Page 22 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)
“My Da loved Robert,” Kenna said. “He was so happy being his first in command, and he got to know Gavin and love him like a son during his time here at Breaghacraig. Ye ken he passed last year, just after our marriage. He’d been sick for months.
We thought he’d recover, but ‘twas not to be.” Kenna seemed like she might cry.
“Aye. We were all verra sad to hear the news, especially Robert,” Cailin admitted.
They caught up on family news while Cailin helped Gavin with the shelter he’d been building.
They made quick work of it and when they were finished, Gavin and Cailin promised to meet with each other later at the evening meal.
Cailin bid them goodbye and went off in search of Ashley, determined to find her amongst the growing crowds.
He searched in the castle’s interior first, disappointed to discover no one had seen her this day. He visited her chambers, but they were empty. He thought he'd try the stables, thinking she might be checking on Destiny.
When he strode into the stables, he was disappointed to find Ashley hadn't been there either. He was starting to get anxious. Where could she be? He went out into the bailey and searched some more. One of his men announced he’d seen her earlier in the morning and she’d seemed in a hurry as she left the castle grounds.
Cailin asked the gatekeeper if he’d seen her, and was alarmed when the gatekeeper told him Ashley had passed through many hours ago.
He wasn’t sure whether he should be relieved or alarmed when the man also confirmed Cormac had followed her when she left.
The gatekeeper pointed him in the direction she was headed and Cailin took off after her at an urgent pace.
What was she doing, walking off on her own?
He was relieved Cormac had followed her, but why hadn’t his brother just come and found Cailin, so that he could go after her himself?
He’d warned Cormac to stay away from her and a surge of jealousy bit at his heart. She was his woman, not Cormac's.
Cailin had known Ashley would be his, from the moment he rescued her from that man on the bridge.
He’d never met a woman like her before, an amazing woman whom he thought about constantly.
She had him feeling emotions he’d never experienced before, but right now, he was anything but happy with Ashley Moore.
In fact, he was downright angry. She knew it wasn't safe to leave the castle on her own, especially in the current circumstances.
If anything happened to her…he couldn't bear to think about it and instead he just concentrated on what he was going to do when he found her.
***
"Cormac!" a voice bellowed from up above, where Cormac and Ashley sat on the beach. Cormac glanced around to confirm it was Cailin staring down at them, with an angry scowl marring his otherwise handsome face.
"‘Tis Cailin," Cormac remarked calmly.
"I can see that," Ashley responded with a roll of her eyes.
Cormac looked at Ashley with a cheeky grin on his face, as he tucked a windblown lock of hair behind her ear. He waved merrily up at his brother and reached for Ashley's hand to help her up from the sand.
Although only seconds had passed, while they brushed the sand from their clothes, Cailin was marching down the beach towards them with the same scowl in place when Cormac glanced up.
Cormac saw Ashley cringe, as Cailin shoved him aside and focused his anger on her.
"What do ye think yer doing here? I've been looking all over for ye!" he snapped.
Cormac opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get a word out, Ashley’s eyes flashed with anger and she snapped at Cailin. "If you must know, I went for a walk—not that it's any of your business!"
Cormac stifled a laugh, but not before Cailin took notice of his amusement.
"You should nae be encouraging her behavior, brother," Cailin snarled.
Again, Cormac tried to speak, but Ashley didn't give him any opportunity.
"He was not encouraging anything! If I want to go for a walk, I damn well will! Cormac saw me leaving and decided I needed some company. We've been having a lovely time, sitting here on the beach watching the waves and talking."
Cormac saw the jealousy come crashing down over Cailin, like the waves hitting the shore.
It was apparent Cailin could hardly contain his anger and Cormac briefly reconsidered whether taunting his brother by touching Ashley’s hair had been as good an idea as it had first seemed.
Cormac braced his feet more firmly in the sand, preparing for his brother’s imminent attack.
"We're going home now," Cailin announced firmly, shooting a warning glare at Cormac as he put his arm around Ashley possessively. "Cormac, yer services are nae longer needed. I'll see that Ashley gets back home to the castle safely."
"I'll be coming back with ye then, since ‘tis my home as well." Cormac winked at Ashley, who couldn't stop her giggle. Cormac suspected she was enjoying having both men’s attention on her.
Confirming his suspicions, he watched as Ashley wriggled out of Cailin's grip and planted herself squarely between them.
"Shall we?" she queried, as she started walking without them.
The MacBayne boys both watched the gentle sway of her hips appreciatively, as she walked away.
Cormac didn’t quite hide his open admiration quickly enough, and Cailin punched him on the arm, giving Cormac an angry glare.
"I'll deal with you, later,” he warned, before he strode off to catch up with Ashley.
Although Cormac's arm stung from the blow, he could barely restrain his laughter as he made his way up the beach towards the bluff. No doubt, his brother was falling hard for the lass. Of that, he was positive.
***
The walk back was uncomfortable for all of them.
Cailin found himself in a verbal battle with Ashley, whilst Cormac was sullenly doing his best to mind his own business.
Cailin noticed Cormac’s pace dropped considerably, so he could create some distance between them and himself.
Cailin could nae blame his brother – given the opportunity, he would have avoided this verbal onslaught also.
"Stop treating me like a child!" Ashley complained.
"Stop acting like a child!" Cailin retorted.
"I am not acting like one!"
"Oh, so you are one then?"
Ashley rolled her eyes. “Oh for goodness sake!”
"‘Tis for yer own good, lass. I've known ye but a short time and I've had to save you twice already, once from the man on the bridge and a second time from Sir Richard's arrows."
"I beg your pardon! I don't think I’ve asked for, or needed your help—and if I remember correctly, I saved you and managed to get you back home before you died from your wounds!"
"She has a point there, brother," Cormac piped up.
"Hush Cormac. Dinnae stick yer nose in where it doesnae belong or ye may find yerself without it."
Cormac immediately lapsed into silence, confirming he’d learned from experience that Cailin always meant what he said.
"I'm nae going to argue about this anymore,” Cailin growled at Ashley. “Ye will not leave the keep on yer own again. I'll nae see any harm come to ye, not while yer my responsibility."
"You can't tell me what to do," Ashley argued.
"I can and I have. You will do as yer told, or I'll lock ye in yer quarters until ye see reason."
Ashley sighed loudly, but made no further comment.
When they reached the doors to the castle, Ashley turned to Cormac. "I had a lovely time today, thank you."
Cormac gave her a courtly bow, "It was my pleasure, lass."
Cailin glared at them both and grabbed Ashley's arm, dragging her upstairs to her chamber. He practically pushed her through the door; his rage had built to such a point.
"You have no right to treat me this way!" Ashley cried. She turned her back on him, but he’d seen the tears forming in her eyes.
Cailin realized he was being too hard on her, but he was terrified something would happen to her. Or worse – that she might prefer Cormac's company to his.
Taking a deep breath and calming himself, he spoke quietly. "I'm sorry, lass. I’ll return to escort you to the evening meal."
She refused to answer him and Cailin left her chambers, feeling utterly miserable.