A/N: Thanks to Tiff N Shif x x
Chapter 13
"Father Brennan?" Isabella called out as she entered the Kirk. She looked around the room, but could see no signs of the Father. She called for him again as she made her way down the hall. Perhaps he was in his chambers at the back, but when she knocked on the door she received no response. Her only guess was his duty had called him away from the Kirk or he had forgotten about their engagement. He didn't seem like the forgetful type, so she presumed a member of his congregation had needed him.
She decided to sit down on a bench and wait, at least for a little while, to see if he returned. If he didn't, then she would go back to the castle and find another way to occupy her time.
She must have waited for over an hour and there was still no sign of the father. So, she decided that it was in her best interest to return to the castle. She could sit here and wait all day and Father Brennan would not show.
She gathered her skirts and headed out the Kirk towards the woods. Finding the path through the trees was simple enough, at least until she came to a fork in the road, one that she clearly didn't remember. She kicked herself for not paying better attention to where Jasper had led her. The split in the path twisted towards the right, the other the left and then one straight through the middle. She presumed the middle was the most obvious choice, but she still wasn't entirely sure.
Well, she certainly couldn't stand there all day deciding, her muscles were beginning to ache and tire already. She decided to follow the middle path. If it proved wrong, she could always come back and try another.
The thing was, that path lead to another fork and then another until Isabella had no clue where she was. Her muscles were throbbing and her head dizzy from missing the morning meal. She had no choice other than to sit down and rest.
It must have been about midday now, she hoped that someone would notice her absence and come looking for her. If not, she could find herself sleeping out in these woods tonight, and without a cloak she surely wouldn't survive.
She laid her head back and closed her eyes, trying to think of a way out of her situation. She must have dozed off because she woke to someone shouting her name. She quickly got to her feet and dusted herself off and she shouted back in response.
Jasper stepped into view a few seconds later. "Lady Swan, are you well?"
Isabella smiled. "I'm fine, I-ah, seem to have gotten lost." She tried her best to compose herself, but the truth be told she was on the verge of tears. She was so relieved to see her rescuer.
"Come, I'll take you back to the castle."
A/N: Oh, and dear trolls/GR/haters :
A tiger doesn't lose sleep over the opinion of sheep ;) Just sayin.