Page 44 of A Promise Through Time

“I think it’s safe now.” He stood and they both glanced down.

Tina started to laugh and didn’t seem able to stop herself.

“Oh, I see. Ye ken ’tis nae something to laugh at.”

“I wouldn’t know,” she said, a teasing glint in her eye.

He leaned in close to get another whiff of her perfume and growled into her ear, “Mayhap I’ll show ye later and then ye’ll see why ye shouldnae laugh.”

He was surprised when Tina punched him in the arm and gave him a shove, continuing to laugh. He did the only thing he could think to do at that moment. He put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in. Tina wrapped her arm around his waist and together they walked through the courtyard until they came to Ashley McBain standing square in their way.

“Tina!” she said, with a disapproving scowl.

“Edna says you should mind your own business,” Tina said. “And she says hello.”

Ashley stood mouth agape, obviously struck speechless by Tina’s comment.

“Donal, I’m going to stay and talk with Ashley if you don’t mind. I’ll see you later.”

She kissed him on the cheek and he walked away with a lightness in his step and a warm hope in his heart.

Chapter 10

All the thoughts of wives and children that had been giving him a headache vanished magically when Tina forgave him. Once again, he could begin to imagine a new life, not just for himself but for Elena as well. The sound of a crying bairn caught his attention and as he scanned the courtyard he saw that Doreen was heading his way with a wailing Elena.

“I think she’s sick,” she said. “She feels warm to me.” Her wrinkled brow and a slight shake of her head worried Donal. “I must go. Ma is waiting for me.”

He was ill prepared to be a da, but he was even more lacking in this area. He had no idea what to do with a sick child. Doreen handed his daughter to him.

“I think her teeth are coming in,” he called to Doreen’s back as she walked away. He hoped that was all it was. He placed the back of his hand on her forehead, as he’d seen his mother do when he was a young lad. Elena did feel warm, but if she had a fever what was he to do? Her wailing continued as he held her close and went back to his room. Along the way he looked for theladies of the castle, hoping for some help, but they were nowhere to be seen. If he could just get her to sleep, then he could go in search of someone who might know what to do.

He lay her on the bed and tried everything he could to get her to stop, but nothing he did worked. He picked her up, rocking her and pacing back and forth across the room. Nothing he had seen Tina do was working. Fear gripped him. What if she were to die? What if she had whatever illness had killed her mother? No. Fate would not be so cruel as to bring his daughter into his life and then snatch her away so fast. He would do anything to make her better. He held her closer. “Shhhh, sweetling. Go to sleep. Da is here. I will take care of ye.”

***

“Did Edna really say that?” Ashley asked, watching her daughter Emma plucking blades of grass along the roadside as they walked. Her son was contently cradled against her chest.

“She did,” Tina replied. She shouldn’t feel so happy about upsetting Ashley, but she’d had one of the best kisses of her life today so happiness was all around her.

“I’m not so sure I agree with her, but I’ll stay out of it and I’ll tell Jenna as well.”

“I really like him,” Tina said. “Don’t ask me why, because I can’t quite put my finger on it. There’s just something there.”

“Do you mind that he has a child?”

“No, not at all. Elena is a sweet little girl who needs a mother and I’d be happy to fill that spot. And before you say anything, Donal admitted to me that at first he only saw me as the answer to his prayers. Elena needed a mother and Donal had no experience being a father.”

“And you believe him.”

Why was she so skeptical? “Yes, I do.”

“Okay. I won’t say anything else about it.” Emma presented her mother with a bouquet of grass. “Thank you, sweetie. It’s beautiful.” Emma smiled and went back to work picking more grass. Ashley turned to Tina. “I want you to know I’m happy for you. I’m happy you found what you were looking for. How are you going to convince him to go back with you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s going to be a problem, though.”

“Well, let me know if you need any help or if you need to contact Edna.”

“I will.”