Page 5 of A Bridge Through Time (The Bridge Through Time #1)

A shley parked her rental car in front of an inn called ‘The Thistle and Hive’, in the little town of Glendaloch.

She felt the same odd buzzing and tingling sensation throughout her body as she had at the teashop and knew instinctively her heart had been leading her to this place.

Grabbing her bags, she practically ran through the front door and up to the front desk.

The lobby was beautifully decorated, with wingback chairs that faced a blazing fireplace.

A large carpet, designed with an intricate Celtic knot pattern lay on the dark hard wood floors, which looked like they had been in place for a very long time.

The walls were white plaster. Dark wood that matched the floors, also framed the walls, and artwork was tastefully displayed throughout.

Wooden beams and a large rustic chandelier decorated the ceiling.

A wide staircase, off to the left, led upstairs and there was a dining room and bar on the right.

As Ashley approached the front desk, she was greeted by a smiling blue-haired woman, with sparkling emerald green eyes.

The hair took her by surprise. She had seen plenty of teenage girls and young women with their hair dyed pink, blue or even purple, but never an older woman, certainly not that she could recall.

Despite the hair, Ashley was looking at a woman in her middle years.

"Hello, I'm Mrs. Campbell. Welcome to The Thistle. You must be Ashley."

Ashley was shocked into silence. How on earth does she know my name , she wondered.

Apparently reading her mind, or at the very least, Ashley’s perplexed facial expression, Mrs. Campbell explained. "Maggie called from the teashop, to let us know we'd be having a guest from America."

Ashley let out a relieved breath and laughed at how silly she felt. "Maggie said Glendaloch is magical, but I'm happy to know you don't actually have any special powers."

"Oh, you'd be surprised, dear." Before Ashley could ask what she meant, Mrs. Campbell went to work, getting Ashley registered and handed her a key to her room.

"I gave you a room with a view of our lovely countryside." Mrs. Campbell beamed. "Once you get settled in, please come down and join us for a bite to eat."

"Thank you. I'll definitely do that."

"Do you need help with your bags, dear? Angus will be along shortly and he can bring them up for you."

"Oh, no, that's okay. I've got them," Ashley reassured her.

"All right then. We'll see you in a bit." Mrs. Campbell hurried off into the dining room, leaving Ashley to head upstairs in search of her room.

The inn was small and quaint. There didn't appear to be more than six rooms on the second floor, and unless there were some hidden on the first floor, that was it. Ashley’s room was at the end of the hall and as Mrs. Campbell had promised, the view was spectacular.

She looked around the room and was pleased with what she found.

A big four-poster bed took up much of the room.

There was a large, comfortable chair by the window and a charming fireplace on the opposite wall.

The room was tastefully decorated in hues of peach and sage green.

She was relieved to see she had her own bathroom, and looked forward to a quick shower before dinner.

The warm water felt good on her body. Ashley hadn't realized how stiff and sore she was, due to the stress of driving in a foreign country. It had taken her a while to get used to driving on the other side of the road. She’d been in constant fear of forgetting the rule, and ending up in a head-on collision, so she’d white-knuckled it all the way to Glendaloch.

Ashley stepped from the shower and grabbed the fluffy white bath sheet from the towel rack.

She quickly dried herself off and put on the bathrobe provided by the inn.

She made her way to the bed and flopped back into its downy softness.

A short nap might do me some good , she thought.

Ashley closed her eyes and before long, she fell asleep.

She slept dreamlessly and when she woke, she had the feeling that Grey Eyes was nearby.

It was already dark outside and the fireplace was ablaze.

Ashley couldn’t remember whether it had been lit when she came into the room, but if it wasn’t, how is it that it was now.

Her eyes travelled around the room and there he was, lit by the golden glow of the fire.

Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him.

“You’re here,” her voice was barely audible and her hands shook.

He smiled a soft, sweet smile and then slowly disappeared from view.

She was usually disappointed when he left, but this time she felt a certain sense of satisfaction.

She was getting close. She could feel it.

Finally able to take a deep breath, she got up, hurriedly dressed, and checked in the mirror to be sure she looked okay. She hoped she hadn't missed dinner, because her stomach was grumbling for food.

When Ashley entered the dining room, Edna Campbell came rushing across to greet her. "We were worried we wouldn't be seeing you this evening. Come, sit with us and I'll get you your dinner."

Ashley apologized for her late arrival. "I guess I was just exhausted from all the driving I did today. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

"Don't give it a second thought, dear. Are you cold?" Mrs. Campbell didn’t wait for a reply. "Come sit here by the fire, it gets quite chilly at night in these parts. Angus, entertain our guest while I get the food."

The man seated across from her had risen, and was extending his hand. "Angus Campbell, Edna's husband. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss."

"Oh, please, call me Ashley."

Angus nodded and waited for Ashley to sit down, before taking his own seat.

He was quite handsome. He stood about a foot taller than his wife did, and he wore his salt and pepper hair cropped short.

He was solidly built with broad shoulders, in excellent shape for a man in what looked to be his mid-fifties.

He smiled at Ashley and his hazel eyes, flecked with gold, crinkled at the corners.

When he wasn’t smiling, Angus Campbell appeared a little stern, but Ashley thought, from the warmth in his eyes, he was likely to be a teddy bear in disguise.

Right now, he looked as if he was searching for something to say.

Apparently, Angus Campbell was a man of few words and his wife was the exact opposite.

A busy bee , Ashley mused. Very suitable for The Thistle and Hive.

Edna came bustling out from the kitchen, carrying a huge tray. "I've got some lovely beef stew here, and some freshly baked bread as well."

"It smells delicious. Thank you."

As she ate, Ashley studied the dining room.

She was surrounded by beautifully decorated tables.

Fresh flowers within glass vases were positioned here and there throughout the room, and on each table, there was a hurricane lamp and a glowing candle.

It was a warm, cozy room and under the right circumstances, even romantic.

Ashley was the only guest, but as her eyes travelled around the room, she noticed someone sitting in a dark corner, near the windows.

It was a man who obviously wanted to go unnoticed, and as Ashley's eyes met his, she was disturbed by the glare he was directing her way. She quickly looked away, and was about to mention it to the Campbell’s when Edna spoke.

"That's Teddy," she explained in a quiet voice. "He lives here in town and comes in every night for a bite. During the week, he's usually our only guest."

Ashley glanced in Teddy's direction once more and noticed he hadn't taken his eyes off her. A chill ran down her spine.

Edna must have noticed her shiver and spoke. "Are you warm enough, dear?"

"Yes, yes… I'm fine. The fire is lovely."

"I noticed on your registration card that you're from California. It must be beautiful there, and probably a lot warmer too," Edna smiled.

"I'm from San Francisco. I’ve lived there my whole life…until about a week ago."

"Oh… not anymore?"

"It’s a long story, but I'm taking a break from city living and I've decided I need a little adventure in my life."

"Wouldn't it be exciting if you found one here?" Edna smiled. "And you're travelling all alone."

Ashley nodded, her mouth too full of stew to speak.

"Brave girl."

If you only knew , Ashley thought. Aloud, she responded to Edna. "I just needed to get away. To push myself out of my comfort zone." Ashley was actually very proud of herself. This was the bravest thing she’d ever done.

"What does your family think of this? Aren't they worried about you?"

"My parents are both deceased, so I’m on my own. I was their only child."

"I'm so sorry, Ashley. I didn't mean to pry." Sympathy was evident in Edna’s eyes.

"No worries, Edna. I still miss them terribly, but it's gotten easier with time." Her eyes started to well up and she stared at her food until she got the tears under control.

"I hope I didn't upset you, dear. Angus and I have had our share of losses as well.

It's just the two of us now. Our daughter, Arlena, would have been about your age, I think.

" She shook her head sadly and Angus reached across the table and silently took his wife's hand.

They exchanged a loving look. "We've found family all around us and you will too; I just know it, Ashley.

" Edna was staring into the fire now, almost in a trance.

"Yes, you'll meet a handsome young man and even though you'll seem like you're from two different worlds, you'll fall in love and his family will become yours. "

What a strange thing to say . Ashley thought Edna sounded like a fortuneteller or something. Edna looked back at Ashley and her whole demeanor changed, smiling and upbeat again. "Listen to me," she laughed. "You'd think I could predict the future."

Ashley was a bit disappointed; she had secretly hoped Edna could, because that was exactly what she had been dreaming of. A handsome man, falling in love, becoming part of his family…it was everything she wanted.

"Would you like to join us in the parlor for a little after dinner sherry?" Angus asked.

He speaks . Ashley hadn't heard Angus utter more than a handful of words throughout dinner.

"I’d love to, just for a little while though."

As they left the room, Ashley glanced at the corner again. Teddy was gone.

***

When she returned to her room for the night, Ashley noticed that the fire was still blazing.

Odd, she thought. This is a wood burning fireplace.

It should surely have gone out by now. She stood in front of it for a few moments, enjoying the warmth and the glow it cast about the room.

Drinks with Edna and Angus had been pleasant.

They were a warm and devoted couple. They had treated her as if she was one of their own, and Ashley truly appreciated it.

She needed the feeling of belonging, more than she realized.

Ashley put on her pajamas and then curled up in the chair by the window.

Staring out through the glass, she thought she saw a solitary figure staring up at her window from the shelter of the trees beyond the garden.

She shivered and got up to make sure the door to her room was locked.

When she checked again, whoever it was had vanished.

Ashley shook her head at herself – the strange interaction with that Teddy guy in the dining room obviously had her on edge, but at least he was gone now.

The fireplace crackled as she climbed into bed, and after some initial tossing and turning, Ashley fell into a deep sleep.

She dreamed of a very handsome man with soft grey eyes, which twinkled as he smiled at her.

His glorious smile made her weak in the knees.

When he held his hand out to her, Ashley took it, feeling an electric charge run up her arm and through her body.

He pulled her into his arms and she rested her head on his very solid chest. She could hear his heart beating and feel his warm breath as he whispered in her ear.

"I'm waiting for ye, Ashley love." This was the first time he had spoken to her and his voice did not disappoint.

He held her close and she felt safe and loved in a way she never had before.

The comfort and warmth she felt in his arms was beyond anything she had ever hoped to experience.

“This is where I belong,” she sighed in her sleep.