Page 20 of All In Good Time
A young woman opened the door. “Yes. Can I help ye?”
“I wonder if I might come in out of the storm. I’m freezing and soaking wet,” Sara said, teeth chattering and water dripping down her face. “I’m staying with Helene and Dougall MacRae at their home and I was out for a walk when it started to rain.”
“Please, come in.” The woman opened the door further and Sara passed through. “Here, let me have yer cloak. ’Tis soaking wet. We’ll dry it by the fire.” Sara shrugged out of the cloak and the woman took it from her. She retrieved a blanket from a nearby chair and wrapped it around Sara’s shoulders. “Sit by the fire and warm yerself. I’ll make ye a hot cup of tea.”
“Thank you.” Sara plunked herself down in front of the fire, happy for the warmth. She stretched her icy cold hands and feet out in front of her. Slowly, she started to feel the warmth of the fire through the chill.
“You’re quite far from their home. How long have ye been walking?” the woman asked.
“I don’t know.” Sara admitted. “I wasn’t paying attention. It was sunny when I started my walk and I guess I got lost. I thought I was headed back to their home and instead I found myself here. I’m so sorry to bother you.”
“’Tis nae bother at all. I be Aisla. I’m pleased to meet ye.”
“I’m Sara Barrett. Thank you so much for taking me in.” Sara was embarrassed to find herself in this predicament, but this woman didn’t seem to be too put off by her unexpected visit.
“Do you live here by yourself?” Sara glanced around the small cottage, but there was no one else visible.
“Nae. I live here with me Da. He’s a blacksmith at the castle. He’ll be back soon I imagine.” Aisla smiled warmly at her. Sara guessed that she must be about the same age as she was. Her light brown hair was braided and hung halfway down her back. She was taller than Sara by a few inches and she had a thin but shapely frame. She had a sweet, pretty face and Sara felt immediately at ease with her.
She motioned for Sara to come sit down at the table while she got the tea. “Are ye hungry?”
“No, thank you. Just cold.” Sara took in her surroundings while she waited for Aisla to return with the tea. The table she was sitting at was small and nestled against the wall. There were only two chairs. One for Aisla and one for her father. Something like hay or straw covered the dirt floor and gave off a sweet smell. Sara observed Aisla as she made the tea. She retrieved two mugs and a basket from a closed cupboard. The basket contained herbs which she placed in the mugs. Next, she ladled some water from a pot hanging in the fireplace on top of the herbs.
“We’ll have ye warmed up in no time.” She brought the tea to the table and handed Sara a mug. “Ye have a strange way of speaking, Sara. Where are ye from?”
Sara wasn’t sure how to answer that. “Do you know Lady Ashley and Lady Jenna?”
“Aye. They be lovely lasses.”
“Well, I’m from the same place they’re from.”
Aisla nodded her head. “Och. Aye. I recognize the sound of it now.”
Did that mean she knew about the time traveling? Sara was going to have to get up to speed on what people knew and what she should keep to herself. She sipped her tea. “This is delicious.”
Aisla smiled at the compliment, “Thank ye. ’Tis me own brew.”
“You came up with the recipe for it all on your own?” Sara was impressed. She took another sip, wrapping her hands around the mug and enjoying the steamy warmth.
Aisla nodded again. “’Tis me favorite.” She leaned her elbows on the table as she spoke.
“I can see why. I really like it.” Sara was enjoying this surprise encounter. Aisla made her feel quite at home.
“I’ll give ye a pouch to take with ye when ye leave,” Aisla said.
“Really? That’s so nice of you.”
“Yer words are unusual,” Aisla observed.
“I’m sorry.” Sara became self-conscious.
“Dinnae be sorry. I like the sound of them, ’tis only that I dinnae ken the meaning of some.” Aisla shook her head.
“No worries,” Sara smiled “Tell me when you don’t understand and I’ll try to explain what I mean. Deal?”
“Deal?”
Sara giggled, “Okay. No, you don’t know that one either do you? It just means we agree. Does that make sense?”