Page 30 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)

“Oh, Mary, she’s lovely.” Ashley cuddled the little pup beneath her chin, and was rewarded with a wet lick. “And Mama Dog is being so good. She doesn’t seem to mind that we’re touching her pups.”

“She be a good dog, Lady Ashley.” William had found a little brown pup to cuddle and the tiny bundle of brown fluff snuggled against his chest.

“Yes, I can see that.”

Ashley and the children were surprised by the sound of Cailin’s voice. “May I join ye?”

The sound of his voice brought familiar butterflies to Ashley’s stomach.

“Cailin!” the children all called at once.

As he opened the stall door, Mary latched on to his leg.

“Mary, love, how be ye this day?” Cailin asked, as he picked her up.

“I be fine, Cailin.”

“Ye get bigger every time I see ye.”

Ashley watched Cailin covertly from where she stood in the corner of the stall, and it wasn’t long before his attention turned her way.

With Mary in his arms, Cailin crossed the stall and stood face to face with Ashley.

He gave her a lopsided grin and the butterflies beat their wings frantically in her tummy.

He shifted his focus to the puppy in her arms.

“She’s a bonnie pup,” he announced, scratching the small puppy under the chin. His finger grazed Ashley’s neck and she fought to maintain her composure as a frisson of pleasure made its way through her body.

Mary reached for the pup and Ashley kissed its little head and handed it back to her. Cailin set her down and took Ashley’s hand.

“I’ve been searching for ye,” Cailin announce quietly. “I ken ye’ve been avoiding me.”

“I needed some time to think. I don’t know what it is about you,” Ashley teased, “but when you’re nearby, my brain gets all mushy.”

Cailin grinned. “I do have that effect on the lasses, I’m told.”

She slapped his arm playfully and he feigned injury as Ashley grumbled at him. “Oh, you…I’m trying to compliment you, and you act like a jerk.”

Cailin winked at her and gripped Ashley’s hand in his. “Walk with me. Ye can tell me what ye thought about and I’ll do me best to make yer brain mushy.”

“I’ll bet you will. You have the advantage that way.”

“Then I best not tell ye that ye do the same to me.”

“Really?” Ashley regarded him suspiciously.

Cailin regarded her for a moment, his gray eyes serious. “Aye. Ye do.”

They said their goodbyes to the children and left the stables, walking hand in hand across the muddy ground.

“I talked with Lena,” Ashley announced. “Why didn’t you tell me about her?”

Cailin shrugged. “Irene thought it best to let Lena tell ye herself.”

“And that’s another thing.” Ashley stopped walking and turned to face Cailin. “You told everyone I was from the future. They all know about it.”

Cailin had the grace to look contrite. “Aye. I’m sorry, lass. I should have told ye. I believed ye when ye told me, but the others were nae sure at first. They wanted to wait for Lena to confirm it for them. We knew she would ken how to explain things to ye.”

Ashley was quiet for a long time, turning away and stubbing the toe of her slipper against a clump of grass.

“Are ye angry with me, Ashley, for telling my family?” Cailin asked worriedly.

“No. How can I be angry when you’ve all been so kind to me?”

“Ashley, I ken yer afraid ye may have to stay here, but I would be happy if ye did.” Cailin turned her to face him, lifting her chin with his fingers so that their eyes met.

“Cailin, I just don’t know if I’m brave enough to stay,” Ashley admitted.

Life here is so different to life in my time.

I know Lena did it, but I’m just not sure I can do the same thing.

Besides, even if I want to go back to the twenty first century, I might not be able to.

Lena told me she tried a few times and the fog never appeared, so she couldn’t cross the bridge. ”

“Aye, but she loved Ewan and they’ve made a good life together. They have two beautiful bairns,” Cailin pointed out.

“I know.”

Cailin ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“Ashley, I’m asking ye to stay. To stay here with me.

Ye are the most beautiful, strong, and brave woman I have ever known.

I love to talk with ye. Ye have much knowledge and can challenge me brain.

Ye make me think about so many different things.

I’ve never met another who has made me feel the way that ye make me feel. ”

“Cailin, I feel the same way about you, but what if you get tired of me? What if things don’t work out and I’m stuck here in the sixteenth century?” Ashley looked beseechingly into his eyes.

“I will never tire of ye, lass, and as long as we talk tae each other I’m sure we can solve any problem.

” Ashley could tell from the fervent tone in his voice that Cailin was speaking from his heart.

“Ashley, I’m nae verra good at this. I’ve never said this to anyone before.

I love ye, Ashley. Please, stay with me. ”

They were the words Ashley had been waiting to hear, but she was still afraid. It would have been easier if he hadn’t asked her to stay, hadn’t made his intentions known. Now, she knew that her decision had the possibility of breaking both their hearts.

“Cailin, you take my breath away,” she admitted. I love you, too. Just give me a little more time, to be sure I can do this.”

“I’ll give ye all the time ye need, but be warned, I’m going tae do my best tae convince ye tae stay.” Cailin leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips, caressing her cheek. His eyes never left hers, as he twirled a stray curl of her hair around his finger. “I’ll not make it easy for ye, lass.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” she smiled.

***

As they walked back towards the keep, Ashley said, “I think I need a bath. I smell like a combination of horse and puppy.”

“Ye smell wonderful to me. Sweet as a summer’s day.”

Ashley tilted her head skeptically. “I’ll smell a lot better after a bath.”

“Would ye like me to help with that?” he asked, with a wicked twinkle in his eye.

“I don’t know whether you’d be a help, or a hindrance.” She arched an eyebrow and gave him the once over. “Hmmm…hindrance, I believe.”

He almost pouted, pretending his feelings were hurt. “I only meant to have the boys bring ye the tub and hot water. I dinnae ken what ye were thinking!”

“Thank you,” she laughed. Kissing her finger and touching it to his nose, she announced, “I’ll see you later.”

Cailin watched as Ashley’s hips swung seductively back and forth, as she made her way up the stairs.

God’s teeth, she was beautiful. It was all he could do to keep himself from marching up those stairs after her.

The thought of her disrobing and soaking in the tub had him clenching his hands into tight fists, in a futile attempt to control his lustful thoughts.

He imagined what it would be like to run soapy hands over her glistening wet skin.

He thought of laying long deep kisses onto her full lips.

“Ahem… Cailin, did ye nae hear me?” Irene asked.

Cailin tore his gaze from the stairs and scrubbed his fingers through his hair in frustration.

“Be ye well?” Irene queried with a flash of amusement in her eyes. “Why are ye just standing there like that?”

“I be thinkin’,” Cailin muttered.

“Oh, I see. Well, whatever yer thinkin’ on, it has ye lookin’ like a lovesick puppy.” Winking at him, Irene poked him in the ribs and walked past him up the stairs. “Ye’d best get that water for Ashley. She’ll be waiting.”