Page 24 of Her Highland Prophecy
“From what I remember, it was the more wonderful place,” she offered. “They have a large city called New York on the east sea border of the country. The buildings there are so tall that seem to touch the sky. There are even some that have more than thirty or forty floors. I have never felt so small than when standing next to one of them.”
“How is that possible?”
She shrugged. “It would take too long to explain properly, but basically, we have perfected a lot of the materials and processes we use to build things. That allows them to be larger than they are now.”
He looked like he wanted to ask a hundred questions but was restraining himself.
“Go ahead,” she said with a chuckle, “ask what you want.”
He was silent for a moment still as if deciding what to ask first. Finally, he looked like he had made a decision.
“What sort of materials do ye use if it they are nay wood or stone?”
She shrugged. “I am probably not the best person to explain them to you. I am far from an expert in construction,” she warned him.
He waved her protest away.
“Ye have done well until now.”
The hours passed by as Diana talked to him about the future. They progressed from building materials to transportation where she broke out in giggles at his astonishment at the concept of airplanes. It made her miss her own time, but it also gave her new appreciation for everything she had readily available.
Finally, when the sun was starting to lower in the sky, a rainbow of colors appearing over the tree line, Gordain started to slow the horse’s pace, looking around carefully.
“What are you looking for?” she asked.
“We cannae ride in the dark. We will have to make camp and continue in the morn.”
He scanned the horizon intently as they continued. When his eyes were lighting up a few minutes later, Diana knew that he had found it. He dismounted, helping her down as well, and then walked around a wide tree with low hanging branches.
She followed him curiously and was surprised to find a small hollow carved in the large boulder behind it, forming a small overhang that would shelter them from the elements. With the tree further protecting them from prying eyes, they would be impossible to spot in the dark.
She walked over to Taranis, petting him gently on the nose.
“Can ye take him to the creek for a drink? I’ll set up here.”
She picked up the horse’s reins and walked over to the area he had pointed to, allowing him to drink as much as he wanted. She gently stroked his flank while he did so, grateful that he had carried them so far despite the soreness in her legs and hips from riding.
She walked back to their small shelter a few minutes later to find that Gordain had been hard at work while she was tending to Taranis.
Gone was the kilt that he had been wearing since she saw him. He was in a long, white shirt and a pair of breeches over his leather shoes. His change in outfit surprised her, until she noticed his plaid carefully spread over the ground in the space they would be sleeping. A pile of leaves covered by his coat was designated as their pillow.
She wanted to flee from the realization of the idea that she would have to sleep on the cold hard ground with nothing to protect her body other than a simple piece of fabric, but she knew that it was pointless to protest under the circumstances. She curled her nose a little but made no further protest as she handed the reins over to Gordain.
He moved to secure the horse in another sheltered spot nearby as she gingerly sat down on the edge of the plaid and looked at the area around them. In the ever-darkening forest she could barely see more than a few feet past the edge of the tree. Unfortunately that would not protect her if an animal came scavenging in the night.
“Ye should lay down on the inside, closest to the rock,” Gordain commented when he returned. She looked up at him and he indicated the knife and sword that were attached to his belt.
“I’ll protect ye in the night.”
She nodded and moved further back into the hollow space, lying down with her back to him. She was starting to get colder as the sun went down. Her dress, beautiful though it was, did not keep out the chill. She chaffed her bare arms to try and warm them.
She was startled when a large male body molded itself to her own. She shot up and found Gordain looking at her with amusement at her reaction.
“What are you doing?” she asked him in outrage.
“Ye looked like ye were about to freeze to death, lass. That gown willnae keep ye warm enough when the night chill comes in.”
It was a logical explanation, but she still felt affronted.
