by L. L. Muir
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Liam The Ghosts of Culloden Moor (No. 14)
By Diane Darcy
www.DianeDarcy.com
DEDICATION
To Kaylee, who really likes to laugh.
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
Book Description
Read THE GATHERING first to avoid spoilers.
Possessiveness such as he’d never known rose up within him and, without thought, he leaned down and stole a quick kiss.
She slapped him. Hard. “Who do you think you are?”
Liam MacGregor is a ghost in search of adventure, and it’s finally his turn to have some fun. Sure, revenge, family, moving on—these things mean more than anything. But he has a task to perform first, so, while he has the chance, he might as well have fun doing it. And she is his task. Amber. Wildly beautiful and stubborn. He’d never thought to feel this way about a woman. Never believed he’d have the chance. He can’t have her, but for now, she is his to protect.
Amber DeLuca wants nothing to do with her father’s illegal activities, or her new bodyguard. She’s on her way to starting a new chapter in her life when a kidnapping and rescue derail her once again. But when Liam enters her life, the fun-loving Highlander makes her laugh. She feels safe, cherished, protected.
Falling in love with him is the easiest thing she’s ever done. But what she doesn’t know just might end up hurting her.
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 in order to know what’s going on between the Muir Witch and these Highland warriors from 1746.
The Reckoning, Number 79’s story, will finish the series.
GERARD IS NEXT!
CHAPTER ONE
Culloden Moor, July
“Number 42! Are ye here, lad?” Soncerae the witch called out.
Liam MacGregor’s head shot up. What there was of it, being a ghost and all. Regardless, even he could feel the surge of joy and anticipation that swept through him. ’Twas his turn! Finally, it was to be him. He moved toward the young lass where she stood among grass and heather, surrounded by others of his kind. Ghosts they might be, but the lot of them were warriors, most savage, and all Highlanders.
He didn’t rush, wishing to savor the moment and wring a bit of fun from the situation. “Did ye hear that lads? Me number’s come up. Move aside then, else ye’ll be swept away by the importance of this occasion.”
“We’ll be swept away by yer arrogance, ye mean,” Number 17 called out.
“Or his big head as it swells behind him,” Number 54 added.
As his brothers-in-arms laughed, Liam smiled all the more as he passed the others, some disappointed, some amused, and all of them envious. “Yer not to be jealous. She’ll get to those less important in time. In the meanwhile, dinnae block my progress, else ye might disturb the important task I’m to perform.”
More snorting and insults flew through the air until Liam was laughing. “Aye, lads. Little Soni has called my name, my number. That she did. I’m to go next.”
“A pox on yer arse, ye addlepated braggart.” Someone called out.
“A little further north, to be sure!” Another responded.
There were chuckles, smiles, and more lighthearted chaffing. Exactly the reactions he looked for. He stopped, his way blocked by number 41. “Away with ye, laddie.”
The big man crossed his arms. “Ye’ve not the bollocks to do the task so I’m willin’ to take yer place. That way ye’ll not have to suffer the shame of having done such a poor job of it, aye?”
“Aye, right! So that’s the way of it, is it?” Liam challenged.
“Ye tried to shove in front of yer own brother. Yer no blood relation of mine, so why wouldnae I take yer spot?”
The others laughed.
“Nae need to be crabbity.” Liam simply walked through the other wraith. “I’ll have ye know my brothers went before me because Soni was savin’ the best for last.”
“Oh, ho!” Number 41 followed. “So that’s why the rest of us are left behind ye. We’re the best.”
“Nae doubt ye tell yerself such. Keep believing, man. Twill warm yer bones in the cold of the night.”
When he reached Soni, she was smiling, her face plainly showing she enjoyed the fun. “Ye are a braw lad, young Liam. Think ye yer ready to complete yer assignment?”
He bowed. “That I am. Where am I to go? Are ye to whisper it in my ear so the others can wait and wonder?”
They’d all been wondering. Some of them questioned whether they went anywhere at all. Others, if the witch was tasked with sending them to heaven, or straight to hell.
But all hoped she truly delivered, and they’d be given a shot at the pretty prince himself.
Her smile brightened.
“Ah, ye see that, lads? She’s a smile upon her face. I’m to go somewhere pleasing, and that’s a fact. From the looks of her, she has somethin’ special in mind for me.”
The young girl’s face was impish. “I do, as a matter of fact.”
He turned back to the others again. “Do ye hear that, laddies, I am to go to the best place yet.”
Soni laughed.
Another good sign to be sure. His own smile widened.
“The way I hear it, ye’ve always had a bit of the luck, haven’t’ ye?” The wee witch smiled, her brown eyes merry.
“Oh, aye. Just enough to drive my brothers mad.”
“Yer brothers, ye say?” Number 73 spoke up. “What about the rest of us? Havin’ to listen to yer boasts and to look at yer smirkin’ face. We’ll be glad to be rid of ye.”
“Now, now. Dinnae be jealous. Ye’ll get your shot soon enough. That is, if I leave you anything to scrape up off the floor after I’m done with yon pretty prince.”
There was more laughter all around.
“On, now, and away with ye.” Number 15 called out. “Twill be a lot more quiet around the moor, ’tis for sure.”
“Aw. ’Tis sweet of ye all to come and see me off this way. I ken, ye’ll miss me, but ’tis the way of it.”
More snorting.
“As much as one might miss a sticker, right on my arse.” One called out.
They all laughed, and Liam turned to Soni.
“Beggin’ yer pardon, young miss. Just be ignorin’ the lot of them. These lads aren’t fit to lick yer boots.”
“Dinnae be too hard on yer fellow ghosties. ’Tis sure and certain they’ll miss ye. And I’m sorry to take ye so soon.”
“Why are ye then?”
“Yer task is up, and ’tis time ye completed it. I know ye lot think I choose these things, but they come up as they will, and ’tis yer duty to fulfill them, or
not.”
“Have all satisfied so far?”
“That would be telling, wouldn’t it now?” She winked.
“And do ye swear, there’s something left of the prince? After all that have gone before, I have my doubts he’s even about.”
“Oh, dinnae worry yer head on that score, there’s plenty of the man left.”
“Even after my brother, Gareth?”
Her eyes gleamed as if amused by a secret. “Even after Gareth.”
She clapped her hands. “All right, enough of yer dawdling. Do this or no’. ’Tis yer choice. I’ve others to see to this night as well.” She looked up into Liam’s face, and he detected a smidgen of sadness.
He winked. “Miss me, will ye?”
Worry filled her gaze.
“Are ye all right then, dear Soni?”
“Oh aye, dinnae ye worry about me. I’m happy with the lot of ye. But at the same time, I miss each one that goes.”
A trill of fear shot through Liam at the last word. After 270 years tied to this place, they were to just go. Go where? The ever ready smile froze.
“Are ye ready to face the unknown?”
He’d not let a bit of fear stop him. He nodded quickly. “Aye. That I am.”
He took a last look around at the boys. They’d spent much time together, in life, and in death. They were his brothers, and his friends. The thought of not seeing them again was suddenly not to be borne. “I’m off to do my task, and soon, you’re to do yours. ’Till we meet again, brothers.”
The men murmured their goodbyes with a sudden air of sadness. He could not bear to leave in such a way. “Come, lads! Dinnae forget, though I am gone, and will nae doubt accomplish much more alone than together yer capable of, ye are not to be jealous. I’ll succeed in my task, slay the prince, and move on to my just rewards to await ye. Have a care ye’ve something interesting to report.” He lifted a hand. “Haste ye back, laddies.”
There were snorts of laughter and abuse, and then Liam was ready to go. He smiled at the witch. “Aye, lass, I’m prepared now.”
Green already swirled about the girl’s skirts. Amusement danced in her bright eyes, mischief in her wide smile.
“Lass,” he said in warning. “I hope I’m to like where ye send me.”
She was openly grinning now, which gave him pause, or hope, he wasn’t sure which.
“Aye, Liam MacGregor.” Her voice seemed to echo now, as dizziness overwhelmed him. “Yer sure to like this just fine.”
~~~
Amber could certainly hold her own with her father, but she just didn’t see much point in it anymore.
She’d say one thing.
He’d say another.
Neither would agree. Not ever in this lifetime.
And then they’d both do what they wanted, anyway.
The entire thing was ongoing, and pointless. But it didn’t stop her father from trying. Some day she was just going to disappear. She’d change her name, again, and go live on the beach in Hawaii.
“Amber, you know I only want what is best for you.”
She smoothed her layered shirts down over her skirt. “What is best for me is to distance myself from the family business.”
“We’re family. You can’t change that.”
“I’m a Smith now.”
Her father stood from behind his huge, overlarge desk, the lights of Las Vegas highlighting him through the glass wall of windows at his back. “Just because you changed your last name, it does not make you a Smith! You are a DeLuca!”
She could see his face was starting to get red, just like it always did. She worried he’d end up having a heart attack some day, so she did her best to stay away. She didn’t want to be responsible. “Dad, it’s not my fault you’re a career criminal.”
He banged his hands on the desk causing his thick dark hair to fall into his eyes. “None of the charges have ever stuck and you know it!”
Only because he paid off policemen and politicians alike. “We’re not going to argue about semantics.” She waved a hand and turned her back to walk toward the priceless paintings on the opposite wall. She stopped and studied the pictures her mother had loved so much. She’d definitely classed up their lives and would be horrified by Amber’s current living arrangements.
“I’ll tell you something else, Dad. I don’t appreciate your goons picking me up off the street, and dragging me out here. Mom would definitely not approve.”
“Maybe not, but she wouldn’t approve of your lifestyle, either, so don’t go all high and mighty on me little girl.”
Amber didn’t try to deny it. She walked over to the window, if you could call it that, and looked out at the bright lights of Las Vegas. She crossed her arms. “How do you keep finding me?”
At that, he smiled, and even at age fifty-five, reminded her of a gleeful little boy with his hands caught in the cookie jar, but knew he wasn’t going to get in trouble. “I have my ways.”
“I’m sure.”
His face darkened again. “Speaking of which, I found out about that trailer park you’re living in.”
Now it was her turn to smile, so she turned away and looked out at Las Vegas again. Granted, she wasn’t happy he’d found it, but for the last two months, had known when he did, he’d flip. “What about it?”
“A trailer park? Seriously? You’re a DeLuca!”
“Smith.”
“What would your mother think?”
She shrugged. “I like the location. And it has new carpet.”
He stood and stuck his finger out in that weird underhanded way he had of doing. “You listen to me, young lady. You’re my daughter. What you do reflects upon me.”
“And vice versa, Dad! I don’t want you coming to the trailer park and scaring my friends either.”
His eyes widened, as he shot her an incredulous look. “You’re worried about what your friends are going to think? Your trailer trash friends? What about me?”
“I don’t want you to drive there with your limousines, and your bodyguards, and wave guns around. That’s out. You got that? That’s out, or you’re in for it.”
“How can you stand there, looking so much like your mother, and act so differently?”
He looked genuinely confused and she felt bad for him. She’d moved away for college, even though her father wanted her in the same city. He’d put pressure on her, but she’d been determined to live life on her own terms. Still was for that matter.
“Your mother always told me to keep you close.”
“Dad, she meant to stay close to me in your heart. Not your location.”
“I knew her better than you did.”
She threw her arms up in the air. He’d see what he wanted.
Her father rounded the desk, and moved across the thick plush carpet toward her. He still looked young, handsome, and not for the first time she wondered if he’d remarry and take his focus off of her. He held his hands out, and, as he was her father, and a loving one, she gave him hers.
“What can I do? What can I do to make you see all I want is what’s best for you?” He shook her hands slightly in frustration. “Why do you persist in crossing me? My worst enemies don’t cross me.”
“Why? What will you do to them? And I guess the next question is are you going to do it to me?”
He turned away in frustration, throwing his arms up in the air. The man truly was a drama queen, but that wasn’t new, she’d grown up with this. She decided to take a different tact.
“Look, Dad. I’m twenty-four. Just let me live my own life.”
“What? Writing those magazine articles? You know you’re only able to write those because of all the places I took you when you were a child. And you know what else? You could still be going to those places right now, wearing gowns instead of jeans.” He shot a scathing look at her clothes. “If you’d spend that money I put in your bank account.”
“Dad, you made it on your own, why is it so surprising to you I want to do the same?�
��
“By living in a trailer park?”
She knew she shouldn’t say it, but she couldn’t help the ingrained habit of tweaking him. “It’s all I can afford.”
He yelled in frustration. “You’re driving me crazy, you know that, right? You’re driving me over the edge!”
She knew she was and, that quickly, the fun went out of the situation. She crossed over to her dad and put her arms around him from behind and leaned her cheek against his shoulder blade. She sighed. “Dad, just let me do this, okay?”
He was tense, but after a moment he relaxed and pressed his hand over hers. “Your mother wouldn’t like it. You know that, right?”
She laughed. “You are so full of it. You know very well she would be the first one to cheer me on.”
He laughed as well. “All right, I’ll give you that. It’s just you should be careful, all right? I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
She took a step back and he turned. She looked into his worried blue eyes. “Like what? Are you having some trouble? Or just worried about my location?”
He dropped his gaze. “I’m your father.” He shrugged. “I worry, all right?”
“Dad, what’s going on?”
His shoulders hunched. “Everything is fine.” He picked up a pen from off his desk. “I’ll have Victor drop you off at the trailer park.”
He’d capitulated too easily. Was there something going on she should know about? Something dangerous? “You’ll do no such thing. He can drop me downtown and I’ll make my own way home. I don’t want your guys around my place, got it?”
He sighed. “Just be careful, all right?”
“Why? What’s going on? Is there something I should know about?”
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head.”
She gnashed her teeth.
“But now that I think about it, that trailer park might be the best place for you at the moment.”
She decided she didn’t want to know. “All right, just get me out of here.”
“Stay safe, all right?”
“You got it, Dad.”
She was definitely going to avoid him, and whatever situation he was embroiled in.
