Page 26 of A Bridge Through Time
"Nae. Da says to wait ‘til they grow and then we'll know what to call them," the tallest boy announced. He appeared from around the corner, with the rest of the children.
"What are your names? I've only met Mary properly," Ashley teased.
"I be William," the boy said. "And that be Maggie, Henry and wee Craig." He pointed out the other children as he introduced them.
"It's very nice to meet you all," Ashley said.
"Cailin says yer from America. Where that be?" William asked curiously.
"It's very, very far away," Ashley replied.
"Did it take ye long to get here?" Maggie asked.
"It did. It took a very long time."
"Will ye be marryin’ Cailin, then?" William asked.
Ashley blushed. Children always seemed to get right to the point.
Fortunately, Heather walked around the corner at that very moment, saving Ashley who was a bit uncomfortable with the line of questioning.
"Children, leave Lady Ashley be!" Heather scolded.
"It's alright," Ashley protested. "They've been lovely."
"Thank ye for yer kind words, m'lady, but I know they’ll have been askin' ye all kinds of questions that be none of their business."
"Curiosity," Ashley responded mildly. "It's good for them, and I really didn’t mind."
Heather gave the children a mock stern look and they all laughed, skipping back towards the front of the cottage.
"You have a wonderful home, Heather. It's so peaceful here."
"Och, I dinnae think I'd be callin' it peaceful," Heather said, watching the last of the children go out front, "but I'm verra happy here. I have a good husband and five beautiful bairns.Laird Robert has been good to us. He's given us a place to live and he watches over us. Finn tends Laird Robert's sheep and I dye and spin their wool into yarn. We have a good life."
Ashley scanned the horizon and wondered how she'd possibly fit into a place like this. She was about to speak, when she heard Cailin calling her name.
Ashley rounded the corner with Heather at her side and found Cailin and Finn waiting for them. Finn put an arm around Heather's shoulders as they said their goodbyes.
"I'll send some of the younger lads from the castle to help ye with the expansion of the cottage, Finn."
"I’d be verra grateful, Cailin."
Cailin helped Ashley back up onto her horse and they waved to Finn and Heather where they stood outside their tiny home, as they headed off to complete their task.
EIGHTEEN
Cailin and Ashley stopped in to visit with three more families during their tour of Laird Robert’s northern lands. Each family had a job they performed in service to the MacKenzie Clan and they each had requests, which Cailin handled to everyone's satisfaction. It didn’t take long for Ashley to realize that they all depended on one another for their daily survival. Robert was the source of their homes and protection, and each of them played a part in supplying the needs of the castle and its occupants. It was a mutually beneficial relationship to all parties involved.
On the return journey towards Breaghacraig, Cailin had a mischievous look about him. He kept glancing at Ashley, and more than once, she caught a wicked twinkle in his eye. Drawing Cadeyrn to a halt, he graced Ashley with a gorgeous smile and nodded to the open expanse in front of them.
"How would ye feel about racing our horses to the tree line over there?"
Ashley cocked an eyebrow. "What are we wagering?"
"If I win, ye'll owe me a favor and if ye win, ‘twill be me who owes you." There was a disarming sparkle in his eye.
"That sounds a little vague, Mr. MacBayne. What kind of favor are we talking about?"
