Dallas, TX
Ginny swirled the dark amber liquid around in her glass. There were three others with her at the Laird’s table, Jim, Himself, and her mother.
It had taken them the better part of the day, starting around ten a.m. and culminating in this after-dinner libation. They had undoubtedly forgotten some detail of the trip, but the bulk of it was there.
Himself sighed. “We’ll need tae spread th’ word tha’ Charlie was lost at sea.”
Jim nodded. “Caught on video, story at eleven.”
Ginny’s eyes drifted up to find him winking at her.
She’d wept when she and Charlie parted. In an excess of sentiment, she’d handed over the beacon, with a comment about it helping him to find his way to his new home. He’d closed his fist around it, then thrown his arms around her, hugging her tightly. There was little chance they would meet again, but the Halifax Homestead would keep Angus informed.
“I’ll arrange a memorial service. Sinia, will ye make a note, please?”
They’d gotten in late yesterday and been allowed to wait until today to report to the Laird, but she’d slept badly. She’d tossed and turned for hours before she finally identified the problem.
On the way home, Dr. Gordon had spent some time with her, addressing the residual of the damage done by Hal. One of his suggestions had been, “Don’t go back to your routines. Change things up. Move the furniture around.”
She looked across the table at the piece of furniture she would very much like to move around and found him watching her. She saw his pupils dilate and watched his breathing quicken and felt the blood rise in her cheeks in response. She dropped her eyes to her drink and left them there, smiling to herself.
“Detective Tran knows th’ truth, ye say?”
She heard Jim’s answer. “She knows, but she can’t do anything about it. She didn’t have enough evidence to convict him and now she’s guilty of a cover-up. She can’t give us away without implicating herself.”
“An interestin’ situation.” There was a short pause. “Ginny, ye look as if ye’ve something ye want tae add.”
They had agreed to wait until the business was finished and Jim had claimed the privilege of making the announcement, but she was sure the elders already knew. Suspected, at least.
“She does,” Jim said. He got up from his chair and came around to her side of the table, standing behind her and putting his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back against him, reaching up to slide her hands into his, blushing in the approved manner of brides-to-be.
“I have an announcement to make,” he said. “Ginny has agreed to be my wife. We’re going to get married.”
Her mother responded first, her face full of pleasure. “Oh, I’m so happy for you both!” The Laird was a bit slower, but no less enthusiastic. “Congratulations, lad! I wish ye both joy and long life.”
What followed was the usual barrage of questions and speculations. They had decided to marry on Beltane, May the first. It was a lucky day to be wed, but two months off. Two months she would have to do without him. She pulled his hands down so that his face was level with hers, then whispered in his ear.
“Take me home.”
He kissed her cheek, then addressed the elders. “It’s been a long day. Please forgive us, but I’m going to take Ginny home, then take myself off to bed. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Mrs. Forbes rose and held out her arms and Ginny watched as Jim let himself be embraced and kissed. She found herself being pulled from her chair the next minute.
“God bless ye lass! God bless ye both!” She watched the Laird turn and lay a hand on Jim’s arm. “A word, lad, afore ye go.”
The two slipped into the kitchen and Ginny found herself wondering what could have put that uneasy expression on the Laird’s face. Ten minutes later, Jim emerged with an equally uneasy expression.
He helped her on with her coat, then escorted her into his car and set off in the direction of the loch. Neither said a word as he drove her home. He followed her inside, then up the stairs, and into her bedroom.
She turned to face him. “Don’t leave me!”
He pulled her into his arms. “I can’t stay. Not until we’re married.”
“How am I going to survive two months without you?”
He kissed her thoroughly. “We’ll be together every day and after that, every night as well.”
“You work nights,” she reminded him.
“So do you.”
“Oh, right!”
She looked up into his face. “What did Himself say to you in the kitchen?”
“He told me why my father left Dallas.”
“Oh! Tell me.”
“He said my mother had a family problem that forced her to go back to Virginia for a while and rather than let her face it alone, he took me and went with her.”
“Is that all?”
“It was enough. Grandfather told him his place was here, with his people and his job, learning how to be Laird. My father told him his place was with his wife.”
The corner of Jim’s mouth twitched. “He also told me he regrets trying to force his son to stay, that if he hadn’t been so mulish, there might not have been a breach in the family. He apologized for being a pig-headed fool and asked me to forgive him.” Jim lifted her chin and smiled down into her eyes. “I think he knows, if pushed, I would do the same, follow my heart.”
“Oh, Jim!” She buried her face in his shirt, feeling his arms close around her and his lips on her hair.
He held her for a moment, then pushed her out of his arms.
“Put your nightgown on. I’ll tuck you in before I leave.”
“I don’t wear one.”
His brow furrowed. “What about that tee shirt I saw you in, the one with the tartan pattern?”
“I only wear that while traveling, in case of fire.”
She saw his pupils dilate. “Ginny Forbes, you’re making it impossible for me to get any sleep tonight.”
She smiled up at him. “Misery loves company.”
He swept her up into his arms, took the three steps necessary to cross the room, dropped her on the bed, then bent down and kissed her again.
“Goodnight!”
With that, he was gone. She heard him hurrying down the stairs, then out the front door, exchanging goodnights with her mother as she came through from the back hall.
Mrs. Forbes climbed the stairs, then settled down on the end of the bed.
“Are you pleased?” Ginny asked.
She nodded, smiling. “We’ll have fun pulling a wedding together in only two months, but I expect we can do it. Himself will make sure the Hall is available. The food, music, and dancing are already in place. We’ll need to reserve the church, order flowers and invitations, arrange places for everyone to stay, and you’ll need a gown.”
Her mother cocked an eye at her. “I have a question for you. Marrying Jim means you’ll be the Lady of Loch Lonach. That’s a big responsibility. When Angus dies, you’ll have to give up your personal life and devote yourself entirely to the Homestead. Are you sure that’s what you really want?”
Ginny nodded. “Yes, but I hope he lives a long time yet. Jim and I have some things we’d like to do first.”
“All right then. Sleep well my darling daughter.”
Ginny kissed her mother goodnight, then closed the door and prepared for bed. In two months she would no longer be a free woman. The thought should have terrified her. Instead, it exalted her. Jim’s wife. His helper. His companion and friend and playmate. And he—he would be hers.
She turned off the light and snuggled down under the covers, trying to settle down, but sleep wouldn’t come. The trip to Canada had been full of things that went wrong. Nothing, she thought, will be allowed to get in the way of my marrying Jim. Nothing! But, having faced the possibility, she could see nothing but disaster.
She tossed and turned, imagining horrors and scaring herself wide awake. In the bleakest part of the night, in desperation, she reached for her phone. He answered on the first ring.
“I knew you’d call.”
“Did you know I was going to have a nervous breakdown?”
“I knew you were feeling abandoned. Did you have a nightmare?”
“I didn’t get that far. I can’t fall asleep.”
“Have you tried warm milk?”
“No, damn you! I don’t want milk! I want you!”
She heard him laughing and felt the warmth seeping into her soul. As long as he could laugh, she could cope. She tucked the phone to her ear, listening to the murmur of his voice, to his soothing words, his assurances that she was safe and he was hers. She closed her eyes, and let herself believe; believe in him, believe in herself, believe in their new life together.
Two months. The time would fly, and drag, and she would sweat every minute of it. Two months. Eight weeks. Sixty two days. One thousand, four hundred, and eighty-eight hours. A lot could happen in two months, but it had just better not try!
THE END