A McMillan Christmas - A Novella: Book 7.5 of Morna’s Legacy Series

by Bethany Claire

  He shook his head to clear his mind as he neared the castle’s side entrance. Melancholy thoughts would not help him give his castle guests the tour they deserved. Turning off the car’s engine, Kamden hurried inside, stomping on the doorway rug to remove the snow from his boots. He could smell Margaret’s baking and happily followed the smell.

  When he entered the kitchen, Sileas, who lay happily at Margaret’s feet hoping to catch some kitchen droppings, spotted him and let out his signature whine as he bounded toward him nearly knocking Margaret’s feet right out from under her.

  “Why, ye naughty dog. Do ye mean to make me break a hip? What are ye carrying on about?”

  Kamden extended his arms wide as Margaret saw him. He braced himself for what was sure to be a rough impact as she ran toward him. He hugged her close as she reached him.

  “I dinna expect to see ye for at least another week. Is the weather what has brought ye here?”

  Of course Margaret would guess his reasons for coming early.

  “Aye, but I mustna stay and visit just now. I’ve a mind to lead the last tour today. Do ye think Alfred will mind?”

  Margaret kept a hand on his lower back as she ushered him from the kitchen.

  “No, not at all. I expect he’ll be verra pleased. He’s come down with a bit of a cold. His voice has nearly left him completely. In truth, yer timing couldna be better.”

  “Good.” He paused, the suggestion of his comment sinking in. “Not good that he’s ill. Good that he will…eh, never mind. Ye understand what I mean. I canna wait to taste yer pudding. I’ll see ye later.”

  Kamden bent to kiss her cheek and hurried to find Alfred before the castle’s last Christmas tour.

  * * *

  On The Road To McMillan Castle

  * * *

  “Is this outing truly necessary, Morna? I know ye feel that ye are rather invincible, and I suppose ye actually are, but ’twould do ye good to remember that I am not of the supernatural. If we crash on these icy roads, it could do me in.”

  Morna laughed as she sped across the snow-laden countryside, not reducing her speed a bit at her husband’s words. After all the times she’d used her magic to bring people together through time travel, he should be accustomed to her shenanigans by now.

  “Jerry, we’ve already discussed this. Of course ’tis necessary. Do ye really think I would be dragging either of us out in this weather if ’twas not? I have spent so much energy tending to the needs of my family that reside in the past that I’ve done a rather poor job of tending to relatives in the present. There is a lad verra much in need of my aid this evening.”

  “Does this lad know that he requires yer help?”

  “Of course not. Do they ever? I hardly see how that matters at all, Jerry.”

  Jerry laughed. It pleased Morna to know that he didn’t plan on being miserable for the entirety of their outing.

  “Ye are right, love. It matters not. What of the lass—does she live in a time already past? Do ye mean to send him back?”

  Time travel was her signature spell. While a form of it would be employed for her next pair of destined lovers, she had a new twist up her sleeve for this night.

  “She lives verra much in the present—a modern lassie for a modern man. Aye, they will both travel backwards though in a different way than before. ’Tis a new spell. I verra much hope it works.”

  “Ye know it will work. They always do.”

  Morna could sense that Jerry was tense as she slowed her speed and turned into the driveway leading to the castle. The gate and ticket booth were closed and not a single car could be seen past the gate.

  “I think we’ve arrived too late, Morna. It looks as if they’ve closed for the day. Mayhap longer than that if this weather keeps up.”

  She refrained from rolling her eyes at him. How had he not already guessed that she’d ensured they would arrive at precisely the time she intended?

  “Jerry, I can see the castle is closed. ’Twill do little to keep us from entering. I wish to speak to the lad, and I’ll hardly be able to do that if the castle is crawling with tourists.”

  “Aye, fine, but how do ye expect to explain yer sudden intrusion into the man’s home?”

  “Ye of little faith, Jerry. Why doona ye just wait and see? Follow my lead. I’ll have us both back home in time for supper.”

  Chapter 3

  “Has everyone cleared out? Ye dinna rush them, did ye?” Kamden directed his question to Alfred as all of the other castle workers began to fill the entryway. He knew the man felt terrible from the redness of his nose and the pasty pallor of his cheeks, but he’d specifically instructed that no tourist be ushered out of the castle until they were good and ready to leave. If he was going to have to close a full five days early, then he would allow the last tourists of the season as much time as they wanted to wander around inside.

  “No rushing was required. I believe everyone can tell the weather is about to take a turn for the worst. I think they were all ready to seek shelter elsewhere.”

  “I doona doubt it.” Kamden leaned to the left of the large doorway, glancing out the paned windows at a sea of white stretching beyond the front lawn of the castle all the way to the pond. The frosty waters of McMillan’s pond were already beginning to freeze. By Christmas, it would be frozen through. “Where is Margaret?”

  “I’m right here. Hold yer horses, ye impatient man. While everyone else’s work ends when the last guest leaves, mine never ceases.”

  Kamden smiled and gratefully took the steaming mug of coffee Margaret extended in his direction.

  “Aye, while what ye say is usually true, it is no longer the case. Not this winter. I have come home early to see this place shut down until well after the New Year. Weather reports predict record-breaking snowfall and ice. I willna have a one of ye out here putting yerself in danger. Nor will I have tourists wandering out here during such a mess. I simply want to meet with all of ye to tell ye to have the verra merriest of Christmases and to leave here at once. As always, I appreciate everything ye do for me here, but I can manage just fine for the time being without ye. Doona forget to pick up yer bonuses next to the doorway before ye leave. We will open back up in March.”

  Kamden knew the only protest would come from Margaret. Everyone else would be thrilled to spend a few more days with their loved ones before Christmas. What Margaret didn’t know was that once he told her the surprise he had in store for her, she would be just as ready to abandon him as the rest.

  “Ye surely canna mean me, as well? What will ye do for food? I willna leave ye here to starve. I believed I was to have five more days to prepare and freeze enough food to keep ye fed and well for the next month. I need that five days. I willna be leaving until my work is completed.”

  “Margaret, if ye insist on staying, ye may go to the kitchen and do what ye can for the next few hours. I’ll see everyone else off, settle myself into my chambers, and then I’ll discuss yer early departure with ye in private. Make no mistake, I’ll be seeing ye safely home before dusk.”

  He could see from the way her stance shrunk just an inch that she believed there was no point in arguing with him. Her surrender would be short lived. He had no doubt that by the time he went to see her in the kitchen, she would be ready to debate the matter with him once again. He waited until she turned and left the room to bid everyone else farewell.

  “Ye are a fine man, Kamden. I would’ve sat at my post without complaint until the end of the season, but I did fear that the loss of my toes would be the price I would pay for my loyalty to ye. Thank ye for yer kindness.”

  Kamden knew that Henderson joked, but the man’s words brought up a valid concern.

  “Is there no heater in the ticket booth? Ye should have said something long before now.”

  “Aye, there is, but every time I open the window to greet the next guests, all the warm air disappears.”

  “We will come up with a better solution for ye before we open ag
ain. For now, go and ready yer home for all of the grandchildren I know must be headed yer way.”

  “Aye, they are. I canna wait to squeeze them.”

  The old man’s build was broad and harsh, but his face and smile were friendly, and he never looked happier than when he spoke of his grandchildren.

  The impending sadness of a Christmas spent all alone would be worth it to him if everyone he cared for could fill their holiday in the company of those they loved most.

  Kamden opened his arms to hug Henderson. As the old man left, he said goodbye, one by one, to those that worked to keep his castle and home a wondrous delight for all its guests.

  After he saw everyone save Margaret gone, he turned to grab his jacket, intent on gathering his belongings from his car. Instead, as he walked outside, he was met by an elderly couple making their way to the front door of the castle. Snow swirled around them, and they both looked like they were about to blow over from the force of the wind. Too shocked by their sudden appearance to say anything else, he hurried to offer them assistance.

  “Let me help ye. ’Tis too cold for either of ye to be out in such weather.”

  The couple, both seemingly battered by the wind and snow, said nothing as he moved in between them and placed an arm around each to help them walk.

  He glanced back at the castle gates as they moved together and was surprised to find them standing wide open. Henderson’s car was already gone. It was unlike him to leave without making sure the gate was secured.

  Once inside, he released his grip. The woman, after taking a moment to dust snow from her coat, spoke for the first time.

  “Oh thank ye, lad. We had no idea the weather would turn so ghastly. No wonder we seem to be the only tourists here this day. Please tell me ye are still giving tours.”

  Kamden quietly took them both in for a moment. They’d appeared so frail to him as he watched them trudging through the snow up to the doors, but now as they stood brushing themselves off, they appeared anything but.

  “Doona ye watch the news? This weather has been forecast for some time.”

  Kamden couldn’t help but think that the old woman was a little too quick with her response to him.

  “We doona have a television. Ye know how the forecast goes anyway. It seems they are only right half of the time.”

  While that was true, it still did little to explain their presence. Did they not notice the empty ticket booth even if the gate was open?

  “Well, I canna disagree with ye. Excuse my rudeness, but ye must have passed the ticket booth on yer way here. Dinna ye notice that it was unmanned? I’m afraid that we’ve already closed for the winter season due to the weather. Allow me to escort ye safely back to yer car. I suggest ye hurry home and tuck in for the storm.”

  Neither of them moved at his suggestion. By their expressions, he didn’t think they were surprised to hear that the castle was closed.

  “I did see that the ticket booth was closed, but seeing as the gate was open and it is so verra cold outside, I simply assumed that ye had moved sales to inside the castle. Surely, even if ye are closed, ye willna turn us away for we are here now and drove three hours to reach ye. My husband loves Christmas, and he has looked forward to seeing McMillan’s Christmas decorations all year. Ye willna disappoint him, will ye?”

  Kamden eyed the old man and saw nothing that resembled disappointment on his face. If anything, he looked rather amused at his wife’s ramblings.

  Regardless, the woman was right about one thing—they were already here. What would it really hurt for him to give one last tour of the season? If anything, Margaret would be thrilled to have two more people with whom to share her bread pudding.

  “Right ye are. Why doona ye hang yer coats and follow me? I’ll see that ye have the grandest of all tours.”

  Chapter 4

  McMillan Castle

  * * *

  Normal group tours of the castle lasted exactly forty-five minutes. Alfred would show each group of visitors around the main common areas of the castle, bring them down to the castle kitchens, and then upstairs to see two of the castle’s twelve bedrooms. The tour always ended in the great room. During warmer months, a tour of the castle gardens was also provided. Even during the Christmas season, when slightly more time was taken to explain the various decorations in each room, tours never lasted longer than an hour.

  This tour, however, with its talkative and questioning couple, had already gone on for an hour and a half. Eager to see Margaret off before nightfall, Kamden eventually turned to address the elderly couple behind him, intent on informing them that their private tour had come to an end.

  “And now, we’ve reached the end of our tour. All of the rooms past me are my own private chambers and are not open to guests. It would help ease my worry a great deal if ye would allow me to escort ye to yer vehicle so that ye may travel home before the weather grows worse.”

  The woman—who he now knew was named Morna—spoke as if he’d said nothing about ending the tour.

  “Private chambers, ye say? Why, I’ve always wondered how a modern man would live in such an ancient castle. Surely ye have yer own rooms done up differently than the rest of the castle?”

  He answered hesitantly. The woman seemed to be an expert at extending conversations.

  “Aye…they have been altered significantly.”

  Kamden didn’t miss the ornery lift of the old woman’s smile. Dread filled him.

  “Would ye mind ever so much if I looked inside? Ye giving us a tour made my husband’s night, but this would truly make mine. If ye will only let me inside for a moment, I promise ye we will leave straight away.”

  Under most circumstances, he would have denied the woman’s request. No guests were permitted inside this wing of the castle, but he knew there was really no harm in letting her look. He’d yet to unload his belongings from his car so he knew the room would be in pristine condition.

  His arms were crossed, but he lifted a hand to point one finger in Morna’s direction.

  “Aye, fine. Ye may look but then ye must leave straight away. I willna have ye stuck out in this weather. And please doona take any photographs inside these rooms.”

  “O’ course. Thank ye.”

  Morna smiled brightly at him as he reached to open the door to his living quarters. It stretched the length of the hallway. Rooms for any personal guests he might have lined the other side of the hall.

  An idea occurred to him as he ushered them inside, and he hurried to follow through on it in order to ensure their quick departure from the castle.

  “Why doona the two of ye look around in here all ye like? I trust ye not to touch or take anything. While ye look, I shall go and start yer car and bring it directly to the front door.”

  Morna’s husband, Jerry, stepped toward him, whispering so that Morna couldn’t hear.

  “God bless ye man, for this and for putting up with my wife for these last hours. Ye are a saint among men. I would’ve turned us both away at the door.”

  Kamden smiled and gave the man a firm pat on the back. He’d known all along that the old man cared little about seeing the inside of his home.

  “It was my pleasure. I’ll meet the two of ye downstairs.”

  * * *

  Kamden wasn’t sure he should allow the couple to leave. The snow fell so thick and heavy that he doubted Margaret’s ability to make it home, and she only lived a mile away. This couple had much further to go. Still, when he offered them a room, they refused it, and for a reason he couldn’t quite explain, when the old woman told him she could manage the trip home just fine, he believed her.

  She hugged him tightly before they left. There was a grandmotherly grip to her hug that made him feel as if he’d known the eccentric woman all his life. Despite the poor timing and odd circumstances of their arrival, he found himself rather sad to see them go.

  “What are ye doin’ just standing out there? They passed through the gate long ago. Come inside and l
et me show ye what I’ve prepared for ye.”

  He turned toward Margaret’s voice, brushing the snow off of his arms and shoulders as he walked.

  “I’m sorry it took me so long. I dinna expect them to stay for hours. It would have been best if I’d denied their request for a tour.”

  “Oh, doona say that. ’Tis Christmastime. I’m sure yer kindness meant much to them. I’ve only managed to prepare a week’s worth of meals for ye. I would really prefer it if ye let me stay here until Christmas Eve so that I may see ye better settled. I truly doona mind.”

  Kamden smiled. He couldn’t wait to see Margaret’s excitement at his news.

  “Ye canna stay. Someone awaits ye at home.”

  He watched as Margaret’s brows rose high on her forehead, but she showed no excitement as she eyed him suspiciously.

  “Who? Doona tell me ’tis Emily and the babe. I may fall over from joy if it is.”

  Kamden took a step closer to her—just in case she actually did.

  “I hope that ye doona fall, but I’ll catch ye if ye do. Aye, ’tis Emily, the babe, and yer new son-in-law, too. I picked them up at the airport early this morning and saw them to yer home before I came here.”

  Margaret’s arms came around him in an instant. He could feel her sobbing as he held on to her tightly. Her daughter lived in Australia with her new husband and baby, and Margaret had yet to meet either of them.

  “Doona cry or ye shall make me cry, as well. I couldna verra well allow ye to miss the child’s first Christmas, could I? Now, ye needn’t show me a thing as I know verra well that ye have left detailed instructions on how I should heat everything. Gather yer things and let me see ye home.”