Page 72 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“Aye. Put it in yer hand like this.” He showed her how to lay her palm out flat and place the apple on it. Then he held her hand out in front of Saidear, who scooped the apple up and happily munched away on the sweet treat.
Jenna giggled. “I did it! He didn’t bite me.”
“Jenna, come see this lovely mare over here.”
She turned to the stall across from Saidear. A beautiful little black horse stood there. She had soft, licorice eyes and a sweet demeanor. Her ears were pricked forward in Jenna’s direction.
“What’s her name?” Jenna asked.
“Rose. Like the flower.”
“Hello Rose, like the flower.” Jenna held her hand out to the mare, who gently sniffed it. “I’m sorry. I don’t have an apple for you. Saidear ate it all.”
“Here, love. I have one for her.” Cormac handed her another apple.
Rose was very dainty in her approach to the apple, unlike Saidear; she took her time and delicately bit a single bite instead of taking the whole apple. Jenna looked up at Cormac with wonder in her eyes. This wasn’t so bad. These horses were actually very sweet and gentle.
Cormac put a halter on Rose and handed a lead rope to Jenna, who looked at him questioningly. “Here you go. Let’s go for a walk with her.” They walked out of the stables and into the sunshine and Jenna had to blink several times to adjust to the brightness. “This way,” Cormac said, leading them through the gate that led out of the castle.
“Where are we going?” Jenna asked, with a tinge of apprehension in her voice.
“Don’t worry. We’re nae going far and I’ll nae have ye get on her today. Just get to know her for now. Ye must learn to trust each other.”
Jenna smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t going to be coerced into riding today. Thank goodness. She wasn’t prepared for that idea, but she could take Rose for a walk. As they strolled, Cormac explained different things about Rose that Jenna needed to know. He explained how a horse’s ears were a good way to tell what they were thinking. Pricked straight forward, they were paying attention to something ahead of them. Pinned back and they were showing displeasure. One ear forward and one ear back suggested they were listening to their rider and paying attention to what was in front of them. He gave her lots of useful information and she realized what a wonderful, patient teacher he was with her. She knew she had not been quite as patient with him when their circumstances had been reversed. She felt badly about that. “Cormac, I’m sorry for all the times back home when I was impatient with you. You know, when you were asking me questions and I’d tell you to ask Dylan. I was rude and you didn’t deserve that.”
“Lass, don’t trouble yerself. I ken ye thought I was playing a trick on ye. Now ye ken I wasnae. Dinnae fash. I have thick skin.” He gave her one of his blindingly brilliant smiles and Jenna knew all was forgiven.
“I like Rose,” Jenna said, surprising herself with the admission. “She’s very sweet.”
“I’m happy ye like her. Mayhap tomorrow, ye’ll feel comfortable enough to get on her for a wee ride.”
“Maybe. We’ll see.” Jenna was softening her stance regarding the whole riding thing, feeling as if she could do anything, as long as Cormac was by her side.
They continued walking and Jenna was quite taken with the beauty of the surrounding area. It was so picturesque. It was also very quiet. She hadn’t realized just how much noise was constantly being made in her own time. No cars and no planes here in medieval Scotland. No cell phones either and if she was honest with herself, she wasn’t missing it. This truly was a new experience.
“I’m happy yer here, Jenna,” Cormac said. “I was hoping I would be able to show you Breaghacraig and I’m pleased to do so now.”
“It’s beautiful, Cormac. Everything about it is…” Jenna struggled to find just the right words. When she couldn’t she said, “It’s so different. I like it.”
Cormac’s whole face lit up. He reached an arm out and pulled her towards him, lifting her in the air, and twirling her around. Jenna shrieked and laughed at his antics. He put her back down and held her close, tipping her chin up so she was looking directly into his devastating blue eyes.
“Ye make me so happy, Jenna.” And then he kissed her, sending her head spinning and her legs wobbling. She kissed him back with a heart full of passion.
Their lips parted and Jenna said, “You make me happy, too, Cormac.” She snuggled in closer to him, resting her head on his chest. With her eyes closed and feeling at peace with her situation, Jenna was surprised to feel whiskers tickling her cheek, followed by soft, warm horse breath in her ear.
“I think Rose is feeling a wee bit jealous,” Cormac laughed.
“I forgot all about her.” Jenna had dropped the lead rope without thinking when Cormac picked her up and Rose had been happy to graze the nearby grass. “I’m sorry, Rose, I didn’t mean to ignore you,” Jenna apologized to the horse, who put her head back down and continued to graze.
“We should head back,” Cormac suggested. They had been out with Rose for quite a while, but Jenna was not at all bored. In fact, she had begun to wish this day could last forever.
“Do we have to?” she asked.
“I’m afraid so. I promised Ashley I wouldn’t keep ye out too long. She would like to spend some time with ye herself.”
“You don’t mind, do you?” Jenna wanted to be certain it was okay with Cormac. If he said he wanted to spend the rest of the day alone with her, she was more than happy to do so.
“Nae. She is yer good friend and it has been a long time since ye’ve seen her. I have duties to attend to and I’ll see ye later at the evening meal.”
