Page 26 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)
Cailin kept his arm around Ashley’s waist, even as Rowan was tugging on his hair to get his attention. “Why are ye pulling me hair, Rowan?” Cailin winced in pain, but still smiled good-naturedly at the little boy.
Rowan giggled uncontrollably and hid his face in his chubby hands. Cailin tickled him, which produced even more laughter.
“How old are you, Rowan?” Ashley asked.
Rowan stopped laughing just long enough to hold up three fingers.
“Three? You’re such a big boy!”
Rowan nodded enthusiastically and then went back to pulling Cailin’s hair and laughing.
Cailin was so sweet with him, just as he had been with all the children she’d seen him interact with.
There was no doubt about it; she was falling hard for Cailin.
She looked up at him and gave him an adoring smile, which was answered with a kiss on the cheek.
She could feel her resolve rapidly melting away.
She wanted him and didn’t think she’d be very successful at keeping her distance for too much longer.
***
It was still early morning and the great hall was buzzing with activity, everyone talking and laughing together as they caught up on news and gossip since their last meeting.
The twins, now down on the floor, were running circles around the adults and playing peek-a-boo behind their mother’s skirts.
Food was being served on the long tables and Ewan’s men entered the hall, adding more bustle to the already busy room.
“We were not expecting you so soon, Ewan,” Robert said.
“We erred on the side of caution, and rode through the night. I didn’t feel it was safe for us to camp overnight and risk possible attack from Richard and his men. ‘Tis why we’re here so early this morn,” Ewan explained.
“Ye must be verra tired after such a long journey and the bairns should sleep. Helene has prepared yer chambers,” Irene offered.
“Aye. We could stand to sleep a wee bit, but first we’ll break our fast with ye,” Ewan said, as he stifled a yawn.
Despite the threat of attack, the meal was filled with lively conversation and laughter.
Ashley sat between Cormac and Cailin in what had become her spot.
Both men were a little subdued this morning after the celebrations of the previous evening.
While they had initially seemed fine when everyone arrived, the noise surrounding them inside seemed to be making them increasingly uncomfortable.
“You both look a little worse for wear this morning,” Ashley teased.
Two heads turned her way, and neither responded.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were both suffering from a hangover.”
Still no response. Maybe hangover wasn’t the right word in medieval Scotland.
“Do your heads hurt?” Ashley questioned.
They both nodded and winced in unison, as Ranald and Rowan shouted vigorously. Ashley hid a smile.
“Is the noise making it worse?” Again, they nodded with pained expressions.
“You need to hydrate and maybe take some aspirin. I still have some in my backpack.”
“Will that work, lass?” Cailin asked hopefully.
“It should. I can go get it for you, if you’d like.”
“We’ll come with ye.”
They excused themselves from the table and followed Ashley upstairs to her chambers where she rummaged through the backpack to find the remaining aspirin. She offered two to each man, along with the pitcher of water from beside the bed.
“You need to wash them down with this. Hopefully it’ll make a difference soon. You must have had a lot to drink last night,” she commented mildly.
“Aye. I’m sorry I disappeared on ye like that. It was nae my intention to do so,” Cailin apologized.
“No worries. It was probably for the best.” Ashley made a show of fixing the bedding and straightening the pillows to hide her embarrassment.
***
Cailin glanced up at Ashley’s cryptic comment, not certain of her meaning. Despite the pain of his pounding head, he was certain there’d been a shift in her disposition since last night.
Cormac must have noticed it too and he spoke up, sounding sheepish. “’Twas my fault, Ashley. Gavin and I thought it would be like old times. Just the three of us, enjoying a drink together, ye ken?”
“It’s really not a problem, Cormac. I firmly believe everything happens for a reason, and it was good that the three of you enjoyed yourselves.”
Cailin looked at Cormac in disbelief. Most women they knew would have been furious at being left to fend for themselves, while their men were off with their friends drinking until the wee hours.
“We should get back downstairs,” Ashley announced quietly. Confused, Cailin followed sheepishly in her wake as she left her chambers. Cormac fell in behind him.
Two fast moving blurs of red hair sailed past them and down the hallway as they approached the stairs.
“Ranald, Rowan, wait for yer Ma!” Lena said breathlessly, as she reached the landing, where Ashley stood to one side to let her pass. “Ah, Ashley, I wonder if I might have a word with ye privately,” Lena gasped, pressing a hand to her chest.
“Of course,” Ashley replied.
“I’m going to attempt getting the boys down to sleep, and then I’d like to do the same fer an hour or two. I’ll look for ye a wee bit later, if that would be suitable.”
Ashley shrugged. “Sure. I’ll be around.”
The sound of multiple doors slamming further down the hallway drew Lena’s attention, and with a roll of her eyes, she resumed chasing after the boys.
Cailin chuckled along with Cormac, as they watched Lena depart. “They remind me of the two of us at that age,” Cailin admitted.
“Ma was always chasing after us, wasn’t she?” Cormac was grinning from ear to ear, obviously remembering what little imps they had been.
***
Ashley started down the stairs, thinking the two men must have been adorable and surely given their parents a run for their money when they were children.
Her feet hit the last step and she was off, determined not to put herself in close proximity to the man who took her breath away, made her pulse quicken, gave her butterflies and generally turned her brain to mush.
“Ashley!” Cailin called after her.
“I’m going to check if Irene needs any help. I’ll see you later.” She didn’t look back. She knew doing so would be a mistake.