“Aye. I can indeed, since ye’re too bullheaded tae see it for yerself!”
She raised her arms and spread them wide, as if to encompass the world. “Each of us are accountable for our own choices. Do ye agree?”
“Aye!” Darach nodded. “ ’Tis what this is all about.”
“I’m pleased ye, agree,” Soni nodded. “ ’Tis true ye encouraged yer friends tae go tae Culloden with ye, but the ultimate decision tae go and fight with the Jacobites, was theirs, alone. They died for their country. They died heroes. Why do ye insist on takin’ that away from ’em? Is it that ye wish tae claim their glory for yerself?”
“I dinnae wish tae claim anything!” Darach snapped. “The glory is theirs. They more than earned it.”
Soni shrugged. “Ye cannae have it both ways, number 74. Claim all of it, the blame for goin’ and dyin’ and the glory wi’ it, or none of it.”
Not understanding exactly what they spoke of, Tessa could only gauge the depth of Darach’s reaction to Soni’s words by the surprise, then agony she saw move across his face, and the way his body shifted in discomfort.
“But…” his eyes darted back and forth, clearly seeing nothing outside the thoughts that consumed him. “I…”
Behind them, Guthrie cleared his throat. “ ’Twould seem we’ve more in common than just the battle at Culloden. Ye helped me find forgiveness for myself. Can ye no’ find some for yerself?”
For several long seconds Darach just shook his head, his thoughts turned inward. With everything in her soul, Tessa willed him to understand and accept what Soncerae, and even Guthrie, tried to tell him.
“But, my penance… My boon, I’ve no’ earned it.”
“You’re wrong, Chisholm.” Soni said gently. “Ye’ve more than earned yer boon.” She nodded at Guthrie and Keita. “Ye reunited a family. But more important, ye must truly understand the only penanceeverimposed on ye, was yer own.”
Soni gave him a moment to consider that, before continuing. “In time, ye’ll see your mither again and she’ll tell ye she understood why ye joined the Jacobites, and how proud she was of yer strength and willingness tae sacrifice so much for yer country. ’Twas the verra same for Reade, Ewart, and their mither. They dinnae have tae forgive each other,or ye, for there was naught tae forgive. ’Tis time tae let the past go, Darach.”
He stared at Soni, a look of disbelief, then wonder on his face. After several moments, he nodded slowly as if finally accepting her words. He shifted his shoulders the same way he would if dislodging a physical weight, closed his eyes and sighed. “Thank ye,” he whispered, raggedly.
Clearly relieved, Soni leaned toward Tessa as if imparting a secret. “I dinnae believe yer flat tire will be a hindrance tae ye, any longer.” Then she took a long, slow look around the large entryway. “Yer ancestors are sure tae be pleased ye’ve come home, at last.”
As Soni and the Guthries faded, she cast one last glance at Darach, and winked. “All three of ye.”
Tessa looked at Darach, barely daring to hope, and saw it again. Finally, after so long. That slow, captivating smile that had her from the very beginning. Laughing, he slipped an arm around her waist, grabbed Emily with the other and lifted them both off their feet, swinging them in a wide circle. When they stopped, he kissed Emily’s forehead and set her down.
When Darach turned his attention to Tessa, swept his adoring gaze over her face and gathered her close, a far different sort of tremble began inside her. Here was the man she chose to spend the rest of her life with. To love through eternity.
And he loved her back.
“Marry me?” Darach asked as he lowered his mouth, stopping just a breath above hers. “Say yes, love, so I can kiss ye knowin’ ye’re mine, forever.”
“Yes, yes!” she breathed, closing that final, minute distance between them. She poured her joy, relief, and love into a kiss so full of promise, her heart seemed to meld with his until they were one heartbeat.
Beside them, Emily clapped excitedly, and threw her arms as far around them as she could reach.
“I love you,” Tessa and Darach said in unison when their kiss ended. And they both said it again to Emily, as they drew her into their circle of their love.
