Page 78 of A Bridge Through Time
“Why yes it is, Senior Constable Douglas.”
“I’m sorry, what’s going on here?” Sir Richard stood up, looking surprised.
“Sir, you are under arrest, for the assault of Miss Ashley Moore. You’ll be coming with me.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about! Miss Moore and I are old friends. I’m certain she’ll vouch for me,” Sir Richard said, his voice growing louder.
“Senior Constable Douglas, this is the man you’ve been searching for,” Ashley announced as she walked into the dining room escorted by Angus.
“Ashley, what is this all about? Is this some sort of cruel joke?”
Sir Richard honestly looked baffled and Ashley couldn’t get over what a good actor he was. Either that, or he’d suffered a serious head injury during the battle outside of Breaghacraig and was delusional. “You know what you did to me! Don’t try to deny it.” Her fear was rapidly being replaced with seething anger.
Douglas instructed his men to handcuff Sir Richard and they did so, with some difficulty as Sir Richard realized he had no chance of getting away and began to struggle in earnest.
“Ashley! I’ll be back for you, you can be sure of it! You must help me get back home!” he yelled furiously.
“Goodbye, Richard. I hope I never see you again.” Ashley managed to control herself until the police left the building before she broke down. Angus was by her side in a flash and wrapped her in his strong arms. Edna rubbed her back and cooed soft words of comfort in her ear as she sobbed with relief.
“Are ye okay, Ashley?” Angus asked.
“I’ll be fine. I think I need to go upstairs and lie down for a little while.”
“I think that’s a verra good idea, lass. We’ll call you when it’s time for the evening meal. Ye can rest now, and nae worry about this any longer. I promise ye lass, it’s verra nearly all over now.”
FORTY
Cailin was at his wits end. He simply could not focus on anything and he was short-tempered and impatient with everyone who had the misfortune to cross his path. Time seemed to be dragging as he waited for the day when he would go to meet Ashley and bring her back to Breaghacraig to begin their life together.
“Cailin, are ye going to sit on yer arse all day, or will ye come with me? My horse needs to be exercised and I think ye do as well.” Cormac appeared from across the courtyard, chewing on a piece of straw.
Cailin had propped himself against the castle wall to whittle a piece of wood, but it had been whittled into nothing remotely recognizable. The scowl on his face had done a good job of keeping others away, with the exception of his brother.
“Why do ye bother me, Cormac? Can ye nae see I’m busy?”
“Aye. I see that yer busy murdering that piece of wood with yer Sgian Dubh. I thought ye might like to ride with me. Take yer mind off yer troubles.”
Cailin didn’t answer, instead continuing his assault on the stick in his hand.
Cormac tried again. “Come, brother, I could use yer company and me ears are waitin’ to hear of yer plight.”
Cailin growled, but reluctantly threw the stick away and put the Sgian Dubh in the side of his boot before he stood. “Aye. I’ll come with ye. I’ll take Ashley’s horse. I’m sure Destiny misses her as much as I do.”
Cormac raised a speculative eyebrow and slapped Cailin on the back. “I don’t doubt that the horse misses her company, but surely not as much as ye do.”
The two brothers made their way to the stables, where they saddled their horses in silence and walked them out through the gate before mounting.
“What troubles ye, brother? Ye’ll see the lovely Ashley soon, will ye nae?”
“Aye,” Cailin said grimly. “But I’m worried, Cormac.”
“Whatever for?”
“I’ve seen the world she comes from. It’s filled with wondrous things…like chocolate and coffee. Oh, and a delicious bread she called pizza. Mayhap she willnae want to give those up. What will I do without her if she doesnae come back?”
“Dinnae worry so, Cailin. I dinnae ken the things ye speak of and whilst they may be wondrous, I dinnae believe Ashley thinks them more wondrous than ye. She loves ye, brother, do ye nae ken that?”
“Aye. But what if she doesnae come through the fog?”
