Page 73 of A Bridge Through Time
Cailin had quickly donned his plaid when Edna knocked and he stood watching with undisguised interest as she placed the food onto the table.
“Good morning, you two. I hope you slept well.”
“Aye, we did.” Cailin turned towards Ashley who was slowly sitting up in bed, yawning and rubbing her eyes sleepily. Edna watched as he went to her side, bringing the robe from the foot of the bed. He helped Ashley get up and into the robe, before he carefully led her to the table.
“Thank you, Edna. Everything looks wonderful.” Ashley sat at the table and looked up contentedly at Edna and Cailin.
“Please, sit Cailin,” Edna said.
He did as she requested and Edna served them both a little bit of everything. She desperately wanted to see the look on Cailin’s face when he tried the coffee for the first time, so she poured him a cup before she left.
“What do you think, Ashley? Do you think Cailin will like his coffee with cream and sugar, or would he prefer it black?”
“Cream and sugar. That’s how I like it, and I think he will too,” Ashley said firmly.
Cailin took a sip from the cup Edna handed him and a crooked grin spread across his handsome face. Edna was very pleased with his response to the drink.
“So, this is the coffee ye will miss when we return to Breaghacraig?”
“Mmmhmm,” Ashley responded around a mouthful of pancakes. “This is delicious, Edna. You shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble.”
“It was no trouble at all. How do you feel this morning?” Edna questioned.
Ashley dipped a forkful of pancakes through the maple syrup. “Quite well, considering.”
“Would you like me to get you the pain medication?” Edna asked.
“No, but thank you. I’m not a medication kinda girl. I’ll save them for if I really need them, but for now the pain is tolerable.”
“I’m so happy you’re going to be okay,” Edna said and the relief she felt was tangible. Edna had been truly horrified by Ashley being injured in medieval Scotland, and regretted her part in it.
Ashley reached out and grabbed Edna’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “No worries, Edna, as I told you, if you hadn’t helped me get to Breaghacraig, I would never have met Cailin.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two alone to enjoy the rest of your breakfast. Do you think you could come downstairs after you eat? I’d like to explain some things to you.”
“Of course,” Ashley agreed with a smile. “We’ll be down in a little while.”
***
Breakfast was a fun and delicious experience for Cailin. He gobbled down most of the food, and judging by the happy grin on her face, that was fine with Ashley.
“The food, ‘tis verra good, much better than the morning parritch at Breaghacraig. And this coffee is like nothing I’ve ever tasted before,” Cailin announced, holding up his second cup of the steaming brew. “Are ye sure ye will come back with me? We don’t have such wonders at Breaghacraig as ye have here in Glendaloch.” He reached across and brushed his fingers across her hand. Cailin couldn’t seem to stop touching her. He had an uneasy feeling that if he did, she might vanish into thin air right before his eyes and he couldn’t bear the thought.
“I’m sure I’m going to come back with you.” Ashley waved her good arm around the room. “This is just stuff. I can live without all this, but I can’t live without you.”
Cailin cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her lips. “And I can’t live without ye.”
“I so want to throw my arms around you, but I can’t.” Ashley pouted and studied her injured arm in annoyance. “I can manage to throw one around you though.”
Cailin grinned and pushed his chair back from the small table. “Come here, love.”
Ashley rose from her chair and came to him, and Cailin pulled her carefully into his lap. “Settle yerself in so that I’m nae hurting ye.”
She did as he requested and he wrapped his arms around her, careful to avoid causing her any pain. He nuzzled her neck with his nose and heard her sigh contentedly. He released a sigh of his own, grateful to have her back in his arms.
THIRTY-SEVEN
When Ashley and Cailin entered the dining room, Ashley came to a sudden halt, as she noticed Teddy sitting in his corner. Cailin saw him too and his big body tensed like a cat ready to pounce on its prey as he glared at Teddy.
