Page 68 of A Promise Through Time

They began walking away from The Thistle and Hive towards the outskirts of town. Instead of following the path they’d taken when they arrived, they went further down the road until they reached a spot where they both felt they should head onto a narrow path surrounded by trees and shrubs. All morning long they worked together, stopping occasionally to double check the two maps they were using. Surprisingly they were both very accurate. They’d taken every turn exactly where the maps said they should and now found themselves in an open field.

“We’re almost there,” Tina said, showing Donal her phone.

He looked at his map. “I believe yer right.”

They crossed the field until they came to a small one room cabin nestled beside a small rill and surrounded by trees and bushes that looked as though they’d always been there, framing the cabin as they might if it were in a painting.

Donal set the basket down and looked at the cabin. “It seems there’s a note on the door.”

Tina removed the paper and read it. “We’re to stay here tonight, if we wish.” She opened the door, entering the cabin with Donal right behind her. “It’s so romantic,” she said.

The small room was festooned with garlands of flowers and candles set atop the mantle of the hearth. The windows wore gauzy white curtains and the old wood floors were covered with beautiful rugs that added an extra layer of warmth to the place. Set back against the wall was a bed covered with layers of beautiful quilts and pillows.

Donal couldn’t believe his eyes. In all his years of wooing women, he’d never been anywhere quite so perfect. This would be exactly what he’d want for Tina. A place so worthy of the woman he wished to be his, now and forever. A place where he hoped to change her mind about him. He silently thanked Edna. She had handed him a gift he’d never be able to repay her for. He had no idea why she’d chosen him for her matchmaking mischief, but he was grateful.

“We don’t have to stay if you don’t want to,” she said, sounding unsure of herself to his ears.

“I do wish to stay. More than anything.”

“Really?”

“Tina, my feelings for ye havenae changed, even though I fear yers have.”

“I think the reason Edna sent us here was so that we could figure it all out.” She glanced around the room and then turned to him. “Let’s go sit out by the water. It’s so pretty out there. We should take advantage of it before it gets dark.”

Donal picked up the basket he’d left by the door and brought it with them. There was a plaid tucked inside, which he laid out for them to sit on. The sound of the water flowing across the rocks and downstream was soothing to them both. Tina leaned back on her arms and raised her face to the sky. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was so beautiful to him and he wanted her to know that. He hoped by the time they left here she would.

Searching the contents of the basket, he found bottles of wine, bread, cheese and fruit along with some other things. All-in-all there was enough food there to last them until the morning. He thought it might be nice to catch a fish for their meal, but first he wanted to enjoy the peaceful sounds of the water, the birds and the soft breeze rustling through the trees.

“This is so nice,” Tina said, laying on her back and gazing up at the sky. “I think this might be the first time I’ve done this sinceI was a little girl. I remember examining the clouds with Elle. We’d take turns pointing out what we thought we were seeing. Like that,” she pointed to a large fluffy white cloud, “it looks like an angel. Do you see it?”

He squinted his eyes, following the path of her finger and was surprised that he did see it. “Aye. There ’tis.” Donal removed the heavy hiking boots Angus had given him and stretched out on his side, propped on his elbow. He was enjoying this time alone with Tina. Since he’d first met her, his life had been a whirlwind. They’d had very little time to themselves. Understandably, Elena needed them and so that had been his main priority. Even when she’d kissed him by the well, they’d been surrounded by the people of Breaghacraig going about their business. Thinking about that kiss wasn’t in his best interest at this point, so he did his best to put it out of his head. He needed to use his words if he was going to woo her.

“Tell me about yer life here in this time,” Donal said. “I know nothing of it.”

“You know Elle is my sister,” she said.

“I do and I know Hamish is with her, but I want to know about ye.”

“There’s not much to tell. I live in California with my mother and father. We’ve got a ranch with cows, horses and other animals. I’ve got two brothers. One of them is married and has two kids. I’m Elle’s tour manager when they’re on the road, but they’ll be home now for a while so I guess I’m going to have to find something else to do.”

He wrinkled his brow, “What is a tour manager?” he asked, wondering why she now must find something else to do.

“It’s kind of complicated. You probably wouldn’t understand.”

“Try. I’m nae stupid.”

“I didn’t mean that. It’s just that there’s nothing like it in your time.”

“I want to know.”

“Alright. Well, I book all the venues for the band, and the hotels. I make plane reservations. I make sure the tour bus is equipped with everything they need. Essentially, I make sure that all they have to do is get up on stage and entertain the crowds that come to see them.”

“It sounds like a verra important job.”

“I guess it is. So going on tour with them seemed like a good idea, but it wasn’t something I ever thought about doing. I’m kind of a homebody. I never like to be too far from my family.”

“And yet here ye are.”