Page 24 of Hearts Bound By Time

“Shall we all sit down? I believe it will be a while before it’s safe for you all to head back to the inn.” Marissa carefully walked to the bales of straw neatly stacked against the back wall and sat on one at the bottom. The children followed suit, as did Teddy.

A door off to the side of the feed room opened revealing a startled Mrs. MacDougall. “What have we here?” she asked, smiling warmly at the children.

“We came to visit my Tonn,” Wee Robert answered.

“Did ye now? ’Tis not the best day to be wandering about.” She directed the last part of her comment to Teddy.

“’Tis a long story, Mrs. MacDougall,” Teddy was embarrassed once again at his failure.

“I know Teddy, and I’ve met Wee Robbie. I assume the rest of the children are visiting the inn, but I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting this young lady.” Mrs. MacDougall directed her attention to Marissa.

“I’m Marissa Merrivale.” Marissa extended her free hand towards Mrs. MacDougall.

“Are ye visiting the inn as well?”

“Oh, no. I’m here in Scotland doing research for a book I’m writing. My rental car broke down and I was caught in the snowstorm. I was getting cold and tired and I needed shelter. I knocked on your door, but there wasn’t any answer. I hope you don’t mind that I let myself into the stable.”

“Of course not. What kind of woman would I be to let ye freeze out there in this weather. Yer more than welcome to the warmth of the stable and the company ye seem to have found. I must have been upstairs. My hearing’s not what it used to be. I’m sure that’s why I missed yer knock.” Mrs. MacDougall walked towards a large double door closet. “Teddy, would ye mind helping me?”

Teddy nodded and followed after her.

“I’ve got a table and some chairs here. I keep them for those rare occasions when someone wants to use my stable for a party. Here, Teddy, open this table up while I get out some chairs.”

Teddy rolled the round table to a clear spot in the aisle way and unfolded the legs to set it upright. He then went back to retrieve the folding chairs Mrs. MacDougall was stacking along the wall.

“Teddy, ye get that all set up and I’ll be right back.” She was out the door in a flash. Teddy did as he was told and with the help of the children got all the chairs set up around the table.

A short while later, Mrs. MacDougall returned with a picnic basket and a large thermos. She handed Teddy a Christmas table cloth, which he put on the table. Next she placed dishes and cups out. Then came the treats. There were cookies in the shapes of reindeer, Christmas trees, ornaments and wreaths all decorated with red and green frosting. Bowls of homemade candy came next, along with colorful candy canes. The children held back, but their eyes were wide with wonder at the sight of everything set out for them.

“Everyone sit.” Mrs. MacDougall poured hot chocolate into their cups and then sat herself down next to Marissa. “May I?” she asked, nodding her head towards Emma.

“Of course.” Marissa handed the baby over to her and then dug into the cookies, like a woman who hadn’t eaten is a long while.

“Yer quite hungry, arenae ye?” Teddy asked. He found everything about her fascinating, including her appetite.

“I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

Teddy exchanged a look with Mrs. MacDougall.

“My gosh, I’m being rude. I should probably slow down.” She sat back in her chair and took a sip of the hot chocolate. “Mmmm…”

Teddy couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her. Mrs. MacDougall elbowed him in the side and aimed a sly wink his way. That was all it took for Teddy to avert his eyes and search the stable for something to take him away from her scrutiny. The horses would do. He rose and went down the aisle, stroking their velvety noses and ruffling their forelocks. He was embarrassed by his behavior. Granted he almost never met anyone who didn’t live in Glendaloch and his experience with the opposite sex was very limited. Most of the lasses he knew treated him like their odd brother. He continued standing with his back to the group while he attempted to relax and get his emotions under control.

***

“Is everything okay,” Marissa asked. She could tell by his posture that he was attempting to hide from them.

Teddy stayed where he was, head tucked low. “Aye. Fine.”

“Okay. I hope I didn’t scare you away with the way I was eating. I mean, I know it was a bit over the top, but I was very hungry.” She was feeling embarrassed. She liked Teddy from the moment she first saw him and she was afraid that being herself in front of him would work like insect repellant on a mosquito. If it did, what could she do? She had long ago decided against pretense and instead had come to embrace her quirky side even though it did little to attract the opposite sex.

“I ken ye were. I just wished to see the horses, so I can reassure their owners that they are faring well.” He slowly turned back towards them and gave himself a little shake before raising his head and attempting something that appeared to be a smile.

Marissa had all she could do to restrain the giggle that was bubbling in her throat. She glanced at Mrs. MacDougall who had obviously failed in that endeavor and who was now covering it up with a coughing fit into her napkin.

The children were happily eating their cookies and sipping their hot chocolate, unaware of the awkwardness that had suddenly descended on the adults.

“Where are ye from, Marissa?” Mrs. MacDougall lowered her napkin and smiled warmly at her.