Chapter Sixteen #2
Her grandmama ushered her to the back of the cave, where she lay down with warm furs, her mantle hanging near the dying fire to dry. “Many thanks to both of you. I love and miss you so much.”
Maddie bent down and smoothed a few stray hairs back from her forehead.
“But look how many more people you have around you to love. You’re a special auntie to two lassies already, and there will be more, including some children of your own.
Hush, child. Close your eyes. Draw your pictures until you are found. ”
Grandsire wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist, and the two disappeared.
Claray closed her eyes with a sigh. It was probably just a delirious dream, but it was a sweet one, and she was warm and safe.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex visits many people in their dreams, but he’s not the only one.
Dyna woke up the next morn in a strange bed, and it took her a few minutes to recall all that had transpired. She stared up at the beams in the ceiling, her arm going to the other side of the bed, confirming what she already knew to be true. Derric had already gone belowstairs.
A sudden memory caught her. She bolted up in bed, sitting as tall as possible, as a powerful memory stole over her. Tears in her eyes, she whispered, “Claray. Grandmama.”
In the dream, her grandmother had come to her bed and sat down beside her. She’d startled awake, and her grandmama had smiled, patted her hand, and said, “Do not worry. Grandpapa and I took care of Claray. She’ll be fine until the storm ends. Then you’ll find her in your favorite cave.”
She reached for her grandmother’s hand and said, “Stay. Where’s Grandsire?”
A voice in the distance called to her, and she turned to find him standing at the end of her bed, a much younger version of the grandfather she so loved.
In fact, he bore an amazing resemblance to her sire with his long, dark hair.
“We left Claray with plenty of food, so don’t go after her until the storm ends. ”
“But I can go get her now… Just tell me where.”
“Nay,” his booming voice carried. “We don’t need to find you in a snow drift either.
Tamp down that stubborn streak of yours, granddaughter.
Leave me to enjoy my wife in peace. When the storm ends, you’ll have plenty of time to go after her.
And since I know you are stubborn, Granddaughter, I’ll remind you that we are both watching you.
And please stop grieving for me. You have a wonderful husband and two beautiful lassies to enjoy.
” A mischievous look lit in his eyes. “Might I add I had to go to some lengths to get that lad to accept all of your faults, lass.”
She’d scowled at that, an expression that had deepened as the two faded from view. “Nay, don’t go,” she’d whispered…and then she’d awoken to an empty room.
Dyna stared at the end of the bed, hoping to lock the image of her younger grandfather in her mind forever.
She found herself smiling at his jest about Derric.
His comment had brought her back to the deserted cottage where a daft man had held her and her grandsire captive.
The situation had been dangerous and frightening in the beginning, but it had somehow ended in hilarity.
“I love you, too, Grandpapa,” she said in a soft whisper.
Then, because she really didn’t care to wait, she threw the furs back and hopped out of bed, looking for something to wear on her feet. When she was finally ready, she raced out the door, flying down the stairs so quickly she nearly lost her footing and went airborne.
An eerie quiet hung in the hall, everyone seemingly lost to their thoughts. Derric sat across from Uncle Aedan, Tara, and Riley at one of the trestle tables. Brin was just entering.
But it was the other guests who shocked her.
Aunt Brenna was there, along with Aunt Gwyneth and Uncle Logan, and Sorcha and Cailean.
“What are you all doing here?” she asked, frozen in place at the end of their table.
On a different table sat Alasdair and Emmalin with their bairns along with Els, Joya, and family. “Els? Alasdair? What’s this about?”
Derric took her hand and tugged her down into the empty seat next to him. “Leave them be for a few moments. ’Tis too early. They have good reason for being here.”
Dyna couldn’t wait patiently for an explanation, not after what she’d just experienced. “Why? Did something happen?”
Logan got up and began to pace in front of the hearth.
“Dreams, we’re all having dreams. I dreamed of Alex, Gwynie dreamed of Maddie, Brenna dreamed of her brother.
We’ve all had different dreams of one of them or the other.
We headed straight for Grant land, but the blasted storm forced us to take a different route.
I had to make sure we had beds for Gwynie and Brenna. ”
Alasdair muttered, “He was there! Directly in front of me. It was almost as if I could touch Grandsire. And he was young again. Young! Standing at the end of my bed, and I swear my sire was standing behind him.”
Emmalin nodded in agreement, but said nothing, a haunted expression on her face.
Els mumbled in short sentences, “His hair was so dark. He stood in front of me. He looked just like you and Connor.” He stared at Alasdair as if in shock.
Dyna turned to Derric, who was staring at his porridge, stirring and stirring and stirring…
She grabbed his hand and said, “You, too?”
His gaze shot up to hers, and he whispered, “I didn’t say that.” He yanked his hand away and took a mouthful of porridge.
“But you did. You all did. Uncle Aedan?”
He pursed his lips and nodded. “Both of them standing at the end of my bed.”
Derric tossed his utensil down and said, “Enough. Stop trying to make us all daft. It can’t mean anything. Dyna, what the hell does it mean? Joya? Tell them all they’re daft. Nay, don’t say anything, just tell me… Nay, don’t tell me.”
Dyna leaned over and kissed her husband’s cheek. “You’re talking in circles, love.”
He sighed, so deeply everyone heard him. “I know. I don’t believe in ghosts, but what else could it be?”
“Spirits. They’re just spirits who have come for two reasons.
One, to let you know Claray is safe until the storm ends.
And secondly, they wish to let us all know they are happy where they are,” Riley said.
“Grandsire knows how hard this Yule will be without him. And I think he’s especially sensitive to how his death has impacted Dyna and Claray. ”
“Did anyone see anything different?” Tara asked.
Dyna mopped up the wetness on her cheek with her sleeve.
“Nay, they looked verra happy. Grandsire especially. And he was young again.” She giggled through her tears.
“Called me stubborn. He said to stop grieving for him, but I… Actually, after some of the things he said, mayhap I can.” Then she reached over to her husband, kissed the top of his head, and said, “He mentioned how fond he was of you, you big oaf.”
“I’m going outside to check on the storm,” Derric said, giving her hand a squeeze.
Alasdair jumped. “I’ll go with you.”
Els said, “I’ll be behind you.”
Both followed Derric out the door without a backward glance, passing Brin at the door.
Brin said, “I’ve been out to the stables.
We should be able to look for Claray by high sun.
The wind is slowing and so is the snow, but ’tis still mighty deep.
’Twill make for slow movement over to the abbey.
When we leave after a storm, we always stop there to check on them. We’ll search for Claray from there.”
“She could be perfectly safe inside the abbey.” Aedan got out of his chair and brought over another loaf of bread from the side table, slicing it for the group.
“Grandsire said she’s in a cave.” Dyna didn’t even look at anyone as she said it. “He said ’tis my favorite one, so it must be the one closest to the abbey.”
“Aye, I believe you’re correct, Dyna,” Uncle Logan said. “We’ll go check it.”
“Poor Claray. It must be mighty cold in that cave.” She couldn’t help but feel an ache in her heart, for her sister and her grandparents.
“Nay,” Riley said. “She has angels protecting her.”
How she prayed Riley was right.
The door flew open, shocking them all to attention. Derric entered, then stepped aside for everyone to see the newly arrived guest. “Look who I found outside.”
“Come in, Thorn,” Dyna called out, waving him over. “You won’t like what you’re about to learn, but you can surely help us. Fill your belly, we have traveling to do if the storm is done.”
Chapter Sixteen
A Christmas gift for all…
They spent a very busy day and stopped only for a quick meal because there was still much to do.
Thorn had enjoyed the day, and even though the men were brutal in their teasing, he bore the brunt with a smile on his face.
Claray beamed and said, “I must go back in the kitchens and help Cook prepare more meat pies.”
Thorn moved over and whispered in her ear. “Before you do that, would my betrothed mind a short stroll this eve? The snow is quite beautiful, and it calls to me.”
“Aye,” she said, leaning against him with a smile.
He helped her don her mantle and scarf, then found his own. Just before they left, Dyna called out to them. “Where are you two going in this weather?”
“Just for a stroll. The snow is lovely and ’tis quiet and magical at night. We won’t be long,” Claray said just before they closed the door.
They moved across the cobblestones and out through the gates. He waved to the guards, indicating they were going to the small hill a short distance away.
Once they climbed the hill, she asked, “Thorn, do you believe ’twas really Grandmama and Grandpapa who helped me in the storm?”
He thought for a moment, wishing he could truly suspend his disbelief and tell her wholeheartedly that he believed her grandparents had come back as angels to watch over her. But he couldn’t.
“I’d like to think so, but ’tis hard to imagine it…”