Christian nodded, afraid to break whatever enchantment she was under. He wanted to hear her story. Why had she waited so long to tell him from whence she came?
“What year do you come from?”
“2016. I don’t live in Wales or England. I’m from America, from the greatest city, New York City. There’s so much to do. You can find something to eat anytime, day or night. And there are so many people.”
She gripped the sleeve of his tunic.
“I love the noise. I love the smell of the concrete, the buildings, and even the terrible subway stations.”
Then she nodded at him.
“Oh, right, you wouldn’t know what a subway is. It’s like a metal box that takes you very quickly from one place to another. And horses?”
She waved a hand, and would have rolled off the hay had he not caught her. It seemed he was always catching hold of her.
“We don’t have horses—well, we do, but they’re more for looks. Some of the police ride them around the city, and you can take a carriage ride through Central Park. But the general population doesn’t use them anymore. We take cars, and cabs, and the subway, and trains, and planes.” She widened her eyes. “Oh my goodness. I have to tell you about planes, going to the moon, and books and movies and coffee—beautiful, wonderful coffee.”
Ashley pursed her lips. “You’re not saying anything.”
Had she forgotten she had told him she was from America and then lied and said she was not? Would she remember having speech with him, telling him her secrets, when she woke?
He took her hand in his, surprised at how small it was, the skin soft and unmarked.
“I believe you, Ashley. I am a learned man. There is more to our world than what we can see and touch.”
“I’m so glad you believe me. I was worried I would find myself tied to a stake, or you’d try to have me exorcised or put away wherever you put crazy people in your time.”
Yet as she talked about her home and why she loved it so, he still did not tell her the truth about himself and what he knew about her.
When she paused, he asked, “Why don’t you have a husband?”
She let out a sigh. “I have a boyfriend. His name’s Ben. He’s a doctor for the Rangers. That’s a hockey team.” She made a swinging motion with her arms. And went into an explanation he tried to understand, to no avail.
“So that’s hockey, and the fight in the inn kind of reminded me of what happens at a hockey game, sometimes. Anyway.” She waved a hand around again. “We’re both really busy. He travels with the team and is always working with one of the players, and I work so many hours. Sometimes we only see each other for an hour out of the week. But it’s convenient.”
This woman from the future had built high walls of stone deep within her heart, guarded by fierce knights. ’Twas only when she drank to excess that she threw open the gates.
“It’s convenient, you see. What we have together isn’t love. Love is really hard. And relationships are a lot of work. I’m not very good at them. Are you married?”
“Nay, I am not married, though I would like to be. I don’t know if marriage is hard. It doesn’t seem so for my brothers.”
Ashley put her hands on his chest and didn’t say anything. The way she was looking at him—it was the way he’d always wanted a woman to see him, the way his brothers and their wives looked at each other, full of love.
“I want to kiss you.”
She leaned forward then suddenly sat back, clutching her stomach. And before he knew what had happened, she had thrown up all over his boots.
As she swooned, he caught her, laying her gently down in the hay. Satisfied she was asleep, he went outside to wash. He had not behaved honorably. He wanted to kiss her. Make her his. In the time they had been traveling together, he had come to care for her.
Nay, he was betrothed. He must aid Ashley and send her back to her own time and to Ben. Though the thought of another man kissing her… Nay, she said she did not wish to stay in his time. She would not be happy here with him. So he would let her go.
’Twas not proper to sleep next to her, but she was shivering, so he pulled the cloak over them and held her close, feeling her curves as the smell of ale and the faint scent of roses lingered in her hair. She looked beautiful in the wrinkled, muddied gown witha smudge of dirt on her cheek. He wiped it off with his thumb as she curled up next to him mumbling in her sleep. When she was gone, he would not forget her. He would think of her and wish her happiness, even as the loneness crept back inside his heart.
Ashley woketo the worst hangover she’d had in her life. The sensation of someone watching her made her slowly crack one eye open. Christian leaned against the wall.
“I’m so sorry. I don’t normally drink much, and I certainly don’t act like a crazy person.” She pointed to his nose. “Is it broken?”
“Nay, ’tis nothing. How is your head?”
