Page 47 of A Bridge Through Time
“Mary, love, how be ye this day?” Cailin asked, as he picked her up.
“I be fine, Cailin.”
“Ye get bigger every time I see ye.”
Ashley watched Cailin covertly from where she stood in the corner of the stall, and it wasn’t long before his attention turned her way. With Mary in his arms, Cailin crossed the stall and stood face to face with Ashley. He gave her a lopsided grin and the butterflies beat their wings frantically in her tummy. He shifted his focus to the puppy in her arms.
“She’s a bonnie pup,” he announced, scratching the small puppy under the chin. His finger grazed Ashley’s neck and shefought to maintain her composure as a frisson of pleasure made its way through her body.
Mary reached for the pup and Ashley kissed its little head and handed it back to her. Cailin set her down and took Ashley’s hand.
“I’ve been searching for ye,” Cailin announce quietly. “I ken ye’ve been avoiding me.”
“I needed some time to think. I don’t know what it is about you,” Ashley teased, “but when you’re nearby, my brain gets all mushy.”
Cailin grinned. “I do have that effect on the lasses, I’m told.”
She slapped his arm playfully and he feigned injury as Ashley grumbled at him. “Oh, you…I’m trying to compliment you, and you act like a jerk.”
Cailin winked at her and gripped Ashley’s hand in his. “Walk with me. Ye can tell me what ye thought about and I’ll do me best to make yer brain mushy.”
“I’ll bet you will. You have the advantage that way.”
“Then I best not tell ye that ye do the same to me.”
“Really?” Ashley regarded him suspiciously.
Cailin regarded her for a moment, his gray eyes serious. “Aye. Ye do.”
They said their goodbyes to the children and left the stables, walking hand in hand across the muddy ground.
“I talked with Lena,” Ashley announced. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?”
Cailin shrugged. “Irene thought it best to let Lena tell ye herself.”
“And that’s another thing.” Ashley stopped walking and turned to face Cailin. “You told everyone I was from the future. They all know about it.”
Cailin had the grace to look contrite. “Aye. I’m sorry, lass. I should have told ye. I believed ye when ye told me, but the otherswere nae sure at first. They wanted to wait for Lena to confirm it for them. We knew she would ken how to explain things to ye.”
Ashley was quiet for a long time, turning away and stubbing the toe of her slipper against a clump of grass.
“Are ye angry with me, Ashley, for telling my family?” Cailin asked worriedly.
“No. How can I be angry when you’ve all been so kind to me?”
“Ashley, I ken yer afraid ye may have to stay here, but I would be happy if ye did.” Cailin turned her to face him, lifting her chin with his fingers so that their eyes met.
“Cailin, I just don’t know if I’m brave enough to stay,” Ashley admitted. Life here is so different to life in my time. I know Lena did it, but I’m just not sure I can do the same thing. Besides, even if I want to go back to the twenty first century, I might not be able to. Lena told me she tried a few times and the fog never appeared, so she couldn’t cross the bridge.”
“Aye, but she loved Ewan and they’ve made a good life together. They have two beautiful bairns,” Cailin pointed out.
“I know.”
Cailin ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. “Ashley, I’m asking ye to stay. To stay here with me. Ye are the most beautiful, strong, and brave woman I have ever known. I love to talk with ye. Ye have much knowledge and can challenge me brain. Ye make me think about so many different things. I’ve never met another who has made me feel the way that ye make me feel.”
“Cailin, I feel the same way about you, but what if you get tired of me? What if things don’t work out and I’m stuck here in the sixteenth century?” Ashley looked beseechingly into his eyes.
“I will never tire of ye, lass, and as long as we talk tae each other I’m sure we can solve any problem.” Ashley could tell from the fervent tone in his voice that Cailin was speaking from hisheart. “Ashley, I’m nae verra good at this. I’ve never said this to anyone before. I love ye, Ashley. Please, stay with me.”
