Page 4 of A Bridge Through Time
"Oh, you'd be surprised, dear." Before Ashley could ask what she meant, Mrs. Campbell went to work, getting Ashley registered and handed her a key to her room.
"I gave you a room with a view of our lovely countryside." Mrs. Campbell beamed. "Once you get settled in, please come down and join us for a bite to eat."
"Thank you. I'll definitely do that."
"Do you need help with your bags, dear? Angus will be along shortly and he can bring them up for you."
"Oh, no, that's okay. I've got them," Ashley reassured her.
"All right then. We'll see you in a bit." Mrs. Campbell hurried off into the dining room, leaving Ashley to head upstairs in search of her room.
The inn was small and quaint. There didn't appear to be more than six rooms on the second floor, and unless there were some hidden on the first floor, that was it. Ashley’s room was at the end of the hall and as Mrs. Campbell had promised, the view was spectacular. She looked around the room and was pleased with what she found. A big four-poster bed took up much of theroom. There was a large, comfortable chair by the window and a charming fireplace on the opposite wall. The room was tastefully decorated in hues of peach and sage green. She was relieved to see she had her own bathroom, and looked forward to a quick shower before dinner.
The warm water felt good on her body. Ashley hadn't realized how stiff and sore she was, due to the stress of driving in a foreign country. It had taken her a while to get used to driving on the other side of the road. She’d been in constant fear of forgetting the rule, and ending up in a head-on collision, so she’d white-knuckled it all the way to Glendaloch.
Ashley stepped from the shower and grabbed the fluffy white bath sheet from the towel rack. She quickly dried herself off and put on the bathrobe provided by the inn. She made her way to the bed and flopped back into its downy softness.A short nap might do me some good, she thought. Ashley closed her eyes and before long, she fell asleep.
She slept dreamlessly and when she woke, she had the feeling that Grey Eyes was nearby. It was already dark outside and the fireplace was ablaze. Ashley couldn’t remember whether it had been lit when she came into the room, but if it wasn’t, how is it that it was now. Her eyes travelled around the room and there he was, lit by the golden glow of the fire. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. “You’re here,” her voice was barely audible and her hands shook. He smiled a soft, sweet smile and then slowly disappeared from view. She was usually disappointed when he left, but this time she felt a certain sense of satisfaction. She was getting close. She could feel it.
Finally able to take a deep breath, she got up, hurriedly dressed, and checked in the mirror to be sure she looked okay. She hoped she hadn't missed dinner, because her stomach was grumbling for food.
When Ashley entered the dining room, Edna Campbell came rushing across to greet her. "We were worried we wouldn't be seeing you this evening. Come, sit with us and I'll get you your dinner."
Ashley apologized for her late arrival. "I guess I was just exhausted from all the driving I did today. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
"Don't give it a second thought, dear. Are you cold?" Mrs. Campbell didn’t wait for a reply. "Come sit here by the fire, it gets quite chilly at night in these parts. Angus, entertain our guest while I get the food."
The man seated across from her had risen, and was extending his hand. "Angus Campbell, Edna's husband. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss."
"Oh, please, call me Ashley."
Angus nodded and waited for Ashley to sit down, before taking his own seat. He was quite handsome. He stood about a foot taller than his wife did, and he wore his salt and pepper hair cropped short. He was solidly built with broad shoulders, in excellent shape for a man in what looked to be his mid-fifties. He smiled at Ashley and his hazel eyes, flecked with gold, crinkled at the corners. When he wasn’t smiling, Angus Campbell appeared a little stern, but Ashley thought, from the warmth in his eyes, he was likely to be a teddy bear in disguise. Right now, he looked as if he was searching for something to say. Apparently, Angus Campbell was a man of few words and his wife was the exact opposite.A busy bee, Ashley mused. Very suitable for The Thistle and Hive.
Edna came bustling out from the kitchen, carrying a huge tray. "I've got some lovely beef stew here, and some freshly baked bread as well."
"It smells delicious. Thank you."
As she ate, Ashley studied the dining room. She was surrounded by beautifully decorated tables. Fresh flowers within glass vases were positioned here and there throughout the room, and on each table, there was a hurricane lamp and a glowing candle. It was a warm, cozy room and under the right circumstances, even romantic. Ashley was the only guest, but as her eyes travelled around the room, she noticed someone sitting in a dark corner, near the windows. It was a man who obviously wanted to go unnoticed, and as Ashley's eyes met his, she was disturbed by the glare he was directing her way. She quickly looked away, and was about to mention it to the Campbell’s when Edna spoke.
"That's Teddy," she explained in a quiet voice. "He lives here in town and comes in every night for a bite. During the week, he's usually our only guest."
Ashley glanced in Teddy's direction once more and noticed he hadn't taken his eyes off her. A chill ran down her spine.
Edna must have noticed her shiver and spoke. "Are you warm enough, dear?"
"Yes, yes… I'm fine. The fire is lovely."
"I noticed on your registration card that you're from California. It must be beautiful there, and probably a lot warmer too," Edna smiled.
"I'm from San Francisco. I’ve lived there my whole life…until about a week ago."
"Oh… not anymore?"
"It’s a long story, but I'm taking a break from city living and I've decided I need a little adventure in my life."
"Wouldn't it be exciting if you found one here?" Edna smiled. "And you're travelling all alone."
Ashley nodded, her mouth too full of stew to speak.
