Claray spun around to face her grandsire. “Wait, please. Grandsire, just tell me that you’re happy. Please? I need to know. I miss you both so much. Can you not return for a while?”
Alex Grant cupped her cheeks, his large hands warming her through and through. “Nay, lass. I’m where I belong. You’ll see us again when your time comes, but you have many years left to live. I want you to stop worrying and go after the man you love so you can find your happiness.”
“Thorn?”
“Aye, he’s a fine man. Find your happiness the way I found mine.”
Her grandmama ushered her to the back of the cave, where she lay down with warm furs, her mantle hanging near the dying fire to dry. “Many thanks to both of you. I love and miss you so much.”
Maddie bent down and smoothed a few stray hairs back from her forehead. “But look how many more people you havearound you to love. You’re a special auntie to two lassies already, and there will be more, including some children of your own. Hush, child. Close your eyes. Draw your pictures until you are found.”
Grandsire wrapped his arm around his wife’s waist, and the two disappeared.
Claray closed her eyes with a sigh. It was probably just a delirious dream, but it was a sweet one, and she was warm and safe.
Chapter Fourteen
Alex visits many people in their dreams, but he’s not the only one.
Dyna woke up the next morn in a strange bed, and it took her a few minutes to recall all that had transpired. She stared up at the beams in the ceiling, her arm going to the other side of the bed, confirming what she already knew to be true. Derric had already gone belowstairs.
A sudden memory caught her. She bolted up in bed, sitting as tall as possible, as a powerful memory stole over her. Tears in her eyes, she whispered, “Claray. Grandmama.”
In the dream, her grandmother had come to her bed and sat down beside her. She’d startled awake, and her grandmama had smiled, patted her hand, and said, “Do not worry. Grandpapa and I took care of Claray. She’ll be fine until the storm ends. Then you’ll find her in your favorite cave.”
She reached for her grandmother’s hand and said, “Stay. Where’s Grandsire?”
A voice in the distance called to her, and she turned to find him standing at the end of her bed, a much younger version of the grandfather she so loved. In fact, he bore an amazingresemblance to her sire with his long, dark hair. “We left Claray with plenty of food, so don’t go after her until the storm ends.”
“But I can go get her now… Just tell me where.”
“Nay,” his booming voice carried. “We don’t need to find you in a snow drift either. Tamp down that stubborn streak of yours, granddaughter. Leave me to enjoy my wife in peace. When the storm ends, you’ll have plenty of time to go after her. And since I know you are stubborn, Granddaughter, I’ll remind you that we are both watching you. And please stop grieving for me. You have a wonderful husband and two beautiful lassies to enjoy.” A mischievous look lit in his eyes. “Might I add I had to go to some lengths to get that lad to accept all of your faults, lass.”
She’d scowled at that, an expression that had deepened as the two faded from view. “Nay, don’t go,” she’d whispered…and then she’d awoken to an empty room.
Dyna stared at the end of the bed, hoping to lock the image of her younger grandfather in her mind forever. She found herself smiling at his jest about Derric. His comment had brought her back to the deserted cottage where a daft man had held her and her grandsire captive. The situation had been dangerous and frightening in the beginning, but it had somehow ended in hilarity. “I love you, too, Grandpapa,” she said in a soft whisper.
Then, because she really didn’t care to wait, she threw the furs back and hopped out of bed, looking for something to wear on her feet. When she was finally ready, she raced out the door, flying down the stairs so quickly she nearly lost her footing and went airborne.
An eerie quiet hung in the hall, everyone seemingly lost to their thoughts. Derric sat across from Uncle Aedan, Tara, and Riley at one of the trestle tables. Brin was just entering.
But it was the other guests who shocked her. Aunt Brenna was there, along with Aunt Gwyneth and Uncle Logan, andSorcha and Cailean. “What are you all doing here?” she asked, frozen in place at the end of their table. On a different table sat Alasdair and Emmalin with their bairns along with Els, Joya, and family. “Els? Alasdair? What’s this about?”
Derric took her hand and tugged her down into the empty seat next to him. “Leave them be for a few moments. ’Tis too early. They have good reason for being here.”
Dyna couldn’t wait patiently for an explanation, not after what she’d just experienced. “Why? Did something happen?”
Logan got up and began to pace in front of the hearth. “Dreams, we’re all having dreams. I dreamed of Alex, Gwynie dreamed of Maddie, Brenna dreamed of her brother. We’ve all had different dreams of one of them or the other. We headed straight for Grant land, but the blasted storm forced us to take a different route. I had to make sure we had beds for Gwynie and Brenna.”
Alasdair muttered, “He was there! Directly in front of me. It was almost as if I could touch Grandsire. And he was young again. Young! Standing at the end of my bed, and I swear my sire was standing behind him.”
Emmalin nodded in agreement, but said nothing, a haunted expression on her face.
Els mumbled in short sentences, “His hair was so dark. He stood in front of me. He looked just like you and Connor.” He stared at Alasdair as if in shock.
Dyna turned to Derric, who was staring at his porridge, stirring and stirring and stirring…
She grabbed his hand and said, “You, too?”
