He caught her into his arms and despite her struggle to free herself, he held her there until she finally gave in and buried her face against his chest. His eyes closed in anguish as she sobbed. How he wished he didn’t have to leave her.
“No, you won’t, because I won’t leave you suffering. Listen to me now, Jolena,” he crooned into her ear. “When you wake up, you won’t remember any of the dreams we’ve shared. You won’t remember anything that will give you pain. You’ll only remember the deep and abiding friendship of five ghosts, whom, through your tireless efforts, you gave peace and contentment after centuries of torment.”
She shook her head. “No.”
“I love you, Jolena Leigh Michaelsson, I’ve always loved you, and I will continue to love you for all time. When you cross the portal, leaving your mortality behind you, many, many years from now, should you find you still love me as much as you do this moment, I’ll be waiting for you. I promise,” he vowed.
He couldn’t bear the pained expression in her eyes. Yet, he couldn’t deny himself one final kiss either. He poured all his love and all of his passion into the kiss. She returned it in kind. And though he wished it could continue, he could feel the all-too familiar draw of his past taking him back through the centuries. A draw over which he had no control.
“I have to go now,” he murmured. “I’ll see you on the other side, my love. Somewhere, deep down inside, remember that I love you.”
Despair consumed her as Mathias faded from her view. His pain etched itself into her heart and settled beside her own. “No, Mathias,” she whispered with steely resolve when she could no longer see him. “You hold no power to make me forget. I will never forget—not ever.”
The words echoed in her mind as her eyelids fluttered open. Despite the intensity of the pain it caused, she committed this last dream to memory by reliving it many times over in the darkness of her bedroom. Yet, merely memorizing each moment didn’t seem good enough.
She tossed back the covers and slid out of bed. Dakota whimpered as he rose to his feet and followed her out of the room. Together, they made their way into the library. The house had an empty, eerie feeling. She ignored it. Right now, she needed to record each experience, so she would have them in her possession all the days of her life. Despite Mathias’s wishes, she would never allow herself to forget. She would create a journal of memories. All of her feelings, all of the dreams, her daily interactions, the wondrous moments inside the mine chamber—
She gasped as a wave of disjointed images stormed into her consciousness. The mine!
Suddenly, those little wisps of memory spread like liquid silver inside her mind. They filled every crack and crevice of the missing pieces. Before she walked through that magnificent door and over to the fountain, she could hear Mathias’s voice. He talked to someone. His words didn’t make sense at the time. What exactly did he say? Let’s see, she remembered him saying, “You can’t let her die, please—I’m willing—if you’ll just—you know I do—but I can’t—allow me time—done—”
And the other voice said, “Love her enough—let her go—sacrifice—June—”
Jo drew in a breath as pieces of the mystery fell neatly into place. Mathias made a deal with someone in the mine. Whom? His guardian angel—hers—the angel of death? Did it matter? That man, whoever he was, allowed her life to continue, but only if Mathias loved her enough to let her go in return. To sacrifice his desire to remain with her, so she could live life in the normal sense of the word.
No wonder he so desperately wanted to return to Scotland by the end of May. Their clock relentlessly ticked off the minutes they could share the moment she left the chamber. She could see now that he strived to fill each of those moments with an amazing array of beautiful memories.
Yet he made those memories for his own benefit, for he desired to leave her with none of them. Just so she wouldn’t grieve…
She placed her elbows on the desk, buried her head in her hands, and through a flood of tears, gave in to her sorrow. She sobbed as intense pain wracked her body while her bleeding heart ripped into a thousand tiny pieces.
Chapter 31
Then, a sudden rebellion overtook her grief. Mathias made a deal with someone. Perhaps she could make one herself. Just what would the possessor of the unknown voice think about that? Surely, she had a say in all of this. How dare they map out her life without asking her opinion or consent! How dare they act as if they had the right to control her decisions— Somehow, she needed to get to the forest and, and—
And do what, Jolena? the voice inside her head mocked.
What made her think she could change anything at all? She glanced at her computer. The article—she didn’t finish reading the article. Perhaps she could find the help she needed if she finished reading it.
She activated the screen button. Since she didn’t shut the computer down last night, it remained right where she left it. She placed her focus on the final paragraph.
“Recent findings propose an alternative theory for such occurrences. It is believed by some in the paranormal field of science, ghosts who have chosen to remain behind are given yet another opportunity, each year, to escape this earthly sphere once the event of their death is replayed in full on the anniversary it transpired. That they are, in fact, aware of their surroundings and everyone in it, be they mortal or spirit. In a sense, they exist in two planes, simultaneously. They can see their environment as it was and as it is. Yet, they focus on the former. Evidence reveals that mortals, who are sensitive to ghosts, can break the vicious cycle by intervening before the moment of death occurs. Click on the following links to read supporting case studies, which detail—”
Jo glanced at the clock. Mathias told her he met with Elisabeth Weidmann about daybreak. Once her grandmother gave him the note, he gathered the boys and raced toward her grandfather’s home. She didn’t have time to read case studies, not if she wanted to intervene before the moment of his death. But how? The question nagged at her as she hurried into her bedroom, threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She didn’t have time for shoes. Dakota followed close at her heels as she raced barefoot down the stairs, and out the back door. In her haste, she left it wide open.
Lacy snorted and fussed inside her stall as she continually called out to Beadurinc and her other stall mates who didn’t answer. The barn stood empty, save the mare Mathias gave her. She grabbed her bridle and tossed it over the horse’s head. Her hands shook as she fed the chinstrap through the buckle. The task took twice as long as it should.
“Not now, Jo,” she berated herself. “We don’t have time for butter fingers.”
Finally, she swung up on the horse’s back, ignoring the bareback pad altogether. “Come on, Lace, we’ve got to go and get our guys.” Moments later, she raced for the trail that would take her to the place of Mathias’s death. A sense of urgency accompanied the ride. Dakota understood, and kept up with the pace of her horse.
How she wished she had the time to read those case studies. She didn’t know what to do once she got there. Just how did one go about “intervening” in the death of a ghost, who by definition is already dead? Should she ask the soldiers to put their weapons down and go back from whence they originated? What if she couldn’t find the exact place again or what if she couldn’t see Mathias once she arrived? And the question that cut the deepest, what if she arrived too late?
No. She refused to consider that possibility. She had to arrive on time. She just had to. With a gentle pressure of her heels, she urged her mare ever faster. Fifteen minutes later, she arrived in front of Lacy’s former home. The herd of horses inside the fenced pasture recognized her as they approached. Lacy answered their calls. And then suddenly, an idea formed in her mind. An absurd idea, but a great idea if it worked.
She turned the reins to the right and led Lacy over to the gate. Dakota tilted his head and gazed into her eyes. She patted Lacy on the neck, and said, “I’m going to need you both. We’re going to herd th
ose horses straight into the English army. Whatever you do, don’t let me down.” She leaned down, flipped the latch, and swung the gate open.
Jo rode through the gateway and turned sharply to the right. She needed to get behind the horses just as fast as she could. Once she positioned herself, she drew the reins upward and began twirling them in large circles above her head. All the while, she whistled and shouted commands behind the startled horses. The combined sounds made them panic and at once, the herd tore out of the gate. She raced past them then and with the help of Dakota’s continuous barks, turned the horses toward the mountains. The dog understood her directions, and perhaps he sensed something more.
Several times, he turned his head, his ears forward as if something caught his attention. Did he hear the sounds of the English soldiers as they approached? Because if he did, that meant they had yet to confront Mathias and her boys. She leaned forward and encouraged her horse. “Hurry, Lacy! We have to hurry—”
Time—How much of it did she have left? Did she follow the correct path? She could only hope she did, as she relentlessly drove the horses toward the forest. Dakota could now hear something else. He skidded to a halt and adjusted the direction of his gaze. Yet, with the ruckus made from stampeding horses, she could hear nothing but the thunderous sound of hooves as they pounded against the ground. “Please,” she said aloud, “Please help me get there in time.”
Just then, an unexpected voice rang out. “I’ve a mind to take the lot of them to hell with us, Mathias, starting with that one, right there.”
Jo gasped as Sam’s voice fearlessly roared out the threat. She could almost see his intimidating look of deadly calm. Shots rang out as she broke through the small clearing. She rode straight through them hoping the act would supply the needed interference. Yet, the vast number of English Redcoats caused her a moment of panic. As the horses trampled through the area, several of the soldiers dissipated underneath the hooves of the horses. Dakota ran straight for Jedediah, stopping long enough to lunge at one of the soldiers who threatened him with bayonet. The man vanished.
She hurried around to the front of the herd to turn them around. Seeing the need, Dakota joined her, nipping at the heels of those who disobeyed her orders. Seconds later, the horses turned around and hastened back through the clearing, heading for home. The bewildered English soldiers that remained appeared unsure of themselves and their purpose. One by one, they disappeared, leaving only her boys—and they looked just as stunned as the group of English soldiers. Her Rangers dismounted then and walked toward her, clearly puzzled, but she only had eyes for Mathias.
She slid off Lacy, suddenly unsure of what to do next. Could one walk into a film from the past? For that matter, which time and place held them at this moment, now or then? It seemed as if they approached her, but did they see her or did they see the light? Suddenly, Mathias quickened his pace, stepping ahead of the others and extended his arms wide open in invitation. He seemed surprised, relieved, and delighted all at the same time.
She raced into his arms and clung to him because she could feel his arms as they wrapped around her—not flesh and bone, yet somehow far more solid than spirit. She discovered she could rest her head against his chest without penetrating his form. “Mathias— Please, please, don’t go. Not without me,” she cried.
“Jolena,” he whispered against her hair. Then, he took a small step back and cupped her face with his hands. He fused his gaze with hers. “What are you doing here? I don’t—”
“I’m so sorry about the disruption, but I had to stop this event,” she murmured as her gaze briefly swept over the woodland. “I couldn’t let you go without a fight. Especially since nobody bothered to ask my opinion on the matter. I hope I didn’t mess things up for the boys. I didn’t mean to if I did, but—”
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I overheard the two of you talking inside the mine chamber. I didn’t figure it all out until this morning, but I found this article on the ghost Web site and it said a mortal could intervene and I needed to try, I had to try—because—well, because I can’t live without—”
Mathias stopped her incoherent babble, and she did babble, with a most exhilarating kiss. That connection filled her with delectable warmth from head to toe. Finally, he broke away and weaved his fingers through the length of her tangled, wind-blown hair.
“Now, my love, let’s try this once again and this time from the top.”
“Come, Mathias, it’s not that difficult to understand. I believe Jolena is protesting our arrangement.”
She and Mathias turned toward the sound of the unexpected voice. The same voice, in fact, that talked to Mathias inside the mine. For lack of a better description, the man—glowed. The glow didn’t come from around him. His entire being radiated the light from within his body. Surely, he couldn’t be the gruesome angel of death she always pictured in her mind. But just who or what—
Mathias gave the man a respectful nod as he clutched her just a little tighter. “Grandfather—”
“Grandfather?” Her mouth fell open as she looked from one McGregor to the other.
“Angus McGregor,” Mathias clarified.
“Indeed,” he responded as he strolled toward them. “And I’ve been trying to corral this scalawag for over two centuries. I almost had him this time.”
Jolena stepped in front of Mathias in a desire to keep him away from the ethereal being. “No, please. You can’t take him. He’s my very life—the very reason for my existence. If you’re taking him, then you have to take me too.”
Angus chuckled as he folded his arms against his chest. “I can see that. So, what to do? Hmm. He wants her to stay put and live out the length of her life and she’s willing to go beyond to remain at his side.” He rubbed his hand against his white beard as if considering the dilemma. His gaze traveled back and forth between them.
The hands of the eternal clock paused and time, quite literally, stood still. How she arrived at this absolute knowledge, she didn’t know. She held her breath waiting for his decision, because he had a say in the matter. In fact, he had the only say in the matter.
Angus turned around to face the other boys. “It’s my understanding that you three”—pointing to Jed, William and Alex in turn—“are of a mind to come home. I assume this is still your wish?”
Each of them nodded while sparing her a glance. “Good, good. You have family anxiously awaiting your arrival. And Alexander, Charity is growing a bit impatient with you, I might add.”
“Sam?” he asked, amid the chuckles.
Sam gazed steadily into Angus’s eyes for several moments and then grinned. “Absolutely not. Unlike William and Alex, I haven’t accomplished everything I want to accomplish, and I haven’t seen everything I want to see. I believe I’ll stay put, if it’s all the same to you, sir.”
“Ever loyal, Samuel. Good man. You’ve earned my respect.” Angus bowed slightly before he gave his full attention to Mathias and Jolena.
“Well, since my grandson is as strong willed as any McGregor I’ve ever known, and believe me, I’ve known my fair share of them, I guess all that’s left is to let him stay around and wait for you.” He smiled at Jolena and winked. “Your parents send their love, lass.”
Jo finally let go of her breath and smiled, first at Mathias’s grandfather, who surely must be his guardian angel, or hers, or both, and then at Mathias, who returned it in kind. She could both see and feel his joy. He took her hand and held it tightly. And then suddenly, it seemed as if the clouds parted to allow the light of the sun to shine down upon the clearing, except one could see nothing but blue skies all around. This light didn’t come from the sun.
Nevertheless, Jolena recognized its brilliance the moment it appeared. She beheld its magnificent glory once before and she would again, but not right now and thankfully, neither would Mathias.
Jedediah stepped toward her first. “Jolena, I meant what I said earlier. I’ll keep you in my hear
t, until such time as we meet again.” He leaned forward and kissed her gently on the cheek. He then turned to Sam, who stood next to Jo.
“Be sure to give your folks my best regards—mine too, if you see them,” Sam said.
“You can be sure I will.” Jedediah smiled as he offered his hand.
Sam ignored the hand and yanked him into a hearty embrace. “We’ll be there soon enough, lad.”
“And I’ll be watching for you,” Jedediah said as he turned to face Mathias.
Mathias let go of Jolena’s hand in order to embrace his young friend as well. “Scout out a nice piece of land for us, Jedediah,” he said. “We’ll all want to remain together, once we’re all together again.”
Jedediah smiled broadly, as he saluted his friend. “Yes, sir, and Mathias, thanks for everything. I want you to know, I found it a pleasure and an honor serving beside you. I’m proud to call you my friend.”
“Likewise,” Mathias replied.
“I’ll miss you, all of you,” Jedediah said as he stepped back and gave Dakota one last pat on the head. He turned around then, mounted his horse, and urged him toward the light, but just before he entered it, he turned back. He had the most joyous expression on his face as if what lay ahead of him held an unimaginable glory and he said, “I’ll be seeing you.”
As he disappeared into the light, Alexander and William shared a private goodbye with Mathias and Sam. She had no wish to intrude. Part of her celebrated the fact that Mathias and Sam would remain at her side. Yet part of her sorrowed for the loss of three very dear friends. She couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in her eyes as William and Alex approached her.
“We don’t want you grieving for us, either,” William ordered as he wiped away the tears. “We want the rest of your life filled with one happy adventure after another. And we want you to remember all of the good times and all of the laughter we’ve shared. I want you to recall, every day of your life, just how ridiculous Alex looked as he portrayed Mrs. Peacock, and what a sight Jedediah made in that frilly pink apron he conjured.”
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