Chapter Twenty-Seven #3
Heading around to the postern gate, he dismounted and waited anxiously for Isadora and the other women to make an appearance. When the gate finally opened, he saw Ternan and three frightened women, and he could see movement back in the yard as more people headed for the gate.
Leaving the horse to munch on some of the wet grass, Cam was moving for the gate to ensure Isadora came through it when he caught sight of her.
She was with someone else, a man who was tall, a little hunched over, and sporting a wild beard.
As they came through the gate, he could see that Isadora was smiling up at the bearded man.
But he wasn’t looking at the man himself, only Isadora, until the man spoke.
“Cam?”
Cam found himself looking at the old man who, for a split second, he didn’t recognize. Then, the old man smiled at him and there was something familiar about him. Realization hit and Cam nearly came apart.
“Granda?” he breathed. “God’s Bones… Granda?”
Nikolaus nodded, his old eyes twinkling with emotion.
He reached out for his grandson but Cam’s knees buckled.
He took a step, trying to get to his grandfather, but he couldn’t quite make it.
Exhaustion and shock had him on his knees.
When Nikolaus bent over him to help him up, Cam burst into tears.
Tears of astonishment, of gratitude, of joy. Nikolaus knelt down beside his overwrought grandson, and they both put their arms around each other and wept.
“I thought ye were dead,” Cam said hoarsely. “I looked for ye after Netherton burned but I found no trace. I thought ye were dead!”
“Nay, lad,” Nikolaus said, holding him tightly. “I was a witness tae the Lindsay destroying Netherton and Drostan ordered me killed, but Ternan dinna do it. He’s the one ye should thank. He put me in the vault and saved my life.”
Cam pulled back to look at his grandfather, running his hands over the old man’s face in disbelief. “Ye’re here,” he murmured. “Ye’re truly here.”
There was a burst of joyful laughter in that statement and Nikolaus nodded, cupping his grandson’s face. “I’m here, lad,” he said. “Dunna be troubled. I’m here.”
“I can hardly believe it. Ye survived!”
“I did. And so did ye. But from the looks of ye, just barely. What happened tae ye?”
Recovering his composure, Cam stood up and pulled Nikolaus to his feet. Then he turned to Isadora, who had been standing off to the side, watching the reunion with great emotion. Cam held out a hand to her and she took it as he pulled her into his embrace.
“There is much tae tell ye, so much I dunna know where tae begin,” Cam said to Nikolaus. “But I do know one thing: this is the happiest day of my life. I have Issie back and now I have ye. If this is a dream, dunna let me awaken.”
Nikolaus patted him on the cheek. “’Tis not a dream,” he said. Then, he sighed wearily. “But take me home, lad. I want tae leave this place.”
“Home is not where it was before, Granda,” he said. “That home is gone. We have a new home with people who are kind and generous. In fact… in fact, I have a little surprise for ye, too.”
“I canna imagine what it is.”
Cam’s eyes twinkled. “Ye’ll see. I promise, ye’ll not be disappointed.”
He meant Clova, but neither Nikolaus nor Isadora knew that.
Cam couldn’t imagine what the old woman was going to say when she saw the return of her long-lost love.
As Isadora took Nikolaus by the arm and began to help him over to the horse, Cam turned to Ternan, still standing by the postern gate.
Cam knew how much he owed the man; clearly, he owed him everything.
He wasn’t even sure he could adequately express his gratitude. He made his way over.
“I dunna know why ye saved my grandfather, but it doesna matter,” he said quietly. “All ye need know is that ye have my eternal thanks. Without ye, everything would be considerably different. How do ye properly thank a man who has given ye yer life back?”
Ternan lifted his shoulders. “As I said inside, Dros has sullied the Lindsay name,” he said. “I hope ye and I can work together tae undo the damage. I hope saving yer grandfather’s life will help build trust between us.”
“It will build more than that,” Cam said. “Are ye sure ye dunna need my help cleaning up the mess in there?”
He was gesturing to the keep, but Ternan shook his head. “’Tis my mess,” he said. “I’ll do the cleaning. ’Tis the least I can do considering what my clan has tae atone for.”
Cam understood. With that, he turned for his horse just as Isadora was trying to help Nikolaus onto the steed. Cam hurried over and finished heaving his grandfather onto the beast before taking the reins in one hand and Isadora in the other.
Together, they walked the few miles back to Auchnacree on an evening that was perhaps the most beautiful evening Cam could ever remember seeing. He found himself remembering something Isadora had said to him once.
I feel strongly that it was fate that brought us together again. We’re not meant tae be apart, ye and I.
Her statement had never been truer than it was at this moment. Life, it seemed, had brought them all back together again.