AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter One
Taran Fleming grinned at his two companions, placed a coin in the center of the small table in the dining room at Wickham’s ranch, and dealt five cards around. “ ’Tis a game of wits and wagers, lads.”
“Aye?” Marcus Beaton cocked a skeptical brow. “I ken I can take a wee chance at it. What are we tae wager?”
“Coin, if ye have it,” Taran stated, placing the balance of the deck aside to pick up his cards. “Valuables, if ye dinnae. But no’ yet. Have a look at yer cards first.”
Will Fenton gave a snort and sneered at both cards and dealer. “Och! 66! ’Tis naught but another scheme tae get yer grimy fingers on my dirk. Confess that ye fancy it and save us the trouble of this farce of a card game.”
Taran laughed. “That’s lucky Number 66 tae ye, and mind ye, I’ll have that flashy dirk, yet.” He winked at Will, drawing another scowl. “Because ye’re right. I do fancy it.”
“Ye can fancy it for another three centuries for all the good ’twill do ye,” Will grumbled, snatching up his cards. “Ye willnae have it.”
“ ’Tisnae a farce of a game, either,” Taran continued, rearranging his cards to place his two tens side by side. “ ’Tis a game of cunning and skill, called Poker. I’ve been watchin’ it played at the Pub. So, listen up while I explain how tae play it. Ye’ll need somethin’ tae keep ye from cryin’ yer eyes out from missin’ me after I’m gone.”
Marcus laid his cards down and stared at Taran. “Ye’re goin’ then,” he whispered.
“Aye,” Taran said, trying to keep his tone light despite the heaviness in his heart. Walking away from these lads was turning out to be even harder than he’d imagined.
“When?” Will challenged. “Where?”
“First light,” Taran replied, holding up his hand to stop the instant barrage of questions and accusations Will and Marcus hurled over the top of one another. “One at a time, lads. Give me a chance tae explain.”
“Kind of ye tae spare the time, ye rotter,” Will groused, tossing his cards on the table. He folded his arms across his broad chest and leaned back in his chair. “We’ve barely left each other’s sight for near three hundred years, but when it’s time tae part, we’re scarcely given an ‘oh, by the way’?”
“He’s right,” Marcus added, dismay etching his face. “We’ve all talked of takin’ our leave of Wickham’s generosity, but no’ in any specifics. And here ye are with but a few hours left and no’ a word of it. No’ even taeuswho stood by ye in life as well as death!”
Slowly, Taran set his cards atop the deck, tidied the edges, and pushed them aside, needing those moments to banish the burn behind his eyes and to be sure his voice wouldnae betray him.
Nodding his agreement, he finally raised his gaze to theirs. “Ye cannae ken how hard I’ve tried tae find the words. I dinnae ken the timing was upon me until just this afternoon when Ivy called me in tae see her. I met wi’ Wickham before he left—as we all did—and made my wishes known. He set things in motion and Ivy’s done a grand job of tying up the loose ends. ’Tis ready now. So, other than ye two dobbers there’s naught tae keep me here.”
“Stop talkin’ in circles, Taran!” Will grumbled. “Ye say ye’re leavin’ in the morning. But tae where? In all the times Marcus and I’ve asked ye, ye wouldnae say, always claimin’ ye dinnae ken. But since ye’re leaving in a few hours, ye must’ve decided. So where is it tae be?” He gave a snort. “Or are ye afraid we’ll follow?”
“Would ye?” Hope swelled in Taran’s chest. “Would ye, really?” He looked from Will to Marcus. “The three of us? Together, as always?”
Neither of them spoke. Neither of them had to. Taran’s hope fizzled like the air from one of Wickham’s boy’s balloons. “Forgive me. ’Twas a selfish wish. I ken ye each have plans of yer own. But in truth, ’twill be a hard thing tae leave ye, so I’m askin’ ye tae say yer goodbyes tonight.”
Marcus leaned forward. “Ye still willnae tell us where ye’re goin’?”
With a shrug and a shake of his head, Taran blew out a weighty breath. “ ’Tisnae a secret I’m keepin’. ’Tis just that I cannae share what I dinnae ken.”
“There ye go again!” Will snapped. “Talkin’ in riddles. The least we deserve from ye is the truth.Whereare ye goin’, Taran Fleming? Or after all these centuries, are ye just wishin’ tae be rid o’ us?”
“Nae,” he replied, unable to keep the pain from his voice. “If I could, I’d tuck each of ye under an arm and drag ye along wi’ me. But I realize ye’ve yer own destinies tae pursue. And I ken ’tis time I find mine.”
“Where, exactly, isyerdestiny, Taran?” Marcus asked quietly. “Ye must ken something of it if ye asked Wickham tae help ye get there.”
“That’s the thing,” Taran replied. “I dinnae ken and neither did he. What I asked him for was the means tae travel out o’ Scotland if at some point I wanted tae. Mayhap to the United States. Mayhap farther. There’s a whole world tae be discovered. But ’twas the paperwork I needed. That’s what Ivy brought tae me today.”
“Ye want tae travel the world?” Will queried. “What are ye hopin’ tae find?”
Taran shrugged. “I dinnae ken. But when there are marvelous wonders tae see, why wouldnae ye want tae go see ’em? Are ye no’ curious about any of it?”
“Is that what ye are? Curious?” Marcus asked.
Taran pondered the question. “Aye. I suppose I am. Before Culloden, I’d seen naught but the wee patch o’ Scotland I grew up on. And I havenae seen much beyond yer ghoulish faces since.”
He shifted in his chair and sat a little straighter. “But first, I want to see how the country I died for has fared through all the horrors she’s endured. My blood, like yers, feeds her soil. I want tae see what’s come of the sacrifices of so many. So, wi’out knowin’ where I’ll start, or where I’ll end, I’m takin’ a wee journey around my homeland before I venture on tae other places.”
