Chapter 15
“Well, mother, I am off to undo the damage I have done.” Sir Richard sat atop his large black destrier, tall, handsome and dressed all in black.
“I will be back as soon as I can, but in the meantime, I know you will run the castle as smoothly as if I were still here. If you need any help, Edward will be of assistance.” He nodded to his brother, who stood protectively by his mother’s side.
Edward was young, but he was capable. He was already as tall as Richard was and still growing.
He was going to be a fine man, and Richard hoped he would be a man unscarred by life’s emotional upheavals.
“I am so proud of you, Richard. You are a good man, no matter what you’ve done in the past. You will make it right and then you’ll come back home and we’ll find you a wife to love.
” Lady Catherine watched her son with a mother’s love in her eyes.
Richard could see it and for the first time in a long time, he thought himself worthy of that love.
He bowed very formally to his mother, a sign of the respect he had for her and the regard he held her in, and then trotted off through the gates.
As he rode, Richard felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
Of course, he had absolutely no idea how he was going to stop Brielle, or if the MacKenzies would be able to forgive him, but it didn’t matter.
What really mattered was that he had experienced an awakening of sorts and he was very happy about it.
It was as if he had suddenly, and very unexpectedly, grown a conscience.
He attributed it to the nightmares that had plagued him, but where once he had cursed them, now he was grateful, for they had allowed him to see the error of his ways.
He had chosen to make this journey alone and he was glad he had.
It gave him the peace and quiet he needed to think.
He was also more aware of the beauty of his surroundings, enjoying the scenery he was passing and humming to himself as he travelled.
It was a perfect day and nothing could spoil it for him.
***
Brielle sat perched among the branches of a large pine tree, hidden from view.
From her hiding place, she watched as Sir Richard approached.
Was he smiling? She did not recall him ever looking happy in their past acquaintance.
If she remembered correctly, a scowl was more likely to appear on his face, than any other expression.
And what was that noise she heard? Was he humming?
Her face pinched as she silently observed him.
This was an extremely unusual state of affairs.
What could have put him in such a good mood?
Her curiosity was growing by leaps and bounds, but caution dictated she should wait and observe, before she made her presence known.
Until then, she would simply follow his progress.
She was playing a waiting game on all fronts today.
Brielle was also awaiting the arrival of her enemy, Maggie.
I know she seeks me out, but she will only find me when I want to be found.
I’ll teach her a lesson she will never forget.
How dare she think she can destroy me and live to tell the tale?
Anger bubbled up inside Brielle’s chest. This was supposed to have been much easier.
She had no idea when she had proposed this arrangement that Maggie would be such a worthy opponent.
Brielle wanted that bridge and she was determined to get it.
She would destroy Edna in the process, along with anyone else who got in her way.
Then she’d be respected and feared by everyone.
She snickered to herself for a moment, and then transforming herself into a hawk, she soared off to find another spot from which she could spy on Richard.
***
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 alone then, 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.”