Page 38 of A Bridge Through Time
***
Cailin could not escape Gavin and Cormac, no matter how hard he tried. Every time he thought he’d slip away, they’d insist on filling his mug with more Uisge Beatha and propose another toast. The only thing he wanted to do, was finish what he’d begun with Ashley. He was having a hard time thinking of anything else and his brother and Gavin had taken advantage ofhis inattention, by seeing to it that he was in no condition to go searching for her.
“What are ye up to,” Cailin slurred as they distracted him once again.
“What do ye mean, Cailin? We’re nae up to anythin’.” Gavin laughed, and clapped him on the back. “I just wanted tae spend time with my friends. We’ve nae done this in a right long while.”
“Yer right, Gavin, but I think our Cailin here be wishing he were with a certain lass, who’s caught his eye.”
“Aye. She’ll nae be happy that I just disappeared without a word,” Cailin muttered darkly.
“Dinnae fash, my brother. She’s probably gone away to bed and is soundly sleeping by now.”
“Gavin,” Kenna called into the darkness. “Where are ye?”
“Here, by the stables,” he responded.
“Kenna, where is Ashley?” Cailin asked.
“She’s gone to bed. She said I should tell ye good night.”
Cailin cursed under his breath. He knew it would do him no good to seek her bed this night; he was so far into his cups he could hardly stand, without leaning against Cormac and Gavin. And by the look of his brother and his friend, they were nae better off.Nae,he shook his head to himself,he wouldnae do that to her. He only hoped he’d get another opportunity.
“It looks like ye all need to find yer beds, before ye end up sleeping here in the stables,” Kenna scolded. “Come, Gavin, I need ye to walk me back to our shelter.”
“Aye, me love. I’d be happy to take a beauty such as yerself back with me.” He winked at his friends and swatted Kenna’s behind. She gave him a look of mock outrage, but then put her arm around his waist and led him off to bed.
Cailin watched Cormac hoot at the couple as they disappeared into the darkness. Cailin, on the other hand was thinking how nice it would be to head to his chambers with Ashley by his side.
It seemed Cormac could read his mind – even in his disheveled state – and he wrapped his arm around Cailin’s shoulders. “Brother, come. Let’s be off to bed. Ye can see yer lass again in the morn.”
TWENTY-THREE
“Riders approach!” The cry came from high up in the battlements and a flurry of activity ensued, as everyone prepared for the worst. The men grabbed their weapons and hurried to their posts. Cailin, Cormac, and Robert came bursting outside from the keep.
“Who comes!” Robert demanded of Dougall.
“Too far off to tell, sir.”
The four men took the stairs to the battlement, two at a time. Dougall pointed to the east and several sets of eyes scanned the horizon, to see two dozen riders approaching. All eyes searched intently, for some sign of whether it was friend or foe. After several tense minutes, Cailin recognized the plaids as those of Ewan MacKenzie, Robert’s brother.
“‘Tis Ewan, Robert,” Cailin proclaimed.
“Aye, I see it now.”
They breathed a collective sigh of relief and sent Dougall to spread the word to their warriors to stand down.
***
At the sound of shouts and commotion, Ashley had left her bedchamber and flown down the stairs. Her heart was in her throat at the thought of the castle being under attack. She found Irene standing near the doors and joined her, awaiting any news.
Cormac burst through the door of the keep first. His bright smile told the anxious women all they needed to know.
“‘Tis Ewan and Lady Lena,” he announced.
“We’ll need to prepare rooms for their arrival. Cormac, please go to the kitchen and tell them we have guests arriving who will need a meal. They will be hungry after their journey,” Irene requested.
Helene had been standing nearby and she stepped forward, apparently having overheard the conversation. “I’ll see to bedchambers for our guests, m’lady.”
