by Tara Nina
“I’ll make it up ta you later,” Fin replied with a wicked grin that made Lynn blush from the meaning.
“You bet your sweet arse you will,” Travis jested lovingly then turned to the ghost, who patiently sat waiting on the rock.
As if that was his cue, Fin moved to sit on the rock in front of him. Travis and Lynn both took seats on available rocks.
“Thank you for taking care o’ Lynn,” Travis stated sincerely.
“It was the honorable thing ta do.” Jasper sat taller on the rock. His gaze dropped to Fin as he issued a commanding question. “How be it a MacIntyre be in mi cave?”
“Your younger sister, Marianna, married Finnies MacIntyre in 1747.” He paused as if he was waiting for Jasper to acknowledge that as fact. When Jasper nodded, he continued. “I am a direct descendant of their union. He was my great-great-great-great-grandfather, whom I was named after. As such, I am a member o’ the society o’ clans who came together ta protect the fallen MacKinnon brothers.”
“I know o’ the society.” Jasper nodded. “I gave mi riddle ta Akira, but shared the answer with no one. How be it ye have found mi?”
Lynn noted the genuine look of respect in Fin’s eyes. He stared directly at the ghost as he spoke to him as if Jasper sat there in flesh and blood and wasn’t really dead.
“From what Grandpa and I have gathered, your sister was a wise woman. She knew about the oath you took and when you were struck down in your prime, gored by a wild boar, she listened ta you talking in a fevered state before you died. She wrote down every word and prayed it had ta do with the location o’ the MacKinnon you guarded. You spoke o’ a cave and hunting, but gave no sure direction ta it.” Fin took a breath then nodded toward Travis.
“During our last camping trip, Travis disappeared in a severely inebriated state and somehow ended up here. Not exactly sure how—and he couldn’t remember the details—he’d found what I’d been searching for, for years.” Fin met Travis’ stunned look and explained before Travis could ask. “I told you I found you confused and wandering the woods, muttering about a ghost, a cave and a mission. Once you sobered completely, you clammed up and didn’t say another word. So I waited, hoping you’d lead me here.”
“Why didn’t you just ask me? We could’ve found it together. Instead, you teamed with those two losers over me?” Travis sputtered. Pain showed on his face and Lynn guessed Fin’s actions cut him deep.
Fin turned to Travis. Lynn heard the sincerity in his tone as he spoke. “I didn’t team with them. I was assigned ta keep tabs on them. Unfortunately, those two are descendants o’ another clan that swore the oath. But those two don’t abide by it. They’re out for money and have gone ta the dark side.”
“The dark side?” Lynn questioned.
“MacGillivray,” Jasper and Fin said in unison. Jasper’s haunted tone gave the word an eerie, ominous sound. Lynn gasped. Travis and Fin each took one of her hands as a show of comfort and support.
Fin nodded as he returned his gaze to Jasper. “There’s a descendant o’ MacGillivray’s on the loose and he’s after the Book o’ Shadows. From what I’ve gotten out o’ Lonnie and Timothy, he controls some sort o’ magical power that scares those two witless. Which isn’t hard, considering they don’t have a wit between them.”
He chuckled and Travis snorted a laugh.
“For centuries, Marianne’s information was passed down ta the next MacIntyre in line with the hope the cure would one day come ta save the MacKinnons,” Fin stated in a matter-of-fact way. “That day is here, sire. We don’t have much time before MacGillivray’s idiots find us. I need ta know where the statue is so we can help protect him and quite possibly save him.”
Jasper stood. Sadness clearly thickened his words. “Aye. That day is here. Follow me.” He floated toward the dimly lit tunnel at the rear of the cave.
When Fin got up, Travis and Lynn did too, but Travis gently grabbed Fin’s arm, turning Fin to face him. “If this is handed down from generation ta generation, how is it your Grandfather Ole Man Thicket knows o’ it? He’s the only living grandfather I know ya have.”
Fin grinned. “Thicket is his first name. MacIntyre be his last. Some drunken fool started calling him Ole Man Thicket years ago and he just never bothered ta correct him. After that, everyone used it and his real last name seemed ta be forgotten.”
Travis laughed, shaking his head. That he could believe. Even he never thought it odd that Fin’s father’s father was called Thicket, when the last name of everyone else in the family was MacIntyre.
They followed Jasper until he led them directly to the frozen MacKinnon brother.
“Lynn released him but ’tis only half a freedom. Ye must wait until the fall o’ night ta begin the journey,” Jasper stated. His words resonated on the cave walls, reinforcing the somberness of his tone.
Lynn knew he wasn’t happy this day had come. It meant the man he loved would be leaving him behind. She moved to his side and wished she could hug him without her arms going right through him. Instead, she stood as close as possible even though his coldness chilled her to the bone.
Looking up at him, she knew in her heart what he needed to do even if he wasn’t sure about doing it. Though it made her hand feel frozen solid, she placed it where his would be if it wasn’t transparent and whispered, “You must tell him the way of your heart. It will free your soul.”
* * * * *
Frustrated and tired, Lynn sat between Travis and Fin in the late-afternoon sun at the mouth of the cave. She was grateful for the provisions Travis had in his pack and was glad he’d even brought stuff from her pack as well. Nibbling on dried fruit and drinking water helped reenergize her system but did nothing for her spirits. She’d checked on Padon several times, knowing he’d still be frozen in his stone casket.
Absently she spoke the anti-curse, not realizing she did. “I wish I knew what the words meant.”
“Step free o’ stone. Be ye beast or man. ’Tis love either way. Though ye be mine by night, if not by day. At least that’s what I figure it says.” Fin shrugged at Travis’ dropped-jaw, surprised look. “What? I know a bit o’ the ol’ language.”
“I’ve known you forever and this be the first time you ever told me that one.” Travis shook his head. “Just when you think you know someone.”
“Didn’t think it mattered. Grandma thought it best for the young ta know the ways o’ the old.” Fin grinned as he wagged his eyebrows at Lynn. “And look how it paid off. I helped a lady learn the meaning o’ an anti-curse.”
“Now don’t you be hitting on Lynn,” Travis retorted, taking a stand between her and Fin.
She couldn’t help but laugh at their antics, knowing that neither of them was truly interested in her in any physical sense. Fin’s green eyes glistened from beneath his mop of unruly black curls. When he took a playful fighting stance to match Travis’, his thin frame looked anything but wiry like she’d first thought. He seemed much more leanly muscled but not as tall as Travis. He stood more eye-to-eye with her.
“Okay, gentlemen,” she said as she stood and cleared the laughter from her throat. In a playful tone, she teased, “There’ll be no fighting over me today. Besides, I know I’m not your flavor.”
Travis gently pulled one of her curls as he shot a wink at Fin. “Well maybe you be the one ta sway us both. What say you, Fin? You up ta a challenge?”
Fin stood in front of Lynn and wrapped his arms around her, capturing her between him and Travis. “You do be a lot softer and you smell a heck o’ a lot better than Travis.”
“Hey,” Travis jested, feigning being hurt.
Fin released Lynn and immediately took Travis into a hug. “But I think I like ’em hard and smelling o’ the woods and man sweat.” He looked back at Lynn. “No offense.”
“None taken.” Lynn laughed at the two of them lovingly bickering back and forth as they moved to sort the packs and make ready for them to start out the moment the sun went down and Padon came to life.
She settled onto the deerskin blanket, taking in the beauty of the world outside the cave. The heavy storm seemed to have washed everything clean, giving it a pristine appearance and the air a clean scent. Seeing but not really seeing, she was focused on the task at hand—getting Padon home. She’d told herself repeatedly that was their first priority, not sex. Though almost every time she thought of him, sex sprang to mind, which in turn added another ingredient into the boiling pot of guilt in her stomach over Eddie’s memory.
A slight movement had her turning her head in time to see the rope begin to jiggle. They’d tied it to one of the large rocks to keep it in place for when they were ready to climb back up it.
“Umm, guys,” she spoke hurriedly and in a hushed tone so whoever was on that rope didn’t hear her. “I think we’re about to have visitors.” She scurried away from the mouth of the cave to stand behind them.
Travis stared at the rope then at Fin. “You think those two found us?”
“It’s possible. Didn’t think they had any tracking skills in ’em.” Fin nodded toward the rear of the cave. “Let’s wait back there and give them a welcome they’ll never forget.”
Jasper appeared. “Let mi handle this. Ye stay out o’ sight.” He shot them a devilish grin that displayed how much he loved his job. He disappeared and they knew he hovered near, waiting for the opportune moment.
Travis and Fin grabbed their gear and, together with Lynn, hid out of sight in the tunnel. Of course, they only went far enough not to be seen but were still able to watch the action. It seemed like forever before Timothy touched down on the ledge.
“I made it,” he yelled up at someone they assumed had to be Lonnie, then he entered the cave. He hadn’t taken three steps when Jasper made his appearance. But from the looks of it, Timothy didn’t see him. That didn’t faze Jasper.
Lynn stifled a laugh when Jasper lifted the deerskin blanket from where she’d left it and draped it across Timothy’s shoulders. Timothy spun around, his head snapping from side to side.
“Who’s there?” he questioned in a panicked voice, snatching the blanket off and tossing it to the side.
Jasper stated boldly and loudly enough it seemed to bounce around the cave. “Ye be trespassing. Stay and be crucified for thy misdeeds or leave and live.”
He pelted Timothy with an array of oddities from his collection. A camera hit Timothy in the side of the head. A canteen hard to the gut made Timothy bend at the waist, gasping for air. But when Jasper draped the deerskin blanket over his own head and levitated several feet off the ground, Timothy’s eyes widened and his feet couldn’t move fast enough. He untied the rope from the rock, wrapped it around his waist and tugged on it, screaming, “Pull me up. Pull me up quick!”
From what she could see from her hiding spot, it appeared as if Lonnie didn’t react quickly enough for Timothy. She saw him jump out of the cave and heard a loud scream when something she could only imagine was Timothy hit the side of the mountain with a thud. Rocks tumbled past the opening of the cave as the three in hiding came forward laughing until they cried. They never saw anyone turn so white or move so fast. Jasper floated next to them with a broad smile on his face.
“Did I do that ta your satisfaction?”
“You did just fine, Jasper,” Travis stated, wiping tears from his eyes.
“Great job,” Lynn said the moment she caught her breath.
“Now I understand how you’ve managed ta protect him from being found,” Fin declared after clearing his throat. “Unfortunately, all that did was buy us some time. I’ve got a bad feeling that’s not the last we’ll see o’ them.”
“I’m betting you’re right,” Travis agreed. He winked at Lynn. “But we’ve got a way ta get him out o’ here they don’t know about. You said you doubted those two were true believers. Timothy just proved that by not being able ta see Jasper. He could only hear him and see the objects Jasper moved.”
“How is it those two are even involved in the society?” Lynn asked, shaking her head.
“Unfortunately, ta be a member o’ the society you simply have ta be a descendent from one o’ the original clans who took the oath. But those two are bad seeds. At the meetings, neither o’ them cared why they were there. They never believed in the so-called fairy tales o’ the ancestors, as I remember them saying. The only time they showed any interest was at the last meeting when Angus MacDonnell, the head o’ the society, announced a bounty for any o’ the MacKinnon statues. They were ta be brought ta Grant’s Tavern in Lochsbury.”
“If they never paid attention like you suggest, then they probably don’t know about or care about the anti-curse.” Fin nodded and Travis continued. “So they won’t realize that the man dressed in the kilt climbing up the mountain is the statue they’re looking to cash in on.”
“There’s a flaw in your theory,” Fin stated grimly.
“What?”
“They took the rope. How’re we getting ta the top?”
“Ye shall leave through the easier way.” Jasper spoke the words as if it were a well-known statement to all in the cave. “If ye think Padon and I climbed the side o’ the mountain every time ta get here, then ye be mistaken. There be an easier path.”
Chapter Six
Lynn couldn’t believe she stood in front of Padon, waiting for the sun to go down so he would step free of his stone prison. Just a little over a week ago, she sat in her bedroom packing for vacation. She hugged herself, not certain if she actually lived in the moment or had been in an accident, hit her head and now lay in a hospital somewhere in Scotland, hallucinating she was here.
With her eyes closed tight, she breathed in deep, taking in the cool air of the deepest part of the cave. Never would she have thought this trip would have taken a turn into such an astronomically spiritual encounter, with remarkably unbelievable paranormal activity.
All those years she and Eddie had devoured every article and book on ghosts, spirits and paranormal experiences. They’d spent hours researching haunted houses and grounds throughout the state of Texas. They’d saved for the perfect trip to Scotland so they could explore some of the oldest haunts in the world. But Eddie never made it here. It was just her. Still hugging herself, she slowly spun full circle.
Was this real or simply a dream? A wild, outrageous dream. She opened her eyes and focused on the statue…phenomenally handsome, most gorgeous hunk of a man she’d seen in a long time. She shook off the thought. The main reason she came on this adventure with Travis was to make contact and speak with an otherworldly being.
Which she accomplished.
She helped Jasper with his request. She’d spoken the words and Padon was released. Did that mean Jasper would finally tell her how to reach Eddie before he crossed over? Or was this simply the first lesson in a long list of things she needed to know before acquiring the skill to locate Eddie on the other side? So far, every time she attempted to discuss this issue with Jasper, he’d managed to avoid giving her straight answers. Before this was all over, she hoped to wheedle information out of him.
Male voices grew louder, letting her know her time alone with Padon had ended. Travis and Fin came down the stairs and moved behind her. Jasper appeared at her side.
“It’s time,” he spoke. His voice was barely above a whisper yet she heard his distress. If he weren’t already dead, the anticipation would probably have killed him. Lord knew it was killing her. “Nightfall be almost upon us.”
Her nerves were taut as a newly strung tennis racquet. She took a deep breath and prayed nothing went wrong. Looking at Jasper and knowing the depth of his love for this man, his pain was her pain.
The ground shook slightly, making her take a step for balance. Bright light shot from a growing fissure splitting straight up the center of the statue. Lynn shielded her eyes. Blinking, she tried to see through the cloud of dirt and dust that rose from the disturbance. She fanned the air in front of her face, attempting to clear it enough to focus. Though the who
le incident happened in a flash, it felt longer to Lynn before she saw Padon.
Bits and pieces of stone lay scattered on the ground around his bare feet. Padon stood as if ready to pounce. A layer of dust covered his kilt and flesh as her gaze slid upward. It surprised her to see his sword held poised and pointed, unwavering at Travis and Fin, keeping them at bay. It appeared as if he dared either of them to move. And from the looks of it, neither of them did. She couldn’t be certain if they even took a full breath.
The massive size of Padon’s arms left no doubts about his ability to wield lethal damage with the ancient instrument of death. Following the line of those tightly coiled muscles led her gaze to his shoulders and his chest, which heaved with each intake and exhale of air. Was he scared or in shock from the transformation?
Though she already knew his body, she stood, soaking him in for a few seconds, giving him time to acclimate to his surroundings. He appeared distraught and confused. Did the curse make him that way? Did he remember her or had their rendezvous in the waterfall been wiped from his memory when he fell to the curse for the night?
She couldn’t help but note his square jawline was held so tight a faint twitch started in his cheek beneath his left eye. He had the sexiest set of blue-green eyes even though his stare was so intense, never leaving either of the men, as if waiting for them to make the first move. Lynn sensed Padon hadn’t noticed she was there. A raw intensity wafted off him, keeping her completely aware of him.
Would he actually hurt Travis or Fin? She couldn’t let that happen. Lynn stepped forward and touched his arm, garnering his attention. Padon turned his eyes toward her and his gaze softened with recognition. But he didn’t relax.
“Mi wee one.” His voice sounded hoarse as he spoke and she wished she had a drink for him to soothe his throat. “I woke startled by the presence o’ two unknowns. Are ye safe or do ye need mi ta dispatch these adversaries from this place?” She had no doubt of whom he spoke because he didn’t lower his sword, he simply flicked it, causing her gaze to follow the direction to which it pointed. Travis and Fin stood stock still, waiting for Padon to drop his weapon.
