by Cindy Miles
Out of air, Gabe kicked to the surface and drew another breath. Below, Kait waited on him, floating, staring, saying nothing.
Please give her back to me, Gabe said. Jesus, please give her back. She can help you. You’ve got to forgive yourself, Kait, and I beg you, please forgive me . . .
Kait met his gaze, then lowered her head and drifted away, out of the beam of Gabe’s lantern. He swept the beam through the water, and just when he thought his lungs would burst, he saw her.
Christ Almighty, she looked dead.
She’d saved his son’s life.
Kicking hard toward her, Gabe grabbed Allie by the waist and pushed toward the water’s surface. As soon as they broke free, he kicked harder, swimming for the shoreline. Finally, he found footing and dragged her to the beach. He tossed the lantern and laid her on her back.
She didna move. Didna breathe.
Jake, Dauber, and Justin, now accompanied by the friar, Lords Ramsey and Killigrew, along with Mademoiselle Bedeau, stood around him, silent.
“Allie!” Gabe shouted, and grabbed her by the shoulders and shook. Still, she didn’t move. “Allie, please! Come back to me, love!” He shook her some more. “Allie!”
All at once, she sputtered, and Gabe turned her onto her side as she spewed seawater, choking and coughing and sucking in large gulps of air. Before her eyes found his, she grabbed his hand and pushed something into it.
“It’s Kait’s,” she said, her voice quivering from the cold. “She led me to it. It’s for Jake.”
Gabe lifted Allie onto his lap and pulled her into a fierce, although wet, embrace. With his free hand he pulled his son close, too. Over Jake’s shoulder, he opened his hand and peered at the object Allie had given him.
’Twas a small heart on a chain. A locket. He’d open it later, for inside he knew he’d find a small picture of Kait on one side, and an infant Jake on the other. Kait had worn it constantly, despite her misery for life.
And she’d been wearing it the day she died.
Over Jake’s shoulder a slip of mist appeared. No complete form, just a simple wisp of mist. A sensation of peace settled over Gabe, and Jake turned his head. Allie snuggled close.
“Thank you,” Gabe whispered, knowing the form was Kait, that she was no longer malevolent, and that her hideous form had disappeared.
Jake stuck out a hand and as the form began to fade, he waved. “Bye, Mum.”
And the mist sifted into the night.
“Let’s get you three home and in front of a fire, aye?” said Justin, who’d knelt beside Allie. “All of your lips are blue and I swear I cannot steer that bloody vessel of yours, MacGowan.”
Gabe stood, pulling his two beloveds with him. He held them both so close he could feel their hearts beating. He pressed his lips to Allie’s temple and kissed her. “Are you okay?” he asked softly. “You’re freezing.”
“I’m fine now,” she said, her arm resting against his chest. “Much better now.”
“I’ll never let you go again, Allie Morgan,” he said. “Christ, I’ll never let you go.”
Gabe loaded his son and woman into the boat, pulled out the only thing to wrap around them—a tarp—and headed toward Sealladh na Mara’s wharf.
He and Jake—and Kait’s soul—were finally free.
And Kait’s soul had been mended by a selfless, loving soul who simply wouldna give up. His Allie. She’d no’ turned her back on Kait, even in her darkest moment. She’d made Kait realize she’d no’ meant to die on purpose, and that her son still loved her. It made Gabe love Allie even more.
The Odin’s Thumb lot disappeared, along with Dauber.
And Gabe, Allie, and Jake headed home.
The rest of the night settled down to a slow pace. After they’d all had hot showers and gotten warm clothes, Wee Mary and Laina seated them all before large bowls of steaming porridge and tea. Once their tummies were full, they all gathered in the lobby before a roaring peat fire. With the Odin’s lot, plus Dauber, gathered around, they warmed up, talked, and once Jake fell asleep between Allie and Gabe, Laina took him up and put him to bed. When she returned, Allie told them what she’d learned from Kait.
“She was a very sad soul, and the guilt for neglecting little Jake when he was born ate at her in life and in death.” She shook her head and looked into Gabe’s eyes. “She didn’t kill herself. She just simply wanted to escape the misery for a while and thought she could handle the boat. When she lost an oar, and stood up to reach for it, she capsized and went into the water. With her drinking, her senses had become slow and dull.” Allie held Gabe’s hand, their fingers laced. “She fought, but she drowned. And that misery and guilt is what made her so despondent.”
“I think you reached her,” Gabe said, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. “She seemed at peace, finally.”
“Do you think we’ll ever see the poor lass again?” asked Wee Mary.
Allie shrugged. “It’s hard to say. We might not see her, but she may very well show herself to Jake.” She glanced at Justin, Dauber, and the others. “But I felt her guilt ease, and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit to one day come across a very different soul of Kait MacGowan.”
After a little more chatting, Wee Mary and Laina rose. “Well, lads and lassies, we best be off,” said Mary. “Sister, shall you stay at my house tonight?”
“Oh, goody, a sleepover,” Laina said. “Aye, sounds fine to me.”
“Lads, an escort?” said Mary.
Lords Ramsey and Killigrew both jumped up. “Aye, our pleasure,” they both said.
“We’ll have a nice hand of cards awaitin’ you,” said Justin, making his way to the corner alcove—a favorite card-playing spot, so it seemed. “Ladies, good night.”
Gabe rose and walked his mother and auntie to the door. With a kiss and hug from each, he saw them out the door, their ghostly escorts in tow.
When he returned, Gabe sank down onto the sofa beside Allie and pulled her close, her head resting on his chest. She could hear his breath moving through his lungs with each intake and exhale of air, and his heart beating against her ear made her own beat faster.
He slipped his arms around her waist and rested them against her stomach. “I want to do something tomorrow, and I’d like you to be included.”
“What’s that?” she said.
“Kait had a small burial in Sealladh na Mara’s cemetery after her death, but I’d like to have a ceremony at sea.” He kissed her head. “You’re an amazin’ woman, Allie Morgan. You’ve given my son a reason no’ to hate his mum, even after everything he saw. He understands she loved him—just no’ herself. You’re the most unselfish person I’ve ever known.” He turned her then, grasped her chin, and looked at her. “There’s something else I want to do.”
Allie wiggled her brows. “Do tell, before the friar overhears and separates us.”
Gabe chuckled, the deep sound rumbling in his chest. “ ’Tis a surprise, lass. We’ll go tomorrow afternoon. Aye?”
Allie smiled. “That’s most definitely an aye.”
Gabe’s eyes sparkled mischief.
He didn’t say anything else.
Chapter 31
The next morning, nearly the entire town had turned out for Kait’s burial at sea. Before they’d left, Allie had called home, had spoken to her mother and Boe, and this time Emma, as well, and let them in on everything going on at Sealladh na Mara. Frightened at first because of the terrifying experiences with Kait, and then thrilled to hear of her relationship with Gabe and Jake, Sara Morgan had cried on the phone for her eldest daughter. Tears of fear and joy at the same time. Allie had promised to call them later, once she returned to shore.
Gabe had kept Jake out of school, and with the help of Jeff, the ferryman, loaded nearly the entire village of Sealladh na Mara onto the vessel, and gone to the very spot where Kait had drowned. The sun slipped out from behind the clouds and shone brightly, making the water dance and sparkle. Friar Drew Digby had led a small
sermon, sending Kait prayers of peace and serenity, and little Jake read a small letter he’d written to his mum. After a word of prayer, they’d laced the sea’s surface with flowers; Jake placed his small note in a bottle, capped it, and dropped it in, as well.
Allie had slipped a peek at Gabe, whose expression revealed little—except to her. She could sense his acceptance of Kait’s actions, her mistakes—as well as his own. That day, he didn’t just forgive his wife, but he forgave himself.
It made Allie’s heart soar.
After the ceremony, the ferry chugged back to Sealladh na Mara, where the folks hustled back to their businesses, and life went on as usual for a Friday midmorning.
Except for the ferryman, Jeff. Who simply waited at the wharf, smoking a pipe.
There was something decidedly different in the air. Allie could tell. She just couldn’t tell what.
Back at Odin’s, Wee Mary and Laina took over the kitchen. Gabe grinned, brought Allie her coat, and pulled her to the door. “My sweet auntie and mum have the lunch crowd taken care of.”
“Where are we going?” Allie said, laughing.
Gabe stopped, slipped her jacket on her, and kept his eyes trained on hers. “You’ll see.”
He slowly buttoned her peacoat, and at the top, his fingers stilled, his gaze deepened, his green eyes grew smoky. He leaned into her, and his mouth settled over hers in a slow, erotic kiss. When he pulled back, Allie’s heart slammed into her chest.
“Let’s go.”
And so they did.
Gabe grabbed her hand and led her at a fast pace down the walk, past Leona’s, who stopped them, handed Gabe two white paper bags of something, two thermoses of something, and then shot them both a knowing smile filled with something. They continued on.
At the wharf, Jeff the ferryman gave a nod and led them to the small dock where the ferry sat anchored. Allie threw a questioning look at Gabe, who merely smiled, shrugged, and led her on board. He took her straight to the bow, deposited their foodstuff in a small container, and pulled her into his arms.
Allie settled against his chest, his chin resting on her shoulder, and the scruff of his jaw brushing hers made her just snuggle closer. So she did. His lips smiled against her ear. “Do you notice anything special, lass?”
Allie sighed. “Yeah, the friar’s not here, trying to pull us apart.”
Gabe kissed her lobe. “Exactly.”
Allie’s knees turned mushy.
With a few short blasts of the horn, the ferry began to move.
Although it was still very chilly, the sun shot warm rays of light through the sparse clouds, and the wind felt crisp against Allie’s skin. With Gabe’s warmth around her, she wasn’t cold a bit.
When he kissed her neck, as he was doing now? Quite the opposite.
She was burning up.
The ferry skirted the shoreline and traveled north, and the dramatic scenery took Allie’s breath away. Gabe showed her several landmarks, including a circle of ancient standing stones, high on a cliff. He promised to take her there.
She couldn’t wait.
“Allie, turn round.”
She did, and leaned her back against the railing. She looked up, wondering at the look of intensity that clenched his jaws, turned his eyes darker. She cocked her head. “What’s wrong?”
Gabe looked down at her, his eyes searching her face. With his thumb, he slid it along her jaw, over her chin, and across her lips. He watched his movement with a look of fascination in his eye. Finally, he lifted his gaze back to hers. “I never thought I’d be truly happy. Content, aye. I could be content with my family, my son. Sealladh na Mara. But happy and fulfilled, in here?” He lifted her hand and placed it over his heart. “No’ until I met you, Allie Morgan.”
Allie’s heart sang at his words. She started to tell him so, but a finger over her lips hushed her.
“I am so in love wi’ you it makes me ache inside,” he said, his brogue deepening. “You’ve swept into my life, Jake’s life, my family—we’ve all been affected by you, lass. Especially me.”
Allie blinked. His brutal honesty and admission of things guys usually wouldn’t admit to stunned her. Gabe was a man’s man. He was big, scruffy, not so much the sensitive type but more the totally honest type, she supposed.
He was being honest now.
It made her breath catch.
Just then, the horn blasted, and Jeff the ferryman’s voice came over the intercom, gruff, deeply brogued, and clear. “Turn to starboard, Allie Morgan!”
Allie glanced at Gabe, whose jaw flinched. His eyes twinkled. And she turned to starboard.
There, on a nearby island—more like a large copse, really—stood two large poles jammed into the ground, and stretched between them, a big sign. The words MARRY ME, ALLIE MORGAN were painted in bright red.
She gasped and covered her mouth. The longer she stared at that white sign with red lettering that said MARRY ME, ALLIE MORGAN, the more tears built in her eyes. She felt herself shaking, and she gripped the rail of the ferry hard to try to stop that shaking. It didn’t work.
“Allie,” whispered Gabe against her ear, kissing the lobe, his warm breath making goose bumps rise on her skin. “Say aye, love. Marry me. I swear you willna regret it.”
Slowly, Allie turned and leaned against the rail. Her breath came fast, and as she looked into Gabe’s eyes, she knew how deeply she’d fallen in love with the Highlander.
But it still frightened her. She wasn’t a whole woman.
“You know I can’t have children,” she said, scared the reminder would change his mind. “It’s not a misdiagnosis, Gabe. I’ve had surgery. I can’t conceive. Ever.”
Gabe took both hands and placed them on either side of her jaw. He tilted her head to better look at her and studied her for several seconds. It seemed like hours.
“You were sent to me, Allie Morgan. Sent to me and Jake. You were made just for us, and I would be honored for you to be my son’s mother.” He brushed his lips over hers and whispered, “Christ, I’m in love wi’ you. Please say aye.”
Allie’s heart soared, and she wrapped her arms around Gabe’s neck and pressed her lips against his.
How could she reject a proposal like that?
She couldn’t.
“Aye, Gabe MacGowan, I’ll marry you,” she said, and kissed him. Then she pulled back. “It is more than an honor for me to be Jake’s mother.”
Gabe embraced her tightly, grasped her jaw with one hand, tilted her head just so, and met her gaze. His green eyes had softened, and they stared right into her soul. “You’ve made me complete, Allie Morgan.”
And then he turned to the little window where Jeff the ferryman sat behind the ship’s wheel, gave a thumbs-up, and Jeff let out five long blasts on the horn.
Gabe shouted and punched the air as the horn blew. “Aye! She said aye!” He laughed and swung her around, her feet leaving the wooden deck. “Woo-hoo! I’m gettin’ married!”
Allie laughed and marveled at the change in Gabe MacGowan. It literally stole her breath.
He stopped then, settled her against the rail, and held her close. His eyes searched hers, and he gave her a smile that reflected in his eyes. “You’ve made me a happy man, you ken?” he said. “You’ve mended my soul, Allie Morgan.” He grasped her hand in his, and withdrew something from the pocket of his leather jacket. Gently, he straightened her finger and eased on the most beautiful ring Allie had ever seen. A silver band with a square setting and a modest solitaire diamond, it fit her perfectly in every way. “ ’Twas my granny’s, and I’d be honored if you wore it.”
She stroked the antique ring and smiled up at him. “I love it.”
Then he kissed her. Slow, deep, and so sensual Allie thought the friar would pop up at any second. Gabe’s hand stilled on her hip, and he rested his forehead against hers. “Tapadh leat,” he whispered in Gaelic.
“What’s that mean?” she asked.
He looked at her, his eyes filled with j
oy. “Thank you.”
Allie kissed Gabe then, and they stayed wrapped tight in each other’s arms until the ferry reached Sealladh na Mara’s wharf.
Hand in hand they walked up the lane, back to Odin’s Thumb. When they walked in, Allie was surprised to see it packed with everyone. They stared, silent. No one said a word.
And then the entire crowd, ghostly and mortal, erupted in a deafening cheer.
Thanks to Jeff the ferryman, and his blasting horn, the village of Sealladh na Mara knew Allie’s answer.
Gabe grinned, then laughed, and pulled Allie close. “She said aye!” he hollered, just in case anyone missed the blasts.
And once the crowd settled in at Odin’s Thumb, including the spirited souls sitting amongst the towns-people, they all cheered again. Wee Mary and Laina rushed over, raining kisses on Gabe’s and Allie’s cheeks.
Little Jake jumped down from his seat in the alcove, next to Justin, and rushed across the floor to Allie. He threw his arms around her waist and hugged her tight.
Allie bent down, and hugged him proper. The little guy wrapped his arms around her neck and whispered in her ear, “I am ever so happy to have you as my other mum. And I thank you for mending me da’s soul, Allie Morgan.”
Allie didn’t think her heart could fly any higher. The two men she loved most stood beside her. An entire family had accepted her into their fold as their own, as well as the entire village of Sealladh na Mara.
Not to mention her new spirited friends, as well.
Wee Mary clunked a glass against the table. “We’ve got a weddin’ to plan!”
Cheers went up, and Allie suddenly realized she had a lot of work to do.
She glanced up and met Gabe’s gaze, and she knew then she probably didn’t have a whole lot of time to do it in.
Which was completely okay by her.
Chapter 32
Four weeks later
Gabe paced at the front of the small Norman kirk, wearing his best kilt. The entire village had turned out for the event, as well as all the Munros, and Allie’s mum and sisters. Lovely lasses, all of them.