by Diane Darcy
Niall
A Highlander Romance (The Ghosts of Culloden Moor Book 32)
Diane Darcy
www.DianeDarcy.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Niall: ©2017 by Diane Darcy
The Ghosts of Culloden Moor series ©2015 Lesli Muir Lytle
All rights reserved.**
Cover Art design by Kelli Ann Morgan
Dedication
For Melody, because she is awesome.
Contents
Quote
Books In The Series
A Note About The Series
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Epilogue
Up next!
Author note
Books in the series
Also by Diane Darcy
Quote
If one door closes and another one opens, seek help, your house is haunted!
Books In The Series
The Ghosts of Culloden Moor
1. The Gathering
2. Lachlan
3. Jamie
4. Payton
5. Gareth
6. Fraser
7. Rabby
8. Duncan
9. Aiden
10. Macbeth
11. Adam
12. Dougal
13. Kennedy
14. Liam
15. Gerard
16. Malcolm
18. Watson
19. Iain
20. Connor
21. MacLeod
22. Murdoch
23. Brodrick
24. The Bugler
25. Kenrick
26. Patrick
27. Finlay
28. Hamish
29. Rory
30. MacBean
31. Tristan
32. Niall
BRAM IS NEXT!
A Note About The Series
Although the individual stories of Culloden’s 79 need not be read in strict order, The Gathering should definitely be read first to understand what’s going on between the Muir Witch and these Highland warriors from 1746. The Reckoning, Number 79’s story, will finish the series.
The names of Culloden’s 79 are historically accurate in that we have used only the clan or surnames of those who actually died on that fateful day. The given names have been changed out of respect for those brave men and their descendants. If a ghost happens to share the entire name of a warrior, it is purely accidental.
Chapter 1
“Number 36? Are ye there?”
Niall MacDonald remained in the back, unmoving. Soni had called his number? He was to get a chance, as well as the others?
Did Soni not know what he’d done?
When he’d allowed himself to think on it, he’d expected to be the last called, assuming he was called at all.
His moods had been swinging from agitation to depression since the other ghosts had started leaving the moor, and he wouldn’t have been surprised to be left alone with his sins.
Even his father had found little use for him. But then it turned out his da had known the truth of it. He’d needed the beatings, hadn’t he?
After his death upon the moor, only his mother had come to look for him, and only the one time.
His girl had certainly never come.
He simply wasn’t worth it.
Over the years, during his lowest times, there’d been that shameful part of him that hoped he’d left Fiona with a babe in her belly.
That a part of him was left in this world.
Only a man without honor would entertain such notions. More proof that his father had been right about him. It only served to show his character once more, he supposed.
He stared up at the night sky, as black as his heart and soul.
Just when he thought that perhaps he’d misheard the number Soni had called, she said it once again, her clear, musical voice floating to him in the back.
The grumblings among his fellows roused him, and he slowly made his way to the front. The remaining ghosts on the moor closed in behind him, pushing him forward until he stood before the witch.
He’d never gotten this close to her before. Clothed entirely in black, she was beautiful, her face a glowing candle within the darkness of the night.
“Didnae ye hear me, then?” The girl smiled at him, merry and kind. He might have thought she’d be weary by now, fed up with their problems, their needs, but she seemed as fresh as ever.
“My apologies,” he mumbled.
“I’m to send ye somewhere special. I think ye’ll like it.”
“Aye.” His tone was devoid of emotion.
She peered up at him. “Do ye want yer shot at Prince Charlie?”
“Aye.” His duty was the least he could do.
“All right, off with ye, then.” The young witch raised her arms and green started to swirl about her skirts. Close as he was, the mist seemed to suck at him, stirring an echo of feelings he’d long since thought dead.
“Wait!”
Soni’s arms lowered, the green about her skirts disappearing. “Aye? Have ye changed yer mind, then?”
“Tis just that I need to know about a girl.”
Her eyes twinkled. “A girl, is it? Is there a specific one ye have in mind?”
Remembered frustration welled within him. “I didnae join the Jacobite cause, ye ken? I was pressed, my lot foisted upon me.”
His form wavered, bitterness digging claws into him once again. “I was to ask Fiona’s father for her hand. I’d never have left on my own—I swear it. I’d not have deserted her.”
His mouth worked as he tried to find the words. “There was a chance she was with child. I’ve got to know what happened to her. Did she marry? Was there a babe? Was she treated kindly? I must know.” His words came out hurriedly, in a rush. He feared he’d not have the time to state his case, before she sent him on his way.
Soni’s eyes were soft, understanding. “What of Prince Charlie, and his comeuppance?”
“Truthfully, I care not for that at all.”
There were grumblings behind him, complaints that he lacked finer feelings. He knew many upon the moor had trouble remembering their own names, let alone caring about those they’d left behind. The truth of it was that even he couldn’t remember Fiona’s face in the least. It was the wrong he’d done her that ate at him.
In this life, or the next, he had to know the girl was alright.
Soni looked at him, her eyes still
kind. “If that’s the deal ye wish to strike, I agree to yer terms.”
Hope blossomed. “Truly?”
“Ye’ve two days to accomplish a task first. Then I’ll tell ye all ye wish to know.”
“I’ll do anythin’ ye want, lass. Anythin’ ye say.”
The green mist began to swirl about Soni once more, and when the winds seemed to howl this time, he could almost hear voices, and he relaxed into the maelstrom, glad to be taken.
When her phone rang, Jenny Hudson snatched it from off the coffee table, scowled at her slob of a brother, and then sprang off the chair and headed into the other room.
“Hello?”
“It’s Pandora.”
“I know.”
Pandora laughed on the other end. “I know you know. So what are you doing?”
Jenny leaned back so she could look through the kitchen doorway at her brother, the sloth on her couch. “Babysitting.”
Pandora laughed again. “We need to get you a life. Let’s start off by getting you a date. I found this new dating app —”
“No!”
“Come on! You don’t even have to do anything, I’ll put up the profile, I’ll screen the guys, and you go on the dates.”
She heaved a sigh. “Pandora, stop. I’m not doing it.”
“Fine. At least come to dinner tomorrow. Seven o’clock. My little munchkin will be thrilled to see you.”
Jenny was seriously tempted. Little Amanda was one of the few joys in her life at the moment. “I wish I could, but I can’t leave right now.”
“You mean you can’t leave your lame-o brother?”
“Between him and work, I feel like I don’t have any downtime.”
“I don’t see why Zach’s staying with you instead of your parents. Or rather, I should say I don’t see why you’re letting them guilt you into letting him stay with you.”
Pandora had pegged it just right. The only problem was Jenny didn’t know what to do about it. She pulled her hair back from her face. “I know, I know.”
“It’s not your fault he’s been laid off. Is he still playing video games?”
Jenny wanted to defend her brother, and opened her mouth to do so, but Pandora cut her off. “Don’t answer. I can hear the sound effects in the background. You need to get him out of there, Jenny. Before he ruins what little social life you have!”
“That’s the plan.” And it was. She didn’t want her brother in her house, sitting on the couch all day, petting her dog and playing video games. He needed to find a job and get back with his wife.
She still couldn’t believe they’d broken up. They’d had happily ever after handed to them on a platter, and they’d thrown it away.
“He went and bought a motorcycle.”
Pandora made a scoffing noise. “With what money?”
“He sold his car.”
“What would Tina have to say about that?”
“She’d hate it. She’s never let him have one.”
“I guess if he kills himself, he won’t be on your couch anymore.”
Jenny gasped. “Don’t even say that! Anyway, I looked up how to disable a motorcycle on the internet and I pulled the spark plug wire. I think he suspects I did something because he’s pretty annoyed with me at the moment.”
“And how do you feel about him?”
“Are you kidding? How do you think I feel?” He was sitting around her house, eating all of her food, and stealing the affections of her pet. Ever since her brother had moved in, her terrier, Bones, had been more interested in Zach than her. “It’s okay. It’s just for a short while.”
Another snort of disbelief. “So you say.”
“I have a plan.” She had no idea how she was going to pull it off, but she did have one.
“Oh, really? And does it involve finding him a date? Because if you did, maybe I could find one for you, and make it a double.”
Zach was stirring on the couch, no doubt coming to the kitchen for more food, so she headed down the hall to her bedroom and closed the door behind her.
“No, nothing like that. His divorce is final next week, and I’m determined to put a stop to it before it happens.”
“How are you going to do that?” Pandora was genuinely curious.
“I’ve hired a therapist. He should be here any minute.”
“He’s coming to your house? I didn’t know they did that.”
“Generally, they don’t, but I told his secretary I’d pay extra for his services if he’d come out today. It sounded like he might need the money, so I’m hopeful.”
Pandora made a scoffing noise. “Do you honestly think your brother will talk to him?”
“No, I actually don’t believe that. So I’m not going to tell him the guy is a therapist. I’ll just tell him he’s an old friend or something.”
“What does he look like? If he’s cute, say he’s your boyfriend.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t even talked to the guy.”
“Hmm. Don’t get your hopes up. I hate to discourage you, but your plan seems doomed to failure.”
“Well I have to try something; otherwise he’s going to be a permanent fixture in front of my TV.” She plopped down on a chair beside her window.
“You’re right, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to shoot your ideas down. Who knows? Maybe it’ll work.”
A flash of movement on her front lawn caught her eye and sudden hope surged within her. “I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Dinner.” Pandora said before she could hang up. “Seven o’clock tomorrow. If you don’t show, I’m coming to get you.”
“Fine!”
After they hung up, she hurried to answer the door before the man could ring the doorbell.
This had to work.
She wanted her brother out of her house and happy again.
And she wanted her life back.
Niall stumbled about for a bit when the mist cleared until he finally found his footing.
He glanced around. The grass beneath his feet was freshly trimmed and houses extended as far as the eye could see along both sides of the street.
He’d never seen a village this large before and was having a difficult time taking it all in.
He instinctively sucked in air, but astonishment bloomed within him as he did so. He was breathing. He’d actually been given a second chance!
His muscles clenched as he noted his clothing and possessions once more adorned his body. His mind flooded with possibilities.
He could find his girl.
He could claim his life again.
His newly found breath left him in a rush. The witch had not promised any of those things. And that was all right. Answers would be enough.
A rumbling noise sounded from up the street, and he noted a white vehicle coming toward him. Others were parked on stone pads leading from the road to the homes and on the sides of the road itself.
This wasn’t a second chance; this was simply a way station.
He whirled about when a noise sounded behind him.
A lady, fair of feature, had opened the door to the house he stood in front of. She looked like a delicate sprite from a far-off land. Dark hair was pulled up to resemble a horse’s tail, a style he’d seen often in the last decades.
Inquisitive green eyes met his, irises ringed with black, and despite the slimness of her figure, she was tall, perhaps only five inches shorter than himself.
She smiled. “Excuse me? Are you Dr. Salazar? I’m Jenny Hudson.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment, then swallowed, unsure if his voice would even work. “Lass?”
She shut the door and approached him, and he battled the urge to skitter away from her. But the dumbfounded state in which he found himself held him rooted to the spot.
Her gaze traveled from the top of his head to his booted feet and then up to meet his gaze again. “You’re Scottish? And younger than I thought you’d be. Or at least I think you are; it’s sort of hard to tell with that beard you’re sporting.”
“Aye, lass.” He didn’t know what else to say.
She shrugged. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I think we need to get our story straight since I didn’t get the chance to talk to you on the phone earlier.”
“Our story?” Niall felt like he’d stepped into the middle of a dream where confusion ruled the landscape.
The girl suddenly looked uncomfortable, which made Niall realize how relaxed she’d been with him, a complete stranger, just a few seconds ago.
“I could say we’ve just started dating, that you’re my boyfriend.” Her gaze dropped and she blushed.
“Boyfriend?” As in a suitor? To this stunning girl? Nial
l felt his own face heating.
She flapped a hand in the air. “Or better yet, we could say you were someone I knew from college, a friend just stopping by. I could invite you to stay for a day or two if you’re willing?”
“I believe I can give ye two days.”
“Great! Now, what is your first name?”
“Niall.”
“Niall.” She tried his name out, and he liked the way her mouth moved when she said it. “I like it. And you can call me Jenny. Maybe we should give you a different surname in case Zach tries to look you up. Any ideas?”
“MacDonald.”
“Niall MacDonald. I like it. Very Scottish.”
Niall was flushed and confused and all he knew for certain at the moment was that he’d do his duty. The witch had dropped him here, so he supposed his obligation was toward this girl. “Jenny, am I to assist ye in some way?”
She glanced back over her shoulder. “I definitely need your help. Let me just give you the basics. My brother and his wife have had a falling out. They’re about to get divorced, and I would like to stop it if at all possible.”
This was his task then? “I will help ye.”
“Okay. So I want to keep this casual. I know this isn’t the usual way you do things, and I really am willing to pay you extra for making a house call.”
She studied his face again, but he added nothing to the conversation. Finally she lifted a shoulder. “Anyway, I think if we can keep this casual, and not tell him what you do for a living, then maybe we can just play it by ear and see how this goes. How does that sound?”
The lass did not wish her brother to know he was a warrior? Well, he’d also been a farmer at one time, and had been building a house for his future wife. Never in his life had he wished to be a warrior. It had been forced upon him, the decision made when he’d been bashed over the head on behalf of deposed king and country.
