Tess took the book gently, reverently, feeling the centuries fall away. If she allowed her imagination some freedom, she might sense the author of this treasure, anxiously waiting for his, or her, story to be read. She sat straighter and cleared her throat, reminding herself she wasn’t given to such foolishness.
She turned to the opening page and skimmed a few lines. “It says, this diary belonged to Isla Donaldson Lochridge.” The words, carefully written in a distinctly feminine hand, were dim and difficult to make out. Finally, Tess smiled and looked over at Emily. “She begins the diary on her wedding day, the second of March, 1712.”
Emily grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Read it. All of it.”
Tessa wanted nothing more than to sink into her ancestor’s writings, but the day was slipping away, and she had a long list of tasks to complete. “I can’t wait to hear what ourlots of greatsgrandmother has to say,”she teased, mimicking Emily’s usage. “But we’ve so much to accomplish today. We’ve got to go into town, first thing. I need to line up a finish contractor, plumber, and electrician, for bids, so we can make a final decision on this house. And, in the interim, we need groceries and something to cook on.” She touched a finger to Emily’s chin. “You can’t live forever on scones. I’ll tell you what, if you help me work through our to-do list, after dinner tonight we’ll settle in and read until our eyes won’t stay open any longer. Maybe we’ll learn something about the house, along with our grandmother’s life, in here. Is that a plan?”
“Okay, fine.” Em’s disappointment showed on her face. “But first, I want to see how far it goes. When was the last time she wrote something? Maybe this isn’t her only diary and there’s more in the trunk?”
Tess looked in the back for a date. The last dozen or so pages were blank. Carefully turning the fragile paper, she found the last entry. “10 July, 1746,” she read.
Darach made an indistinct sound, rose and paced to the window.
Tessa watched him for a moment then turned back to the diary, struck by the marked change in the writing. This seemed hastily written. Gone were the neat lines and carefully formed letters. Curious, she read, aloud.
“Word has comethat Bloody Butcher Cumberland’s troops are all but upon us. If we are to escape, we must do so at once. Despite the danger, knowing the atrocities they’ve inflicted on Jacobite sympathizers, we’ve held on, hoping our domestic, our beloved Keita Guthrie, whose husband William has gone to join the Jacobites at Drumossie Moor, would recover enough to travel with us, or return to her family until William returns. Tragically, she, with the delivery of her unborn child nearly upon her, tripped and tumbled down the stairs. This morning, the third day hence, she passed, her bairn with her. We laid them to rest in the garden, where Keita enjoyed walking among the flowers. We’ve had no word from William.
“Our household is now reduced to James and myself. Our son Murdow, along with his wife and son have, thankfully, already sailed for the colonies. We pray for the opportunity to join them. The others who served our family, have long since departed to their various destinations, hoping to escape what we know is coming.
“If we’ve any chance for our own success, we must take only what we can carry to sustain us, until we can reach the coast and hopefully secure passage to the colonies, as well.
“I leave this final record, our home and belongings, along with our hearts and a prayer that someday we’ll return along with our family, to Scotland.”
Tears gathered on Tess’lashes, spilling over as she closed the book and fixed the clasp, stunned by how deeply the entry had moved her, and how much more determined she felt to make a go of the B&B.
She wanted—needed—to fulfill Isla’s wish and finally bring her family home, to stay.
“But…did they make it?” Both Emily’s voice and chin quivered. There was so much desperation in her expression, Tess wanted to lie to her and say yes, but in truth, she didn’t know.
“I honestly don’t know, sweetie. But we can take the laptop to town with us, try to locate a Wifi connection, and see what we can find. We may have to trace them back through the census records of their descendants, or something. I’m not at all familiar with that kind of stuff, but we’ll get whatever help we need. Certainly not all today, but we’ll work toward finding some answers.”
Emily nodded, struggling, Tess could see, with the patience such a plan would require. While Tess tucked the diary safely away, Em went to the window and slipped her hand inside Darach’s, tilting her face up to see his. “Want to come with us?”
Darach laid his hand atop her head. “ ’Tis kind of ye tae ask, lass, but ’tis best I stay here.”
“Why?”
“Well…I’ve still tae remove the board from the last kitchen window. And, if ye’ve chosen a room for yerself, I’ll see tae it, as well.”
Emily beamed up at him. “Aunt Tess’, too?”
“Aye, Button. If she wishes.”
Thirty minutes later, they’d cleaned up, showed Darach which potential bedrooms they’d chosen and gathered what they needed for town. Tessa checked again to be sure her house notes and measurements were securely tucked into her purse, along with a sizeable list of things they’d need if they were going to stay. She should add coal to the list, since what they had wouldn’t last. Extra water, and a few linens wouldn’t hurt, either.
She considered an air mattress for Darach, glancing at him as he banked the coals in the fireplace. Was that so he could work outside and not waste fuel, or because he was truly leaving? He’d been unusually nervous and edgy ever since she’d read the entry in the diary. Or was it because of last night? Or, simply because he was leaving?
If she intended to talk to him, ask him to stay, it had to be now. Her mouth went dry and her stomach did a flip, kicking off a swarm of butterflies. What if he didn’t want her? Want them?
She’d never done anything half this bold, but if she wanted him—and she did—she’d have to swallow her pride. She turned to Emily. “Would you take these two bottles of water and my laptop to the car? I’ll be right there. I just need to talk to Darach a minute, about uncovering some other windows.”
“Okay.” Emily tucked the water bottles under her arm and grabbed Tessa’s computer bag. “Hurry, though. If you’ll just be a second, I’ll wait in the car.”
“Only a second.” She waited until she heard the outside door click shut, then walked boldly to Darach’s side, hoping he didn’t see the terror beneath her facade. “Darach, I…” She put her hand on his arm to turn him toward her. The blue of his eyes seemed darker. Troubled. She tried to remember when she’d last seen the magnetic smile that had captivated her the first time she’d seen him. It couldn’t have been that long, but she missed it. “I want to ask you something.”
“Aye.” He shifted slowly, almost as if he were bracing for something.
“Darach, I…” She closed her eyes, summoning the courage to lay her heart at his feet. “I wanted to know if you’d like to stay?” The words were rushed, like lines delivered too fast, in a play.
