MacGowan's Ghost

by Cindy Miles

  She laughed. “Where on earth did you hear that?”

  “Young Sean. He’s quite knowledgeable with modern love, you know.”

  Allie shook her head and smiled. “I’d use caution when taking love tips from him.”

  Justin laughed softly. “Indeed.”

  They walked in silence for a moment; then Justin cleared his throat. “You’ve a way with souls, Allie Morgan. ’Tisna often a soul like myself crosses paths with a woman like you. You’re almost of both worlds—one who would fit in either, by the by. I would be a liar if I said I hadna hoped to have a chance to win your affection. And I’m many things.” He looked at her. “But no’ a liar.”

  Allie stopped, Justin stopped, and she looked up at him and smiled. “You are a very sweet, caring, soul, Justin Catesby. Ridiculously handsome, too.”

  He grinned and shook his head. “But?”

  Allie glanced back up the walk, toward Odin’s. “But I hold something special—something completely unexpected yet familiar, here”—she placed her hand over her heart and looked at Justin—“for Gabe.” She sighed. “I couldn’t make it go away, even if I tried. I’m sorry.”

  Justin’s eyes softened as he gave a winsome smile. “Dunna be sorry, lass. I will cherish your friendship always, and I am always and forever naught but a call away.”

  “Thank you, truly. And Gabe loves you. You’re part of his family.” She slid the ghostly sea captain a glance. “And you love him, too. So I don’t want you two fighting anymore. Savvy?”

  Cocking his head, he gave her a nod, then studied her for several seconds. “And what of you, Allie Morgan? Will you leave here? Leave Gabe and his family and Sealladh na Mara behind once the contract has become void?”

  Allie crossed her arms over her chest. “God knows I don’t want to. I suppose we’ll have to see how things go.” She shrugged and smiled. “It may be too early to tell.”

  He nodded. “So right.” With a grin, he inclined his head back toward Odin’s. “Let us make our way back, then. And whilst we walk, why dunna you tell me about your bonny sisters . . . ?”

  “Good-bye, Allie Morgan,” said Jake, throwing his arms around her neck and hugging fiercely. The sun had broken through the clouds, and it cast a golden glint to Jake’s auburn hair. He pulled back and gave her a very serious look—a difficult feat seeing that his cowlick made the hair at that particular point of his hairline stand straight up. “Dunna worry. I’ll handle things here at Odin’s whilst you and Da go on holiday.”

  Allie smiled. “I have no doubt you will. Now, you and your uncle Sean have lots of fun Saturday.”

  Jake nodded.

  Allie narrowed her eyes. “Are you still going to take me up to the MacGowans’ keep?”

  His wide blue eyes sparkled. “Aye—and Uncle Sean and Da says we’re goin’ to take the ferry over to Skye, as well. You’ll love it there!”

  “I can’t wait.” She squatted down, to look at Jake eye level. “And don’t you worry. I’ll take good care of your da.”

  Jake leaned forward, pushed her hair aside, and whispered in her ear, “Watch him during the night especially. He has bad dreams.”

  Allie drew back and looked at him. “I will watch him very closely.”

  Jake looked around, then met her gaze with one that seemed too wise for his six-year-old self. “If you can, Allie, could you try and mend me mum’s soul? She scares my da, I think.”

  Allie’s insides turned cold just hearing little Jake’s words. But she nodded and squeezed his shoulder. “I will. Now go and have fun with your crazy uncle.”

  Jake jumped up and ran to his father. Gabe lifted him and pulled him into a bear hug.

  Jake glanced at Allie over Gabe’s shoulder and smiled.

  Allie thought it the sweetest thing she’d ever seen.

  Once Gabe set Jake down, the little boy ran to his uncle, who scooped him up sideways and scrubbed his head. Jake, of course, burst into laughter.

  “You two have fun,” said Sean, that wicked gleam back in his eyes. “Dunna do anythin’ I wouldna.”

  Gabe grinned. “Well, that leaves verra few options, aye?”

  Sean shrugged and laughed.

  “You can reach me on my mobile if anythin’ comes up,” Gabe said, then looked at Jake. “You mind your uncle and granny and grand. We’ll be back sometime tomorrow.”

  Jake nodded and wiped his nose on his sweater sleeve. “I will, Da.” Then he whispered in Gabe’s ear, and Gabe turned and looked at Allie.

  She wondered what Jake had said.

  With Wee Mary, Gabe’s parents, Sean, Jake, and the Odin’s ghostly souls watching on, Gabe threw his and Allie’s bags into the back of the Rover, opened the door for her, and inclined his head. “Ready?”

  Oh, she definitely was.

  After a stern look from the friar, a sly grin from Justin, and a wink from Dauber, and waves from the two dueling lords and the mademoiselle, as well as the rest of the MacGowans, she and Gabe left Sealladh na Mara.

  Allie hoped, as she glanced at the sexy, sweet, funny Highlander beside her, that she would indeed be able to mend his soul. And she was willing to face whatever it took to accomplish it.

  Even if it meant challenging a lost, malevolent—possibly dangerous—soul bent on making Gabe’s life as miserable as that soul’s once was.

  And, apparently, continued to be.

  Allie turned and glanced behind her. Sealladh na Mara grew smaller, a handful of white flecks against a gray-blue sea. And in the distance, off to the right, the ancient ruins of the MacGowans’ keep dominated the coastline.

  Gabe’s hand covered hers, and together, their fingers entwined. The sensation of Gabe’s calluses against her skin warmed her, and she looked at him and smiled.

  “So, have you chosen a place to escape to?” Allie asked. “One where the friar can’t find us?”

  Gabe stared straight ahead, eyes fixed on the road, but a slow smile slid into place on the most handsome face Allie had ever seen. “Absolutely. You’ll love it.” Then he looked at her, and his eyes locked on hers. “Trust me.”

  And Allie did.

  Chapter 22

  The one thing Gabe quickly learned about Allie Morgan was that no matter where she went, souls took notice.

  Live ones, and no’-so-live ones.

  Gabe couldna blame them a bit.

  And the one thing he’d always known about ghostly souls was they did just what they wanted. If they chose to let you see them, you would. If no’, you wouldna. And it seemed everywhere he and Allie went, those ghostly souls recognized her as their champion and approached.

  He wondered if he’d ever get her to himself.

  They’d visited an ancient Norman kirk, a favorite of Gabe’s, and Allie’s wide blue eyes had scanned the old stones, seemingly amazed at the architecture and doubly amazed at the age.

  A French-Norman knight had emerged from the wall, introduced himself as Sir Geoffrey de Gables, and had proceeded to ask Allie if she could discover how he might have come to the western Highlands of Scotland. She promised she’d look into the matter once she got back to Sealladh na Mara.

  Gabe had been to that particular kirk scores of times and not once had that old knight shown himself. He couldna help but wonder just how jam-packed the mortal world was with otherworldly souls.

  Apparently, Sealladh na Mara wasna the only unique place in the Highlands.

  And he felt especially certain the reason the old knight appeared this time was because of Allie Morgan.

  According to Dauber, ’twas her own unique brush with death and, thanks to her da, a fierce and sudden reentry back into the world of the living that made her soul so receptive to spirits. No’ to mention her soul was by far the sweetest he’d ever encountered.

  After visiting a circle of standing stones, where four druids sifted from the rock to ask Allie a few questions on the possibility of time travel, a small croft museum where an eighteenth-century Highlander, complete with pipes, ins
isted he play Allie several melodies, Gabe decided he should try to avoid all things old and just move on to their destination.

  The Highlands—probably anywhere in Scotland—was apparently wall-to-wall loaded with spirited souls.

  Allie scooted as close as her seat belt would allow and grinned. “Stop pouting. They were all very nice and interesting.”

  Gabe grunted. “ ’Tis a good thing, then, we skipped Culloden. We’d no’ have left before the gloaming.”

  “Well, it’s barely after noon, so we’ve plenty of time left. What’s the gloaming?”

  Gabe slid his hand to hers. Damn, he didna think he’d ever touched such soft skin. He wrapped his fingers through hers and looked at her briefly. “ ’Tis that moment in time where the last rays of the day slide into dusk. The Scots believe ’tis a magical time, the gloaming.” He lifted a brow. “You never know what you might encounter.”

  Allie slipped her thumb over the top of his hand. “That is just plain sexy, Gabe MacGowan.”

  And it was.

  Gabe had decided to put everything behind him for the day. All he wanted was to be with Allie, learn more about her, her mother and sisters, where she grew up. He could hardly blame the spirits for being so drawn to her.

  He certainly was.

  While he drove, Gabe studied her with small glances—inconspicuous, he thought. Allie’s hair, free and wild today, stood out against the thin black sweater and leather jacket she wore. Faded, frayed jeans clung to her long legs. The hiking boots on her feet were probably all that kept her slim, delicate body from drifting away.

  Something about those rough hiking boots strapped to such a feminine body appealed to Gabe. She wasna afraid of anything, to go anywhere, try new things—she’d even had a bit of haggis at lunch.

  He thought the stuff nasty, and he was a Scotsman.

  Gabe noticed something else, as well. And the more he was around her, the more evident. ’Twasna just Allie Morgan’s exterior that was lovely. Inside, her beauty all but stopped his breath. She had a deep, inner love for all souls, an appreciation for life, and he truly thought she’d give her life to help another.

  So verra unlike anyone he’d ever encountered. So verra unlike Kait.

  Not wanting to let go of Allie’s hand, he rubbed his chin against his shoulder and mentally escaped that train of thought. ’Twasna fair of him, really. Kait had been young, her life abruptly changed, and she’d been in such a dark place when she died that he could only imagine how horrible it must have been for her.

  Especially with a partying drunkard for a husband.

  “Oh, Gabe! Pull over!” said Allie, looking out her window. “Please!”

  Gabe glanced, and couldna help but grin. He pulled over, parked, and before he could walk round the car, Allie was out, hurrying to the fence where a handful of Highland cows munched on grass.

  “They’re so gorgeous!” she said, holding out her hand toward them and making a smacking sound to draw them near. She briefly looked over her shoulder at Gabe. “Don’t you think so?”

  The Highland sun shone through Allie’s long, springy curls. They hung over her shoulders and down her back, and when she looked at him, the sheer joy of those long-haired cows made her eyes sparkle. That lovely smile, which stretched from ear to ear, touched him, and he couldna quite believe the feeling.

  He, Gabe MacGowan, was touched by a grinning ghost ouster over a pair of silly cows.

  He’d never admit it to anyone.

  Walking up behind Allie, Gabe reached for her arm and gently tugged. When she turned, her eyes collided with his and she smiled—this time for him.

  Behind her, the cows mooed their protest.

  Too bloody bad. Let them find their own ghost ouster.

  He’d found his and he wasna in the mood for sharing.

  Allie thought the Highland cows—rather, haidee coos as Gabe called them, absolutely darling. With their long, shaggy hair and wide horns, their pudgy noses moist and cool, she thought they were the cutest things she’d ever seen.

  Until her arm was tugged and she turned to face the sexy Highlander standing behind her.

  Much cuter than the coos, she thought.

  Gabe wore a pair of sexy shades, so those intense green eyes were covered. But Allie could tell by the clench of his jaw that those eyes were boring into hers. She shielded her eyes with her hand and grinned. A dark green long-sleeved shirt, brown leather jacket, and well-worn jeans and boots made Gabe MacGowan look mysterious, carefree.

  Definitely cuter than the coos.

  She continued to inspect him until a smile lifted the corner of his mouth. Then he turned and hung his head, the smile widened until nearly all his white teeth showed, and he looked back at her. The sexiness of the total guy gesture made her smile.

  Allie wiggled a finger. “Come here.”

  He moved closer, dropped her arm, and placed both hands on her hips. “Aye?”

  Lifting her hands, she slid off Gabe’s shades. The sun made his eyes a brighter green, flecked with gray. Without unlocking gazes, she slipped the glasses into the pocket of his jacket.

  They stood there together for the longest moment, simply staring. She for one couldn’t help it. Gabe’s rugged beauty stole her breath. She loved his strength, his intensity, his humor, and the boyishness that had suddenly emerged. All of it shone through his eyes.

  Lowering his head, Gabe settled his mouth over hers and, with an agonizing slowness, kissed her. One of his hands left her hip and buried itself into her hair, his strong fingers angling her head just so before tasting her lips, one at a time, then brushing her tongue with his. The sensation made her groan against his mouth, and her hands then rested on Gabe’s hips, pulling him close until her back rested against the large, wide, concrete fence post.

  Gabe’s lips moved to her throat. “I’m no’ made of iron, lass, so be careful where those hands go, aye?” he said against her skin.

  That sensation made her shiver.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, and she felt him softly laugh.

  Then he pulled back his head and stared at her. “The coos are gettin’ quite a show.” He glanced at them over her shoulder. “I think they’re makin’ me nervous.”

  Behind them, the coos mooed.

  Gabe and Allie chuckled.

  “Ready to go?” he asked. Then gave her a quick kiss, thought better of it, apparently, and kissed her long.

  “Now’s good, I think,” she muttered.

  Gabe laughed, took her by the hand, and pulled her to the Rover. Then they were on their way.

  As they drove, Allie shifted her glances between the beauty of the northwestern Highlands, and the beauty of the northwestern Highlander.

  Both were pretty darn gorgeous.

  Allie couldn’t quite get enough of Scotland’s landscape, from the craggy rocks and the fields of faded heather to the random stone wall rambling across the moors.

  And when it came to the Highlander beside her? God, she didn’t think she’d ever get enough. And that scared her.

  Gabe wouldn’t tell her where they were headed, and since she didn’t know much about Scotland, she just went along for the ride, soaked up the flashing scenery, and enjoyed Gabe’s company. He told her funny stories of him, Sean, and their sister, Merri, when they were kids, and Gabe, being the oldest, usually got in the most trouble. When they were caught, he added.

  She knew the feeling well, being the oldest herself.

  They came upon a small, intriguing little town with a name Allie couldn’t pronounce to save her life, and Gabe guided the Rover through a couple of traffic lights before pulling into a small alcove of shops. Gabe parked, turned, and grinned.

  “I’ve a little something to show you, lass,” he said. “Interested?”

  Allie lifted a brow. “Always.”

  They got out, crossed the small parking lot, and entered a local gift shop that Allie soon discovered contained local artists’ crafts for sale. As they walked in, a small bel
l tinkled at the door, and a middle-aged woman wearing a lovely tartan skirt and white blouse looked up from the register, saw Gabe, and smiled.

  “Well, hello, Mr. MacGowan. How are you this fine day?”

  Gabe returned the smile and gave a nod. “Verra well, thanks.”

  “Oh, we’ve just put in a new order for you, lad. I was going to drop it into the post, but since you’re here I’ll just give it to you before you leave, aye?”

  “Aye, thank you.”

  Allie gave Gabe a questioning look, the corners of his mouth pulled into a grin, and he placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to the back corner of the shop. They stopped before a glass wall display case.

  Allie glanced at it. “Gabe, why are we—”

  She quickly turned back to the display case, and the small plaque that read HAND-CARVED, ONE-OF-A-KIND PIECES MADE TO ORDER BY LOCAL ARTIST.

  Allie blinked. She found several rows of various-sized marble chess pieces. Articulately carved into the shapes of warriors from various centuries.

  Allie placed her fingers over her lips.

  They were Gabe’s chess pieces.

  Allie peered through the glass. “You little devil.” She looked at him. “They’re absolutely amazing, Gabe.”

  He gave a casual shrug, but Allie could see the pride in his smile. “Friends of mine are responsible, actually. I’d given them a set, for all their help, and they’d directly taken them to several of their favorite stores to show the managers.” He rubbed his chin. “They’re sold all over Scotland, England, and Wales.”

  “And Ireland, dunna forget,” said the clerk up front.

  Gabe looked down at Allie and grinned wider. “And Ireland.”

  “Canna keep the stock available,” said the clerk. “Orders come in weekly.”

  So Gabe was an artist of hand-fashioned marble chess pieces. Amazing.

  Allie slipped her hand into Gabe’s. “You must be so proud. They’re all beautiful.”

  He stared at her for a long moment. “I’m verra pleased you’re pleased.”

  They left, after Gabe received his new order, and pulled out of the quaint little village. A small town that took several miles before Allie could finally pronounce the name. Drumnadrochit. Gabe had laughed at her first attempt, and she’d had him repeat it several times before she finally got it right. Before long, the road began to wind and curve until eventually, Allie could see water. Hills, covered in the faded brownish purple of heather, rose behind the water, and there, in the distance, a ruined castle perched high on a cliff.