Darach stoppedshort and stared at the closed door just beyond the upper landing, unwilling to trust what he’d just seen. Soncerae had no’ mentioned sending another ghost to this spot, though he was sure ’twas no’ one of The 79 he’d seen. Hefeltit, right down to his weighty bones.
“Was that him?” Emily whispered, moving closer to Darach to tuck her hand inside his. “Did you see him?”
“See who? What?” Tess asked, catching up with them.
“I think it was Jack,” Emily continued to whisper.
Darach glanced over his shoulder at Tess, unsure what to say. Had she seen the ghost, too? Darach dinnae ken what Tess wished him to tell the child, but there had sure enough been a ghost slipping through that door.
“What makes you think so, Em?” Tess asked, an amused look on her face.
“There was a man standing over there, watching us, and then he disappearedright throughthat door!” Emily said excitedly. “But he was dressed like Darach, not like the pictures I’ve seen of Jack Frost. Does Scotland have a different Jack Frost than we do, Aunt Tess?”
Tess’ gaze shifted to him as if expecting him to discount what Emily had said. When he didn’t, she gave him an exasperated look.
“No, I don’t think so, honey. Are you sure you saw something? Not just a trick of the shadows and your flashlight?”
“Nope. He was real.” Emily insisted.
Darach watched the frustration on Tess’ face as she struggled to respond to Emily’s persistence. Finally, she leaned down to Emily’s level and gave her an indulgent smile. “Sweetie, I think you’re mistaken. Whatever you thought you saw, certainly wasn’t real. Just an illusion. You know what an illusion is, don’t you, Em?”
Emily stared at her for the space of several seconds. “Jack Frost isn’t real?”
Darach winced at the slight quiver in Emily’s voice. Her entire belief system seemed to hang on Tess’ answer.
He held his own breath. He dinnae want either of them to ken a ghost resided in their house, but if Tess said Jack Frost wasn’t real, what would that do to the child’s belief in other things, like Father Christmas or any of her other childhood fantasies?
’Twas far better for her to think Jack Frost slipped through that door, than the reality of an actual ghost—no’ just one on temporary mortal leave like himself—residing in the very place they intended to make their home.
But apparently, convincin’ Tess to agree could prove difficult, indeed. ’Twas a no-nonsense lass, that one.
The swift tug of regret that he dinnae have the right, nor the time to convince her otherwise, brought him up short. What about his determination to get to Hell and begin his penance? And what of the annoyance he’d felt when Soncerae sent him here, even for two wee days?
Now, he wanted more time to peel away the layers and shields Tessa wore as protection, expose what lay beneath. He’d find hurt and vulnerability, he was sure, but was else? Compassion? He’d observed that. Resilience? That, too. Determination? Absolutely. And…?
’Twas the ‘ands’ that he wished to discover and the realization that he wouldnae be here long enough, created a tangible ache in his chest.
He swallowed hard. ’Twas but another quest he would fail. Though he knew he couldnae stay with Tess and Emily, he wouldna leave them vulnerable to the whims of a wayward spirit.
Darach needed more than a mere glimpse to ken the nature of this spirit and what it would take to send him on his way. How long had the ghost inhabited this house, and why?
Emily pressed closer to Darach, apprehension clouding her pretty, brown eyes. “If it’s not Jack, is it a…ghost?”
“Sweetheart…” Tess began in one of those overly-patient tones adults tended to use with children. Darach recognized it from his own childhood as well as from tourists interacting with their children on the moor. “What you saw was definitelynota ghost. There are no such things as ghosts, remember? And you know very well Jack Frost is just a fairy—”
“ ’Twas Jack! I saw him, too,” Darach interrupted before Tess could continue. “Slippin’ right through that door, just like Emily said.” He gave Tess a bear-with-me look. “Mayhap I’ll just go inside and have a talk wi’ him. See if I can coax him outside.”
“Good idea,” Emily nodded rapidly, staring at him with a mixture of relief and adoration.
The impact of the trust he saw in her eyes hit his gut with a blow harder than any opponent had ever wielded, and he knew he’d gladly fight dragons for this bairn. She’d pierced his heart, curled up inside, and settled in to stay. The sensation was terrifying. And marvelous.
When he looked at Tess, she tilted her head and pressed her lips into a tight line. But to her credit, she dinnae say anything more about Jack no’ bein’ real.
