Page 75 of A Bridge Through Time
Cailin narrowed his eyes. “What is it, Edna?”
“Cailin, you will need to leave here this afternoon and cross the bridge, and Ashley, my dear – you must stay here with us for now.”
“What do you mean? I can’t stay. I’m going back with Cailin,” Ashley shrieked and alarm crossed her pretty features.
“I willnae leave her,” Cailin announced firmly.
“I knew that would be your reaction, but let me explain. The police are coming tonight to arrest you, Cailin. I have seen itin my visions. They are convinced you’re the one who assaulted Ashley.”
“But, Cailin would never hurt me!” Ashley protested.
“I know, dear, but we cannot allow the police to take him. There is far too much at stake. The bridge is a closely guarded secret in Glendaloch. Not many know the truth about it and we must keep the time travel from becoming public knowledge. If anyone discovered that Cailin was a time traveler, he’d never be allowed to return to Breaghacraig.” Edna leaned forward, grabbing their hands and squeezing firmly. “Please – believe me – if I thought this would all work out with no one being the wiser about the Glendaloch bridge, I’d let you stay, Cailin. But I know from my visions it won’t work out that way, and, Ashley, you must stay in the twenty first century until you’re injuries are completely healed.”
Ashley and Cailin sat in stony silence, obviously struggling to contemplate the thought of being away from each other and Edna waited quietly, allowing them to process what she’d told them.
Finally, Ashley spoke and the pain in her voice nearly broke Edna’s heart. “She’s right, Cailin. I don’t want to be apart from you, but at least this way we’ll both be able to go back to Breaghacraig. We’ll only be apart for a short while, if it works out as Edna says.”
“I promise, I’ll get you two back together as soon as I possibly can. Cailin, you will need to be back at the bridge in precisely six weeks’ time. You must wait there for Ashley. She will come to you when the fog appears, I give you my word.”
Cailin didn’t take his eyes away from Ashley, speaking only to her. “I will be waiting, love. Dinnae doubt it.”
Ashley inhaled heavily, clearly resigned to what Edna said they had to do. “I know you’ll be there, I trust you completely.” She shook her head. “I just don’t know if I can do this. I don’twant to be without you for such a long time,” she glanced across at Edna, “but I understand why we must.”
Edna stood up. “I’ll leave you two to say your goodbyes to one another and then I’ll ask Teddy to guide you to the bridge. Hopefully your clan did as I asked, and left someone to wait for you.”
***
Ashley and Cailin returned to Ashley’s room and Ashley grabbed Cailin’s hand, placing her moonstone in his palm.
“I’ll hold this close to my heart, ‘til yer with me again,” Cailin promised huskily.
Tears began to tumble down Ashley’s cheeks and Cailin brushed them away with his thumbs. He pulled her into his arms as she lifted her face to meet his. Their lips met in a kiss filled with sadness and promise, passion and longing. Every emotion they were feeling poured between them in those few moments and when they parted, they still held each other, neither wanting to be the first to let go.
“Ashley, Cailin, it’s time,” Edna called from the hallway.
“I love ye, Ashley Moore,” Cailin breathed against her hair.
“And I love you, Cailin MacBayne.”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Ashley and Edna watched as Cailin and Teddy disappeared down the road, on their way to retrieve Cadeyrn from Mrs. MacDougall’s barn. Ashley was in tears and Edna wrapped her in her motherly embrace, trying to comfort her as best she could. “I can’t lose him, Edna, I just can’t!”
“It will all be alright, dear. Don’t worry. You were meant to be together and you will be.”
Ashley couldn’t help but worry, despite Edna’s reassurance. What if the fog didn’t reappear when it was supposed to? What if they were not destined to be together?
Edna seemed to know exactly what she was thinking. “Have faith, Ashley.”
***
That evening, at The Thistle and Hive, the door flew open at about eight o’clock and in walked Senior Constable Douglas. “Ah, Mrs. Campbell, Miss Moore. I’m looking for Cailin MacBayne.”
“He’s not here,” Ashley replied casually, lifting her eyes from the book she’d been staring at for the past half hour, waiting for this moment.
“Where is he?” Douglas demanded.
Ashley shrugged. “I don’t know.”
