MacGowan's Ghost

by Cindy Miles

  Allie pulled one of the sofa’s soft throw pillows to her chest and wrapped her arms around it. “I don’t believe in pure evil, Justin. I just don’t. And where Kait is concerned?” She shook her head. “I think what’s happened is her guilt has grown and grown to such enormity, and that watching Jake grow up without her, and watching Gabe turn his life around and be such a huge influence in Jake’s life, has made her become even more embittered and guilt-ridden. All of those unsettled emotions have taken over her and her true soul is lost.” She met his gaze. “She can’t help it.”

  Justin leaned back, stretched out his long legs, and crossed one booted foot over the other. He stroked his goatee as he stared at her. “I dunna think I’ve ever come across such an extraordinary woman before—in life or unlife—as you, Allie Morgan.” A small grin lifted his mouth. “You amaze me.”

  Allie felt herself blush. “You’re crazy, Justin Catesby.”

  “And you, Allie Morgan,” he said, his face again serious, “had better be glad I’m a mere spirit and no’ a live man.” After a moment of studying her in silence, he gave a slight smile. “Gabe MacGowan is a lucky lad, indeed.”

  Allie simply smiled in response. “I’m pretty darn lucky, too,” she said. “How many other girls get to have such an assortment of fantastic friends?”

  Justin sighed. “Again with the friends. I swear, lass, were I no’ already deceased, you’d be the death of me.” He glanced at Dauber, who’d been sitting quietly. “Quite tenacious, aye?”

  Dauber exchanged a look with Allie. “You don’t know the half of it.”

  Allie rested her head back and closed her eyes. She knew she wouldn’t be able to fully give in to sleep, but she’d need rest to get through the next twenty-four hours.

  She prayed she wouldn’t screw things up.

  Never had Gabe tested his self-control more than now.

  Except, of course, each and every time he’d been alone with Allie Morgan. To touch her, kiss her until his heart nearly hammered out of his chest? That hadna been a test of self-control; that had been pure torture.

  Sleep wouldn’t come. After being sent home by Wee Mary, Gabe had come back to Odin’s, paced for nearly an hour before retreating to his workshop. All he could think about was Allie. He’d sent her home. He’d told her it was a mistake to have brought her to Sealladh na Mara.

  It was only partially true.

  Christ knows he didna want her to leave. But after witnessing what his dead wife was capable of doing? Jesus, he’d no’ realized Kait had gained so much power. He could handle being tormented in his sleep, as well as the frequent visits by his dead wife. But to have his loved ones threatened? No’ if he could help it.

  Aye, Allie Morgan needed to leave Sealladh na Mara and never come back.

  He didna have to bloody like it.

  Gabe glanced at the chiseled chunk of marble in his hand. He’d nearly ground it into a heap of powder.

  Glancing at the clock over the workbench, Gabe set his marble aside, stood, and stretched. He wasna sure if Kait could find Jake or Allie on her own—she seemed to appear only where he happened to be. He’d thought it safe to take Jake to his parents, and Allie to Wee Mary’s to await her cab.

  He wanted one last look at her. A self-destructive act, he knew. It would tear him up inside to see her leave. But Christ, it wasna safe here. Not anymore.

  Gabe crossed the floor to the small sink in the corner and washed the marble dust from his hands. He’d fancied the idea that having Allie by his side would ease the hauntings of his wife to at least a tolerable level. He could live with it. He would have lived with it, had Kait no’ turned her malevolence toward Jake and Allie. He couldna control her dispirited self and by Christ, he wouldna have the two things he held dearest to his heart in Kait’s destructive path.

  With a deep breath, he collected his thoughts and left. ’Twould be dawn soon; he’d row until almost time for Allie to leave; then he’d return, make sure she left Sealladh na Mara safely, and then prepare for Odin’s lunch crowd.

  His heart heavy, Gabe dressed and made for the wharf.

  Sobriety was a piece of cake compared to losing Allie Morgan.

  “Here, love. Have some tea, aye? ’Twill calm your jitters a wee bit.”

  Allie smiled and accepted the tea from Leona’s mother, Cora, where the cab had taken her after picking her up from Wee Mary’s. It would be her hideout from Gabe until time to leave. “Thank you, Cora. And thanks for going along with our big plan.”

  “Och, ’tis my pleasure, lass. Gabe was always a favorite lad of mine round the village, and he’s a fine young man now and I’d love nothin’ more than to see him happy. Now make yourselves at home and I’ll be just in the kitchen if you need me.” With a smile, she left.

  “I daresay ’tis a long afternoon,” said Justin. “The whole bloody thing unnerves me, though. I’ll be happy to see it done.”

  “It sounds like you have confidence in me,” said Allie, sipping the steaming cup of tea.

  Justin gave her a half grin.

  “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea for you two to go along, though. It might upset Kait, and the less irate her spirit is, the better chance I have of reaching through to her.”

  Justin and Dauber both gave her a frown. Justin leaned forward. “If you think for a solid bloody second I’d allow you to traipse out into the loch to lure an unsettled soul such as Kait’s, you’re mad.”

  “I agree,” said Dauber. “It’s not even an option, young lady.”

  With a heavy sigh, Allie agreed. “I know, I know.” She gave them a smile. “You guys are great for hanging out with me here. I really appreciate it.”

  And she meant it, too. After turning her head and looking out the rear of the cab, and seeing Gabe standing at the end of the lane, watching her leave? She might not have been able to see his features clearly, but she’d felt him. Sorrow had rolled off him in thick waves and she’d sensed it clear to her bones. It’d hurt—actually physically hurt.

  It pained her more to know she caused Gabe such grief.

  Hopefully, though, she’d be able to erase that sorrowful look from his handsome face. No more would he be tormented, nor would little Jake have to suffer, either. And if everything went as planned, poor Kait’s soul would be released from its own tormented prison, as well. Soon. Very soon.

  “No’ soon enough, to my notion,” said Justin.

  Allie scowled. “Stay out of my thoughts, Catesby.”

  He barked out a laugh. “As you wish, lass.”

  “Why don’t we play a round of cards?” suggested Dauber. “Allie, do you have your deck?”

  Allie pulled her duffel bag close, unzipped it, and fished out the cards she’d purchased at the petrol station. “Right here.”

  “Great,” Justin said, cracking his knuckles and conjuring his and Dauber’s own deck. “I have a score to settle with you regarding our last game and we’ve all afternoon to do it.”

  With that, Allie settled her thoughts on playing cards with two sweet-spirited souls who tried their very best to lighten the mood and take her mind off what was to come.

  Gabe listened to the message on Allie’s voice mail requesting the caller to try back again, for the fifth bloody time, and hung up the phone. He’d only wanted to hear her voice, to make sure she’d landed safely and that she had made it back home.

  ’Twas obvious, she was ignoring him.

  He probably acted like a stalker. Kicking her out of his life and then begging her to pick up the phone?

  Insanity.

  There’d been no other choice.

  Glancing at the clock, he was surprised to find it already half past one in the morning. Kait must have known he’d sent Allie home and was giving him a brief break in tormenting.

  That, he guessed, would go on forever, the tormenting, as long as Allie was out of his life.

  Maybe ’twas what he deserved after all?

  Deciding to wait until later in the morning
to try Allie’s phone again, Gabe clicked off the light and left the office.

  No sooner had he made it to the kitchen than a pounding at Odin’s front door made him jump. He hurried down the short hallway, flung open the door, and nearly fell over when he saw his mum on the other side, wringing her hands, her face pale and drawn. He grasped her arms gently.

  And before he could even ask what the matter was, she told him.

  “ ’Tis Jake, lad—he’s gone!”

  A cold fist grabbed Gabe’s throat. “What do you mean, he’s gone?”

  His mother sniffed, and her voice cracked. “I dunno—I heard him get up, and I thought he was getting a drink of water, and when I checked on him—”

  “ ’Tis okay, Mum.” He gave her shoulders a quick squeeze. “Calm down. I’ll find him.”

  Gabe turned to grab his jacket from the hook on the wall, and Justin’s sudden appearance made him swear. “Damn it, man, what’s wrong with you?” Gabe said, pushing his arms into the sleeves of his leather jacket.

  Justin Catesby’s expression brought Gabe up short. “What is it?” he asked, his heart plummeting.

  Justin’s jaw tensed. “Your son and woman are both in the loch,” he said. “And you’d better hurry or you’ll see neither alive again.”

  Gabe stared at Justin. “What do you mean, my woman? She left.”

  Justin shook his head. “Nay. She didna. Now hurry.”

  Gabe simply ran. With his mother’s sobs trailing after him and his heart pounding out of his chest, Gabe pushed out of Odin’s at a full run and made for the wharf.

  Chapter 30

  As Allie rowed with all her strength, the wind picked up and blew with such an unnatural force that it all but made the small dinghy capsize.

  Allie felt pretty sure that was Kait’s intention. She was doing her best to keep Allie from reaching Jake.

  She’d underestimated not only Kait’s soul’s power, but her own inability to deal with such a malevolent soul.

  And that thought alone made her heart sink.

  Just up the shoreline from Sealladh na Mara, a small, nondescript island of trees sat in the loch. With the full moon hanging over the crags, a bright, luminescent light spilled over the pines and hardwoods, and onto the water.

  Kait had lured Jake onto the water, and Allie’s muscles burned with each pull of the oars as she tried to reach him. Kait wanted her son back, wanted Jake to join her. Allie should have known that. So Jake had taken Gabe’s rowboat and was headed straight for the island. Over the wind, Allie yelled to get his attention.

  “Jake! Wait!”

  Things had gone terribly wrong. She’d not had even the slightest suspicion Kait would lure her own child into the sea. Allie had left Cora’s as planned, taken her husband’s small dinghy, and rowed out into the loch in the direction Kait was last seen the night she’d died. She’d expected the dispirited soul to come to her, had fully anticipated on a struggle, a fight, but hadn’t counted on little Jake being in danger.

  How very wrong she’d been.

  And she’d sent Justin to get Gabe, and Dauber to be with Jake.

  Soaked to the bone, Allie rowed fiercely toward the island and Gabe’s little son. The wind surrounded only her, thank God, and as she rowed, she kept her eye trained on Jake. The moon loomed exceptionally low and cast so much light that Allie could fully see him. Not his features, but him. Miraculously, she grew closer.

  And that’s when Kait’s fury unleashed, and she appeared.

  In a silvery slip of rotting hair and skin, Kait’s gruesome features seemed even more frightening in the moonlight. Still transparent, the black space where one eye used to be glared sightlessly as Kait hovered over Allie’s boat, and then she appeared close to her face. Allie held her place, awaiting an attack. She glanced at Jake. Relief washed over her to see the little guy still in Gabe’s rowboat. She decided to say what she’d come to say to Kait.

  “Kait,” she hollered over the wind, continuing to row toward Jake, “you have to let go! I know it wasn’t your fault! Please, let Gabe and Jake live in peace—”

  NO! I want him! I want my son!

  Allie drew a deep breath. “You didn’t kill yourself on purpose, did you, Kait?” she yelled. “Trust me! I can help you!”

  Go away! I want my boy—

  “I won’t go away!” shouted Allie. “I love them both, too! If you love Jake, you’ll let him live! You don’t want him to die in the water like you did, do you? It’s cold here, and awful!”

  Only the wind whipping overhead made any noise. Allie stared into the ghastly face of Gabe’s dead wife. “I know you must have felt so much despair, Kait. It was a bad time in your life, wasn’t it?” Allie waited, still keeping an eye on Jake, who simply sat in the rowboat, watching. “We all make mistakes, Kait—”

  He wanted me to die . . . told me to do it . . .

  Allie knew Kait meant Gabe. The amount of pain and anguish she sensed in Kait’s dispirited soul nearly choked her. No wonder she’d become so vicious and malevolent. “Gabe didn’t mean it, Kait. No one wanted you to die!” she shouted over the wind. So close to Jake now . . .

  I didna mean to . . .

  Then Kait glanced with her one good eye toward Jake, and her voice changed a little; the wind died somewhat. I miss my son so verra much . . .

  “I know you do,” Allie said. “But leave him here—”

  He hates me now because of you!

  And just that fast, Kait’s mood changed.

  And in the next breath, Kait shifted from Allie’s presence to Jake’s, and Allie watched in horror as the wind changed directions, surrounding the little boy who stood up in the boat, then jumped into the loch.

  “No!” Allie cried out, and without thinking of anything else, she dived into the icy water. With her arms and legs pumping, she swam toward where Jake had jumped in, and when he went under, so did she. Blindly, Allie felt for him. The water was dark—so dark that she couldn’t see anything except the moonlit surface above. In her mind, she cried for Gabe to hurry, and she screamed and pleaded for Kait to listen.

  Kait! Please, I beg you, let your son go. He loves you and he loves his dad and family here. You can make things right now, by letting him go! All of the mistakes can be forgotten! You can rest your soul! Allie screamed to Kait in her mind. Your dying was an accident, wasn’t it?

  Just then, Allie felt an arm, and she grabbed on to it and started kicking toward the surface. They weren’t under far, but Kait had indeed lured them beneath the sea’s surface and had a grip on Allie so forceful she nearly couldn’t swim at all. Her lungs burned and her muscles screamed, but she kicked and kicked. Let us go! she screamed to Kait once more. With your soul healed, Jake’s memory of you will be healed, as well! He loves you, Kait, and he keeps your picture by his bedside . . .

  Kait suddenly let go.

  Allie didn’t ponder why. She broke the surface of the water, little Jake in her arms, both of their teeth clacking from the cold, and Allie began to swim. The shore of the island lay a mere twenty feet or so, but it felt like twenty miles. When she found her footing, she shoved toward the pebbles and sand, dragging Jake behind her. Gripping him around his waist, she heaved one last time and pushed him up onto the beach. Dauber was there, pacing and wringing his hands.

  “Alll-lie,” Jake said, his voice quivering from the cold. “Tell my mum I do love her, and I didna m-mean to say I hated h-her in private. I didna mean it!”

  Allie, her own lips quaking, gave Jake what she hoped looked like a comforting smile. “I will, sweet-heart. Your dad’s on his way—”

  “Allie!” cried Jake.

  Just as Allie was suddenly pulled back toward the water and swept back under.

  Allie struggled, but Kait’s soul was too strong. Jake’s little voice drifted away as Allie dropped farther under the surface of the loch.

  Gabe sped to the little island, the boat’s small spotlight adding a beam to the surface of the already lit-up water. Never
had he felt so scared in his entire life as he did now.

  “Just there,” Justin said. “To that small isle.”

  The boat’s beam picked up a small figure at the shore. “Jake!” Gabe yelled. “Jake!” His heart leapt with relief.

  “Da!” his son hollered back. The boy jumped up and down. “Hurry!”

  Gabe killed the engine and ran the boat up onto the pebbled shore. Before it stopped he jumped out, grabbed his son, and pulled him into a fierce hug.

  “Da, let me go!” Jake cried, wiggling and pushing away.

  Gabe let go and held his son’s shoulders steady. “What’s wrong with you, boy?”

  “Allie’s in the water, Da!” he cried, pointing and running to the water’s edge. “She went below!”

  “Stay with him,” Gabe told Justin and Dauber, and then ran to the boat, reached into the supply box below the bow, and grabbed an underwater lantern, then turned and dived into the freezing November water.

  Christ, please let her be alive . . .

  Gabe swam out several feet, then plunged below the surface of the water. Kicking, he swept the beam of light frantically as he searched for Allie. It was dark as night; he saw very little other than floating bits of sea life.

  He turned to the right, to the left, sweeping the lantern beam in every direction. He kicked to the surface, drew in a lungful of air, then went below again. The salt water stung his eyes but he ignored it. He had to find Allie. Now.

  Then a thought crossed his mind.

  Kait! Please, let her go! he thought. ’Tisna her fault, Kait. She only wants to help!

  Suddenly before him was Kait’s form. Sea-sodden and deathly, she hovered close, inspecting, weighing. Waiting.

  I’m sorry for all of it, Kait. I didna mean for you to die. I dunna blame you and I know it was an accident . . .