Richard watched the hawk sailing off into the distance. He needed to find a spot to camp for the night and he thought he had spied an area up ahead that would work for him. He needed to take some time to think carefully about Brielle and how best to convince her to leave the MacKenzie clan alone. She’d probably think him crazy for cancelling their plans, but he knew he had to try. Off to his right and through the trees, he saw the clearing he had sought, situated beside a small creek. It was a perfect place to stop for the night. He dismounted and unsaddled his horse, leaving the destrier to graze peacefully nearby while he set about making camp. Richard gathered kindling, collected some water from the creek and started a fire. Once it was blazing brightly and there was no risk it would extinguish, he went through his saddlebags in search of food. He’d probably need to do some hunting tomorrow, but for now, he had plenty to eat from his own kitchen at home. Richard found he was rather enjoying this solitary expedition. It was rare for Richard to find himself alone, his men were usually with him whenever he travelled away from the castle. Of course, there was that time when he’d travelled to the future, courtesy of Edna Campbell. He had been alonethen, but that was different. There were people everywhere in the future, and the peace and quiet he now relished so deeply was nowhere to be found. There was always some sort of noise assailing his ears in the twenty first century. He sighed heavily, just thinking about it. It had been an adventure and one that not many had the opportunity to have, but he’d wanted more than anything to return to his own time, to the people he knew and the things he was familiar with. He wondered if the time travelers he had met a short time ago were still in his time; or if they had been able to return home. What would it be like to be forced to stay in a time that was not your own? It didn’t matter either way, he was back where he belonged and if they were not, there was nothing Richard could do to change their situation. In deep contemplation, Richard finished his meal and settled by the banks of the creek. He’d enjoy this time alone and as for Brielle, he still wasn’t sure how he would convince her to abandon her plans. He was determined to speak with her, but what he said would be important if he didn’t wish to end up a pile of ashes at her feet.
***
Nestled below a rocky outcropping, Dylan spotted a small stone cottage with a moss-covered roof. No smoke rose from its chimney, so he was hopeful that it was unoccupied and that they could make the cottage their shelter for the night.
“We’ll need a place to rest for the night,” Dylan announced, pointing to the cottage, “and this looks like it might be the perfect place.” Glancing Maggie’s way, he noticed that she was beginning to slump in her saddle. “You must be exhausted,” he said.
“Me? No, I’m fine.” Maggie sat up taller, as though determined to convince him she was fine.
Dylan knew she wouldn’t admit to being tired, so he decided to force the issue a little. “You might not be, but I am. I’d like to stop.”
“Okay, we can do that,” she agreed.
“This way,” he said, guiding his horse towards the cottage.
“Do you think anyone’s living there?” Maggie asked.
“It doesn’t look like it, but I’ll go and check it out, to be sure it’s okay for us to stay there.” Dylan dismounted and cautiously approached the doorway. He wanted to be sure this wasn’t a trap set for them by Brielle. “Hello!” he called. No one answered, so he peeked inside. He discovered a neat room, just large enough for the small table and chairs it held, along with a bed and a good-sized fireplace. He headed back to the door to tell Maggie it appeared safe. “No one’s here, but I think it will be okay for us to stay here tonight.”
There was a cloth wrapped parcel lying on the bed and Dylan walked over to examine its contents. Inside he found a note, written in a fine hand.
Ye have found a safe haven for the night. We are away for a while, but please feel free to use our cottage, we only ask that ye treat it as ye would yer own home. This parcel contains clean bedding and there is firewood to help keep ye warm. There is a river not too far from here for water. If ye would, kindly replace any firewood that ye may use. We’ll not be back until the spring, so welcome and enjoy.
“It’s like we were meant to find this place,” Maggie said. “Do you think Brielle had anything to do with this?” Maggie appeared spooked by the note. “It seems a bit odd to find such a finely written note, as if whoever it was expected us.”
“If it was Brielle, it just makes our job a little easier, don’t you think?” Dylan asked.
“I suppose so,” Maggie answered. “Maybe we can stop looking and wait right here for her.”
“I’m going to unsaddle the horses, I’ll be right back.” Dylan hurried out the door and completed his task in record time. He couldn’t rid himself of thinking about the prospect of spending the night under the same roof, and possibly in the same bed, with Maggie. His kilt was doing a poor job of hiding his rampant desires. He stood outside the door for a long moment before entering, trying to get himself under control. He had to think of something that would tamp down the rising urgency of his need to be with Maggie. He certainly didn’t want to frighten her. She had told him he would be her first and he wanted more than anything to do things the right way. He mentally shook himself. What was he thinking? She might not even want him tonight! Maggie might want to wait; these weren’t exactly ideal conditions for romance, not with the threat of Brielle hanging over their heads. With that thought in mind, Dylan walked through the doorway. It would be difficult, but he would do his best to behave and keep his lustful thoughts to himself.
Maggie was making up the bed with the items that had been left for that purpose, including soft, warm fur throws. She also set the food Mary had given them on the table. Dylan headed over to the fireplace and Maggie stopped him. “Don’t worry about the fire; I can get it going in no time.”
“Are you sure? I’m pretty good at starting a fire. It’s really no trouble.”
Maggie laughed. “Get some wood and I’ll show you how a witch starts a fire.”
Dylan obliged her and gathering kindling and firewood, placed it all in the hearth. “Okay. We’re good to go.”
Maggie walked across to the fireplace and gave Dylan a wink. She passed her hand over the wood, and instantly, a cracklingfire appeared in the hearth, the warmth quickly spreading into the small room.
“Impressive,” Dylan admitted. He was glad he hadn’t made a fool of himself, trying to do what Maggie had just managed to do in a split-second.
“Just a little something I learned from Edna,” Maggie replied. “Shall we eat?”
“I’m hungry. What did Mary give us?” Dylan poked his nose into the saddlebags he’d brought inside and finding them empty went to the table to see what Maggie had set out. Mary’s specialty was bridies. These meat pasties were Dylan’s favorite and he was excited to discover she’d included enough for dinner tonight with some leftover for breakfast in the morning. She had also packed cheese, bread, bannocks and fruit. They were definitely not going to go hungry. He held up the bottle of whiskey. “For later,” he said.
Maggie took a seat and he joined her. With a snap of her fingers, Maggie lit the candle in the middle of the table and between that and the fire a nice cozy glow filled the cottage. Dylan thought it was very romantic and he wondered if Maggie would agree.
“I certainly would agree,” Maggie said. She laughed and he assumed it was because of the astonished expression, which had no doubt spread across his face.
“Did you just read my thoughts?” he asked in disbelief.
“Aye,” she answered, “I believe I did.”
“I’m going to have to be careful about what I’m thinking, I guess.” Dylan cocked an eyebrow, secretly worrying that she had read all of his recent thoughts, including his errant desire which he struggled hard to control.
“Don’t worry. I cannae seem to do it all the time,” Maggie reassured him. “I just catch bits and pieces.”
