“Take your time, son. I’d like to hear the full story.”
He had his reasons for asking. As he approached the end of his long life, he found himself wondering if perhaps he was wrong. What if he wasn’t going to meet up with his dear Maddie when he passed on? He’d always had a strong belief in the hereafter, but part of him longed for proof.
Was there a heaven? Would he see the others who’d passed before him?
Steenie tapped his finger against his chin, then dropped his hand down, leaning back in the chair with a smile. “I remember leaving Muir Castle in the middle of the night. My true sire, the bastard, had forced me to sleep alone in the hall, which I hated, and my mother was in the dungeon.”
Alex only arched a brow at this travesty, not wishing to interrupt the lad’s thoughts.
“I went outside to relieve myself, then ended up outside the gates because I had brought my play sword. I wasn’t paying much attention to what I was doing, to be honest, and suddenly there was Paddy, nudging me with his muzzle.”
“He found you, not the other way around?”
“Aye. I recall that I was staring at the stars when he nudged my elbow. I never heard or saw him approach. I tried to direct him back to Muir Castle, but all he did was shake his mane at me and snort. He led me to Grant land. I had naught to do with the direction he headed. It was a long trip, and I do believe I slept on him for part of it. Otherwise I don’t think I could have made it this far on my own. I have to believe ’twas some sort of divine intervention.”
“Interesting.” He paused, then added, “Didn’t Brodie tell me that at one time you thought he could communicate with you?”
“Aye, the more time I spent with him, the more I believed I could hear his thoughts. Whether it was true or just the fancy of a young lad longing for a friend, I know not, but it was as if whatever he wished me to know would just pop into my head. Like how many swords to make for Christmas the year he found the bairns sheltering in the cave. I only wished to make two, but he gave me a nudge and this voice in my head said, ‘You need to make more. And get some ribbons.’ Some people thought I was daft, but I swear he could send his thoughts to me.”
“Did he do it with anyone else?”
“Not to my knowledge,” he said, sweeping his brownish-red locks back from his face. “He was a beloved pet to me. Our stableman used to tell everyone he was an old spirit. He was afraid of him.” That made Steenie chuckle.
Alex laughed with him.
“What do you think?” He wasn’t sure he would like Steenie’s answer, but he had to ask.
“That I’ll see him again someday. He told me so right before he died. His head rested on my lap…” He stopped to take a few breaths, the memory clearly painful for him. “He rested against me for two hours before he passed on. That wee pony treated me better than my true sire. He protected our first wee lassie after she was born, always acted as a guard whenever we set her in the basket.”
“He told you he would see you again?” Alex pressed, his heart beating fast in his chest as he thought of Maddie in her white night rail.
“Aye. I fell asleep in the stables, and in my dream, I stood there as a bairn again, waving to him as trotted away. He said we’d meet again. ’Tis how I’ll always remember him. When my mother woke me up, he’d already passed.”
Alex crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Any of your lassies have a pony as a pet?”
“Nay, dogs. No more ponies. Paddy was too stubborn and unpredictable. Why do you ask about him, Uncle Alex?”
“My mind turns toward the hereafter as I grow older, and I found myself wondering about your relationship with the wee beast. Sometimes the veil between our world and the one beyond is thinner than others.”
“Aye,” Steenie said. “Do you recall Rose’s owl? She believed her sire’s spirit was in that bird. And what about the woman in white and the thunderstorm at Sona Abbey?”
“Have I heard that one?”
“Connor and Roddy saw a spirit in the middle of a thunderstorm.”
“Send Connor over, please,” Alex said, deep in thought. But there was no need. His son glanced over sharply, hearing his name, and a small gesture got him moving. “Many thanks to you, Steenie. Enjoy your stay with us. You’re welcome anytime.”
Connor sat at Alex’s side. “What is it, Papa? You are hale?”
“I’m fine. I’m not going anywhere yet, but Steenie mentioned something that I never heard about. Or perhaps I’m so old I’ve forgotten. Did you witness a ghost at Sona Abbey?”
Connor shrugged after glancing over his shoulder.
Alex caught his movement and quickly asked, “Why did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Look over your shoulder. Who are you checking for?”
