by Jo Jones
“Back where? Mortality? What are you talking about?” She couldn’t make sense of what he was saying. The disappointment, heartbreak, gasoline fumes, Soncerae, green lights—it was all too much. She stared into his eyes. “I’ve trusted you from the moment I met you. For some crazy reason, I trust you now. Please, for the sake of kindness alone, Angus. Just tell me straight. What’s going on?”
His eyes were tender, full of love. “On my honor, Lucy, I swear on my love for ye, that what I’m going tae tell ye, is true.” He waited a few heartbeats. “I’m a ghost.”
Surely, she hadn’t heard him right. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, but nothing came out. She’d trusted him. She actually still trusted him, which made her a fool. “That’s ludicrous.”
“ ’Tis true,” a voice said behind her.
Lucy jumped, twisting away from Angus as she whirled around to see a stunning young girl with a misty green light swirling a foot or so above her long, exquisite cape. The girls face all but glowed with tranquility.
Lucy shook her head in denial. Not possible. Hallucinations from the gas fumes, maybe? How was the girl doing that misty, green circle trick?
“Lucy, this is Soncerae,” Angus said.
When Soncerae smiled, Lucy’s initial spike of fear suddenly, and inexplicably dissipated and she had the preposterous thought that in another time, another scenario, they might be friends. She shook her head, casting the notion aside. Not hardly! She’d come to take Angus away.
“Angus is a ghost.” Soncerae smiled as if people heard those words every day. “He was sent here tae help ye.” The light, almost musical sound of her voice didn’t fit her insane statement.
“Help me?” Lucy questioned.
“ ’Twas her?” Angus said, surprise in his voice. “But I dinna—”
“Dinna what?” Soncerae smiled. “Let’s no’ speak of what ye dinna do, Angus. Let’s speak of what ye did do.”
Lucy looked back and forth between them. It was clear they had some history together, and they seemed to have forgotten her entirely, but she was too stunned to interrupt.
“Did ye no’ teach honor by example tae someone who needed it in order tae find his way? Did ye no’ honor yer word tae me, despite the pain it caused tae yer heart, and hers?” She nodded toward Lucy. “Did ye no honor this woman, above all others, with yer love, yer heart of hearts? And did ye no just save her, and her family, from destruction, mayhap even death?”
“Aye,” Angus whispered. “But I dinna think o’ it, the way ye’re speakin’. ’Twas done for myself only, because I’ve come tae love them, no’ for the boon ye dangled in front of me when I left the moor.”
Soncerae smiled affectionately. “Yer quest is complete, Angus MacLaughlan. Ye’ve earned yer boon. Yer two-day test of mortality is over.”
Angus sighed and nodded. “So, ’tis time, then.” He turned to Lucy and drew her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead before touching his lips to hers in a featherlight kiss. “I’ve only my love tae leave ye, lass. I’m sorry I dinna have a mortal lifetime tae show ye how deep it truly is.”
Lucy didn’t think her heart could shatter any more than it already had. She couldn’t grasp what had just happened. That would take time, but she had all those empty years stretching out ahead of her, to figure it out.
“ ’Tis but a mortal lifetime ye wish for then, Angus?” Soncerae shrugged. “Yer boon grants ye other choices, ye ken?”
A faint glimmer of hope lit up Angus’ face. “All my years have been spent wishing to make my own choices,” he whispered. “To no’ have anyone else, make them for me. Are ye sayin’ I can choose?” His voice was filled with wonder.
“Aye,” Soncerae nodded, her smile wide and generous. “ ’Tis my gift to ye. Ye’ve earned it.”
Angus swallowed, clearly overcome. Lucy’s heart swelled with joy for him, not completely understanding, but sensing he’d been given an extraordinary gift.
“I choose Lucy,” Angus said almost reverently. He took her hand, kissed the back of it and pulled her into his embrace. His kiss was deep and tender and full of wonder.
When they parted, Angus turned toward Soncerae. “I canna thank ye…”
Nothing but darkness surrounded them. When they looked around, they spotted the faintest green light, fading in the distance.
“Angus,” Lucy whispered, slipping her arm around his waist as she raised her face to his. “I can’t quite get my head around what just happened. Does this mean you can stay? There’s so much I don’t understand.”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “Dinna fash, love. ’Twill be a tale for a thousand nights full of kisses and wonder. ’Twill take twice that tae show ye how much I love ye.” He brushed a thumb across her lips. “I believe I’ll start here.”
EPILOGUE
Two years later…
Warmth from the fireplace filled Lucy’s living room, mixing with scents of pine, cinnamon and a freshly baked applesauce pie. Christmas carols played in the background as she knelt by the Christmas tree, picked out a brightly wrapped package and handed it to Grif. “Merry Christmas.”
He shook it and laughed. “A new spatula?”
Lucy gave him a teasing smile. “Like you’d ever give up your old one?”
“Are Matt and his family coming over for pie later?” She asked Blake.
“I think so,” Blake said reaching behind the tree to pull out a large, slim, package. “He wanted to show you the plans for the addition to the café.”
He handed Lucy the package. “Open this one, sis.”
“Thank you, Blake.” She beamed, leaning up to kiss his cheek as she took it from him. She’d hoped for a painting from him, but hadn’t wanted to push. He was flourishing in art school, but she understood he needed to move at his own pace. Focusing on physical therapy during his senior year of high school had done miracles. It helped him regain some of the use of his hand as well as a good deal of confidence.
She lovingly peeled away the wrapping and gasped at what she saw. Tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh! Blake! It’s the day we picnicked in the orchard.” Emotion clogged her throat. “Look, Angus.” She took the painting and sat beside him on the sofa. When Angus saw it, he blinked a few times and cleared his throat. “I ken ’tis the very tree I leaned against, when I first came here.”
“Where you pilfered your first apple?” Grif asked, coming to see the painting.
“Aye, and all the ones, since.” Angus laughed.
Lucy looked in wonder at Blake, and then back at the painting. “I can’t believe you captured this so perfectly. It’s amazing.” She studied the beautiful rendition of her and Angus sitting on a blanket beneath the tree, with baby Grace between them.
“That apple was the best thing I’d ever tasted,” Angus said. “Until I kissed this bonny lass.” He reached for Lucy’s hand and kissed it. “Or…was it this lass?” Lucy smiled as Angus lifted their baby from her carrier and kissed her fat cheek. “I canna decide. I ken I’ll have tae keep testing both.”
He settled Grace on his lap and nodded to Blake. Lucy could see the pride in his eyes. “Thank ye, Blake. ’Tis a precious gift. ’Twill go above the fireplace, where I can gaze at both my bonny lassies, every time I pass.”
“Yes,” Lucy added, her voice thick with emotion. Next to all of you, this is the best gift I’ve ever received. I absolutely adore it.”
Blake nodded and shrugged. “I’ve still got a lot to learn, but I guess it’s better than slashes of black and red, right?” He shared a secret smile with Angus.
“And what about ye?” Angus asked. “Where do ye and yer intended plan tae honeymoon?”
Blake wiggled his eyebrows and grinned. “We’re going to Scotland. She wants to do some research for a book she’s writing, and I plan to paint a lot of lochs and castles. And I hear the moors are beautiful that time of year.”
“Aye.” Angus agreed. “They are. So beautiful, in fact, ’tis possible tae feel as if ye’ve d
ied there, and been reborn.”
Angus winked at Lucy and drew her close. Baby Grace cooed in his lap as Grif added another log to the fire, and Blake went to call his fiancé.
It may have taken a few centuries, but he was finally home.
THE END
THE REAL LUCY’S CHUNKY-APPLESAUCE & APPLESAUCE-CUSTARD PIE RECIPIES
~ ~ ~
QUICK CRUST FOR LUCY’S APPLESAUCE-CUSTARD PIE
(single crust)
1 ¼ C Flour
1 Tbl Sugar
¼ tsp Salt
1 Stick Butter – Cut into ¼ in cubes – kept cold
4-4 ½ Tbls Ice Cold Water
Mix flour, sugar and salt in stand mixer. Add cold butter and stir the butter in the flour with a fork until all the butter is coated with flour. Turn mixer on medium until the flour and butter is coarsely mixed. The butter pieces should be no larger than small peas. If you still have large pieces, use a fork or pastry cutter until it is mixed. Add the water and mix on low speed just until the dough pulls together.
Transfer dough to floured work surface, pat into a ball and flatten. (No need to chill dough, roll out immediately) Lightly flour rolling pin and roll out, turning a quarter turn every so often until about 1/8 inch thick. Makes enough dough for one 9-inch single crust.
PIE FILLING FOR LUCY’S APPLESAUCE-CUSTARD PIE
¼ C Butter, softened
1 C White Sugar
2 Eggs
2 C Chunky Applesauce
¼ tsp vanilla
½ tsp cinnamon, plus ¼ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbl Brown Sugar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Mix butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. Add applesauce, vanilla, ½ tsp cinnamon, brown sugar and mix thoroughly. Pour mixture into unbaked pie shell. Sprinkle top lightly with ¼ tsp cinnamon. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes or until center is set.
Serve warm with ice cream, or whipped cream,
~ ~ ~
TRADITIONAL CRUST FOR LUCY’S CHUNKY-APPLESAUCE PIE
(double crust)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1tsp salt
1 stick cold butter (put in freezer for 30 minutes)
1 cup vegetable shortening (put in freezer 30 minutes)
1 egg
5-6 tsps cold water
1 tsp distilled white vinegar
Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Using a cheese grater, grate in the butter and shortening into the bowl with flour. Using either a pastry cutter or fork, gradually work the butter and shortening into the flour until the mixture resembles small crumbs.
Crack egg into a bowl and beat with a fork, then add to flour mixture. Next, add in the cold water, vinegar, and salt. Stir the mixture together until it's just combined.
Separate dough in half. Place each half into a large Ziploc plastic freezer bag. Once in freezer bag, flatten with hand or rolling pin until about ½ inch thick. Place dough in freezer until ready to use.
When ready to use take dough from freezer and let thaw for about 15 minutes. Sprinkle your surface with flour and roll dough out to ½ inch wider than the pie plate (trim bottom crust even with pie plate. Use extra ½ inch on top crust to tuck under the bottom crust. Crimp. If the dough is sticky on top, sprinkle with flour.
Bake at 425* for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Place aluminum foil on top of pie to prevent excessive browning if necessary.
Serve with whipped cream.
CHUNKY-APPLESAUSE PIE FILLING
10 Granny Smith apples
½ large lemon
2 ½ cups sugar
3 Tbl butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbl flour
1 egg
1 tsp salt
(for the top crust)
2 Tbl sugar (for top of crust
pie crust dough (double crust)
Peel apples and cut into small cubes. Place apples, sugar, lemon, and salt in Dutch oven on medium heat. Cut the ½ lemon in 2 to 3 pieces, remove seeds, and place in dutch oven with apples. Cook for 35 minutes stirring often. Remove from heat and discard lemon pieces. Stir in flour using a whisk. Add butter, cinnamon and vanilla, and let cool
Place one of the pie crusts in 9-inch pie pan, trim at edge of edge of pan. Add applesauce mixture into crust. Place remaining pie crust over applesauce mixture leaving about ½ inch over edge of pie pan. Fold top pie crust under edge of bottom crust and crimp. Beat egg and brush top of pie crust. Sprinkle 2 Tbls of sugar on top of egg mixture.
Bake at 425* for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Place aluminum foil on top of pie to prevent excessive browning if necessary.
Serve warm with ice cream, whipped cream, or a drizzle of whole cream.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jo Jones lives in the red-rock area of southern Utah, where she keeps a tight hold on the ancestral string of her Scottish heritage and keeps a piece of her heart in the Highlands.
With a lifetime love of reading and writing, she has a soft spot for richly detailed historical novels with characters who draw their strength and purpose from the land and their environment. And of course, each other.
You can sign up for her newsletter to learn of new releases, or reach her personally through her website— www.jojonesauthor.weebly.com or on Facebook at Jo Jones - author Follow her on her Amazon author page at Jo Jones author
If you’ve missed Duncan’s or Rory’s stories, go here
Duncan
Rory
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Coming next from The Ghosts of Culloden Series
Bram
