Page 14 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)

A shley knew she was losing it. She was too terrified of the answer, to ask Irene what year it was.

She was sure she didn't want to know, but with all signs pointing to medieval Scotland, she feared she was losing her mind. The castle was certainly authentic. The limestone walls and floors were covered with beautiful tapestries and rugs. The halls were lit with torches and the great room held an enormous candle-filled chandelier. There wasn’t a sign of electricity being available.

The choices were limited. Either this was an amazingly accurate replica of a medieval Scottish castle, or it was a real medieval Scottish castle. Ashley’s head seemed about to explode with the crazy thoughts she was thinking.

Irene showed Ashley to her room, which was easily four times the size of her bedroom in San Francisco. It might even be as big as her entire apartment. A deep tub had been placed in front of a roaring fireplace and a brigade of boys filled it with buckets full of hot water.

Ashley was utterly shell-shocked and from the expression of concern on Irene's face, she could plainly see it.

"A hot bath will work wonders for ye, Ashley. Take yer time and relax. I've left a cloth for ye to dry yourself with." She handed Ashley a bar of soap, which smelled heavenly. "There is a gown on the bed. I'll be back to help ye into it."

"Thank you, Irene. I'm at a loss for words and if you knew me well enough, you'd know how unusual that is."

Irene simply nodded as she headed for the door.

"Irene, before you go, is Cailin going to be okay?”

"I was just going to go check on him. I'll let you know when I return."

Irene left Ashley alone and staring at the tub in dismay. She never took baths at home, preferring a quick shower as it more suited her busy life.

"Well, I guess I'd better get in, before it cools off," Ashley muttered.

She removed her clothes and eased into the heavenly warm water, laying back and resting her head just below the rim.

The water eased her mind and soothed her sore muscles.

She was bruised and sore from the scuffles with Teddy and Thomas, and her backside and legs ached after hours in the saddle.

Ashley wondered if she’d hit her head at the bridge and was unconscious or even hallucinating; but deep down she knew that wasn't the case and she’d somehow managed to transport herself back in time to the medieval period.

And what of Cailin, the man who had been haunting her for months now?

It was him; she wasn't crazy. She'd recognize those eyes anywhere.

Was he her destiny and if so, why couldn't she have met him in her time, rather than his?

She certainly couldn't stay here. How could she?

What would Jenna think, when she found out Ashley had disappeared?

If she found out. Ashley had told Jenna she might be incommunicado while she was travelling.

Maybe it was better this way. She didn't want Jenna to be worrying about her. Inhaling sharply, Ashley shook her head in denial. Well, she didn’t plan to be here long enough for Jenna to know anything.

As soon as she could, Ashley would find her way back to the 21st century and that was all there was to that.

Determined that all would work out in her favor, Ashley used the washcloth and soap Irene had given her.

The soap smelled of roses, one of her favorite flowers.

Her mother had always kept the garden full of them and Ashley had loved sticking her nose into the many varieties, enjoying their uniquely different scents.

She washed her hair, submerging her head beneath the water, to rinse the soap out.

After soaking for a while, the water had started to cool telling her it was time to get out.

Ashley gazed into the fireplace as she dried herself off, her thoughts still swirling over how she could possibly be in medieval Scotland. A knock at the door startled her, and she turned to see Irene enter the room.

"Are ye ready to get dressed, Ashley?"

"Yes. I was just drying off."

"Was the bath to yer liking?"

"It was wonderful. I was pretty sore from riding and from the fights with Teddy and Thomas."

"Thomas?" Irene looked thoughtful and bit her lip apprehensively. "Tall, thin, but strong, dirty brown hair, rotten teeth?" she questioned.

"Yes, that's him. Do you know him?"

"I'm afraid I do."

Ashley noticed her shiver as she spoke of him, but then Irene shook herself and smiled. "Let's get you dressed and fix yer hair."

Irene helped Ashley into the clothing she’d provided.

First there was a simple linen shift and then the most beautiful green gown.

The color was vibrant and the fabric soft and velvety.

Thank goodness, Irene was there to help her because there was no way she could have laced up the back herself.

Irene handed her some matching slippers, which actually fit very well.

"Let me fix yer hair."

Ashley started to protest, but Irene wouldn’t hear it. She skillfully braided Ashley's hair in the most intricate style Ashley had ever seen, weaving a matching green ribbon through the strands, and then securing it with another ribbon. When she was done, she stood back to admire her work.

"I don't doubt ye'll be turning heads tonight."

Ashley blushed at the compliment.

"How is Cailin?" His was the only head she was interested in turning.

"He is well. He needs a good night's rest and he should be out of bed tomorrow. He’s too stubborn to let an arrow keep him down for long. I ken what ye did for him and believe that’s why he is doing so well. He asked that ye stop in his chambers, before ye go down for the evening meal."

Cailin’s request pleased Ashley immensely.

She couldn't wait to see him again. Being away from him, even just for this short time, made her realize she had developed feelings for him in the course of the last few days. She tried to convince herself it was only because they’d found themselves in a precarious situation and had needed to rely on each other to survive.

Irene led Ashley down the passageway to Cailin's room. Opening the door she said, "I'll be back for ye, when it's time to come downstairs for the evening meal." With that, she was gone.

Ashley hesitated in the doorway, suddenly self-conscious. Get it together, girl! You've just spent two days and a night with him. Now's not the time to be shy.

He was lying in bed, covered to his waist by a pile of furs. And he looked amazing. His muscular chest was bare and Ashley’s breath caught in her throat as she gazed at him. She wanted nothing more than to lie beside him and rest her head on his massive chest.

"Ashley, are ye well, lass?"

"Mmm…" In his presence, she couldn't seem to find her voice.

"Is something wrong?" He raised an eyebrow in question.

"No. No, nothing's wrong. I'm fine."

"Are ye sure? Ye look like ye might faint."

This time, she noticed the amused glint in his eye and realized he was teasing her. He knew she was admiring him and was practically preening with the knowledge. Damn. She was going to have to remember not to be so obvious about her attraction to him.

"Irene said you were feeling better. It looks like the healer got you all bandaged up. I guess it wasn’t as bad as we originally thought, thank goodness." She walked closer to the bed, smiling nervously and he reached his hand out to grab hers. He pulled her closer still.

"Look at that. Is that real fur? I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. It’s very luxurious." Ashley was babbling and he was obviously enjoying her discomfort. Too late now. He knew she was attracted to him; she’d made it far too obvious.

"Ashley, please sit."

"Okay." She sat on the edge of the bed. Is it hot in here? She felt herself blushing and resisted the urge to fan herself.

"I wanted to thank ye again for carin' for me."

"It was my pleasure."

He was smiling at her again. Would it be wrong to just lean over and kiss him? He had the most beautiful lips and…oh, my God, she was staring at them. Breaking her gaze from his, Ashley only succeeded in babbling some more.

"I'm kind of nervous about going downstairs. I feel like I don't belong here. Everyone was looking at me as if I came from another planet."

"‘Tis fine, lass. Just tell them yer from America. They dinnae ken where it is either. They'll ken that ye be different."

"Cailin, I have to ask you a question." How was she going to ask this? She should just do it. So what if he thought she was crazy? She thought she was crazy.

He smiled encouragingly. "Ask me whatever ye like."

"What year is it?"

Obviously puzzled by her question, he answered, "1514."

"I'm sorry, did you say 1514?"

"Aye, lass."

She felt the room beginning to spin. Breathe, Ashley, breathe. He’d said it was 1514. How could that possibly be true?

***

Cailin was concerned by Ashley’s reaction when he answered her question. She was anxious, her eyes widening in shock. He thought she might fall off the bed, so he wrapped his arm around her waist to steady her.

When she spoke, her voice was very small. "Cailin, you're going to think I'm crazy, but I don't know how I got here."

"Surely ye remember? I brought ye to Breaghacraig. We rode the horses together.” Worried about her reaction, he tried to joke. “I had not thought ye daft before, but mayhap I was mistaken.” Just in case she couldn’t tell he was joking, he winked at her.

"That's not what I mean." She was chewing her bottom lip and seemed distressed. "It's not just that I'm not from this place. I'm not from this time . I'm from the future, Cailin. I'm from the 21st century. Five hundred years from now."

Cailin frowned. "Did ye hit yer head, lass? Yer nae making sense."

“No, Cailin, just think about it for a minute. You don't understand half of what I say. You’ve never heard of America. My clothes aren’t what women wear in your time.

Just think about it! And another thing that’s weird—I’ve seen you before,” Ashley admitted, before she lost her courage.

“In San Francisco. You kept showing up, everywhere I went. It was you, wasn’t it? ”

“I’ve never been to this San Francisco, Ashley. I don’t know how it could be me ye saw.”

Cailin watched Ashley, as she grew more and more distraught. She stood up abruptly. "I can't stay here. I have to go. How do I go back?"

"Ashley, love, dinnae fash. I will help ye if I can. I hate to see ye looking so sad. I'd do anything to see yer smile again, to see the lass I’ve just spent the last two days getting to know. Mayhap we should speak with Irene about it.”

“Oh, no, I don’t think I should tell anyone else. They’ll think I’m crazy.” She was frantic, twisting her hands together nervously.

"Ashley, just give me some time and I'll take ye back."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Aye. I owe ye me life."

"Oh, thank you, thank you." Relief flooded through her and she sat back down to give him a hug.

Cailin wrapped her in his arms and breathed in the scent of her hair.

He brushed his lips across the top of her head, just as Irene knocked on the door and peeked into the room.

She tilted her head and with a raised eyebrow, gave her brother a disapproving look as he gently pushed Ashley up and out of his embrace.

"Come, Ashley, ‘tis time ye met the rest of the MacKenzie Clan."

Ashley stood up and gave Cailin a look of sheer desperation.

"I'd join ye if I could, lass, but Irene would have me head, if I dared to rise from me bed before she gave permission."

When she still didn't move, he said, "Ye'll be fine. Irene will see to ye, and me brother Cormac will be by yer side as well." He gave her an encouraging smile and she turned and left the room, with Irene leading the way.