Immortal Prophecy (The Immortal Prophecy Saga) (22 page)

The scene before her was breathtaking; she drew in a breath and looked around at the magnificence before her. The snow upon the mountains that lay before her eyes appeared to melting to make way for spring. The sun was peeping its golden head from behind them and throwing rays of sunshine across the land. The loch, she wasn’t sure how far away it was, was catching rays of sunshine and had the appearance that diamonds were floating on the surface catching the light. Any tension that had remained in her body from the week before seemed to flow straight out of her at the sight.

Ally was busy surveying the scene and taking in the beauty of nature, when she heard a whinny. Her head turned in that direction and she realized that there was a stable on the grounds at Carlisle Manor. She thought that she might explode from excitement. Ally loved horses, she felt an affinity with them, it had been a dream of hers to own a horse for as long as she could remember.

She couldn’t see any horses so she assumed that the noise had come from a horse within the stable.

“The stables must be close by,” she muttered to herself as she looked around trying to locate it.

Her room was looking out over the front of the house. In theory it would be at the back she thought. Ally made a mental note to go and find it later.

She was about to turn around and go back inside when she heard it again, this time she heard the accompanying hoof beats.

“That’s not the sound of a horse in a stable,” she thought aloud whilst looking around trying to locate the sound. Within another moment, James came flying around the corner on a magnificent black arabian.

The coat of the beast shone and its tail was flying along behind it. The white stockings were a beautiful contrast to the black. She looked on in awe as rider and beast flew past her in perfect harmony.

It was a beautiful sight to behold. James was heading straight for a fence that divided the property and the wild untamed nature that dazzled before her. She held her breath unconsciously as it appeared that he wouldn’t have time to stop before hitting the fence, in fact they seemed to be going faster and faster. Ally was about to yell out and tell him to stop, she knew it would be in vein, but she couldn’t just stand by watching and say nothing. Before she could do anything the black beauty and James lifted off the ground and flew over the fence in a clear jump. Her breath flew out of her body in relief and amazement.

James was obviously an accomplished rider. He appeared to be a natural horseman. The rider and his horse were getting further away from the property when suddenly they whipped back around and headed for the fence, this time she relaxed and just watched leaning against the railing. She unconsciously felt the need to be as close as possible. She was in another world, the room behind her had melted away, all she was aware of was James and his horse. They rode faster and faster towards the fence and cleared it again, with seemingly little effort from either of them.

As James got closer she could see the exhilaration written all over his face. The relaxed demeanour seemed to flow out of him and his smile was wide and natural. James started to slow as they approached the house, he leaned down and patted his horse on the neck, it returned the gesture with a head toss and a whinny then began prancing around. The horse appeared to be one of perfect lineage if its behaviour, stance and beauty were anything to go by.

She was standing back admiring the man and horse, when he looked up at her. He seemed surprised to see her. She waved shyly and he waved back then started moving over towards her balcony.

“How Romeo and Juliet,” she laughed to herself.

She couldn’t pull her eyes from him. This was another side of James that she definitely found very appealing. Hopefully she would find more today that she found equally enticing. He reached her quickly and he appeared to be excited to see her.

He pulled up his horse and looked up at her. “Good morning Alessandra.”

She smiled at the formality. “Good morning to you too James.”

“I didn’t expect you up for a while yet.”

“I could say the same for you,” she said with a wicked gleam in her eye. “I remember you telling me that you don’t like getting up early.”

“You were listening,” he couldn’t help smile at the beautiful woman before him.

“Do you do this every morning? I had no idea what a good rider you were.”

He practically beamed, simply because she had complimented him. “I admit to having a love affair with horses, I hope that doesn’t turn you further against me?” he said half joking, half serious.

She chuckled. “No, if anything it makes you more appealing.”

He smiled back at her wickedly. “I shall use that to my full advantage then.”

“I would expect nothing less,” she said dryly. His eyes sparkled from the ride and secretly she hoped from seeing her.

“Did you miss me?”

Ally smiled and debated whether to tell him the truth. “I admit to missing you a bit.”

James lit up all over, it was obvious that he was happy she missed him. “I missed you little one. Now have some breakfast and then come find me in the stables and we will get started on our ride.” He said as he started towards the back of the house.

She watched him leaving and was about to turn and go back inside when she heard him call out her name.

She turned back towards him, “Yes?”

“I have that present for you.”

She was excited, what girl doesn’t like presents, she couldn’t help herself. “Will you tell me what it is now?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said as he winked at her then took off around the corner.

“I wonder what it is?” she thought aloud as she watched the place where he had been.

No man has a right to look that good, but my oh my did he look amazing on that horse, I’m doomed. As she thought this a broad smile crept across her face. Ally couldn’t help herself, she was beginning to think she might love being doomed just as long as it was with this man.

She turned and walked back inside and stood in front of the fire to collect her thoughts and warm up. There was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” she called out.

A young blonde girl with big blue eyes opened the door and walked in with a tray of breakfast and coffee. “Good morning miss, mum asked me to bring a breakfast tray up to you,” She said with a smile.

Ally was delighted, she could get used to this.

“Please call me Ally,” she said with a welcoming smile.

“Thank you. Is there anything else I can get you?” she said as she placed the tray on the ottoman in front of the fire.

“No, thank you. What is your name?”

“Mackenzie.”

“You must be Sophie’s daughter then? She has been telling me about you.”

Mackenzie blushed, she was shy in front of most people and Ally made her particularly nervous. There had been much talk of this girl in the house lately. She was pleased to find that Ally seemed very nice but she was still nervous.

“Yes she is.”

“I assume your brother is back as well?”

“Aye, he is,” Mackenzie answered.

“What does he do here?”

“Logan is the stable hand.”

Ally could see that Mackenzie was a shy girl and didn’t want to press her too much further but she had one last question. “That’s lovely that you all work together. Are there more people that work here or just your family?”

“No, it’s just our family.” She hesitated, “with James being different he prefers to keep a low staff.”

Ally chucked. “I think he is a wise man.”

Mackenzie smiled and turned to leave.

“It was nice to meet you Mackenzie,” Ally called after her.

“You too, Ally.” With that she slipped out of the room and closed the door.

Ally sat down to have her breakfast, which to her surprised delight consisted of eggs benedict and a strong coffee. Ally almost squealed with excitement. One of her favourite dishes was eggs benedict and to have it delivered to her room with a coffee was a wonderful novelty. She eagerly ate her breakfast and murmured a few mm’s.

Someone has done their homework; I wonder if that was my present she thought. If it was then, James was fast becoming the perfect man.

After finishing her breakfast and coffee, Ally wandered over to the closet to find something appropriate to wear on her riding adventure with James.

“What am I going to wear?” she pondered aloud.

She grabbed her dark blue denim jeans, black long sleeve top, her super warm knee length black fitted trench and kid boots. Ally decided that she would be warm riding and to wear too much would be to her detriment in the end.

After her shower, she got dressed, brushed her hair and put her make up on. Ally decided to go with a look that was fresh and natural. It had been three long days since James had been around and in that time things had changed for her so she wanted to make an effort to look her best as any girl does when seeing the man she was beginning to fall in love with him.

Happy with the finished look Ally smiled to herself and headed out the door to find the stables and James.

Realizing she had no she idea which way to go, Ally cursed herself for not thinking to ask Mackenzie for directions. Deciding to walk towards the kitchen, which led out the back, Ally hoped she would run into someone along the way and ask for directions.

Ally was also hoping the she would see Sophie so that she could thank her for the scrumptious breakfast.

She walked down the three flights stairs and entered the kitchen, as luck would have it Sophie was sitting down at the table having her own breakfast of what looked like orange juice and toast.

Hearing a noise Sophie looked up and realized that Ally had entered the room. “Good morning Ally.” She smiled brightly.

Ally returned the smile. “Good morning Sophie”

“How was your breakfast?”

“Fabulous, I wanted to thank you actually. It’s my favourite.”

Sophie smiled knowingly. “I may have cooked it, but someone else requested it for you.”

Ally hoped it was James. “Who?”

“James. He said it was your favourite so he asked to me cook it for you this morning when he got back last night.”

Ally blushed slightly. “That was very sweet of him.”

Sophie looked at her for a minute, appraising the girl before her, “He is very sweet. From what I hear you have seen the worst of our James but give him a chance and you will see why we all love him.”

Ally sat down at the table for moment. “I am beginning to see another side to him since arriving in Scotland. I won’t lie and say it’s not attractive because it is.”

Sophie smiled again and patted her hand. “Trust your instincts Ally. He is a good man but you need to come to that conclusion on your own.”

Ally looked thoughtful for a moment then asked, “Where are the stables? I’m meeting him this morning for a ride.”

Sophie jumped up from the table and went over to the bench to grab a picnic basket that was sitting there. “That reminds me,” she said as she picked it up. “This is for you. It’s the packed lunch he asked for.”

Ally stood up to grab it. “Thanks.”

“Now to get to the stables, you head out that door onto the terrace, turn left and follow the gravel path. You will see them once you turn the corner a few metres down the path.”

Ally memorized the instructions said her thanks and headed towards the terrace doors.

“Enjoy yourself Ally and I believe he has a present for you.” She said giving the impression she knew what it was.

Ally stopped and turned around. Curiosity got the better of her, “Do you know what it is?”

“I do, but go find out for yourself,” she laughed. “I have a feeling you will be very happy with it.”

Ally smiled with excitement as she turned and continued towards her destination. She wandered out the door to the terrace and down the steps finding the path at the end of it, as she followed and turned the corner, the stables came into view. She stopped short. Behind the stables lay a view of the mountains that left her breathless. Ally could not get over the beauty of this place.

“Is there anywhere around here you don’t have a breathtaking view,” she wondered aloud.

Movement near the stable caught her eye. James was standing talking with another young man who was holding the most beautiful horse she had ever seen. She was torn between watching the horse and James. The horse seemed to sense her presence and looked up. Ally was convinced that it was looking right at her. The horse threw its head back and whinnied in greeting. She was pulled forward in a trance towards this horse.

James noticed the horse and followed its line of sight to see Ally walking towards them. She was staring at the horse. James watched her walking over. He longed for the day she looked at him that way.

He turned to Logan, the stable hand who was holding the horse. “I will take it from here Logan.”

Logan looked towards Ally then back at James and smirked. “Aye, James.”

“Saddle up Cooper would you,” He said without looking at Logan.