The Scot's Angel - Keira Montclair Page 0,37

from view. “Nay, don’t go,” she’d whispered…and then she’d awoken to an empty room.

Dyna stared at the end of the bed, hoping to lock the image of her younger grandfather in her mind forever. She found herself smiling at his jest about Derric. His comment had brought her back to the deserted cottage where a daft man had held her and her grandsire captive. The situation had been dangerous and frightening in the beginning, but it had somehow ended in hilarity. “I love you, too, Grandpapa,” she said in a soft whisper.

Then, because she really didn’t care to wait, she threw the furs back and hopped out of bed, looking for something to wear on her feet. When she was finally ready, she raced out the door, flying down the stairs so quickly she nearly lost her footing and went airborne.

An eerie quiet hung in the hall, everyone seemingly lost to their thoughts. Derric sat across from Uncle Aedan, Tara, and Riley at one of the trestle tables. Brin was just entering.

But it was the other guests who shocked her. Aunt Brenna was there, along with Aunt Gwyneth and Uncle Logan, and Sorcha and Cailean. “What are you all doing here?” she asked, frozen in place at the end of their table. On a different table sat Alasdair and Emmalin with their bairns along with Els, Joya, and family. “Els? Alasdair? What’s this about?”

Derric took her hand and tugged her down into the empty seat next to him. “Leave them be for a few moments. ’Tis too early. They have good reason for being here.”

Dyna couldn’t wait patiently for an explanation, not after what she’d just experienced. “Why? Did something happen?”

Logan got up and began to pace in front of the hearth. “Dreams, we’re all having dreams. I dreamed of Alex, Gwynie dreamed of Maddie, Brenna dreamed of her brother. We’ve all had different dreams of one of them or the other. We headed straight for Grant land, but the blasted storm forced us to take a different route. I had to make sure we had beds for Gwynie and Brenna.”

Alasdair muttered, “He was there! Directly in front of me. It was almost as if I could touch Grandsire. And he was young again. Young! Standing at the end of my bed, and I swear my sire was standing behind him.”

Emmalin nodded in agreement, but said nothing, a haunted expression on her face.

Els mumbled in short sentences, “His hair was so dark. He stood in front of me. He looked just like you and Connor.” He stared at Alasdair as if in shock.

Dyna turned to Derric, who was staring at his porridge, stirring and stirring and stirring…

She grabbed his hand and said, “You, too?”

His gaze shot up to hers, and he whispered, “I didn’t say that.” He yanked his hand away and took a mouthful of porridge.

“But you did. You all did. Uncle Aedan?”

He pursed his lips and nodded. “Both of them standing at the end of my bed.”

Derric tossed his utensil down and said, “Enough. Stop trying to make us all daft. It can’t mean anything. Dyna, what the hell does it mean? Joya? Tell them all they’re daft. Nay, don’t say anything, just tell me… Nay, don’t tell me.”

Dyna leaned over and kissed her husband’s cheek. “You’re talking in circles, love.”

He sighed, so deeply everyone heard him. “I know. I don’t believe in ghosts, but what else could it be?”

“Spirits. They’re just spirits who have come for two reasons. One, to let you know Claray is safe until the storm ends. And secondly, they wish to let us all know they are happy where they are,” Riley said. “Grandsire knows how hard this Yule will be without him. And I think he’s especially sensitive to how his death has impacted Dyna and Claray.”

“Did anyone see anything different?” Tara asked.

Dyna mopped up the wetness on her cheek with her sleeve. “Nay, they looked verra happy. Grandsire especially. And he was young again.” She giggled through her tears. “Called me stubborn. He said to stop grieving for him, but I… Actually, after some of the things he said, mayhap I can.” Then she reached over to her husband, kissed the top of his head, and said, “He mentioned how fond he was of you, you big oaf.”

“I’m going outside to check on the storm,” Derric said, giving her hand a squeeze.

Alasdair jumped. “I’ll go with you.”

Els said, “I’ll be behind you.”

Both followed Derric out the door without a backward glance,