Chapter Sixteen #3
She stopped and turned to him. “Then how did I find my bag? And who made the fire?” She squeezed his hands, a gentle gesture imploring him to believe what she’d told him.
He wanted to be a believer. He truly did. But it didn’t make any sense. If angels interfered in human life, then where had they been when he and Nari were lost in Edinburgh? Wouldn’t his own mother have tried to guide him?
A sound came behind them and they both pivoted, surprised to see Dyna and Derric, Connor and Sela, Jamie and Gracie, Chrissa and Drostan, Jennie, Kyla and Finlay all gathered behind them, more streaming out through the gates.
Claray looked from face to face and asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Nay,” her father said, carrying her mother.
“We all felt compelled to come out here,” Sela said. “We’re not sure why, but I was anxious for some fresh air.”
“I was pushed,” Dyna added, glaring at her husband. “Really pushed by a strange force.”
Derric drawled, “If you weren’t so stubborn, you might not have been pushed, but you didn’t wish to believe what your parents and aunts and uncles were all trying to tell you.”
“Then why are we here, wise arse?” Dyna asked, but then she froze, her gaze fixed on something coming up the hill. A quick glance revealed a large number of horses headed their way, cresting the hill in the dark. Who had come so late?
“Why are you here? Did something happen?” Connor called out as the group approached them.
Thorn recognized Loki the moment before he yelled out, “Are you all out here to greet us? If so, you have many to greet. The Ramsays caught up with the Drummonds, who caught up with the Menzies and the Camerons. And I caught up with Mama and Papa, Braden and Cairstine, Roddy and Rose, and Daniel and his family. They were all coming up the mountain at the same time. The snowstorm didn’t pass near them. ”
Behind Loki and Arabella and the others from their clan came a group in blue plaids.
Logan rode with Gwyneth, and behind them was a sea of Ramsay plaids.
Thorn was especially excited to see Gregor and Linnet, along with Merewen and Gavin.
He hadn’t seen them in a long time, and Gregor still held a special spot in his heart.
Logan said, “I brought Alasdair, Emmalin, Els, and Joya, too.”
He recognized Connor’s Uncle Brodie and the group from Muir Castle. Beside them was Roddy and Rose, Daniel and Constance, and the visitors kept coming. The Drummonds, the Menzies, more Cameron’s. He didn’t know them all, but they were all smiling in the light of the bright moon.
When had they ever seen so many sunny days and clear nights? It had a magical quality.
Thorn’s mind went back to Claray’s declaration of being watched over by angels. Someone clearly had been watching that large group come up the mountains safely.
Once they all drew up close, Logan whistled and everyone quieted. He said, “I think I know why we came.”
“Why?” Connor asked, speaking the question on Thorn’s lips.
Logan pointed to a spot just beyond where Thorn and Claray stood. “That old goat is still trying to haunt me.” A smirk crossed his face, and everyone followed his gaze.
“Oh my God,” Dyna whispered as she grabbed her husband’s arm, pointing with her free hand.
Thorn looked at where she pointed, and a resounding gasp echoed across the group, all of them huddling together. A sense of wonder unfolded within Thorn.
“Look, Claray,” he said, squeezing her hand. “’Tis just as you said.”
There, standing in her green velvet holiday dress, stood Maddie Grant, Alex behind her in his dress leine and plaid.
The shades of red and green were so vibrant that they could be seen from afar.
They both had warm smiles on their faces and an odd mist swirling around their feet.
They appeared to be floating in the air a wee bit above them where everyone could see them.
“A verra warm Yule greeting to you all,” Maddie said. “We’re sorry we brought you all here in the cold, but we have a reason.”
“Mama? Papa?” Connor and Jamie announced in unison.
“Grandsire?” Dyna and Chrissa whispered.
“Grandmama? ’Twas you who helped me, was it not?” Claray asked, her hand grasping Thorn’s so tightly it hurt.
Her grandmother glanced around at the group and said, “Aye, ’twas the two of us. We had to see you to safety, and Grandsire loves riding Midnight again, even in cold weather. Fear not, you have much happiness coming, Claray.”
Alex Grant said, “I’ll answer all the questions bouncing in so many of your minds. Aye, I’m verra happy to be with Maddie again. So please don’t grieve for me any longer. Celebrate all that you have this Yule season. We brought you together to celebrate one another, so please do.”
Maddie said, “Claray, don’t forget your gifts for everyone.”
Dyna was audibly sobbing, and Thorn thought he could hear more sobs from the group, too, but Claray had a serene smile on her face.
Jennie waved as their image began to disappear. “Love you and miss you both.”
Maddie blew them all a kiss, then leaned against Alex and wrapped her arms around his waist. But then she stopped. “Wait!”
All quieted, anxious to hear what she had to add.
“Just remember, we do have the ability to prod our loved ones now and again, so if we nudge you or you feel an inclination to do something, please consider it. We sent Thorn and Claray down the mountain, along with Dyna. The three are stronger for their travels.” Their images melted into the landscape, disappearing with a wave from Maddie.
Thorn wrapped his arms around Claray, and she rested her head on his shoulder. “I miss them so much but seeing them together like that makes it better.”
“You have gifts for everyone? What did she mean, sweetling?” Thorn asked.
“Aye, I do. We must go back inside.”
Logan Ramsay, clearly choked up, said, “Proceed, and we’ll all follow. It sounds as if we have some celebrating to do.”
Grant war whoops echoed through the night, and competing Ramsay, Menzie, Drummond, and Cameron whoops rose up too, followed by a gale of laughter.
The rest of the group followed, satisfied that they’d seen all they were meant to see, and spoke quietly of the image and the time of year.
Brenna said, “’Tis such a beautiful picture. I wish to remember them both that way forever. Happy. Connor, you have many to house and feed. Will you be able to squeeze us all in?”
“Of course we will,” Jamie said. “We may have to put a few extra pallets in chambers, but we’ll use all the towers.
Claray already knew many were coming, so they’ve been working all day to fill the chambers with extra beds.
If we need to, we’ll put extra pallets in the hall for some men.
I don’t mind sleeping in the hall with my relatives so the women can have the chambers.
We have much wood stored and there are plenty of hunters among us.
This will be fun. Something Papa always wished to see, everyone together. ’Twill be a Yule to remember.”
“I’m so glad they brought you here,” Kyla said with a radiant smile. “Mama and Papa were both relaxed and happy. ’Tis what they both deserve. They will always be my angels.”