Page 10 of A Promise Through Time

“Oh, I see,” she lied.

“Ye’ll see. If she needs to talk to ye, she may do the same.” He continued to guide the cart down the wooded path.

“Wow! I’m glad you told me because otherwise I’d probably freak out.” She thought she probably would anyway. That seemed a crazy way to talk to someone, but wasn’t this whole thing crazy?

“Lass, I dinnae understand the way ye speak. I dinnae ken ‘freak out.’”

Tina laughed. “I guess you wouldn’t. I just mean I’d probably be scared.”

“That I understand and the first time she spoke to me I, as ye say, freaked out.”

She laughed again. He’d put her quite at ease and their journey to Breaghacraig was no longer as scary as she thought it would be when she’d stepped across the bridge. This was definitely doable. She’d just pretend she was vacationing at a medieval theme park. That should help and when she got toBreaghacraig, she’d meet her man and be on her way back home in no time. She settled into her seat and took in the sights. In some ways, the scenery they passed seemed similar to Livermore. Throw in a winery or two and it could be. She wondered what her sister had been thinking as she made this journey. She’d have to remember to ask her when she got back home. She’d told Elle she was going on a tour of the Highlands and so she was. She just hadn’t said what century she’d be touring in.

“Ye seem like a happy lass,” Wallace observed as he drove his horse up to a ground eating trot.

“You know, I am happy. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me.”

“So ye dinnae ken it?” he asked.

“No. Should I?” Did he know something she didn’t?

“Nae,” he said, not offering anything else.

“Did Edna tell you anything about the man I’m supposed to meet?” she asked. Her curiosity was getting the better of her.

“I’m afraid she didnae.” He just shook his head at her and turned back to the horse.

“Okay. It just kind of sounded like you might know something.” Tina felt the panic wanting to resurface again. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that this was an adventure, she closed her eyes and blew out the breath and felt the panic start to dissipate.

“Lass, as I’ve said. I dinnae ken much of what ye say. I probably misunderstood ye. Now, settle back. We’ve got a long way to go, but dinnae fear I haven’t lost a lass yet.”

Tina tensed up in her seat until she noticed Wallace winking at her. “Wallace! I’m surprised at you!”

He chuckled. “I like ye, lass. I think I’m going to enjoy this.”

***

The day started off with such promise, as had the day before and the day before that. Those had ended poorly for him, but Donal hoped that today might end differently. The lass in the kitchen was back and she’d agreed to meet him by the postern gate at sunset. If all went well, he’d be exactly where he wished to be, in the arms of a beautiful, buxom red-haired lass. The mere thought of it set his pulse to racing and his kilt to rising. He spun quickly leaning on the well to hide his more than obvious arousal at the thought of Bess…Beth…Oh, what was her name? He nodded to the few passersby who gave him curious stares as he ran names through his head determined to get it right. “Bethia!” he exclaimed out loud, slamming his palm into his forehead. How was it that he couldn’t for the life of him remember it.

“Donal? Did ye call me,” Bethia asked, approaching the well with an empty bucket.

“Och! Aye. Aye. I did.”

She smiled sweetly at him as she lowered her bucket into the well.

“Here. Allow me to help ye with that,” he said. No one would ever accuse him of nae being chivalrous. She moved out of the way as he hoisted the now filled bucket up and set it on the ledge of the well.

“What did ye want?” she asked.

“I wished to tell ye how beautiful ye…” Bethia didnae seem to be listening to him. He was trying to woo her a bit and instead she was glancing towards the gate.

Turning his head to see what was so fascinating, he noted an elderly couple speaking with the guard, who glanced around and upon seeing Donal pointed in his direction.

“Who are they?” Bethia asked, standing so close to his side that his arm brushed her breast.

He fought to control his erection as the couple approached. “I dinnae recognize them,” he said. He turned towards her and hisarm again brushed her breast. Tonight was definitely going to be better than the last.

“Are ye Donal?” the elderly man shouted as he got closer.