Ghosts of Culloden Moor 08 - Duncan

by L. L. Muir

  His heart dropped. “Have ye heard?”

  Lainey shook her head. “No word yet.”

  He picked up a box of the papery things she’d been mopping her face with and offered it to her as he sat beside her and quietly scanned the room for a hint of green.

  “These officers responded to my phone call, Duncan. I’ve just been explaining…what happened.” She took a deep breath and turned to the officers. “This is Mr. Macpherson,” Lainey laid her hand over his. “The man I’ve been telling you about. I’m so grateful he was visiting from Scotland when all this occurred.”

  Duncan nodded to the officers. One of them held Lainey’s phone in his hands.

  The officer acknowledged Duncan and turned back to Lainey. “So, as far as you know these two men are still tied up in your barn?”

  “Yes,” she answered. “And all the evidence you need against them and my ex-husband is in that phone. I promised I’d ask for leniency for them if they co-operated with you. They seemed willing to testify against Mark.”

  He nodded. “We’ll be coordinating with the Arizona authorities, but we’ll send someone out to your place to retrieve the two men and document the damage and of course, the flood. “Where can I reach you?”

  “Here.” Lainey replied.

  “And you, Mr. Macpherson? We’ll need your statement later.”

  ‘Twas no’ as if he could tell them the wee witch was lurking somewhere, ready to snatch him away. “I’ll be here with Lainey as long as I’m able. I’m to return to…Scotland, soon.”

  “Make sure you see us first.” The officer turned to Lainey. “I truly hope your daughter has a full recovery, Mrs. Saunders.” He held up her phone. “I’ll get this charged and back to you as soon as possible.” He nodded at Duncan. “Mr. Macpherson.”

  Duncan gathered Lainey into his arms the moment the door closed.

  “Telling it was almost as hard as…”

  “Ahh, lass. I should have been here with ye. I didna know they’d come.”

  “I’m just glad it’s over, although I know it’s not really over. There’ll be investigations and statements and trials but I don’t have to worry about what’s coming at me, or from where. I can focus on Molly getting better.” She curled a fist into his shirt. “Duncan, what will I do, if…?”

  “Hush lass.” He brushed a hand over her hair. “Molly is going to be fine. She’s a fighter like her mother. “‘Twill be okay. Ye’ll see.”

  He needed desperately to believe that. He knew he’d no’ be allowed to stay. Soncerae could no’ wait much longer. Others of the 79 counted on her, anxious for their own chance. He’d had his. And grateful he was.

  “She’s all I have, Duncan.”

  He had to bite hard on his tongue to keep from telling her she had him. But she didn’t. ‘Twas true in his heart but that wasna enough.

  He’d trade everything, his boon, his vengeance, his chance to cross over, all of it if he could just utter those words and know they were true.

  Neither of them spoke though the long painful minutes, waiting for news of Molly. Duncan began to wonder if the lack of news was a bad omen. What if the worst… He couldna even think the words nor bear the idea of Lainey facing such a loss alone.

  For two-hundred seventy years he’d thought he’d suffered waiting for his vengeance against the prince. ‘Twas such a feeble, wasted, yearning. He’d finally learned what it was to truly love and the power it had to wipe away all the wrongs of the past.

  He’d do those years again, and ten times them, if he could take Lainey and Molly’s suffering for his own.

  “I’ll love ye forever, Lainey,” he whispered. “Beyond time. And if I canna, will ye tell Molly of my love for her?”

  “Duncan, I—”

  “She’s here.” He felt a subtle vibration in the air as a green hue tinged the room, slowly forming into a light, swirling mist.

  Lainey sat up, looking at the closed door and the empty room. “Who’s here?”

  “Soni. The wee witch. ‘Tis time, Lainey.” The finality of those last words sat like a lead weight in his chest.

  “Time for wha… No!” Her eyes were huge with shock and a bit of fear. “No, Duncan. You can’t.”

  Lainey’s mouth hung open as the mist formed into the shape of a lovely young girl.

  “Duncan.” Soni nodded her greeting. “Are ye—”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Saunders? A different doctor greeted them, stepping inside.

  Soni was gone, along with the vibration in air.

  “I’m Duncan Macpherson. I’m a…friend, no’ Molly’s father.” The words stabbed more painfully than the bayonet those many years ago. “This is her mother. Lainey Saunders.”

  “I see,” the doctor said, making a physical shift toward Lainey. “Your daughter is awake. She’s a very lucky girl. Although she’s suffered a concussion, her x-rays show no head or neck damage. She’s breathing on her own and showing good respiratory rates. You have to understand, however, there may be some lasting effects of both her time under water, and her concussion, but I’m cautiously optimistic at this point, that she’ll have a full recovery.

  “Ohhh.” Lainey covered her mouth with both hands.

  The tone of Lainey’s reaction matched Duncan’s perfectly. A mixture of incredible joy, relief and thankfulness.

  “I’m going to admit her for observation.” The doctor continued. “We’ll want to watch her over the next 24 hours to watch for signs of pneumonia or respiratory distress.”

  Duncan noticed Lainey biting at her lips.

  “She’s going to need some time.” The doctor cautioned. “She’ll experience some fairly nasty headaches from the concussion. Possibly even a little confusion, early on, so don’t be alarmed if she’s not as responsive as you’d like her to be.”

  He took his glasses off and massaged the bridge of his nose. “The charge nurse will come and let you know where Molly will be. You can wait in her room. They’ll bring her up fairly soon.” He patted Lainey’s arm and left the room.

  “Thank you,” Lainey muttered. “Thank you!” she called after him as the door closed.

  Duncan couldn’t seem to process everything the doctor said. All he heard, all he cared about was; awake, breathing on her own and optimistic for a full recovery.

  There was nothing cautious about his Molly. She’d show them what fight and courage are all about.

  Lainey still seemed a wee bit stunned when she turned to him. She’d just been handed the world and her joy lit up her face.

  “Duncan.” She laid her hands on his chest and lifted her face to his. “You saved her.”

  Her words skittered though him and found the dark hidden corner that had haunted him for years. He shuddered slightly and with a sigh, set it free. “Nay, lass. She saved me.”

  He gathered her into his arms, feeling more alive as a ghost than he had as a mortal. “I love you,” he said, kissing her forehead, her wet cheeks, and finally her mouth. He poured all the love and longing he had into the kiss, knowing it would be their last. Knowing this was the kiss he’d take with him, to last the rest of his eternity, wherever that was.

  When he pulled away, he saw his love reflected in her eyes.

  It was enough.

  “I love you, Duncan.” Her joy lit up her face. “I love you,” she said again, and laughed.

  The air shifted and shimmered as a green mist formed.

  Duncan released Lainey from his embrace, entwining his fingers around hers as he turned to Soncerae. “Thank ye. I’ll no forget yer gift this day.”

  “Please,” Lainey begged, desperation tightening her voice. “Please don’t take him. We need him. Molly and I need him, and he needs us.”

  “I believe we were interrupted. Again.” Soni smiled. “I take it the wee lass is doing better.”

  “She’s been through so much,” Lainey cried. “She won’t understand his leaving. She needs him. I need him.”

  “And what of ye, Duncan Macpherson? Ye
left Culloden Moor with a strong need of yer own. A sworn oath, if I recall.”

  “Aye,” Duncan responded. “I did. But ‘twas before I learned that love,” he turned his gaze on Lainey, “a strong, true love, can banish all hatred and need for vengeance.” Squeezing her hand, he gave his attention back to Soni. “‘Tis a message I wish could be given to what remains of the 79.

  “I can take that back to them, if ye wish. As yer gift.”

  “I’ve no more taste for a meeting with the prince,” Duncan told her. “I forfeit my boon. But I’d know where I’m being sent, if you will?” The cracks in his heart shifted and spread as he prepared himself to leave.

  A mysterious smile spread across Soncerae’s lovely face. “Why, upstairs to Molly’s room, I imagine. She’ll be anxious to see you both.”

  As the mist slowly dissipated, they heard Soni’s parting words…

  “Love well and long.”

  EPILOGUE

  Seven year-old Molly played in the shade of the porch, with a basket of squirming, frolicking puppies. “Look Daddy. This one has one white eye.”

  Duncan reached for the puppy and studied its face. “Aye, lass. ‘Tis a verra special puppy, I’ll wager.”

  “Aye. I wager,” Molly said, putting the puppy back with the others.

  Duncan smiled and reached for Lainey’s hand. “And what have ye in yer basket? Shall we have a peek?”

  Lainey pulled the bassinette closer so they could both see inside. “I believe it’s a fourth generation rancher,” Lainey replied.

  Duncan brushed a thumb down his son’s downy cheek and looked out at the ranch and some of the stock, content in the knowledge that everyone and everything on it were thriving.

  Mark Saunders was behind bars and would be for many years to come. There was nothing to threaten his family now, but happiness.

  Duncan stood, pulled on a pair of gloves and picked up his hat. “I’m going to go work on the new calving barn.” He kissed his wife, and daughter, peeked at his son and stepped out into the Arizona sun.

  If only the 79 could see him now.

  THE END

  Next will be Macbeth’s story!

  Links for the other ghost romances can be found on the book list page.

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  The lads have a website.

  www.ghostsofcullodenmoor.weebly.com

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  About the Author

  Jo Jones lives in the red-rock area of southern Utah. Her roots go deep into the red soil of cattle country, tended by four generations of ranchers.

  She also keeps a tight hold on the ancestral string of her Scottish heritage and keeps a piece of her heart in the Highlands.

  You can reach her personally through her website— www.jojonesauthor.weebly.com .

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