Page 19 of Highland Ghost

Opening the door, he came face to face with Finn, whose hair was mussed and his clothes wrinkled. He looked like he hadn’t slept at all. He had bagpipes under his arm.

“Finn? Ye look like death warmed over,” said Ian. “Why are ye here, and where have ye been?” He looked down to see mud on Finn’s boots and dirt on his clothes. “Have ye been out ridin’?”

“Nay. Didna ye hear the piper in the garden?”

“Aye. I was just watchin’ him out the window. Why?”

“Murray returned with the rest of the castle’s occupants, but when they heard the bagpipes, they started to leave again.”

“And?” Ian nodded at the bagpipes under Finn’s arm.

“So Ewan and Ailbeart helped me to convince them that what they thought was a ghost was just me.”

“I dinna understand. What is it that ye did?”

“I rushed out to the garden with the bagpipes to try to convince the rest of the MacBains that it was just me. Ewan brought them out there to see me. I had Ailbeart put a sheet over his head and dance around like a fool.”

“Ye did what?” Ian was still trying to understand all this.

“Of course, I had to promise to give these bagpipes to Ailbeart in return, but I never liked playin’ the damned thing anyway.”

“Finn, ye’re givin’ me a headache. I appreciate what ye are tryin’ to do, but it no longer matters.” He stepped around his cousin and headed down the corridor.

“Of course it does, Ian. If everyone returns, then mayhap the lass will decide to stay after all and marry ye.”

Ian stopped in his tracks and Finn crashed into him. “I told ye, it’s over. Caitlin kens about the ghosts and she’s leavin’ today. I’ll never see her again.”

“But mayhap there’s still hope, Ian. Dinna give up yet.”

“Tomorrow is All Hallows’ Eve. We’re out of time.” He turned and continued walking, and Finn followed on his heels.

“She’s goin’ to change her mind, I ken she is.”

Ian stopped again. And once again, his cousin knocked into him. “Finn? Ye better no’ have told her anythin’ more about the curse. Ye promised.”

“My lips are sealed,” said Finn, holding his lips together with one hand.

“So, this is yer way to try to change her mind without actually tellin’ her the rest of the curse?”

“Mmmmph,” said Finn, still holding his lips.

“Och, ye are wastin’ yer time.” Ian threw his hands in the air and continued toward the great hall. “It’s over, and nothin’ ye or anyone can do will change my fate now.” He stopped at the entrance to the great hall, surprised to see that the clansmembers had returned. The hall was packed with people. Flora and her daughters were hurrying around bringing food to everyone. It was a nice thing to see, but the thought of never seeing a one of them again after today, brought a tear to his eye.

“Excuse us,” came a voice from behind him. He turned around to see Caitlin standing there. Kellina and Matilda were with her, holding their children. Their husbands were nowhere to be seen.

“Caitlin,” he said quickly, wiping away any remnants of a tear with the back of his hand. “I thought ye’d already be out in the wagon, ready to leave.”

“I would be but, unfortunately, that Mountain Magic ye gave Nash and North has . . . made them sleepy.”

“Och, they’re knocked on their arses,” said Finn with a chuckle. “I thought they were drinkin’ too much, but they insisted they were MacKeefes and could handle it. They willna be stirrin’ today, and ye’ll be lucky if they can drag themselves out of bed before tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry,” said Ian. “I was only tryin’ to –”

“I ken what ye were tryin’ to do,” snapped Caitlin. “Ye were tryin’ to control them the same as ye were me.” Her eyes settled on all the people in the great hall. “Where did they all come from?”

“I told ye they’d be back,” said Ian. “No’ that it even matters now,” he mumbled under his breath, but she heard him.

“Ian, I willna change my mind about marryin’ ye,” she said.