“Och!” Darach exclaimed, beginning to understand. “Are ye stuck here, then, as I was on Culloden? Mayhap the wee witch that sent me here can help ye move on tae…wherever ye wish tae go.” But something dinnae fit with that theory. “Ye were obviously able tae leave the moor, so why dinnae ye cross over tae yer eternity, at the time?”
The ghost waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m no’ stuck in the way ye’re suggestin’.” He studied Darach a moment as if deciding whether to say more. “ ’Tis a broken promise I’m trying tae mend that binds me.”
“A promise? I dinnae ken how—”
“I refused tae cross!” He spat the words like a whiplash. “I’d promised tae come back to my wife, and so I did, even though I was like…this.” He sneered at his ghostly personage and seemed to wilt with pain “But ’twas too late. She’d died, and our unborn babe with her.”
He shook his head as if still in denial after all this time. “She must have crossed, though. I couldnae find her, and I dinnae ken where tae look for her. So, I wait, here in this house where I left her, until she comes back for me.”
“ ’Tis been centuries, with naught tae suggest it won’t be centuries more.” Darach observed. “So, I ken ye’ve found a way tae live wi’ the living. The mortals who’ve occupied this house over the years?”
“Nae!” The ghost’s outrage was instant and profound. “There cannae be mortals here. She’ll no’ come if there are. I ken it with a certainty.” His expression turned dark. “So ye and yers must go! Mark me, I’ll continue tae drive away any who try tae stay. Or interfere,” he added. “Many have tried over the years. All have failed. Some left quickly. Some a bit more…uncomfortably.”
Darach fought to replace his temper with compassion. “I ken what ’tis like tae wait centuries for something ye’ve ached for. Tae burn with the need tae pay back the debts ye owe. But ye cannae mean tae punish the living for wantin’ tae make the best lives they can,” he reasoned. “Those two lassies ye’ve been pesterin’ have a right tae be here. Their family ties tae this house go back more than the three centuries ye speak of. Ye cannae deny them their chance tae find happiness in the home that rightfully belongs tae ’em.”
The ghost crossed his arms again and tried to look down his nose at Darach, despite being of equal height. “There’s naught ye can say or do tae change my mind.” His sneer distorted his craggy features. “Ye came in here, thinkin’ ye’d just sweep me out wi’ the dust. But ye cannae. So ye’d best go pack up yer lassies and their daft plans and cart the bunch of ye off, somewhere else. Ye’re no welcome here! If ye dinnae go willingly, the unfortunate outcome will be on yer head.”
Darach’s blood pounded in his ears until all he heard was the roar. “Dinnae threaten me, or mine.” He felt a tug at the wordmine, but set it aside to consider later. For now, all he cared about was letting this apparition ken the peril he’d be facing if he carried out his threat.
He advanced on the intruder until they were nose to nose. “ ’Tisyethat isna welcome here.” He fought to keep the quiver from his chin. “ ’Tis a huge thing, a promise. No one kens that more than I. I made a huge one, and because I couldnae keep it, lives were destroyed. I’ll spend the rest of eternity paying for that mistake.”
He took a steadying breath. “But ye kept yer promise. Ye came back. What I cannae ken is how ye thinkstayin’here and destroying the lives of those still struggling through theirs, will bring ye closer tae findin’ yer wife and child. But, whatever yer twisted reasoning, I dinnae care. What Idocare about is that wee lassie out there. Ye frighten so much as a freckle on her nose and ye’ll think Culloden was a May Day picnic. The same goes for the other lass. She’s lost far too much, already. Ye challenge either of them, or their right tae be here, and ye challenge me.”
He wiggled his fingers in the ghost’s face. “Dinnae mistake this mortal guise as a disadvantage. ’Tis as temporary as yer presence here and it brings no limitations wi’ it. If ye doubt me, I’ve all of eternity tae prove it tae ye. Even if ye find yer wife and child and think ye’ve put this behind ye,I’ll still find ye. Ye’ve my oath on it.”
The ghost hunched his shoulders and stood his ground. “And ye’ve mine. I’ve no’ endured these centuries tae have the likes of ye, boot me out.”
Darach growled. “Ye’ll no leave?”
“I cannae.”
Regardless of his compassion for the highlander’s plight, Darach had to put Tessa and Emily’s safety first. But mayhap there was a compromise. “If ye’ll give yer word tae stay hidden and no’ interfere with—”
“Darach?” Emily’s call came from somewhere outside the room. “Where are you? Did you talk to Jack?”
“She thinks ye’re Jack Frost—Old Man Winter.” Darach explained, lowering his voice to a whisper. “I told her ye’d be moving outside, so there’ll be no more of yer senseless tricks and ye’ll no’ let her see ye again. Nor hear ye. Am I clear?”
“Ye’ll no’ tell me what I—” The ghost’s face morphed from anger to puzzlement. “Ye said the child is mortal. By what magic does she see me?”
“The magic of youth, I ken. She’s yet tae learn taedisbelieve.”
“And the older lass?”
“Och. She’s learned well enough. I overheard her tell the child she doesnae believe in ghosts. Therefore they dinnae exist.Yedinnae exist. And soon, neither will I. But before that happens, ye and I will come tae an understandin’.”
The ghost snorted. “I’ve made my intentions clear enough. I’ll make no’ other promise.”
Darach leaned even closer. “ButImake mine taeye. Leave off makin’ yer presence known tae these lassies, or ye’ll have more than the passage of time tae regret. I am sent here for a purpose, and yer presence is interfering with that. Those are my terms. Heed them or leave.”
“Nae.” The ghost crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I willnae. ’Tis the lot of ye that will be takin’ yer leave.”
“Darach?” Emily called again, just as she entered the room. “Are you in here?”
He whirled and tried to hide the ghost behind him. “I’ll be right out, lass.”
“Was that Jack?” she asked leaning to one side to peer around Darach as Tessa entered behind her.
Darach glanced over his shoulder, sighing with relief that the apparition had gone. “He said he had much tae take care of, outside.”
