“Twice his price?” the woman exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. “Ye must be desperate indeed to offer such a thing.”
“Aye,” Oskar agreed. “I am. What do ye say?”
The elderly woman’s gaze lingered on Oskar for a moment, considering his offer. She then turned to look at Lily, who stood by Oskar’s side with a determined expression on her face. After a moment of contemplation, the woman nodded slowly, obviously pleased with the unexpected windfall that would ensure her comfort through the remainder of the harsh winter.
With a final exchange of coins Oskar and Lily went out into the field and spent the next half hour trying to catch their new steed. A bucketful of oats finally coaxed him to within catching distance and Oskar saddled and bridled the reluctant beast.
Finally, they mounted their newly acquired steed, Lily sitting in front of Oskar, the reins held firmly in his hands. The plow horse snorted softly, not impressed by having to carry passengers, but he was easily strong enough to carry them both.
They left the croft behind and Oskar was glad to be riding, even if their steed wasn’t one he would have chosen. The fat plow horse plodded along the snowy path, his breath forming misty puffs in the chilly air, the only sounds the creak of leather reins and the crunch of snow under the horse’s hooves.
They made better time now and as they journeyed, the landscape began to change around them. The snow-covered fields gave way to patches of bare earth peeking throughthe white blanket, and crofts and farmsteads became more common.
Finally, around three hours later, they topped a rise and Oskar pulled the horse to a halt. He looked out at a rocky crag rising from the earth almost directly opposite the hill on which they stood. An imposing castle dominated the top of the crag and narrow streets clung to its sides, winding down the spur of rock upon which the castle sat.
“We made it,” Lily breathed. “We actually made it.”
“We did,” Oskar agreed. “Welcome to Edinburgh, lass.”
Chapter 10
Lily tried not to stare as she walked by Oskar’s side up the winding street.
This was Edinburgh, but nothing like the bustling city she knew. There was no evidence of the New Town but Old Town climbed up the crag towards the imposing castle perched on the top. The place was a jumble of mud and plank streets, with townhouses stuck cheek-by-jowl up against their neighbors. The houses were timber-framed and most had thatched roofs although some—probably those of the wealthier citizens—boasted tile instead. The streets were narrow and filled with more people than Lily had seen since she came to this time.
Oskar led the horse. He seemed tense and focused, his eyes roving the faces of the people in the streets, and a frown marring his forehead. The brief interlude of the easy-going Oskar he’d shown during their sledding with the children seemed to be over, and he was back to grim, taciturn Oskar. He looked like a wolf on the hunt.
As they climbed, the streets became narrower and steeper until finally, Oskar came to a halt. They were standing outside a black and white timbered townhouse. It stood out with its freshly painted exterior, glistening under the pale winter sunlight.
Oskar stared at it for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he walked up to the thick oak door. He tied thehorse outside then pulled a key from a thong around his neck and unlocked the door before pushing it open and indicating for Lily to go inside.
She stepped over the threshold and found herself in a long hallway with white-plastered walls and black wooden beams. The air was still and cool, carrying a faint scent of aged wood. Sunlight streamed through narrow windows, casting delicate beams of pale light onto the wooden floorboards.
The first thing that struck her was how clean and well-maintained everything seemed, despite the obvious signs of little use. In a large room at the end of the hall she found sparse furniture, with a simple wooden table and a few mismatched chairs arranged in one corner. Dust particles danced in the sunlight coming in through the leaded windows.
“What is this place?” she asked Oskar as he followed her into the room.
He moved to the window and glanced out before turning back to her.
“It’s mine,” he said at last. “My house.”
Lily tried to hide her surprise. This charming, immaculately clean townhouse was not what she’d expected Oskar’s home to look like. It seemed a world away from the rough, nomadic life she’d seen him lead thus far.
She walked slowly around the room, tracing her fingers along the smooth surface of the table.
