FOUR DAYS LATER
Hegarty dropped the sapphire into Old Inghinn’s aged hand.
“And how was yer trip?” she asked.
Hegarty grinned. Brenna had returned with so many necessities, the stone had nearly not been able to carry it all and the three of them, too. And the lad . . . well, the pup’s eyes hadna stilled for three days. When he managed to tear his loving gaze from his bride, that is.
“I thank ye, Inghinn. ’Twas a fittin’ wedding gift for the two o’ them.”
“Aye, and ye must keep yer end of the agreement, Hegarty. Ye’ve a soft heart and a foolish head, my friend.”
“Only for the bairns.”
“Aye. But the children grow up, do they not? And that soft heart of yours stays with them, I’m thinking.”
Hegarty eased toward the door of the Wellerby cottage. He was feeling the itch to be away as he did whenever the witch got on her scolding.
“Ye must fetch me the rest of the stones, Hegarty. ’Tis past time, as well ye ken. They were ne’er yours to take.”
Hegarty shrugged, shifting from foot to foot. “I canna reach ’em, ye ken that. Only the sapphire comes to my call.”
“They’ll all answer to the amethyst. And that one remains in this place, this time. You’ll get it back for me.”
“The laddie needed it, aye?”
“Mayhap he did. But that was a score of years ago, and he’s a laddie no more. Ye must get it back.”
“But . . .”
“Fetch the amethyst, Hegarty. And once ye have it, ye must call back the others. ’Tis certain, the Jewels of Kin donan were never meant for this world.”
LOOK FOR THE NEXT EXCITING
TIME-TRAVEL ROMANCE
BY PAMELA MONTGOMERIE
AMETHYST DESTINY
COMING SUMMER 2010
FROM BERKLEY SENSATION!
Sapphire Dream (Berkley Sensation) Page 29