Page 31 of A Bridge Through Time
Tears stung at Ashley's eyes and she turned and ran back inside, flopping onto the bed in disgust.
How stupid are you, Ashley?She berated herself angrily.He's just like every man you've ever dated. Just because he seemed very interested, and he said and did all the right things, doesn't mean he's the one. You know better than to trust any guy, even one who seems so sweet and sincere. What a joke that is. He's probably got something going on with dozens of women. He's the sixteenth century equivalent of a player.
This wasn’t good. She had no one to talk to about this situation, she was stuck in the wrong century, and she had no way of finding her way home. She needed her friend Jenna and she couldn't even call her. Tears streamed down her face as she conducted a running dialogue in her head.
You need to get out of here, Ashley. You haven't been thinking clearly since all this craziness began. You don't belong in medieval Scotland! You can't just sit around and wait for someone to rescue you! You're going to have to figure this out yourself.
She pushed herself up from the bed and paced back and forth across the room for a few minutes, thinking feverishly. She was angry, she was jealous and she was in full fight or flight mode, determined something had to be done immediately.
If I leave now, I can probably make it halfway back to the bridge by the time darkness falls, and then travel the remainder of the way tomorrow.The weather had improved after the storm blew over, so now was the perfect time to leave. She'd show that Highland Romeo – she didn't need him, Ashley Moore didn't need anyone.
With a new sense of determination, Ashley grabbed up the few meager belongings she’d unpacked and stuffed them in the backpack, and then headed downstairs.
TWENTY-ONE
Cormac watched Ashley, as she quickly walked away from the keep. Where could she be off to, in such a hurry? Cailin would nae be pleased with Cormac, if he let her come to any harm and so he decided to follow her, partly out of curiosity and partly to ensure the lass’s safety.
He was thoroughly enjoying the view of Ashley’s rounded and shapely buttocks, when she suddenly spoke.
"I know you're following me, Cormac," Ashley snapped, sounding none too pleased. “How am I supposed to find my way back to town, when no one will take me and I get watched like a hawk whenever I try to sneak away? Someone’s always hovering,” she muttered angrily.
Cormac ignored her rant. "These are dangerous times, Ashley," Cormac said calmly. "Cailin would have me head if I’d seen you leaving the castle and didnae escort ye properly to yer destination. I was merely giving you some space."
"I don't need an escort," she yelled.
"No need to be angry, lass. We're only concerned for your safety."
Ashley just growled and increased her pace.
"Where are ye off to in such a hurry?"
"Glendaloch."
Cormac raised an eyebrow. "And where is this Glendaloch you speak of?"
"I'm not sure, but I think it's this way." Cormac thought she looked uncertain, but she pointed straight ahead.
Cormac smiled knowingly. "Why do ye walk so fast, lass?"
"I always walk fast."
"I ken that, but why?"
"Because it’s how I stay in shape."
Cormac reached out and caught her arm, puzzled by her strange words. “In shape?” he repeated.
"I don't want to get fat," she explained tersely, her voice confirming to Cormac she’d rather be anywhere but here and dealing with him. Again, he wondered why she’d stormed off from the castle in such a state, but he would find the underlying cause of it in time.
"Fat?" he echoed. This lassie was beautiful, but she had some strange ways of talking and thinking, which he nae understood.
Her response was to puff out her cheeks and try to make her slim body look rounder.
Cormac laughed, but spoke quickly to reassure her. "Yer nae fat, lass. Truth be told, yer quite bonnie."
"That's kind of you to say, but where I come from, men like women who look like they haven’t eaten in months."
"These men where you come from must be daft,” Cormac growled. “When I said I was walking behind ye to give ye some space, it wasnae the entire truth. ‘Twas because ye have such a sweet wee bottom and I like the way it swings back and forthwhen ye walk.” He offered her a cheeky grin. “I think it would be even better though, if ye slow down a wee bit."
