A Very Highland Holiday - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,26

she said with quiet finality. “But he met his death well. Ye know he did. It’s time tae bring him home.”

James held her hand against his face, turning to kiss the palm. “A-And I shall,” he said. But then, he grew quiet. “I-I have been thinking of something else.”

“What of?”

“F-From his last letter to me,” he said. “J-Johnny asked that I leave something of him behind to watch over the brave men who would never make it home. He wanted to ensure they were protected. I have been thinking long and hard about that request.”

“And?”

He lifted his left hand, the one with the de Lohr signet ring on it. He gazed at the heirloom for a long, intense moment.

“C-Carrie told me that when she went through the things that were brought to her, she removed any valuables away for safe keeping,” he said. “Y-You said the same thing.”

Gaira leaned against him, looking at the ring as well. “In her Chamber of Sorrows,” she said. “She has hole in the floor where she keeps a box of the valuable things she has found.”

“W-What is in there?”

Gaira reflected on the small, square wooden box shoved into its little niche in the floor.

“Gold,” she said. “Gold coinage and other valuables. It seems strange that men would carry such precious things to a battlefield, but they did. There are gems in the box, rings and the like. Why do ye ask?”

James held up the ring, inspecting it in the weak light.

“B-Because I am going to leave this in the box, too.”

Gaira’s eyes widened when she realized what he meant. “The signet ring?” she gasped. “But… why? Ye came all the way tae Scotland for the thing. It belongs tae ye. Why would ye leave it behind?”

James was studying the ruby eyes, the golden lion face. “I-I am not sure I can explain, but I will try,” he said. “J-Johnny was wearing this when he died trying to save men. Everything inside me tells me that I have no right to take it away from this place. He asked me to leave something of him behind to watch over the brave dead, and it seems to me that this ring is the most logical thing to leave behind. The power of the de Lohr crest can watch over those men who fought, and died, by Johnny’s command. Does that make sense? I feel as if, by all rights, the ring should remain here with those who died for it. For Johnny. I have no right to take it away from them.”

There was that tender soul again, the one Gaira loved so well. Perhaps she didn’t exactly understand it all but, then again, men in battle shared a special bond. Brothers shared a special bond. Clearly, this meant a great deal to James and she knew he hadn’t made the decision lightly.

Leaning over, she kissed him on the cheek.

“If that’s what ye want tae do, then do it,” she said. “At least ye’ll know where it is, for always. It willna be lost, but simply standing watch over the dead of Culloden in Carrie’s chamber.”

“E-Exactly,” he said, looking at her. “I-I knew you would understand. One of the many things I love about you. And who knows? Maybe one day, a de Lohr will wear the ring again. But for now, it belongs to Johnny and that room full of ghosts. That is where it shall stay.”

“And ye feel confident with that decision?”

“I-I do. More than anything.”

Gaira kissed him again and, for a moment, they smiled at one another, feeling the warmth and love between them that was stronger than anything on earth.

Stronger than death.

Stronger than a ring.

In the days to come, the de Lohr signet ring found a home in a dingy little box buried in the floor of Carrie’s Chamber of Sorrows. Exactly thirty-one days later, Johnathan de Lohr was laid to rest in Lioncross Abbey’s great chapel, taking his rightful place among his ancestors as his brother, his brother’s wife, his mother, and several de Lohr relatives witnessed the interment.

But not before a letter from James was packed against Johnathan’s stilled heart before they closed the lid forever.

A letter from one brother to another.

My Dearest Johnny –

And so, our letter writing campaign comes to an end.

From your petulant, ridiculous younger brother, you have my deepest thanks for the path my life has taken. It seems odd to say such a thing, but in your death, I found my life and my purpose. I