“But why?” she whimpered, squeezing tighter, holding on with all her strength.
Gently, he unlocked her arms from his neck and drew her back far enough to look into her eyes. “Ye ken how Jack—William—is a ghost, that his mortal days are long over, and he doesnae belong here any longer?”
“Uh-huh,” Emily sniffled and nodded.
Darach shrugged. “ ’Tis the same for me. I ken ’tis hard tae understand, but ye heard me tell Tessa that I died on Culloden’s battlefield, just like William, did ye no’?”
She nodded again, sniffled some more.
“Then ye ken that I, too, am a ghost, trapped here just like he was, and now, with Soncerae’s help, ’tis time for me tae move on tae…whatever comes next.”
Emily studied his face, her brow furrowed, and hiccupped through several more sniffles. “Do you have a wife and baby waiting for you, too?”
Darach’s face twisted. “Nae lass! ’Tis you and Tessa that I love. If wishing could make it so, ’tis Tessa I’d claim for my wife, and ye as my child. No matter where I go, I’ll always carry ye, in my heart.” He looked up at Tessa. “Both of ye.”
He stood and nudged Emily into Tessa’s arms, where she hid her face against Tessa’s waist.
Soni cleared her throat, sounding a little overcome, herself. “Well, we mustn’t dawdle. I’ve only a narrow window of time tae get William and Keita back safely, w’out disturbing the balance of...everything.”
Holding Emily close, Tessa watched Soncerae move to the two reunited souls, still wrapped in the wonder of each other, and nod to Guthrie. “Ready?”
“Aye. I’m anxious tae go,” William replied. “I’ve a daughter tae meet,” he grinned before looking at Darach. “But first, Darach Chisholm, I wish tae thank ye formyboon.” He glanced lovingly at his wife, then back. “Ye forced me tae realize why my Keita couldnae come for me. I’m grateful tae Soncerae, too, for bringin’ her safely here, but if ye hadna forced me tae see ’twas my own unwillingness tae forgivemyself, that held me back, Keita couldnae have come. I’d still be in the garret, cursing the saints for abandoning me. I pray ye find yer own peace, laddie, whatever and wherever it be.”
Guthrie turned his tender gaze to Emily. “ ’Tis been my honor, tae know ye, young Emily. I hope my daughter has some of the strength I see in ye.” He smiled at Tessa. “ ’Tis time this old house was filled with light and laughter again.”
Tessa clung to Emily as Darach joined William, Keita, and Soncerae. When he looked back at her, his own shredded heart was evident on his face. “Forgive me. If the choice were mine, I’d never leave ye.”
Soncerae scowled and plopped a fist on either side of her waist. “How can ye ask her tae forgive ye, when ye willnae even try tae forgive yerself. And, the choice hasalwaysbeen yers!”
Darach gaped at her. “Mine?My choices were forfeited when I dragged my friends tae their deaths. I had centuries stuck on that moor tae consider the consequences of my actions, so when ye came tae take me away from there, then yes, I ken I did make a choice. I chose tae get on with my penance; tae go tae Hell and finally be done wi’ it!” He looked longingly at Tessa. “Then ye brought me here. Ye showed me Heaven, but ’twas Hell knowin’ what I found—what I wanted more than I ever thought possible—could never be mine.”
Wait!” Tessa cried, rushing to Darach, Emily in tow. “I don’t know what you’ve done that you feel you need to pay for, but…” She tried to swallow the emotion choking her throat. “If you could only see yourself the way I do.” She touched his face, looked deep into his pain-filled eyes. “I don’t care what’s in your past. I love you. You’re gentle, kind, selfless. And so loving,” she added, gathering Emily into their circle of three. “Nothing you’ve done could ever erase who you are to me.”
She dropped her hand to his chest, felt the beat of his heart and her own desperate need to keep him with her. “Even if you haven’t won your …boon, or prize, or whatever you were supposed to do, I…” she glanced at Emily, “…we, want you. We love you. Your imagined flaws, and all!”
“Finally!” Soni lifted her hands in the air, before giving Tessa a huge smile and a laugh. “I thought ye were never goin’ tae say it.” But her smile turned to a scowl as she addressed Darach. “Now if we could just get this one tae do his part, I could take the Guthrie’s home, where they belong.”
“ ’Tis what I’m trying tae do, Soncerae!” Darach’s agony played across his face. “ ’Tis what I’ve tried tae do for nearly three bloody centuries! I’m ready tae do my part, pay my debts,when all I want is tae stay here!”
Soni shook her head and sighed, showing a little frustration of her own. “Darach, do ye love this woman?”
“With all my heart,” he cried.
He glanced wistfully at Tessa, looked down at Emily and brushed a hand across the child’s hair before gently cupping both hands around Tessa’s face.
Tess knew she’d remember this moment, the love, and the pain, in his eyes, forever.
“I dinnae have the words tae tell ye how much I love ye, Tessa, but I cannae come tae ye wi’out honor. I’ve sins I must pay for, before I’d be free tae accept the love and trust ye offer.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, her cheek and finally her mouth with such tenderness it triggered the sting of more tears.
“How…how long will that be?”
He shook his head and she saw moisture pool in his eyes, too. “Ye mustn’t wait for me.”
Desperate, unwilling to accept what he told her, Tessa turned to Soncerae. “Please. Is there nothing you can do?” she pleaded.
“Nae,” Soni shrugged. “Naught thatIcan do, but much that Darach could do, if he truly wishes tae stay.”
Darach’s brow scrunched over eyes full of confusion and a desperate spark of hope. “I dinnae ken yer riddles, Soncerae. Please. Can ye no’ just spit out what ye’re tryin’ tae say?”
