Page 58 of A Bridge Through Time
“Aye, m’lady. I’m very frightened for Dougall and the others. He told me I shouldnae worry. He said they would all come back safely.”
“Cailin said much the same thing to me.”
“But ye dinnae believe it,” Helene stated.
“It’s not that I don’t believe it, Helene. It’s just,” Ashley hesitated, choosing her words carefully, “it’s just that I have a bad feeling about it.”
Helene tilted her head to one side. “What do ye mean, m’lady?”
Ashley shrugged, twisting a length of ribbon between her fingers anxiously. “I can’t really explain it, and I haven’t said anything to anyone else, but it’s as if a dark cloud is hanging over my head. I don’t know what it means but it’s constantly there.”
Helene didn’t respond right away, and Ashley watched her as she turned the idea around in her head. “M’lady, the men are verra sure they will all come back to us, and we must believe that,” Helene finally announced firmly.
“You’re right, Helene. I’m going to concentrate on thinking positive thoughts for them.” Ashley smiled brightly at Helene, knowing she wasn’t alone in her concern. Irene, Lena, Helene, and many of the other women in the castle had exactly the same concerns. Ashley decided she would do her best to keep an upbeat attitude – even if she didn’t believe it deep in her heart.
The women broke their fast together and then went their separate ways to commence their work for the day. Lena was tasked with watching over the children today. Helene was to help the kitchen, putting together food and supplies for the men’s journey. When the two women had hurried away, Irene took Ashley by the arm. “Ye can come with me, Ashley. We’ll be checking to see that all the packing is being done properly.”
Ashley was happy to have something useful to do, hopefully it would keep her from spending the entire day worrying. Irene and Ashley made the rounds of the castle and the surrounding grounds and found that all was going according to plan. Everyone knew their jobs and were seeing to it that they got done quickly and efficiently. Irene seemed pleased and the two women helped out where necessary.
They joined up with Lena and Helene again for the noon meal. Lena was full of stories about the children, who had joined the women in the great hall to eat. The antics of the twins had everyone at the table laughing, and lightened the mood considerably.
In fact, Ashley was laughing so hard, she had tears in her eyes. Those little boys were just what the doctor ordered as far as she was concerned.
After they ate, the youngest children went off for a nap and Lena took the others to work on their reading and letters, whilst Helene hurried back to the kitchen, leaving Ashley and Irene alone with their mutual worries. They exchanged a worried glance and Irene grabbed Ashley’s hands in her own. “Let’s go for a walk,” Irene suggested.
Ashley offered her a weak smile. “Okay. Where shall we go?”
“Yer favorite place,” Irene suggested.
“Will that be safe?” Ashley questioned doubtfully. “Cailin doesn’t like me leaving the castle alone.”
“Ye won’t be going alone, I’ll be with ye.” Irene waited for a response and when none was forthcoming, she coaxed Ashley with a reassuring nod of her head. “We’ll nae be going that far. There’s been no word of trouble near the castle, and the beach is only minutes away. We’ll go for a wee walk and it’ll calm our nerves.”
Ashley smiled. “You’re right. Let’s go, I’d enjoy the fresh air.”
The sky overhead was beautifully clear as the two women made their way to the postern gate. The guard on duty greeted them as they passed, inclining his head in their direction. “M’ladies.”
“Malcolm,” Irene returned his greeting, with a regal nod as they swept past his position.
Strolling along the path that led to the beach, the same sensation of dread overcame Ashley once more. She just couldn’t seem to shake it. She scanned the area in front and behind as they walked. Irene was chattering away, oblivious to Ashley’s growing sense of impending doom. As they approached the path leading down to the beach, Ashley scanned the tree line. She thought she caught a glimpse of something shiny and metallic, but before she could focus on it, the object was gone.
“Lady Ashley, Lady Ashley!” an out of breath William ran up behind them, carrying a puppy in his arms.
“William,” Ashley jumped at the sound of his voice. “What is it? Is something wrong?”
“No, Lady. I just wanted to come along with ye.”
Ashley looked to Irene, who smiled and nodded, before she responded. “I guess that would be alright.” Ashley put a hand on his back and they started the walk down to the beach.
The sounds of the wind and the water brought Ashley a sense of peace, as they always did. Her thoughts turned to outings she’d enjoyed with her family when she was growing up, and how precious those memories were. It truly was the simple things in life that mattered most and created the best memories. A blanket in the sand, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pails, and shovels to dig in the sand, and her family to share it. Those were the simple memories Ashley cherished. She was making new memories now, with her new family and she was so grateful for the opportunity. On impulse, Ashley hugged Irene and then William, who gazed at her with adoring eyes.
They walked along the shoreline together, enjoying the fine weather and the beautiful views. William put the puppy down on the sand and they laughed together when the puppy barked furiously and ran away from the incoming waves. William ran along the beach and the puppy chased him back and forth across the sand.
Irene and Ashley were so engrossed in the happy scene before them, they didn’t hear the sound of horses’ hooves pounding across the sand until it was too late.
Ashley became aware of impending trouble when she noticed William’s eyes widen. Ashley followed his gaze and couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Men on horseback had rounded an outcropping of rocks further down the beach and galloped towards them swiftly. She tugged on Irene’s sleeve anxiously, too stunned to speak.
“Run!” Irene shrieked and the three of them bolted for the narrow pathway leading away from the beach. If they could get to it before the horses reached them, they might have a chance. The path was narrow and rocky. A man on horseback would never make it, and they could gain some distance before the men could dismount.
