Page 47 of Love Beyond Reach (Morna’s Legacy #11)

A llen Territory

J erry was gone when we returned to Allen territory. Hamish’s uncle met us at their border with the news.

“He’s been gone a fortnight. He escaped in the night. All that was left in his tent was this note.”

I took the note and opened it. Inside he’d scribbled the words, “ I’ve gone to fight for ye. Please doona marry him.”

Hamish directed his horse nearer mine so he could read the words over my shoulder. “He’s gone to Grier, lass. We must go to him.”

I turned and looked into Hamish’s sad, accepting eyes.

“Would ye have ever stopped trying to break the spell? Why have ye helped me when ye doona truly want him to break it?”

I knew his answer even before he said—Hamish’s heart was too good.

“What I told Jerry that day was true. I am in love with ye, and love is selfless. I would have kept trying to break the spell until the day ye were ready to give up on him. I would’ve waited years had it taken that long.

If ever the time had come when ye were ready, I would’ve gladly cherished ye as my wife.

But, I’ve already lost, lass, and I know it.

Let us go and get Jerry—the real Jerry—so ye can find happiness for the first time in far too many months. ”

M acNeal Territory

M uch to my surprise , Grier had remained in Henry’s service, feigning work as an herbal healer to hide her magic from him.

She knew we were coming. She met us outside as we approached her home.

“He’s not here. The spell is broken.”

Gone was the mirage of a young, beautiful woman. She looked to be a hundred years old—frightened, sad, and broken.

“Where’s he gone?”

“I thought ye were dead. I felt ye were dead. What sort of magic broke the bond between us?”

I’d done nothing, but I understood her confusion. I’d known she wasn’t dead when Alasdair thought she was because I could still feel her magic. Hamish had done something to break our bond.

I looked at him and he nodded in confirmation before speaking. “Ye will no longer break the rules of magic, Grier. If ye steal from another, I will kill ye myself.”

“Was that why we were connected? Because she stole from me?”

“Aye.”

A sinking feeling settled in my gut as I realized what Jerry’s absence must mean.

“Where is he?”

She smiled, and I had to hold tight to my horse’s reins to keep from flying off the horse and grabbing her around the throat.

“He thinks ye are dead. I wouldna have broken the spell, otherwise. Even with ye gone, he dinna want me. He’s returned to Conall Castle to seek work from yer brother.”

I turned my horse around to leave. She wasn’t worth another breath, but she screamed a curse at me as we left. “May ye never bear children, and may Jerry’s heart be weak. May chaos follow the two of ye always.”

I nudged my horse into a run. I never wanted to see her again.

I rode for a long while before I realized I was alone, and I only realized it then because of a galloping horse approaching.

I looked over my shoulder to see Hamish.

“I thought ye were behind me. Where did ye go?”

“To speak to her. I havena ever seen anyone carry such pain.”

I could feel no sympathy for her.

“She deserves every bit of pain she feels. What did ye tell her?”

“Only that there was hope for her still, if only she learns to forgive herself first.”

I shook my head and gave Hamish a small smile. “’Tis good that Grier’s spell is broken. I would have been entirely undeserving of ye. Ye are one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.”

C onall Territory

W e were much more careful as we approached Conall Castle. I’d been so sure I would never return to my home that I could scarcely believe I was back only a few days later.

We tied our horses near a stream in a secluded part of the woods. I was to remain hidden while Hamish went to find Alasdair and Jerry.

The wait seemed like days, though I know it must’ve been only a few hours at most. When I heard footsteps approaching, I kept myself hidden until I heard their voices. I’d expected only Hamish and Jerry, but at the sound of my brother’s voice, I pulled away from the brush and ran to him.

He caught me as I jumped toward him, my feet lifting off the ground. He pulled me into a hug as his choked voice spoke into my ear.

“I couldna not see ye again, if ye were here. Besides, Jerry and I have a plan.”

I looked over Alasdair’s back. Jerry’s eyes were filled with tears. “Let go of yer brother, lass. I need ye in my arms this instant.”

Alasdair released me, but my steps toward Jerry were much more hesitant.

“Ye told me once ye would never forgive me for keeping ye captive. Is it true?”

He shook his head. “No. There is nothing ye could do that I wouldna forgive. Can ye forgive me for all the things I said to ye? All the pain that I caused?”

Alasdair interrupted before I could answer him. “O’course she will, lad. There will be plenty of time for the two of ye to be alone. For now, we must make haste before either of ye is discovered.”

“No one knows Jerry is here?”

Alasdair shook his head. “No. I knew if Mary saw him, ’twould raise too many questions.

As soon as he arrived, I told him the truth of what happened.

He wished to go after ye, but I knew if I kept him here, I’d get to see ye one last time.

” Alasdair paused and leaned in to whisper, “Ye should have seen him, lass. The thought that ye were gone…he felt the loss as acutely as I felt Elspeth’s. ”

“Yer brother wishes to marry us.”

I listened as the pair of them took turns explaining their plan, and for the first time in months, all was well.

I n the middle of the night, with a full moon and a blanket full of stars as our only light, Jerry and I promised to spend the rest of our lives together.

I’m not certain you could say we were ever officially married. Alasdair performed the ceremony and a druid was our only witness, but our vows were no less sacred. Ours was an unusual courtship—it seemed fitting that our wedding be unusual as well.

Once we sealed our promises with a kiss, I bid my brother one last final farewell, and we left Conall Castle for good.

A llen Territory — Three Months Later

“ A ch , lass, I willna ever get tired of bedding ye. Thank God, they moved us to a proper cottage. Otherwise, the whole village would be hearing the ruckus we make every night.”

I laughed as he collapsed on top of me, his lips trailing gentle, lazy kisses down my neck.

“Even when we are old and gray and our bones creak when we walk?”

“Even then.”

Rolling to face him as he slid off me, I smiled in excitement as I readied myself to share my news with him. “I have something to tell ye.”

“Oh?” He twisted his head and raised his brow to encourage me to get on with it.

“I’ve decided ye were right about something ye suggested to me long ago.”

“What’s that, lass? I’ve never known myself to be right about anything.”

“Do ye remember when I told ye what I saw in the spell I cast? The home from yer time, with the lass inside it?”

He nodded but said nothing.

“I think mayhap she was me. Are ye ready to go home?”

The one thing I’d once promised myself I would never do—leave this time, my home, and my family—was now my greatest wish. I couldn’t return home anyway. It was time for Jerry and me to start a life of our own—a fresh start in a fresh time.

“Are ye saying ye’ve learned to do it? To travel through time?”

“Aye, I have.”

Jerry reached to pull me against him, devouring me with a kiss that left my head free of all thought. When he pulled away, he looked down over his nose at me.

“When can we leave?”

“In the morning, if ye wish it.”

“Oh, I wish it, lass. Now, let me bed ye here one last time for memories sake.”

I woke early to sneak away while Jerry still slept. There was one last thing I needed to tend to, one last goodbye I had to make.

Hamish was awake when I slipped into his tent. He sat on the edge of his bed, already dressed in his kilt, as if he were waiting for me.

“Ye are leaving then, aye?”

I went over to join him and grabbed his hands as I sat down on the bed.

“Aye. I’ve something I wish to give ye.”

“Ye owe me nothing.”

I smiled and reached up to place one hand on his cheek.

“I owe ye more than ye will ever know. I doona wish to repay ye. I wish to give ye the gift of hope.”

Reaching into the bosom of my dress, I pulled out a folded piece of parchment and extended it in his direction. Smiling, I released my grip on his other hand.

“Open it.”

I watched and waited as he looked down at his own piece of art. When he looked up at me, his brows were furrowed.

“This looks like my hand.”

“’Tis yer hand.” I paused and pointed to the various faces in the portrait.

“And that there is ye, although I’ll admit ye’ve allowed yerself to age by the time ye draw this.

And there is yer wife, and yer daughter and her husband, and do ye see the wee lad on yer lap?

That is little Raudrich. ’Tis yer grandson. ”

Hamish’s eyes slowly filled with tears.

“Where did ye get this?”

“It took me most of the day yesterday to land precisely where I wished to, but I traveled to yer future to give ye hope in the now. I know ye love me, Hamish, and I love ye more than I hope Jerry ever knows, but ye yerself said I was meant for another. The love of yer life is meant only for ye. As ye can see, ye do find her.”

Hamish and I visited until dawn then parted ways as the dearest of friends.

The entire village of Allen territory came to see us off. As Jerry and I disappeared into the future, I knew our adventure together was only beginning.

Note from M.C .:

Well, there you have it. I told you everything would turn out well in the end, even if there were some heartaches and times of sadness along the way.

Now that you’re finished, I’ve no doubt you must think me completely mad. But isn’t there some tiny part of you that wonders if all of this could be true?

If you wish to find out, you’ll have to come and see for yourself.

We now live in that little inn I saw in my first vision of Jerry’s future. While it is not visible to most, you should have no trouble finding it. Just follow the road leading to Conall Castle. We are on the right, no more than a few miles from the castle gates.

See you soon. I’ll have Jerry put the kettle on straight away.