Chapter 11
Riding through the gates of Breaghacraig, he was surprised to see Elle there.
Was she waiting for him? Did she know what he was about to tell her?
The rain had left the courtyard full of puddles.
She stood on the steps of the castle and waved at him.
He wouldn’t allow himself to believe she’d been waiting for him.
She must be there for some other reason.
He rode away from his men and up to the steps where she stood.
“Hi,” she said.
He nodded a greeting, not wishing to speak for fear he would chase her away.
“You’re back,” she observed.
“Aye. I am.” He had to tell her. Edna told him to get her to the bridge as soon as possible.
“How was your patrol?”
“Uneventful.”
“I missed you,” she said, smiling sweetly.
He furrowed his brow, feeling confused. “Did ye?”
She leaned forward to pet Aylwen’s neck, “I did. I had lots of ideas for a new song and I wished you were here to help me with it.”
So, she didn’t miss him. She missed his lute playing.
For one brief moment, a spark of hope had lit in his heart, but was quickly extinguished by her words.
He shouldn’t have expected anything more.
They were friends, which was what she’d wanted and what he’d allowed himself to be, even though he wanted to be so much more to her.
“I have news for ye,” he said.
“Really?” she looked up at him with those beautiful eyes.
“Edna spoke to me. She says I’m to get ye back to the bridge as soon as possible.”
“Oh, my gosh! I better go get my things. Are we going to leave right now?”
“If ye wish.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“I must rest Aylwen for a brief time. I’ll be in the stable when yer ready.”
She practically ran away from him and into the castle. If he hadn’t known before, he knew now. Elle would not be his. She would happily leave him behind.
***
Elle couldn’t believe her ears. She was going home. She quickly ran up the stairs to her chamber and changed into the clothing she’d arrived in. She gathered the few possessions she had into her backpack and ran back down the stairs. Where was everyone? She wanted to say goodbye before she left.
She hadn’t expected Hamish to be the one to tell her it was time to leave.
Standing on the steps, she’d watched him ride through the gate and the sight of him had a curious effect on her.
She’d been genuinely happy to see him and not for the reason she’d given.
She really had missed him. Elle was usually good at saying what she was thinking, but she couldn’t do it this time.
She couldn’t give him hope, because there wasn’t any.
She was going home and when she got there she had a lot of work to do.
She wasn’t going to have time for a man, even a man as fine as Hamish MacBeown.
“Elle, yer dressed to go,” Irene noted.
“Yes. Hamish just told me I have to get to the bridge as soon as possible.”
“Will Hamish be joining ye on the bridge? We would all miss him, of course, but we understand.”
“No. I can’t take him with me.” The thought of leaving him behind tore at her heart. It would be the hardest thing she’d ever had to do. Irene could see right through her, Elle was sure of it.
“’Tis a shame. Ye make a lovely couple.” The sadness in Irene’s voice wasn’t surprising to Elle.
She understood that Irene and everyone else here at Breaghacraig thought she was here to find love. She, however, knew it was an impossibility. “I’d like to say goodbye to everyone.” She refused to think of herself as part of a couple.
“Wait in the great hall. I’ll send them to ye,” Irene left her, walking down the passageway and further into the castle.
Elle stood in the great hall. She reached into her backpack and pulled out her phone.
In all the days she’d been here, she hadn’t missed it, but now that she was going home she couldn’t wait to check her messages.
The first person she’d call would be Eric.
He’d be angry with her, but she could handle him.
Then she’d call her sister and promise her she’d be home for their mother’s birthday.
So many things to do. She needed to make a list. She thought about turning on her phone and using the memo app, but thought it best to save the battery.
There would be so many calls to make once she was back.
“I hear you’re leaving us,” Ashley said as she glided into the room followed by Jenna.
“I am. It’s been such a pleasure to meet both of you.”
“Are you kidding? It was definitely our pleasure,” Jenna said.
“Thanks. I don’t know that I’ll ever see either of you again. I want you to know that if you still lived in San Francisco, we’d be friends. She hugged Ashley and then Jenna. “Kiss those babies for me, will you?”
“Of course. Be sure to stop by Sara’s before you leave. She’d be crushed if she didn’t get to say goodbye.”
“I will.” She brushed the tears from her eyes. This had been a truly amazing experience. She’d been angry with Edna at first, but the longer she’d been here at Breaghacraig, the more she appreciated the time away from her hectic life in her own time. “I’ll miss you all.”
“If you ever want to come back, just contact Edna,” Ashley said.
“You’re family now,” Jenna added.
“I could do that?” she questioned.
“Sure.”
Maybe this didn’t have to be the last time she’d see Hamish and maybe by the time she came back she’d have her career back where she wanted and she’d have the time in her life for a relationship. She smiled just thinking about it.
“You’re smiling.” Jenna noted.
“Just thinking I’d like that.”
They spoke for a while longer and then they were joined by the men, Irene and Helene. Elle couldn’t believe the emotional roller coaster she found herself on. “You’ve all been so wonderful to me. I’ll never forget your kindness,” she said, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
“Safe travels,” Robert said. “Is Hamish taking ye to the bridge?”
“Yes. He’s waiting for me. Edna said we should get there as quickly as possible.”
“Then ye’d best be on yer way,” he said, escorting her to the door, followed by the others.
Elle kissed and hugged everyone one more time and then ran to the stable.
She entered to the sound of Hamish singing softly to Aylwen. She wasn’t sure of the words, but the song brought to mind a sad love ballad. She was feeling emotionally raw and the song brought tears to her eyes once again. She stopped to gather herself before she continued.
As she entered Aylwen’s stall, the horse was enjoying a bucket of feed as Hamish massaged his back. He stopped singing and glanced up at her, his eyes as sad as his song.
“I’m ready,” she said.
“So ye are,” he replied. “Aylwen is finishing his grain.”
“Okay.” Elle was feeling unusually awkward around him. There was so much left unsaid between them. She wasn’t sure she’d have the courage to say it when the time came.
“We’ve still time to make good progress before dark.”
“Then what?”
“Then we’ll stop for the night. ’Tis good the rain has stopped.”
“Yes.”
“I asked Mary to pack some food for us.”
“Good thinking.”
She sat down on the chest outside of Aylwen’s stall and waited. If they didn’t talk, it was going to be a long ride to the bridge.
The stable door opened and much to Elle’s dismay, Nessa was headed their way carrying a bag, which she assumed held their food.
“Hamish!” she called, ignoring Elle. “Mary asked me to bring this to ye.” She handed him the food. “When will ye be back?” she asked, eyeing Elle.
“I shoudnae be longer than three days,” Hamish said.
“Ye’ll be coming back alone,” she said, again eyeing Elle.
“Aye.”
“I’ll be waiting fer ye.”
“I’m sure ye will,” Hamish chuckled.
Elle wondered just how interested Nessa would be in Hamish once she had him all to herself.
She thought if she were Nessa, she wouldn’t squander that opportunity.
The thought of Hamish being with Nessa hurt her heart.
She wanted the best for him and she wasn’t sure Nessa was best. Once she was gone, there’d be little she could say or do about it.
She had to accept it. She was giving him up and someone else would have him.
***
She wore her worry all about her face, but what she was worried about was a mystery to Hamish.
“Are ye having second thoughts about leaving us?” he asked.
Elle’s bright blue eyes normally sparkled and shone, but today they seemed clouded and dull. “No. Why would you think that?”
“Ye dinnae appear verra happy, lass.”
“I’m happy to go back to my own time, but I’m also sad about leaving all the people I’ve met here.”
He wanted to ask if that included him, but thought better of it.
He was sure she’d miss him. She’d told him so when he returned from patrol and that was when he’d been gone for just a short two days.
They walked Aylwen out to the courtyard.
He helped her up into the saddle and then joined her.
“We’ve a long way to go, we’d best be off. ”
“Can we stop at Sara and Logan’s. I want to say goodbye.”
“Ye’d best do so. Sara would be most unhappy if ye didnae.”
They rode on in silence. Hamish wondered what Elle must be thinking of. Lost in her own thoughts she seemed surprised when they arrived in front of the MacPhail croft.
Sara must have seen them coming, because she was out the door before they’d even stopped. Logan wasn’t far behind.
“Where are you two off to?” Sara asked.
“I’m going home,” Elle answered.
Sara’s face dropped. “Oh, no! I mean I knew you’d be leaving eventually, but I was hoping we’d have you here with us a while longer.”
“Edna says it’s time to go and I’m not going to argue with her.”
“Are you going, Hamish?” she asked, turning her attention to him.
“Nae. Edna told me to take Elle to the bridge and that’s what I’m doing.”
Sara seemed as if she didn’t believe him. “Elle, you should contact my brother, Zeke, and Brenna when you get back. If you need anything, he’ll help you.”