably willnae miss them at all,” Robert assured Angus. “Will we take them with us through time?”
“We’ve traveled with horses before. They’ll be fine,” Edna said.
They reached the bridge at around noontime and once everyone was settled, Edna began the process of transporting them all to the future. Robert and Emilie were understandably nervous, but Edna did her best to keep them calm with her instructions. They all stayed atop their horses and banded very close together.
“Robert hold onto Emilie. Emilie take me hand and I’ll take yers Angus. Are we all ready?”
Everyone acknowledged that they were and before long the swirling fog, dotted with flashing bits of colorful lights engulfed them. When it stopped they were on the bridge in Glendaloch.
“We’ve arrived,” Edna announced. Two young lads throwing rocks into the stream looked up in surprise. When they saw that it was Edna and Angus they waved and went back to tossing stones.
“It’s good to be home,” Angus said, breathing deeply and filling his lungs with the familiar scent of Glendaloch.
“This is the future?” Robert asked. “It looks nae different.”
“I ken the bridge and the surrounding area doesnae look much different from yer time but wait until we get to town. I think ye’re going to love it. Ye might feel overwhelmed at first, but please ken that we are all here for ye and we want ye to feel as comfortable as possible.”
“It’s exciting,” Emilie said. She hadn’t stopped smiling since breakfast that morning.
“Let’s go,” Angus said. He led the way along the path that would take them to The Thistle & Hive Inn.
Robert held Emilie close the whole time. They were so busy gazing at each other that they weren’t aware of the fact that they were now approaching the main road that ran through Glendaloch.
“This is it.” Edna glanced at the two of them.
They finally broke their gaze and looked around. Wonder and awe spread from one to the other as they saw for the first time where and when they would be living. Cars whizzed by as they approached the road and the horses danced in place as they were spooked by the strange sights and sounds.
“What was that?” Robert asked, calming his horse.
“That is a car. It is one of the ways we travel in this time,” Angus said.
“I can see why it doesn’t take very long to get anywhere,” Emilie said.
“The inn is just ahead. These are some of the shops we told ye about. We’ve got a bookshop and a pharmacy. There’s the pub. Dr. Ferguson’s office is down the road a bit, but he’s no’ always there.” Edna pointed out each of the places she was talking about. “There is also a stable,” Edna looked back over her shoulder to the direction the stable was in. “So, if ye wish to ride there are horses available to ye. Angus keeps his horse there.”
