Rory [Jones]

by L. L. Muir

  “See?” His face contorted in a sneer. “I always have to think for you! No marriage equals no wedding-gift percentage and no inheritance in your father’s Will. Did you really think I would actually pay for shares? You’ve always been a stupid woman, Lillian.”

  Rory’s grip tightened on Miles’ arms and he cried out, struggling to wrest free.

  “I can think clearly enough to know you’ve just confessed to a series of crimes you could go to prison for,” she countered. “Let’s see… Attempt to defraud? Threat of bodily harm? Forcing me to leave against my will. Isn’t that kidnapping? And who knows what else?”

  She glanced over at Kintray, who’d started to back away. “And what did he promise you?” But she already knew. “My property, right? That’s why you’d already begun to farm it and were so determined to scare me off.”

  “You’re worthless.” Miles snarled at Kintray. “If you’d done your job I wouldn’t be in this forsaken wasteland with this madman.” He struggled again, but couldn’t break free of Rory’s grip. He turned to Lilly with a contemptuous glare. “Same with you. Worthless!”

  “Stay put!” Rory snarled at Simon who was still backing away. “We’re no’ done here, and there’s no place you can go that I can’t find you.”

  Lilly could see Rory’s self-control weakening. He still held tightly to Miles, but his hardened stare was on Kintray. “Ye’ve put this lass through hell. How do ye intend to make amends? And make no mistake, laddie, ye will make amends!”

  Simon’s guilty gaze shifted between Rory, Lilly and Miles, but he didn’t respond.

  “Both of ye!” Rory snarled, twisting Miles’ arm tighter.

  “Stop. I’ll…I’ll pay you,” Miles cried. “All three of you.” His face was blotchy with pain, fear and anger. “I’ll make it up to you.”

  “Let him go, Rory,” Lilly said softly. “There’s no place he can run, either. He’s lost everything. Even my father wouldn’t tolerate this. The authorities will deal with him.”

  Rory emitted a low growl and tightened his hold a bit more before shoving Miles away, propelling him to the ground.

  Miles scrambled from the mud, as Rory turned on Simon.

  He was an arms-length from Kintray when Lilly saw Miles pull a small handgun from his pocket and point it at Rory.

  “No, Miles!” She screamed. “Don’t!”

  Rory whirled and Miles laughed, the gun-barrel swaying between Rory and Kintray. “You all think you’re so smart. I tried to tell you, Lilly. I do the thinking, and I always win!”

  Rory spread his arms, clearly judging the distance between himself and Lilly. “And what do ye plan to do with that wee thing?”

  Miles snorted, a wild look in his eyes. “Don’t worry about her. She’s quite safe. For now, anyway. After I take care of the two of you, Lilly and I will be married, here in Scotland. We’ll tell her father we’ve had a sudden urge to start the honeymoon.” He laughed, wildly. “And then we’ll cruise back, while I educate Lilly on what I expect from a wife.”

  “You’re crazy!” Lilly accused, revolted. “I’ll do no such thing!” But a sliver of fear began to spread. Just how unbalanced was Miles?

  “Ahh, but you will, sweetheart, if you want your father to live. However, if you don’t care about him, or see the value in accommodating my every desire, there are alternatives. Accidental drownings, do happen.” He shrugged, still shifting his aim between Rory and Kintray. “You see, Lillian, once I have the marriage certificate, you really have no value to me. In fact, disposing of you would be far less trouble than keeping you in line.”

  “You really are insane,” Lilly whispered.

  Rory started forward and Miles cocked the gun. “I don’t think so, pal. Back up.” He gestured with the barrel of the gun. “Closer to Kintray. That way, no matter what, I’ll hit one of you and half my job will be done.”

  Rory stepped directly in front of Simon, shielding him.

  “No!” Lilly cried. “Miles! You can’t mean this.”

  “That’s the problem, sweetheart.” He said taking aim. “You never take me seriously.”

  The report from the gunshot sent birds flying from the treetops. The impact of the bullet sent Rory flying backward, taking Simon with him.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Rory!” Lilly screamed. “No! Noooo.” Everything seemed to move in slow motion as she raced to him. “Rory,” she sobbed, crouching beside him while Simon struggled to slide out from under Rory’s still form.

  Rory’s eyes were open, staring blankly when Miles came up behind her.

  “No need to struggle so, Kintray. I can see enough of you to get the job done. If you’d been better at yours, maybe things wouldn’t have ended this way.” He raised the gun over the top of Lilly’s head and took aim.

  “No!” Lilly cried. Surging quickly to her feet, she drove her shoulder into Miles’ diaphragm, her momentum taking them both to the ground. The gun fired on impact, and flew from his hand.

  All of Lilly’s anguish and rage erupted as she hit, gouged and clawed at any part of Miles she could get her hands on. He would pay! With his flesh, if she had her way. She bit and slapped and used her knee or elbow where and when she could, but she couldn’t seem to get the upper hand as Miles punched her, fighting back with far superior strength.

  His blows took her breath and sapped her strength as they rolled in a muddy tumble of flailing arms and legs but her stamina couldn’t match his. Suddenly, Miles had her on her stomach, forcing her face into the mud. She struggled weakly, unable to breathe, using up the last of her strength, aware she couldn’t endure much more. He’s going to win, she thought dizzily.

  Her lungs burned. Sounds began to fade.

  Somewhere, off in the distance, she heard Miles’ howl of rage and then his weight was gone.

  “ ’Tis over lass. We’ve got ‘im.”

  She lifted her face from the mud, gasping and sucking in air, and some of the muck, from her mouth. Her senses returned a little at a time.

  Thank you, Simon. She didn’t know why he’d saved her but she knew without a doubt, she couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds longer.

  “I’ve got him.” She heard Simon say. “Tend to yer lady.”

  What? She struggled to a sitting position, her muscles quivering from fatigue. Still dizzy, she lifted her hands to wipe the sludge from her eyes.

  “Come, sweeting.” Strong hands plucked her from the ground and folded her in a pair of broad, muscled arms. “Are ye hurt, lass?”

  Rory’s arms. Rory’s scent. Rory’s voice.

  She shook her head, desperate to hold onto him. To be held by him.

  “Here then,” he pulled her away a couple of inches. “Hold still, while I wipe this mud away. She felt his gentle touch clearing the muck from her eyes and face with his plaid.

  “There, now. Let me see the bonny blue of yer eyes, love.”

  She opened them to Rory’s handsome, beloved face. Confused, she looked around, trying to reconcile what she saw with what she knew.

  Simon had Miles on his knees with both arms wrenched behind his back. Clearly, any move Miles made caused significant pain.

  “But I saw…” She touched Rory’s face, ran her hands over his chest, looking for blood. She found the bullet-hole in his plaid and his longshirt, but no wound.

  “I’ve no’ a scratch on me, love.”

  Impossible! “I saw him fire a bullet into your chest. I watched you fall,” Lilly cried.

  “Stunned me, it did, when that bullet hit my chest. ’Twas the impact that stole my breath, but ’twas Simon’s hard head slamming against my skull that stole my senses for a wee bit.”

  “But how—”

  “Muir magic, I ken.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Mayhap Soni’s protective gift, for my two days of mortality.

  She fell into his arms, breathing him in. Soaking up his warmth. She couldn’t understand, but she didn’t care. She was learning to be very grateful for
Rory’s little witch. But…that same witch was still coming to take him away.

  Save him, then take him? Was that a cruelty or a gift?

  Lilly chose to think of it as gift. He was right here, holding her in his arms and she’d be grateful for every extra, beloved second.

  The muffled sound of a car engine filtered through her thoughts and she and Rory turned as one, to see a car pulling in beside hers. A marked car, this time, with a uniformed officer exiting the driver’s side.

  Simon marched a struggling, cursing Miles toward the constable, but Miles was no match for Kintray. Rory and Lilly followed, as Miles wildly proclaimed he’d been assaulted, demanding these ruffians be taken into custody. He jerked his head toward Rory. “He tried to kill me. I only acted in self-defense. They’re all in this together and anything they tell you is a lie.”

  When that didn’t gain his immediate release, he threatened the officer, adding a long string of colorful references to the man’s mental capacity, earning a set of handcuffs and a trip to the back seat of his car.

  Lilly recounted everything, detailing Miles’ efforts to force her to leave against her will, and his ultimate attempt to shoot both men over the property dispute she’d reported earlier in the day. Both Rory and Simon backed up her statement, pointing out the gun and spent rounds still lying on the ground.

  Miles’ muffled shouts and threats could be heard from the car as the officer took pictures and bagged the gun and shells. He took more pictures of the broad area of Miles’ and Lilly’s struggle, clearly marked in mud, including the imprint of Lilly’s face.

  Simon confirmed everything, along with his account of the blow from Miles that knocked Rory out.

  Finally, the officer took more pictures of Lilly’s clothing and the scratches and marks Miles’ blows had left. “Do you need medical attention, Miss?” he asked Lilly.

  “No,” she said brushing at some of the mud. “Just a chance to clean up.”

  “Anyone else?” He glanced at Rory and Simon.

  At their denial, the officer nodded, glancing at his notebook. “These are serious charges.” He finished his notes and gathered his evidence. “I’ll need the three of you in Inverness tomorrow, to record your statements.”

  Lilly wasn’t sure how she’d explain Rory’s absence, but they’d never find him to do anything about it.

  At the last minute, she hadn’t wanted to implicate Simon, and Rory had followed her lead, without question. And, so had Simon. He’d defended her, both physically and verbally today, and she hoped it to be a sign there’d finally be some healing in the glen, and Kintrays and McCallums could finally live side by side in peace.

  Simon, silent and subdued, nodded to Rory and Lilly, turned and walked toward his own land.

  ~ ~ ~

  Rory grabbed some bottled water from the car and helped Lilly clean off as much mud as possible. “ ’Tis over, love,” he said walking with her toward the ruins. “Ye have yer land. Simon has become yer ally, and Miles will have a long court battle and hopefully be locked up for a long time. And, ye’ve proven yerself stronger than yer father. Ye’ve brought yer dream to reality and kept yer promise to bring the McCallum bloodline back to the land.”

  He trailed his hand down Lilly’s spine to her waist as they walked, memorizing every curve and hollow.

  “All that,” her voice broke, “but I still won’t have you.”

  “Here,” he laid his free hand over his heart. “Lay yer hand across yer heart, like this, and ye will find my love beating inside ye, with every pulse.” He had a hard time keeping his voice from revealing his own heartbreak. But his remaining strength was all he had left to give her, and all he could hang onto, to save himself.

  They passed Iseabail’s garden area and moved inside the rocky remnants of her home. “’Tis amazing how these pieces have lasted so long,” Rory commented, running his hands over the bit of rotted beam, left in one corner.”

  “I know.” Lilly sat on a low remnant of wall that marked that same corner, running her hands over the rough edges of the stacked rocks. “Tell me about the room, Rory. What did it look like? I’d like to rebuild a little bit of it, for her.”

  He sat beside her and pictured Iseabail’s home, from his childhood memories. “All four walls were stone of course, and a thatched roof.” He pointed to a spot in the center of the floor. “Cook fire, there. Spinning wheel, back there,” he said, pointing to a far corner. “She had a built-out rock shelf, like a bench, along the near wall where she kept her crockery and pots,” he said, absently toeing aside some mud from the area in front of him. “And wooden tubs and buckets in this corner. Doorway, over there, a small table just beyond.” He sighed. “I still remember the smell of fresh bannocks and rabbit stew and…love. After I lost my own mother, I prayed Iseabail could be my new one. But,” he shrugged. “That dinna happen, of course.”

  “Rory,” she whispered, heartache etched on her lovely face. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Och. Look,” he said, staring at the ground. He knelt and scraped away a bit more mud with his hand and unearthed the tiny rounded rim of a piece of crockery. He examined it and handed it to Lilly. “Mayhap, from a mug?”

  Lilly cradled it in her hand, tears brimming in her eyes. “Iseabail would have held this at some point, Rory.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Can you imagine?”

  ’Twas such a little thing to mean so much to her, Rory thought, digging some more, hoping for a bit of anything that would put that same look of awe in her eyes. After he’d cleared a foot-wide area, he realized he’d partially uncovered a broad, flat stone. He cleared more.

  “ ’Tis like a flagstone, or cornerstone,” he grunted, trying to raise one edge. “I dinna remember this,” he said, confused. “If ’twas here, she always kept it covered with a layer of dirt.”

  Lilly knelt beside him, helping to clear more of the wide surface. He felt her excitement as they labored together. ’Twas but a stone, but working like this, beside Lilly, gave him a lovely glimpse of what their life together might have been like.

  “And what have ye there?” a soft voice asked from behind them.

  Rory recognized the musical tone at once, but Lilly, likely scared out of her wits, whirled around and fell on her backside.

  “Hello, Soni.” Rory dipped his head in greeting as he stood and helped Lilly off the ground. He’d hoped for more time. The rest of the day, at least.

  “Soni.” Lilly’s barely audible murmur sounded like a mix of awe and fear. She inched closer to Rory. “Is that normal?” she whispered, indicating the green mist swirling just above the hem of Soni’s cape.

  “Aye,” the pretty young witch replied. “ ’Tis my treasured ancestors, protecting me.”

  Lilly’s eyes were wide with wonder.

  Soni chuckled. “What were the two of ye diggin’ so intently for?”

  Lilly cautiously held out the crockery chip. “Pieces of my history.”

  “History is verra important,” Soni agreed. “Especially the kind with strong family ties. As ye can see, I’m quite attached to my Muir witch heritage.”

  Lilly nodded as she closed her hand over her treasured shard of history and tucked it in her pocket, before threading her arm through Rory’s. “Is…is it time then?”

  Her chin came up and Rory recognized her attempt to be strong, but despite her efforts, her eyes brimmed and several tears left glistening tracks down her cheeks. His heart broke anew at her determination to be strong for him.

  He blotted her face with the end of his plaid, and kissed each damp cheek. “Dinna greet, love.”

  Lilly swallowed hard, stood tall, and turned her attention to Soni. “I want you to know Rory fulfilled his contract.”

  Soni raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

  “He saved Simon’s life. And mine,” Lilly said emphatically. “He’s a hero. My hero,” she added.

  “Aye,” Soni nodded. “A hero, five times over.”

  “Five?” Lilly asked.<
br />
  “Five?” Rory questioned at the same time. She must have him confused with one of the other ghosts.

  “Aye. Five,” she confirmed. “Three men went home to their families after the battle of Culloden Moor, because of yer bravery, Rory Patterson. Or have ye forgotten? I ken there’d have been more, had ye no’ fallen yerself.”

  “But that—”

  “And twice here, makes five.”

  “Then that should earn him an extraordinary reward.” Lilly insisted. “He can finally move on. Go…home.”

  “Aye, lass. I agree. He’s more than earned his way home.”

  “So, it will be a good place?” Lilly asked, slipping her hand inside Rory’s. “Where he’s going?”

  Rory held onto Lilly’s hand like a lifeline, unable to think of anything to say. He’d never allowed himself to think beyond this moment. He had no desire to visit vengeance on The Prince, anymore. No’ for himself, or even the lads. There was no room in his heart for vengeance, now. No’ after loving Lilly. So, he’d go where Soni sent him, and spend all his days remembering the two special ones he shared with Lilly.

  “A good place?” Soni repeated, looking around at the dirt and rocks. “I ken ’twill be as good as ye make it.”

  “But, I meant, Rory’s place.” Lilly pressed.

  “Aye, lass. So did I,” Soni replied.

  A tinkling laugh, a swirl of green mist and a fading voice that said, “Dinna forget to look under the stone,” drifted on the breeze as Rory and Lilly turned to each other.

  Both, home. At last.

  EPILOGUE

  They borrowed two shovels and a pry bar from Simon, and eventually the edge of the stone gave way. Together, they shifted the slab aside and knelt together to peer into the opening below.

  “Oh!” Lilly exclaimed. “Look!”

  The rock lined edges of the hollow had shifted a little over the years, but the earthen, pot-bellied crock was still intact, wrapped securely with leather, and coated in wax.