The Legend Mackinnon

by Donna Kauffman

  She leaned back and fiddled with her spoon. “I like you Cailean Claren. I’m glad serendipity worked in our favor.”

  Cailean’s easy smile tightened a bit. “Well, I’m not sure how serendipitous this is.”

  Delaney’s smile faded. “You mean because of that business upstairs? Listen, I’m really sorry about all that. You want to tell me what’s going on with that?”

  “It’s not the simple story you might imagine it to be.”

  The smart smile returned. “There ain’t nothing simple about a man like the one you got stashed upstairs. Where did you dig him up?”

  Cailean laughed despite the knot of nerves in her stomach. “I met him here.”

  “You’re recent acquaintances? Man, I’m rustier than I thought. I’m usually a dead-on judge of people. It comes in handy in my line of work. I had you two pegged as having quite an involved, complex relationship.”

  “Bullseye.”

  Delaney leaned forward. “So, spill. Was it one of those instant passion kind of things? He seems rather the instant passion sort, in a bottled up, super controlled kind of way.” She winked. “Uncorking it can be pretty exciting, huh?”

  Cailean just sat there.

  “I’m overwhelming you, aren’t I? Just tell me to butt out.”

  “No, it’s not that. I guess I wouldn’t have pegged someone in your line of work as being such a romantic.”

  Delaney wasn’t offended. “I am most definitely a romantic.”

  “I would have thought, seeing what you must see, dealing with terrorists and that sort of devastation, that you’d be, I don’t know, more cynical.”

  “Well then, I might as well give up if that was the case, right? If the world has already gone to hell, then what’s the point?”

  “I never thought about it that way.”

  “It’s because I believe in hope and passion and the power of love that I do what I do.”

  The intensity, the heart she imbued in that one simple statement spoke volumes for the woman she was. “I think I like you, too, Delaney Claren.”

  She grinned. “I’m hard to resist. Like the plague.”

  The waitress came back with their order and then Cailean said, “There are some things we really should talk about. Other than the property I mean.”

  “Shoot.” Delaney made short work of her roast, then proceeded to demolish two rolls. She caught Cailean staring and grinned sheepishly. “I’m cursed with the metabolism of the Tasmanian Devil.”

  “I could think of worse curses,” Cailean said.

  Delaney paused in the middle of buttering her third roll. “You say that like you have a specific one in mind. So, what is your curse? Besides having gorgeous long blonde hair and a man to drool for?”

  “A man you recently flipped like a pancake.”

  “Yeah well, you had to admit he had that coming.” She laughed when Cailean was unable to conceal her grin. “You want me to teach you?”

  “I just might.”

  She nodded approvingly. “Okay. We were talking curses. Spill.”

  Deciding bluntness would not be a problem with her new cousin, she did exactly that. “I have what’s called second sight.”

  “Really? Meaning, what, like you see the future or something?”

  Nothing fazed this woman. It was disconcerting, but also incredibly freeing. “In a vague, frustrating way, yes.”

  “And that’s why you left Peru to come to Scotland?”

  “No, I left Peru to go to North Carolina. That’s where my share of Lachlan’s legacy accidentally ended up.”

  “Talk about losing your luggage. How did that happen?”

  “Well, I’m not your only new cousin. There’s another one. Her name is Maggie. She inherited a cabin Lachlan owned in the Smokey Mountains. When they couldn’t find me, they sent the trunk containing Lachlan’s journals to her.”

  “More family? I love this! So, have you met her? Do we like her?”

  Cailean grinned at the phrasing. “We like her.”

  “Oh, this is so cool. Is she still in North Carolina?”

  “Actually, when I got your message, I thought it was from her at first. I begged her to come with me, but she’s got some, well, loose ends to tie up.”

  “I know the feeling. As wonderful as it is to find out you had some crazy old relative who died and left you a mountain in Scotland, it’s an amazingly complicated ordeal to sort out. Wait a minute.” She frowned. “I get a mountain, she gets a cabin and all you get is a lousy trunk full of old diaries?”

  “It’s okay,” Cailean assured her. “Actually, I think I got exactly what I needed to get. It all ties in.” She put her cracker down. “There’s more. It’s complicated and sort of well, a little weird. Okay, a lot weird. You’re probably going to think I’m nuts.”

  “No, I’ve seen nuts. Trust me, you’re not it. So the journals are part of why you’re here?”

  Cailean nodded. “Lachlan spent most of his life researching what he called the Legend MacKinnon.”

  Delaney interrupted. “So the meeting with Mr. MacKinnon upstairs was no accidental bumping of elbows?”

  “Actually, I had no idea he existed, or rather, still existed, until he found me. Lachlan’s wife was a MacKinnon. He lost her when they were both young. He spent the rest of his life researching her history, and his—ours—and discovered what he believed is a curse that has lasted between our two clans for three hundred years.”

  Delaney dropped her roll. “A curse? Oh, this is better than stories around a campfire. And you believe it’s real? What kind of curse?”

  “Whenever MacKinnon and Claren descendants from the original clans have married, it has always turned to tragedy for one or the other or both.” She explained her and Maggie’s connections to the curse.

  “Well, my mom was a Hainey,” Delaney said, then her eyes went wide. “But, whoa, now this is really weird. My mom was adopted. So I guess it’s possible she might have been a MacKinnon.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “I was too young. After my parents died, I went to live with a cousin from my mom’s side of the family. We never really talked much about my background.”

  “Is anyone still living that would know?”

  “No, but I have a some boxes of family papers and stuff. A bunch of it came from my parents’ house and was stashed away. I never really wanted to look into it all. You know, move forward, don’t tangle yourself up in the past. I kept it all, though. Maybe there’s some reason for that.”

  “I think we just do what we have to. I’ve become a great believer in destiny. I feel like we’ve all been drawn here for a reason.”

  “What do you mean? Did you have some sort of ‘vision’ about all of this?”

  Cailean sipped her tea then set her cup down. “Yes. The visions have become more intense lately, to the point that I couldn’t ignore them. I had received word about my inheritance, but I was working on the project of my career and I didn’t want to take the time to hunt the trunk down. But soon it became clear that if I wanted any peace of mind, I would have to.”

  “And then you met Maggie, found out you had a cousin.”

  “I’ll tell you about her story later. She was also running, but for entirely different reasons. But she wasn’t alone.”

  Delaney grinned now. “The plot thickens. Another man enters the picture?”

  Despite her nerves, she almost smiled. “You do read situations well,” she said. “Yes, a man. In fact, it’s Rory’s brother.”

  Delaney did a slight exaggerated shudder. “Now, that’s too weird a coincidence.”

  “Oh, you haven’t gotten to the weird part,” Cailean assured her. “And it was no coincidence. That is what I meant by the destiny part. It’s all tied up in the legend.”

  “The Legend MacKinnon. MacKinnon meaning these two guys. Maybe you’d better tell me more about this legend, or curse, or whatever it is. How does it involve me?”

  “I’m not sure yet,
except he left you the land and there’s things about that you don’t know about either. While I was still in North Carolina, I read all of Lachlan’s journals and learned all about the curse. It started three hundred years ago, with three MacKinnon brothers.”

  Delaney was riveted as Cailean went on to explain the rest, including the three Claren sisters, ending with the cabin in North Carolina.

  Delaney listened, completely enraptured.

  “So, he apparently tracked down much of the property that was owned by Clarens at that time.”

  “Like my mountain here?”

  “Yes. You own the land where the MacKinnons fought the Clarens for the last time.”

  “I need another pint.” Delaney waved for the waitress and lifted her glass.

  “When Duncan disappeared and didn’t return, they betrothed the youngest son to Kaithren, who was said to be a far more powerful seer than her sister Edwyna. She was also rumored to be in cahoots with the faeries—”

  “Did you say fairies?”

  Cailean nodded.

  “I’ve known cultures to believe in things just as fantastical. Why not, right? Makes a good legend.”

  Cailean was frankly amazed that Delaney was taking this all as well as she was, but that didn’t mean she was truly believing it. Still, this was a better start than she could have hoped for. “Something happened between the two the night before their wedding. And Kaithren cast a curse on him and refused to marry him. A battle began in earnest then with the youngest son in the thick of it.”

  “What happened to them?”

  “It was rumored that Kaithren fled to the faery world, but I know now that she was killed in the battle. The youngest son, Rory, survived.”

  Delaney grabbed her arm. “Did you say Rory?”

  Cailean held Delaney’s gaze firmly and nodded. “John Roderick MacKinnon, known as Rory, youngest son of Calum MacKinnon.”

  Delaney lifted her gaze pointedly to the ceiling then back to Cailean. “And the Rory presently upstairs? A descendant?”

  This was the moment of truth. Cailean shook her head slowly.

  Delaney stared at her. Then, very quietly, she said, “And the brother currently in North Carolina with Maggie? His name is …?”

  “Duncan.” Cailean drew a breath. “Second son of Calum MacKinnon.”

  Her face paled and her eyes went wide. “You’re not suggesting …”

  “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  “And Rory upstairs?” She slapped her palm on the table. “No way. He’s as flesh and blood as they come.”

  “Well, Duncan is every bit as hot blooded and fleshed out, trust me. But Rory isn’t a ghost.”

  “Oookay.”

  “It turns out there is some truth to the rumors about Kaithren. I don’t know the origins of her powers, but she did cast a curse on him.”

  Delaney slumped back in her chair.

  Cailean smiled. “I know I’m asking you to take a lot in here, and much of it on faith. I think you should read the journals. They explain it better than I can. Maggie has them now. And you probably still think I’m nuts and I don’t blame you, but, well, it’s hard to refute the facts when they are living and breathing and inhabiting the bodies of some very realistic men.”

  “So Rory is … what?”

  “Immortal.”

  Delaney let her head fall with a thunk to the table, drawing the attention of several diners around them. “Yeah, right. I knew that,” came the muffled reply.

  Cailean darted a gaze around, but there were no eyes on them now. “You must think I’m crazy.”

  Delaney was silent, then shook her head as she slowly lifted it. “No. I’ve met lunatics. They think they’re logical and, in their twisted minds, they even think what they do has a rational, plausible explanation. But there’s no doubting they’re insane.” She leaned back and blew out a breath. “You, on the other hand, are far too rational and sane to believe in something this fantastical … unless … unless …” She ran a hand over her short hair, making it stick up in all directions. “Unless it were true.”

  “I know this is a lot to take in. But wait until you read the journals before you make a final judgement. Please.”

  “Deal.” Delaney seemed to relax a bit then. “What about Maggie? Does she know that … you know.” She laughed again. “Christ, I can’t even say it.”

  “That Duncan is a ghost? Yes, she knows.” Now Cailean smiled. “You have to meet her. She wasn’t any happier about the situation than you are.”

  “And the two of them are …?” She crossed her fingers.

  Cailean nodded.

  Delaney’s suddenly went wide. “Oh! I just got it. About the mountain and Rory and his war comment. The land I inherited from Lachlan is—”

  “Was, his. Yes. The Clarens defeated the MacKinnons that day and took their land and their castle.”

  “There’s a castle? But the solicitor said it was just a mountain. He didn’t mention any ruins or—”

  “It’s more complicated than that.”

  “Of course it is,” Delaney agreed, though it was obvious she had no idea why. “So this is why he wants it back? Wait.” She held up her hand. “Back up a little. Why did you come here?”

  Cailean was relieved to see Delaney think like the strategist she was. She might not know it yet, but she believed. And she was just as involved as her two cousins. Cailean couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all somehow preordained. “I wasn’t planning to come to Scotland until I read his journals. Lachlan is convinced that there is a key to the curse.” She explained about the Claren Key and Lachlan’s belief in an actual key that would unlock the curse.

  “So you took up his quest,” Delaney said when she finished. “How did Rory find you?”

  “I was at Lachlan’s grave. He had himself buried in an ancient MacKinnon graveyard on what is now your property.”

  “And Rory?”

  “Lives in the area as well.”

  “I guess he’s really not happy about me being here then, huh? Or selling his heritage away.”

  “You could say that.”

  “And now the two of you are …?”

  Cailean felt her cheeks heat, which was ridiculous at this point. “Yes, we are.”

  “This is not a good pattern I see developing here. You of all people ought to recognize that. I mean, Maggie and Duncan, you and Rory, Clarens and MacKinnons—especially these MacKinnons. God, I’m open-minded, but even I can’t believe I’m having this conversation.”

  “We’re all here for a reason, Delaney. I am the key to all of this. If I can figure it out, maybe I can break Rory’s curse, and mine too.”

  Delaney said nothing for a moment, then finally, “Does Rory know about his brother?”

  “Yes. In fact, we were leaving for North Carolina when I got your message.”

  “Ah, so that explains the tension in the room when I showed up. I gather he’s not too thrilled about waiting.”

  “No. But I was trying to convince him to stay. We need to stay here. I can feel it.”

  She fiddled with her napkin. “So, what can I do in all this?”

  “I’m not sure. I just knew I had to meet you, see you, talk to you. I can’t buy the land, Delaney. I don’t have the money, either. But you can’t sell it. I mean, to just anyone.” She leaned forward and laid her hand over her cousin’s. “Would you consider talking to Rory? He’s never cared who owned the paper to the land, he has sort of different opinions on ownership and things like that. But I think he might change his mind now.”

  “After what went on upstairs you want me to offer to sell it to him?” She snorted.

  “Please?”

  Delaney scowled.

  “Believe me. It will be just as humbling for him to admit he wants to own it in the eyes of the law as it will be for you to back down on your word and offer it to him.”

  “He has the money?”

  Cailean nodded. “I don’t think that is a
problem for him. I don’t know how long it would take to get his hands on it. I’m, uh, not sure of his banking methods.”

  Delaney opened her mouth to comment, then shut it again and slowly shook her head. “This is all starting to sink in now. I’m the truly crazy one.” She laughed. “Okay. Maybe we can work something out.”

  Cailean beamed. “You won’t be sorry, I promise.”

  “Don’t make promises you don’t know if you can keep,” she warned, but she was smiling too. They sat in silence for a moment or two, then Delaney said, “You know, I’m not so sure I can just sell the land and walk away.”

  Alarmed, Cailean said, “What?”

  “I mean, I have to sell it, I can’t keep it, that’s not what I mean. But I’m involved in this now, and I can’t simply walk away and ask you to drop me a postcard and let me know how it all works out. I want to help you with the hunt. And I want to meet Maggie. We need to work on getting her over here. It makes sense, doesn’t it? The three remaining Claren women? And Duncan, too. We have to reunite the brothers. Oh God, does he look like Rory?”

  There was a sudden commotion at the door.

  Cailean’s heart stopped and a tingle crawled down her spine. This time it wasn’t dread. It was pure unadulterated excitement.

  “You be the judge,” she said to Delaney, whose head had turned with the rest of the diners.

  Maggie and Duncan burst past the poor desk clerk and invaded the restaurant.

  Her cousin’s eyes bulged. “Dear Lord have mercy,” she breathed.

  Grinning, Cailean got up from her chair. “Do they look like brothers to you?”

  TWENTY-SIX

  Rory heard the rumbling voice all the way upstairs and froze. It couldn’t be.

  “Duncan,” he breathed.

  His anger at the Claren women disappeared and emotion coursed through him, making his eyes burn and his heart clutch. He stormed to the door and took the stairs like a warrior descending to battle.

  Only no battle lay in wait for him this time, except perhaps the battle for his composure. He was shaking so badly he almost tripped over his own feet as he skidded around the last landing. He felt laughter at his own clumsy idiocy bubble up in his throat and was startled by the sound. It was … joyous.