A Fall Through Time (Stacey and Shane Mcleod, #1) by Rikki M Dyson

Margaret said.
    “Oh, don’t concern yourself,” Stacey said. “I’ll work out something with him.  I’m very tired. I’ll not be down to eat so I’ll say good-bye to ya’ll now.  I think it best this way.”
    “Mayhap ye be right, my dear,” Lady Margaret said. “I feel sure Eric will bring ye to the tournament with him. We will try to work out something with him then.”
    Stacey hugged the three of them and asked that Sir Perceval to be sent up so she could say goodbye to him. 
    “Would ye like for Sir Perceval to stay?” Lord Thomas asked.
    “No, but thank you anyway,” Stacey said.  “His lordship and I will work this out by ourselves.  It’ll be better that way.”
    “I will have some food sent up for ye,” Lady Margaret said. “I do worry about ye, Stacey.”
    “Thank you,” Stacey said. “That’s very kind of you.”

Chapter 12
    The run away
    S tacey waited until the castle was quiet and everyone was sound asleep.  She had said her goodbyes and asked that no one disturb her.  One day while she and Scooby were exploring the castle, Stacey had found the entrance to an old escape tunnel.  The opening was behind a wine rack and the key was hanging behind the door.
    Stacey used an old blanket and made herself a bundle of bread, cheese and two good dresses.  She was dressed in her male attire with a cap to keep her hair under and a knife in her boot.  If need be, she could cut her hair.  She had her shorts and top in her bundle also. She knew she would need them when she found her way back to her own time. Until then, she felt sure she could find employment as a groom or dress up and work as a tutor.  Stacey felt sure, by now she could speak English their way.  She knew she would need to be ever vigilant and on her best behavior.
    Stacey finally got the tunnel door open; it was clogged with grass and weeds.  After getting the door open, she pitched the key as far back into tunnel as she could.  She walked until almost dawn and was getting tired.  She remembered how to get to the cave, but it took much longer on foot.  Finally, she reached the cave and was relieved to be there. She felt she was safe here.  It was chilly in the cave so she started to build a small fire.  It was then she realized she had forgotten a flint box.  Oh well, back to nature Stacey said to herself, as she went to gather twigs and small branches to make a Boy Scout fire.
    By the time she got back to the cave she was tired and sleepy.  Stacey thought a fire could wait, first a nap. It was early afternoon when she awoke.  Now it was time to rub sticks together to make a fire.  She made a small hole in one stick, stood another in it with a bit of fiber and started rotating it fearlessly trying to get it smoking.  Her total attention was on the sticks when a flint box landed at her knees.  Stacey looked up and said, “Thanks, I forgot to steal one of those.”
    Eric FitzMorgan was standing in the mouth of the cave.  Stacey’s heart skipped a few beats, but be damned if she was going to let him know it.  As Eric walked into the cave, Stacey saw that Rolf was with him.  “So that’s how you found me,” Stacey said as she rubbed Rolf’s head. “Traitor, I even walked in the river so you couldn’t follow me.”
    When Eric squatted down by Rolf, Stacey stood up and took a few steps away.  “Why did you leave?” Eric asked. 
    “Well,” Stacey said, “how do I count the many reasons?” 
    She was standing a few feet from him.  She was dressed in her male attire, but looked nothing like a boy. 
    Eric wondered how in god’s teeth she ever thought she could pull that off.  He remembered telling his mother, that she was a stick of a girl but he knew better now.
    He remembered seeing her in those little black things that day. “Where did ye think ye be going?” he asked.
    Stacey replied wistfully, “As far away from you as I could get.” 
    Eric stood up and asked, “Why?  Ye be afraid of