Page 47 of The Story of his Highland Bride
“The villagers turned on him. I think His Lairdship intended to have a trial for the wretch, but the mob got him. Fair justice, either way, I’d say,” the healer replied, flashing a wink. “I just need to fetch some more tonic for His Lairdship. Daenae do anythin’ to excite him while I’m away. As I said, he needs his rest.”
As the old woman left, closing the door behind her, Eloise took a moment to process what she’d just been told. Father Hepburn was gone, and that meant there was nothing stopping her and Jackson from being together. Nothing except his injuries. In truth, she didn’t know whether to jump for joy or kneel at Jackson’s side, praying to anyone who would listen for him to wake up, so they could celebrate together.
In the end, she settled for half of the latter.
Climbing up onto the bed, she lay down beside Jackson and slipped her hand beneath the blankets, seeking out his. Once she found it, she interlaced their fingers, giving his hand a gentle squeeze as she peered up at his sleeping face.
“I came back,” she whispered. “My love, I came back.”
Jackson’s eyelids fluttered. “Eloise?”
“I’m here.” A lump formed in her throat. “I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.”
Slowly, his eyes opened, his expression dazed. “Ye’re nae here. Ye’re in yer own time, in yer own world.”
“No, my love, I’m right here.” She squeezed his hand again. “I didn’t go. I got to the stones and the starlings were all there, and the trees were whispering for me to put my palm upon the stone… but I couldn’t do it. I tried to picture my future without you, and I couldn’t do it. There’s nothing waiting for me back home, but you were waiting for me here. It wasn’t really a choice, in the end.”
He blinked, and realization seemed to dawn across his face as his eyes widened and his fingers squeezed hers in return. “Ye’re… here.” He squeezed her hand again. “I can feel ye. Are ye really here? I… got hurt, and I lost a lot of blood. Are ye sure ye’re nae a dream?”
“I’m sure.” Eloise’s lips curved into a smile, as tears trickled down onto her cheeks. “I came back, my love, so you wouldn’t have to wait very long. Now, I know it’s going to take some adjustments, but… this is my decision.Youare my decision, and if I never go back to 2016, not even for a quick trip, I can live with that.”
Jackson braced his elbow against the bed, wincing as he turned his injured body toward her.
“You’re not supposed to move!” Eloise yelped. “Old Joan will kill me if she sees you!”
Jackson grinned. “She wouldn’ae dare, and nay wound is goin’ to keep me from lyin’ at yer side, nae until I’m completely certain that ye’re real.”
“I am,” she promised, lifting her hands to his face. “But if thisisa dream, I don’t want to wake up.”
He draped his arm over her waist, urging her closer. “Nor do I, Love.” His grin widened. “I feel ye. I wasnae sure if I’d ever feel ye near me again.”
“Well, I’m not leaving, so you’re stuck with me… at least until the next time the starlings start banging at the windows.” She chuckled, shuffling forward until she lay flush against him. “I love you, Jackson. And when you love someone the way I love you, you don’t walk away from it.”
He bent his head, grazing a kiss against the bridge of her nose. “I love ye more than I ken how to put into words. Ye’re the wordsmith, after all.” He took hold of her hand and put it to his heart. “But I ken how much I love ye. This heart is yers.”
“My heart is yours, too.” She lifted her head up slightly, smiling as she felt his kiss brush her lips: soft and sweet and sleepy.
He paused. “Ye’re really stayin’ here with me?”
“If you’ll have me.”
He kissed her again, murmuring, “I’ll have ye. All of ye, Love. Nae right now, but once I’m healed, I willnae be able to get enough of ye.” He pulled back a little. “But, after all we’ve been taught by that bastard, Hepburn, we cannae be livin’ in sin. So, what would ye say to bein’ me wife?”
“I think that might make me the happiest woman in the world,” she replied, her voice hitching as a thousand emotions hit her at once.
Jackson chuckled. “Just this world?”
“In every world where there’s a version of you and a version of me.” She kissed him, melting into his embrace, convinced beyond all doubt that she’d made the right choice.
After years of being strung along by a man who didn’t care, only to be abandoned for another woman, she’d assumed that she’dnever find anyone. She’d pictured herself as a sad and lonely writer, pouring her hopes and dreams into her work, but never living any of them. But there was magic in a broken heart, and the pieces of hers had left a breadcrumb trail to those Cairns, guiding her to the one man who could heal her heart and make it whole again.
Love had called to her, and she’d followed. And she had a feeling that being mad enough to venture out in the middle of winter, alone, to a secluded spot in the Highlands, where hers was the only car in the parking lot, might’ve been the greatest decision of her life.
EPILOGUE
Three Months Later…
Eloise and Jackson were married twice: once in the church, ordained by the new priest—a quieter, faithful man, with no intention of burning anyone—and once in the peace of a sacred cave, not far from the Cairns, in a hand-fasting ceremony that was witnessed only by Lorraine and the witch, Irene.
