by Bess McBride
“We have to wait for your dad. And we’ll see some castles while we’re here. Not every Scotsman grew up in a castle, you know.”
“Well, he should have. I want to see a castle verra much.”
Fergie loved to emulate her father’s thick brogue. Fergus adored it, adored his adopted daughter and his new life in the United States.
As Casey led her bored preteen out to the spot where Fergus stood on Culloden Moor, she studied her husband. He had done little to tame his wild red hair, and she hadn’t wanted him to. When he started school, he had shaved his beard though, revealing a beautifully square jaw and wide smile. He wore blue jeans and a T-shirt, but a length of tartan hung from his pocket—though not a remnant from his great kilt. Casey wouldn’t allow him to deface the kilt in any way. She’d had to remind him that no one weaved in that fashion any longer, and it was an heirloom.
“What’s he staring at?” Fergie asked as they approached.
“The memorial stone over his—the Atholl Brigade.” Casey recognized the location. Fergus hadn’t been back to Culloden since he managed to immigrate to the States with her. That they’d had to buy a false background for him troubled her only a little. He had no birth certificate, and the eighteenth-century church records from a smaller cemetery near Dunkeld weren’t going to pass muster with the passport authorities. The new identification had gotten him a driver’s license, an education, and a job in programming, which allowed him to work at home.
Fergus looked up as they approached. His face held no sadness, only reflection. She admired the long lines of his lean body, the muscular chest under his T-shirt. The voluminous folds of his great kilt had deceptively hidden all sorts of handsome attributes. Not only did Fergus turn out to be a brain, but Casey had discovered that he was built like a brick house.
Fergus held out his arms, and Fergie slipped under one while Casey slid under the other.
“I’m hungry, Daddy,” she said.
“Aye, I am hungry as well.”
“We’ll have to eat in a hurry if we’re going to get down to Dunkeld by this evening. Do you want to visit the cemetery tonight or wait until tomorrow?”
“Really? Another cemetery?” Fergie fussed.
“Aye, another cemetery, lass. I wish to pay my respects to my...ancestors, ye ken.”
“I do ken, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it. Is there any chance your ancestors lived in a castle?”
“Nay chance, I am verra sorry to say. I am but a poor farmer’s son.”
Casey didn’t think that was quite true, but some things were better left unexplained. They were planning to stay at the lovely hotel on the riverbank where Soni had given them their life.
It was true that the wee witch hadn’t taken Casey’s disease from her—it had probably not been within her power, as she had said—but she had given Fergus a chance at life, of growing old. For Casey’s part, four years had passed since her last treatment, with no sign of recurrence.
Fergus had held Casey’s hand for every treatment and waited in the waiting room every day of radiation. He had fetched her popsicles, and ginger tea, and bananas, and anything else her heart desired. He had carried her when she was weak, put her to bed when she was drained, fetched her pills when she was sick, all without complaint.
He had held her in his arms and whispered sweet burred words into her ears, reminding her of the sweet, soft rain of the Highlands.
He had even managed, as he had always hoped, to help mend the fences between Sarah and her, and her sister had apologized and opened up about her fears for Casey’s health and life.
They had adopted Fergie from a foster care situation three years before, and never regretted a moment of it. Craving love and family, Fergie had wasted no time in calling them Mom and Dad, and she had opted to take on the nickname Fergie to honor her adored father with the semi-matching red curls.
She was particularly fond of her aunt Sarah, and Fergie had gone a long way in softening Sarah’s tough demeanor.
“Come, lasses, let us eat. I recall they have some decent soup, bread, nips and tatties. I will introduce ye to such, Fergie.”
“Oh great! So no cheeseburgers?”
“Ye’re in Scotland now, lass. Save yer cheeseburgers for home. Yer aunt will be more than happy to feed ye such nonsense. Nay, it’s a warm cup of soup for me and ye.”
Casey chuckled and moved with them. She didn’t miss the look that Fergus threw over his shoulder.
“They’re all gone now, Fergus.” She leaned in to whisper in his ear. “No one wanders the moors.”
“I dinna ken that is possible, lass. Some poor ghostie will always wander the moor.”
Books by Bess McBride
Time Travel Romance
The Earl Finds a Bride
(Book One of the Fairy Tales Across Time series)
A Ship Through Time
The Highlander’s Stronghold
(Book One of the Searching for a Highlander series)
My Laird’s Castle
(Book One of the My Laird’s Castle series)
My Laird’s Love
(Book Two of the My Laird’s Castle series)
My Laird’s Heart
(Book Three of the My Laird’s Castle series)
Caving in to You
(Book One of the Love in the Old West series)
A Home in Your Heart
(Book Two of the Love in the Old West series)
Forever Beside You in Time
Moonlight Wishes in Time
(Book One of the Moonlight Wishes in Time series)
Under an English Moon
(Book Two of the Moonlight Wishes in Time series)
Following You Through Time
(Book Three of the Moonlight Wishes in Time series)
A Train Through Time
(Book One of the Train Through Time series)
Together Forever Across Time
(Book Two of the Train Through Time series)
A Smile in Time
(Book Three of the Train Through Time series)
Finding You in Time
(Book Four of the Train Through Time series)
A Fall in Time
(Book Five of the Train Through Time series)
Train Through Time Series Boxed Set
(Books 1–3)
Across the Winds of Time
A Wedding Across the Winds of Time
(Novella)
Love of My Heart
Historical Romance
Anna and the Conductor
The Earl’s Beloved Match
(Novella)
The Dishonest Duke
Short cozy mystery stories by Minnie Crockwell
Will Travel for Trouble series
Trouble at Happy Trails (Book 1)
Trouble at Sunny Lake (Book 2)
Trouble at Glacier (Book 3)
Trouble at Hungry Horse (Book 4)
Trouble at Snake and Clearwater (Book 5)
Trouble in Florence (Book 6)
Trouble in Tombstone Town (Book 7)
Trouble in Cochise Stronghold (Book 8)
Trouble in Orange Beach (Book 9)
Trouble at Pelican Penthouse (Book 10)
Trouble at Island Castle (Book 11)
Trouble at Yellowstone (Book 12)
Will Travel for Trouble Series (Books 1–3)
Will Travel for Trouble Series (Books 4–6)
Will Travel for Trouble Series (Books 7–9)
About the Author
Bess McBride is the bestselling author of over twenty time travel romances as well as contemporary, historical, romantic suspense and light paranormal romances. She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at [email protected] or visit her website at www.bessmcbride.com as well as connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. She also writes cozy mystery short stories as Minnie Crockwell, and you can find her website at [email protected].
McBride, Fergus_A Highlander Romance