by Jennae Vale
“This is it, Ross. My plan to save Delight. What it lacks in size, it is certainly going to make up for with charm.”
Chapter 6
That afternoon, Cassie gathered the other shop owners in town at her book store. Mrs. Santos provided refreshments while she laid out her plans to turn things around for all of them.
“First of all, I want to thank you all for everything you’ve done for me this year, but I want you to know I’m not going to be that girl anymore. Thanks to Ross,” she inclined her head in his direction as he folded his arms across his chest and made himself, if even possible, more drop dead gorgeous. “I am now going to be in charge of my own life and one of the first things I want to do is get tourists back in town. I’ve been thinking about it and I think we all need more of an online presence.” There was some grumbling among those gathered, but she continued. “Instead of having separate websites or maybe in addition to them, I thought we could make one for the village with a separate page for each of us. That way we can split the costs. Mrs. Santos, people could order your amazing baked goods online. I’d be willing to help you box things up and send them out.”
“That sounds wonderful, Cassie, but how will we keep them fresh until they reach their destination?” Mrs. Santos asked.
“I haven’t got all the details ironed out, but I know that if we put our minds to it, we’ll figure it out. Let’s not worry about that just yet.” Cassie went to her easel and added freshness as a bullet point under the bakery column. “Mrs. Winters, the inn could be the perfect place for writer’s retreats. They could be scheduled throughout the year and I would set up workshops for them to attend right here at my store. We could get some big name authors in as a draw.” Mrs. Winters clapped her hands, obviously excited at the prospect of having more guests at the inn. “This should help with all the other shops and businesses in town. Sue, Amy, Kirsten? I know the ski shop does well in the winter months, but maybe in the summer months you could organize hikes and rent bikes, rafts and kayaks?”
“We’d been thinking about that,” Amy said, “but business has been so slow we weren’t sure we should invest in new equipment.”
“Hopefully, if we all work together, we can make Delight a destination and not just a pass through.”
Before she could even stop speaking, everyone was excitedly chatting back and forth. “Cassie, this is a great idea. You’re right, if we start working together we can really turn things around,” Mrs. Winters said.
“I’m so happy you thought of this. I’m really excited to get started,” Mrs. Santos chimed in.
“We could even think about having a Scottish festival here in the summer months. Ross would be the perfect ad for that,” Walt said, with a chuckle.
“I won’t be staying,” Ross interrupted. “I’m only here for a short while longer and then I must depart.”
“Oh, no,” Mrs. Santos immediately glanced Cassie’s way.
“I know. I’m bummed out about it, too,” Cassie said, her heart breaking at the thought of losing him.
“Isn’t there some way we could convince you to stay?” Mrs. Winters asked.
“I’m afraid ’tis nae up to me,” Ross answered, he looked to Cassie for support.
“What he’s trying to say is that he’s here for work and his boss will be coming to get him soon,” Cassie explained.
“What exactly do you do for work?” Mrs. Santos asked.
Ross silently glanced at Cassie.
“He’s a model, can’t you tell?” Cassie said, rescuing him from further questioning. “I mean, come on, isn’t it obvious?”
“I thought so,” Mrs. Winters triumphantly exclaimed. “Maybe we could hire you to do some photo shoots to advertise Delight.”
“We’ll see,” Cassie said. “If we’ve got time to take some photos now, we probably should before he has to leave.”
“I can do that,” Joe Evans, the local photographer offered. “I’ll go get my equipment and be back in a few minutes.”
“Great. Well, I think we should try to meet two or three times a week to share our progress and to see who needs help,” Cassie said.
“Sounds good,” Mrs. Winters said.
Everyone made their way out the door and back to their own shops.
“I dinnae ken why Soni hasn’t come for me,” Ross said.
Cassie wrapped her arms around his mid-section. She was going to have to find a way to keep him here. Maybe this Soni would take pity on her and the residents of Delight and let Ross stay. “If you could stay, would you?” Cassie asked.
“Aye. Gladly.” He lifted her chin with his fingers, giving her a chance to gaze into his eyes. They were the color of black coffee and had the same effect on her, waking her from the stupor she’d been in since her divorce. Their lips met in a hot, passionate kiss that would have gone on much longer, but Joe returned. How many times today had someone interrupted their kissing session? Cassie wanted to send Joe back to his own shop, but the goal was to help Delight and that was what they were going to do.
“Why don’t you go get Ronan,” Cassie suggested, “and meet us out front. I think some shots of you on horseback would be amazing.”
Ross headed into the back room to retrieve his horse and Cassie turned to Joe. “Would you mind taking some photos of the two of us together?”
“Of course not,” Joe responded.
“Thanks,” she would be thrilled to have photos of Ross, but it wouldn’t be the same as having him here by her side. She felt such a deep connection to him. How was that even possible? It had only been twenty-four hours since they met. It was as if she’d always known him. The happiness she had been feeling only moments before was gone, replaced by the sad knowledge that she’d be alone again by tomorrow afternoon.
Outside the shop, Ross sat tall in his saddle. He looked so handsome in his kilt. Joe took photos from all angles, directing Ross as he clicked the camera. “These are going to be amazing,” he said. They took photos by the sign that said, Welcome to Delight, The Most Delightful Little Town in the Sierra. Ross dismounted and stood in front of the bookstore with Ronan on his right and Cassie on his left. Finally, after they’d taken photos in almost every location in Delight, Joe put his camera away.
“Wow! I can see why you’re a model. You photograph really well. I’m going to go back to my studio and work on these. I should have them ready in a day or two.”
Alone once again with Ross, Cassie locked the door to the store. “We should head back home before it gets dark,” she said.
Ross got her settled on Ronan and hopped up behind her. She leaned into his chest and he held her close. The ride back up the hill was just what Cassie needed. “Thank you for putting up with everything today. I know it must all seem so odd to you.”
“I’ve had 270 years of watching the world change around me, there isn’t much that seems odd to me anymore.”
“I still can’t believe you’re a ghost. I mean, I know you are, but you’re so real. I always thought you could see through ghosts.”
He chuckled, a deep rumbling sound that reverberated through Cassie. “Before I got here, I’m afraid that would have been the case, but I was given the gift of life for two days and here I am.”
“Do you think she knew I needed you?” Cassie asked.
“Perhaps she did. I wonder that as well,” Ross said.
“Well, you’ll have to thank her for me. You’ve inspired me to live my life again. I will no longer sulk and think that life has been unfair to me. And you’ve helped everyone in Delight. If you hadn’t come along and saved me, the town would have continued to go downhill and I would have, too.”
“Cassie, I dinnae believe ye give yerself enough credit. Given time, I believe ye would have done exactly as ye did today.”
“I’m not so sure about that. Having you in the bookstore and seeing how the women reacted to you was the lightbulb moment for me.”
“Lightbulb? Explain.”
“You’ve seen lig
htbulbs before haven’t you?”
“Aye. At the visitor’s center.”
“Okay. So when I got this idea, it was like someone turned on the lights.”
He chuckled again. “Ye have a most interesting way of speaking, lass.”
They arrived at her front door. Ross helped her dismount and brought Ronan to the garage where fresh flakes of alfalfa were waiting for him stacked by the door.
“Mike was here. He left a basket of food on the doorstep. Dinner for two,” she smiled. One last romantic dinner before he leaves, she thought.
Ross placed an arm around her shoulder, kissing the top of her head. “You have many good friends,” he observed.
“I was in such a stupor before that I didn’t even realize it. They’ve always been here for me, but I was sleep walking my way through life.”
“No longer?” he asked, although Cassie was sure he knew the answer to that question as much as she did.
“No longer.” Happiness had returned to her life. She meant to keep it. She wasn’t sure how she was going to do it, but she’d made up her mind Ross wasn’t going anywhere. He was hers and he was staying.
Ross got the fire going in the wood stove while Cassie set a small table in front of it, adorning it with candles and her best dinnerware. She’d had to wash the dust off of them first. They’d been relegated to the china cabinet since her divorce. There had been no need to take them out for her solo dining each night. When she was done, she stood back to admire her work. “Shall we see what amazing meal Amanda has prepared for us?”
Ross picked up the basket and carried it to the table. The first thing he pulled out was a bottle of wine.
“Oh, wow! This is their own wine. I didn’t know they’d started bottling it.” She held the bottle up, showing Ross the label. “Another page to add to the website. I can’t wait to try it.” She ran towards the kitchen, “Wine glasses! We need wine glasses!”
Ross chuckled as he removed the other items from the basket. It smelled delicious and was still warm. Mike must have left it for them just before they returned.
Cassie returned, wine glass in hand. “What else is in there?” She examined the items he’d placed on the table. “You’re going to love this. Amanda makes a mean Beef Bourguignon.”
“It smells delicious.” Most of his senses had been as dead as he was before he’d been brought back to life, so it had been most pleasurable to smell and feel and taste once again. He realized how much he’d taken those things for granted when he was alive. It was a shame it would be short lived. Once he was back with Soni these simple pleasures would disappear, but this time for good. Ross poured the wine and then held his glass up. “To ye, mo chroi.”
Cassie blushed as she clinked glasses with him. “What does it mean?”
“My heart. You are my heart, Cassie Simmons.”
“That’s so sweet.” Happy tears gathered in her eyes. “I never thought I could feel this way ever again. I know you have to go, but I’m not going to let that ruin whatever time we have left.” She sipped her wine, “Mmmm… very good.”
“Verra good,” he agreed.
They dug into the food. Ross, knowing that in all likelihood it would be his last meal, enjoyed every bite. When every single morsel of food was eaten, he helped Cassie wash the dishes with cold water in the cold kitchen. “Jason asked ye where ye’d live, have ye decided?”
“Actually I have. Depending on how much the house sells for, I’m going to use my portion to purchase the Miller ranch just outside of town. It’s been on the market for quite a while. I guess no one has seen its potential. The house is small, but after living here I’ve realized I don’t need that much space. There’s a barn and lots of land. It could be the perfect place for us to have our Scottish games.”
“I’m happy for ye, lass. I’ll rest easy knowing ye’ll be safe and well.”
Cassie was in his arms in the blink of an eye. “I don’t want you to leave me. There must be something we can do. Is this witch of yours reasonable?”
Ross held her tightly to him. He wanted nothing more than to stay with her, but how could he? He’d been granted two days to complete his task and he’d done that. He had no choice in the matter. He’d accepted his fate, he only hoped Cassie could.
“You’re not answering me,” she said into his chest.
“I dinnae ken the answer, love. My life isnae my own any longer. I wish it was.”
When she lifted her head and gazed into his eyes, the warmth he saw there was almost more than he could bear. “I wish I had known ye before this. A long, long time ago. Perhaps I wouldnae have died. I’d have stayed at home with ye. I would have loved ye for all my days.” He fought the tears that gathered in his own eyes. He wanted their last moments together to be happy ones. Moments she would always cherish.
“I don’t want to cry,” Cassie said as she brushed at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry you died in that battle and I’m sorry you didn’t have a love to keep you home and out of harm’s way. I never would have let you leave me. But if you hadn’t died and haunted that battlefield, I never would have met you and I don’t regret a moment of the time we’ve shared.”
Their lips met in soft, sad kisses. Each one bringing Ross’s imminent departure closer to reality. Curled up on the sofa they clung to each other. Ross was afraid if he let go he’d be taken from Cassie’s side in the blink of an eye. She tucked her head beneath his chin where he could feel her silent tears wetting his chest. He’d been excited to do what he’d been sent to do and even more excited to receive his boon. Now it seemed the boon he truly wanted lay here in his arms, soon to be taken from him. All that was left now was to await Soni’s appearance and to hope that perhaps by some small miracle she’d forgotten about him.
Chapter 7
A loud thump outside roused both Ross and Cassie from their sleep.
“That sounds like the garage door opening. How can that be? It can’t be opened without a remote?” Cassie rubbed the sleep from her eyes and sat up. “There’s only one and I’ve got it.”
Ross stood and walked to the door, noting a glow coming through the windows. The sky was clear and there was a full moon lighting everything outside. The sound of the garage door closing meant only one thing, “Soni.” His heart sank. She was here for him.
“She’s here?” Cassie asked, her voice quivering.
“I believe so.” He put his hand on the doorknob ready to open it.
“No. Don’t. Maybe if we stay in here she’ll go away,” Cassie pleaded. “We can hide upstairs or in the closet.” She grabbed his hand, trying to pull him along with her, but he didn’t budge.
“Cassie, I must go.” He reached for the door, but she batted his hand away.
“I thought I’d be okay with this, but I’m not. She can’t take you away from me,” she cried. “I won’t let her.”
“Number thirty-eight! Ross Seton, come out. I’m waiting for ye.” Soni’s voice came through the closed door as clearly as if she were standing in front of him.
“I must do as she says, Cassie,” he pulled her to him and crushed her lips to his in a ferocious kiss that took his breath away. Pulling away, he hoped that he would remember her, no matter where he ended up. “I am a man of honor. I will always do the right thing, even if it hurts.” He said the words, partially so that Cassie would understand what he had to do and partially so that he himself could make sense of what was about to happen.
He opened the door to see wee Soncerae standing in a ring of green mist. Ronan stood at her side.
“I’m sorry to wake ye, Ross, but ’tis time to go. Ye’ve done yer good deed and then some. You’ve earned yer boon.” Her voice sounded clearly in the silence of this cold, clear night. She smiled a soft, sweet smile and held out her hand to him.
“Soni, I wish to stay here with Cassie,” he protested.
She sadly shook her head as she patiently explained, “I’m afraid that’s nae possible, I’ve promised my
Uncle Wickham to return with a soul. Come, ye can have yer revenge on the bonnie prince. Isnae that what ye want?”
“Nae. Not any longer. All these many years haunting Culloden Moor, I’ve been consumed by my anger and hatred. Revenge once seemed the only thing that mattered, but now…”
“Now you wish to give up yer boon?” she tipped her head in question.
Ross turned and spoke to Cassie, “Aye. I do.”
“Well, no matter, ye must come with me,” she beckoned him forward.
“Wait,” Cassie cried, “I’m coming too.” She clung to Ross’s arm. Sammy stood close by her side.
“Ye wish to sacrifice yer own life?” Soni asked.
“I do.” Cassie held her head high.
“What of yer dog? Will he be joining ye?” Soni smiled warmly at Sammy, who wagged his tail in response.
“Sammy should stay here. My neighbor, Mike will take care of him. Sammy, go!” she ordered the dog to leave her side, but he refused.
“He doesnae wish to leave ye,” Soni said. “So two of ye wish to make the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love.”
“But I don’t want Sammy to die. I don’t want any of us to die, but if Ross is going with you, then so am I.”
“I can only take one soul, Cassie.”
Cassie looked up at Ross and then ran towards Soni. “I’ll go. Take me.”
“Cassie, no! Don’t listen to her, Soncerae!” Ross rushed forward and picking Cassie up deposited her away from the green mist. “I’m ready.”
“Uncle Wickham willnae be happy, but since ye were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, Cassie… and Sammy,” Soni smiled at the dog again, “I dinnae believe I have any choice.”
Ross’s heart was beating so loudly in his ears he was sure Soni and Cassie could hear it. “Soni, wait. I must say something.”
She nodded, her hand extending in his direction, “Go on.”
“Cassie, I cannae allow ye to do this. Ye are my heart.”
“And you’re mine,” she answered.
