Page 20 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)

T he rain continued the next day, making a muddy mess everywhere.

People were arriving from all directions, some on foot, and others riding horses or bundled in carts.

Irene put Ashley in charge of supervising the children and they were all led into the great hall as they arrived, to keep them safely out of the way of the preparations taking place.

The kitchen staff had been hard at work all night, and kept a steady flow of broth, bread, and sweet cakes coming.

The smell of wet clothing from so many bodies was a bit overwhelming, but Ashley did her best to ignore it and made sure each child was well fed and happy.

Heather and Finn's children arrived in the great hall just before the noon meal, and excitedly ran to greet Ashley.

"Lady! Lady!" Mary threw her little arms around Ashley's legs and hugged her tightly.

"Mary!" Ashley was relieved to see the little girl. She’d been worrying that they wouldn’t make it to the castle safely. She lowered herself to Mary's level and gave her a big hug.

"Da brought the puppies, lady!"

"I'm happy to hear that," Ashley reassured her with a smile.

William stood next to Mary, and his demeanor suggested he wanted a hug, but he was trying to be tough. Ashley pulled him in and put her arms around his back and he shyly returned the embrace.

“The puppies be in the stables," William said.

"Maybe we can go and see them later, William, but for now, would you take your brothers and sisters to a table to get some food? I'll talk to you afterwards, when you've had something to eat."

"Aye, Lady Ashley." Taking Craig and Mary by the hands, he guided his siblings to the nearest empty table.

The room was filled with the sounds of children, happily eating and talking together. It was important to keep them busy while their parents were being settled and it took Ashley’s mind off her fear of what was going to happen.

Ashley spent the rest of the day with the children, making sure they were fed, calming fears and gathering groups together to tell them numerous stories. She began with nursery rhymes she remembered from her own childhood and progressed through every fairy tale she could recall.

“Ashley, it’s pleased I am, that yer keeping the bairns busy while their parents get settled. I’m especially grateful that ye’ve got mine with ye as well,” Irene said with a grin, when she hurried by at one stage.

“You’re welcome. I’m just happy to help.”

Late in the afternoon, mothers began to arrive, to reclaim their children and take them back to their temporary homes for the evening meal.

After the last of the children were collected, the men began to arrive in the hall searching for food, after finishing training for the day.

Ashley was emotionally and physically exhausted and had slumped at one of the tables when she spied Irene heading towards her.

"Ashley, thank ye again for yer help this day," Irene said warmly.

"You're most welcome. I enjoyed spending time with the children, it made me feel useful."

"The children love ye. My own can't stop speaking of ye." Irene rubbed Ashley's shoulder affectionately.

"I love them as well. I was impressed with how well behaved they were, under such trying circumstances."

Irene nodded in agreement and glanced around the great hall, which was rapidly filling with hungry men.

"Ye’ll likely want to eat in yer room tonight. Robert and me brothers will nae be joining us for the evening meal and I still have much to do before I retire."

"Okay. Can I help you with anything else?"

Irene shook her head. "Nae. Ye should eat and then have a good night's rest. I'll have a tray sent up for ye."

Ashley stifled a yawn. "Good night then. I'll see you in the morning." She was disappointed not to see Cailin, but exhaustion was rapidly overtaking her.

"Good night, Ashley," Irene said warmly.

***

The next few days passed in a blur of activity, but eventually the clan was settled in and life returned to a more normal routine for the clan members.

Ashley had not seen Cailin since the night he’d escorted her to her sleeping quarters and she found she was missing him.

He was her anchor in this crazy world she’d found herself in.

Cailin had the ability to calm her nerves and made her feel safe in a world where she didn’t belong.

She had a desperate desire to see Cailin and set about trying to locate him.

Ashley wandered through the interior of the castle and not finding Cailin there, she decided to check the inner bailey.

She swung the doors open and scanned the courtyard.

There were so many people working and making their homes here currently, that it was difficult to distinguish one person from the next.

Ashley checked inside the stables and some of the other buildings, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen.

She was about to give up and head back inside, when she caught sight of him, striding towards the main gates.

The sight of his handsome face brought an excited smile to her lips and Ashley opened her mouth to call out a greeting.

The words died in her throat, when a very beautiful blonde woman ran to Cailin and threw herself into his arms. The woman gazed adoringly into his face and said something, her voice too low for Ashley to distinguish the words.

Ashley froze in her tracks when Cailin laughed; appearing delighted by the gorgeous woman’s close proximity.

Ashley couldn't believe her eyes and watched in rapidly increasing dismay as Cailin draped his arm over the woman’s slender shoulders, leading her out of sight.

Tears stung at Ashley's eyes and she turned and ran back inside, flopping onto the bed in disgust.

How stupid are you, Ashley? She berated herself angrily.

He's just like every man you've ever dated.

Just because he seemed very interested, and he said and did all the right things, doesn't mean he's the one.

You know better than to trust any guy, even one who seems so sweet and sincere.

What a joke that is. He's probably got something going on with dozens of women.

He's the sixteenth century equivalent of a player.

This wasn’t good. She had no one to talk to about this situation, she was stuck in the wrong century, and she had no way of finding her way home. She needed her friend Jenna and she couldn't even call her. Tears streamed down her face as she conducted a running dialogue in her head.

You need to get out of here, Ashley. You haven't been thinking clearly since all this craziness began. You don't belong in medieval Scotland! You can't just sit around and wait for someone to rescue you! You're going to have to figure this out yourself.

She pushed herself up from the bed and paced back and forth across the room for a few minutes, thinking feverishly. She was angry, she was jealous and she was in full fight or flight mode, determined something had to be done immediately.

If I leave now, I can probably make it halfway back to the bridge by the time darkness falls, and then travel the remainder of the way tomorrow.

The weather had improved after the storm blew over, so now was the perfect time to leave.

She'd show that Highland Romeo – she didn't need him, Ashley Moore didn't need anyone.

With a new sense of determination, Ashley grabbed up the few meager belongings she’d unpacked and stuffed them in the backpack, and then headed downstairs.