Mumbling under his breath, Alban swung around and maneuvered into place.
“What are ye doing, Sean?” Kenna demanded as the lorry came to a stop.
He got out and held his hand out to her. “Come see.”
A curious smile curved Kenna’s mouth as she slid from the lorry but faded as she looked around. “What am I looking at?”
Alban exited the lorry and flicked on a flashlight.
“In there.” Sean pointed to the back of the lorry. He heard her sharp intake of breath and held his own, waiting for her reaction.
“The gate!” Kenna whispered, in awe. “Sean, ’tis the gate!” She threw her arms around him. “How did ye do it?” She kissed him on the lips, the cheek, and hugged him again.
“Alban made it,” Sean uttered, relieved. “Does it look right?”
She pulled away, looked again at the gate. “The piece ye found. ’Tis there. And the top point? Ye found it? Why dinnae ye tell me?”
Worried, in Kenna’s excitement, she’d reveal too much, Sean gave her a squeeze. “Alban’s in a bit of a hurry. We’ll get the gate set, so he can go.”
“Of course.” She pressed her lips together and backed away. “I’ll wait inside the wall.”
With a close eye on the moon and the eastern skyline, Sean worked beside Alban, setting the posts, and hanging the gate. Finally finished, Sean moved to the kirk side of the wall, pulled the gate closed and heard the spring-latch snap into place.
Alban wiped his brow with his sleeve. “I still dinnae ken why ye wanted those ugly old pieces put in there. That couldae been a decent lookin’ gate.”
“ ’Tis perfect.” Sean pulled the rest of the money from his sporran and handed it to Alban. “I thank ye.”
The big man tucked it into his shirt pocket and looked curiously at both Sean and Kenna. “Ye dinnae want a ride back?”
“Nae,” Sean smiled. “I ken we’ll stay a bit tae admire yer fine work.”
Alban was still shaking his head when he climbed into the lorry and drove away.
Kenna met him at the gate. “ ’Tis amazing. I cannae believe ye accomplished all this so fast when ye barely found the pieces, yesterday. And ye dinnae even tell me about finding the top. Why?”
Sean shrugged. “I wanted tae surprise ye. Alban was willin’ tae work intae the night, but I dinnae want tae get yer hopes up if he couldnae finish.” Sean could hardly believe ’twas real, himself. “We still dinnae ken if ’twill work.”
“Ye paid him. I saw ye. Ye spent yer money on achance, for me. Ye shouldnae have done that, Sean. Ye’ll need yer money tae resume yer travels. I’m sure ’twould have cost a great deal tae get him tae drop everything and work through the night.” She tucked her hand inside his. “Ye did this so I’d have the moonlight. But ye could have given him more time, paid him less, and brought it tomorrow night. Why dinnae ye?”
Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips and kissed the partially-healed scrapes on her palm. “I ken what each hour costs ye. ’Twas all I had tae give ye, Kenna. I’d give ye the world, if I could. But the best I can do is try tae help ye get back tae yers.”
He glanced at the moon, and then the horizon. “When ye described coming here, ye said ’twas dark, like this. Ye said there was a moon, like that.” He looked up, then back at her. “And there was a gate. I wanted tae give ye everything I could.” He rested his forehead against hers. “ ’Tis so little when I want ye tae have so much.”
He heard her muffled sniffle and kissed her damp cheeks. “We’ve no’ much time. ’Twill be daybreak soon and ye must try the gate while ’tis still dark.”
She threw her arms around his neck. “I’m torn in two. I know I must go, but my heart tells me tae stay. I love ye, Sean. I want a life with ye.I do!But I cannae live with myself if I turn my back on my mither and sister.”
“ ’Tis the only choice. Webothken that.”
She hugged him tighter. “What will I do without ye?”
He squeezed her so tight he feared he’d hurt her. “Ye’ll live, Kenna. Promise me ye’ll live and be happy. Promise ye’ll fight for that. ’Tis all I have tae hold ontae.”
“I will fight. I swear.”
Even on Culloden, he’d no’ needed the courage it took to grasp her shoulders and push her away. “ ’Tis time. ’Twill be light soon.”
“Wait, Kenna.” He reached out to stroke her hair one last time and separate a thin lock. “May I?”
