But suddenly, in this moment, finally faced with the decision, everything became crystal clear. His fear and doubt faded away, and he kenned exactly what he had to do.
He loved Lauren. More than the air he breathed. But he breathed because of Soncerae’s sacrifice. He knew now, with certainty, he couldnae tarnish that with a lie. ’Twould mean denying Soni, The 79, his parents, his life,his truth, and forfeiting his honor. He dinnae want Lauren to love a man who could do those things. He wanted a life with her. But no’ a false one.
If she loved him, ’twould have to be therealhim.
“I’m sorry, Phoebe,” Reginald looked up at her with new resolve. “But I doonae need a moment. My grandsire carved theM—for McColl—onthatring, and another just like it to present to his bride, on their wedding day. Hers was lost, along with her, when she drowned. My grandsire never took the ring off until he passed it to my da, onhiswedding day.” He glanced quickly at Lauren, then away. “And ’twould have been passed to me, on mine.”
“ThisMis for Morhill!” Drew snapped, visibly struggling to control his anger. “Look, Reginald, I know you’ve been on edge about finding Fergus, and solving an old mystery, but I don’t understand how disparaging my family can help you accomplish that! This…whatever thisepisodeis about, is beneath you.” He raised his chin as his lips thinned. “You owe meandmy family, an apology.”
The last thing Reginald wanted, was to hurt his friend.His only friend. But he couldnae back down. “If ye’ve proven anything tae me, Drew, ’tis that ye’re unbelievably perceptive. Ye told me yerself, just minutes ago, that yer rich American relative who supposedly funded yer family’s land purchases all those centuries ago, dinnae exist.”
Reginald hated to have to press this next point, but he had no choice. “Ye told me yerself, ye had documents tae prove Daniel Morhill dinnae have a piss-pot more than Fergus McColl did, when they left the area together, along with the Jacobite treasure. George Beattie died on the way. ’Tis no question now, that Fergus was murdered. And Daniel came home to his family. Who, coincidentally, suddenly came into a great deal of wealth.”
Four gasps filled the air.
Reginald shook his head. “I ken ’tis a lot tae accept. I wouldnae have believed it, myself, had I no’ seen the ring. But when I did, everything came together. All the puzzle pieces fit.”
Drew’s mouth actually dropped. “So, you’re not only suggesting my grandfatherstolethe Jacobite treasure, you’re also claiming he murdered Fergus, to do it? How convenient,” he snarled. His eyes narrowed and his fists curled at his sides. “You’ve gone completely crazy! If it weren’t for these ladies, I’d teach you some manners! In fact, if you’ll step outside—”
“This has gone quite far enough,” Phoebe interjected. “I’ll hear no more about it.” Her chin trembled when she turned to Reginald. “I took you into my home. Trusted you.Dressedyou. Treated you like family.Thoughtof you as family. But, I’m sorry,” she glanced at Lauren, then back at Reginald. “you need to leave. I don’t know what brought this…attack, on, but it’s unwarranted, and unwelcome. And if you can’t apologize, so are you.”
Reginald looked around the circle of people he’d come to love. Phoebe’s words pierced his heart, but he loved her even more for her loyalty to Drew. Julia had shifted further behind Drew. For protection? Drew, bless him, was ready to fight for his family’s honor.
And Lauren? Her expression looked much the same as the opinion Phoebe just voiced, but with tears streaming down her perfect face.
“I can’t believe I let myself get sucked in by another liar. Another fake. But the worst of it?” Her voice broke. “This time I fell in love with the imposter.”
She folded her arms and raised her chin. “What I can’t figure out, is what you thought you’d get out of all this. Ben’s goal, when he pretended to love me, was my father’s wealth. What’s yours?” Her eyes rounded and she took a step back. “Please tell me that’s not what this has been about. You couldn’t possibly have known I’d fall into that ravine, that night. So, what is it, exactly, that you want?”
“The truth,” Reginald dinnae take his eyes off her. “But I wish tae give it, no’ take it. And I will, if ye promise tae let me tell it all, and no’ try tae interrupt.” He looked at each of them. “Any of ye.”
He had naught else to lose now, and he desperately needed to tell it all. “This promise is all I’ll ask of ye, Lauren.”
Despite the distrust in her eyes, she finally relented. “Fine. I promise not to interrupt.”
Nodding, he waved them all into a chair. Lauren took the nearest seat. Julia sat beside Phoebe, taking her hand. Drew chose to stand, rigid as ever.
Reginald spoke directly to Lauren. “Everything I told ye in the ravine, was the truth. I waswalkin’ home. Walkin’here, tae the glen.Where I grew up.”
Ignoring the scornful twist of Lauren’s mouth, he continued. “My name is ReginaldLyallMcColl. The name on the stone beside my parent’s graves, is mine. No’ an ancestor’s. They placed that remembrance stone for me, when I dinnae come back from Culloden…” he yanked off his tie and opened his shirt front. “…where I was shot. And just tae be sure I dinnae get up, a Hanoverian made good use o’ his bayonet.” He pulled the shirt wider to reveal two wounds, just inches apart.
Drew threw his hands in the air and stomped several feet away. “Oh, for pity’s sake! If you want to pass off some cock-and-bull story, at least make it semi-believable.”
Reginald saw the agreement on all their faces.
“Let him finish,” Lauren said, coolly. “I wantmyword, at least, to mean something.”
Drawing on all the resolve within him, Reginald told them about The Rising, The 79 and their desire for revenge against Bonny Prince Charlie—at least in the beginning. And all the years stuck on the moor, trapped between heaven and earth. How they’d watched a special lass called Soni grow in beauty, strength, and power. And the gift she gave to 49 ghosts. And then The Reckoning when she’d sacrificed everything to free the rest of them, to give them a second chance, and a choice of what they wanted to do with their new mortality.
He’d chosen to come home. The day he’d met Lauren, was the day he left them and struck out on his own. He hadnae lied to her. He had soldiered a verra long time, and yearned tae be home again, just as he’d told her.
Of all of them, Phoebe seemed a wee bit intrigued, but mayhap ’twas only because he wanted it so.
“Drew, I need ye, especially, tae hear this. My family were strong Jacobite supporters. I’d grown up with secret meetings and the yearning in my heart for a free Scotland. But my people had naught but the food they raised and a roof over their heads that had to be tended every year. My da was a simple man, with a great talent for carving. As did his da, and his grandsire. He worked hard, but all his life, the only thing he ever owned, of tangible value, was that ring.”
As hard as Reginald fought them, tears welled in his eyes and thickened his throat. “I stood beside him the day he took it off and laid it among the offerings to support the Jacobites. He cherished that ring and it broke his heart tae part wi’ it, but he did it anyway, because he loved Scotland more.”
Pride filled Reginald’s chest and he stood a little straighter. “Da gave his dearest possession tae the cause. And I, seein’ I could do no less, but had naught to give, joined the Jacobites tae fight for our freedom.”
