“I pray the proper grave and headstone works.” Malcolm nervously scanned their surroundings. “I dinna ken something I canna best with my blade or axe.”
“After the burial, we shall have Father Rubric bless every room in the keep. Especially the second-floor chambers. Surely, with a new grave on consecrated ground, holy water from the priest, and Lyla’s salt and sage, the wraith will find peace and leave us.” Grant refused to speak Merideth’s name aloud, fearing it would call her to them. Since the horses seemed recovered from the mad dash, he flipped the reins and urged them onward.
As they traveled, Malcolm kept glancing back. “Ye ken I never liked her,” he said after the third or fourth look behind them. “Ye shouldha accepted the Campbell’s daughter instead.”
“Politically, I couldna do so with a clear conscience no matter how bonny or kind the lass was. Besides, my true love came to me from the future. And she brought yer wife with her. Remember?” As he caught sight of the Reddoch colors flying from the tallest tower, he tensed even more. What if the bones brought strength to Merideth’s vengeful spirit?
“Reckon they have the grave dug and the marker in place?” Malcolm sat taller, balancing his axe across his knees.
“I am certain of it.” Grant allowed himself a smile. “We left our wives in charge, and Mrs. Fintrie’s brother knew he wouldna get any rest until he finished the task.”
They entered through the main gate. Grant motioned for the portcullis to be lowered as soon as they cleared it. He had taken Lyla and Abby’s warnings about current and future turmoil in the Highlands seriously. The atmosphere inside the protective skirting wall crackled with expectancy and leeriness. As they rattled across the cobble-stoned courtyard, everyone they passed crossed themselves and bowed their heads in quick prayer.
He halted the wagon beside the church and leapt to the ground. Even though the sun had reached its zenith, the bell tower remained silent as he ordered. Lyla and Abby came hurrying out from behind the church. Abby passed him without a word in her hurry to reach Malcolm.
“Grant!” Lyla charged into his embrace, wrapped her arms around his neck, and held him tight. “I was so afraid something would happen.” She covered him in kisses.
He crushed her softness to him. “Somethingwillhappen if ye keep kissing me that way, m’love.”
She eased back the barest bit and gifted him with a sultry smile. “I shall hold you to that as soon as we get this mess behind us.” She touched his cheek, but her smile faded as her gaze searched his. “You had trouble. I see it in your eyes.”
“The grave was already open.” He didn’t wish to frighten her, but she needed warning. “There isna much left of her in the coffin, but we brought what there was.” Before she could comment, he lifted a finger. “We must not speak her name aloud. I fear it will call her to us.”
Lyla clamped her lips tightly shut and nodded. She stepped free of his embrace but kept her arm linked with his. “Come and see. Father Rubric is blessing her marker with holy water.”
“I am glad the man changed his standing.” He hugged her to his side. “Thanks to you.”
“I just hope it helps.”
They rounded the church and halted. The open grave waited directly behind the structure, facing east as a proper burial site should. The large slab of stone bearing Merideth’s name and the name of her true love already sat at the head of it. Darker areas speckled the light gray of the marker, revealing where holy water had hit. Father Rubric acknowledged him with a brief nod, then showered more of the blessed liquid across the grave.
“I think the stone mason did a fine job on such short notice,” Lyla said. “Don’t you agree?”
“I do. Remind me to send the man extra silver and my compliments.” Grant tipped his head at Malcolm. “Shall we place her where she shouldha been from the beginning?”
“Aye. Let us be done with this.”
They returned to the wagon and fetched the coffin while the priest and their wives waited at the plot. With them each on one end of the pole, the open coffin gently swayed between them as they walked. As carefully as if handling one of their bairns, they lowered the remains down into the hole.
“What happened to the lid?” Father Rubric scowled down at the small pile of bones, squinting as he eyed them.
“We dinna ken.” Grant unsheathed his dagger and cut the ropes away from the pole and let them fall down into the grave. “The cairn was destroyed, and the ground already open when we arrived.” He moved to the holy man’s side and motioned down at the box. “More holy water, Father. I want her to feel properly welcomed and blessed.”
“As ye wish, my chieftain.” The priest took the vial and emptied it into the pit. He turned to a pair of lads waiting in the shade of a nearby oak. “Time to put yer backs into it, my sons.”
The two took their shovels and soon had the mound of earth beside the hole returned to whence it came. As they finished, Lyla went to the low fence surrounding the cemetery and called out, “Fawna! Rory! It’s time.”
Alarm filled Grant. “What are ye doing?”
“They want to place flowers on their mother’s grave,” she said. “It is proper and respectful. And it might help.”
He doubted it. His first wife never viewed the bairns as blessings in life. In fact, she had never acknowledged them as her children. Why would she develop a love for them in death? Lyla gave him a stern look. Apparently, his expression shouted his thoughts. He folded his arms across his chest and attempted a more pious demeanor.
Fawna and Rory came running through the gate, their arms overloaded with already wilting flowers. Bless them. The pair had probably picked the yellow and white wildflowers early in the day. They had even found some heather, pinks and purples, not quite bursting into bloom.
Grant waved them forward. “Come, my wee ones. Lay yer flowers here.” As the children neared the grave, he noticed the wind stilled and not a bird nor any living creature made a sound. Even the summer bugs chittering in the grasses ceased their noise. He stood ready to grab up the bairns and run should aught go awry.
“Why is it so quiet, Da?” Fawna whispered.
