Page 97 of The Defiance of a Scottish Heart
She nodded, an odd misting in her eyes. “I was. I am. Forever.” She leaned against her new husband, still in disbelief that she was so happy.
“What convinced you?” Lennox and Sloan asked in unison.
“Swimming in a storm,” Taskill said.
Sheona nodded, agreeing with him. “Seeing our boat explode in the middle of a raging sea. Changes the way you look at things.”
Dermot said, “I can’t believe the priest married you that quickly. I got there just in time to see my lassie marry. Marta will be furious.”
Rut added, “You could have waited for me, Taskill, but I’ll call you out of your mind and in love. Lennox, it’s your fault.”
Lennox said, “Don’t worry. There’s still a sizable party to come to celebrate their marriage. Your place or ours, Sloan?”
Eva said, “I still don’t understand why Clyde was so daft.”
Dermot hung his head. “Rinaldo. He was an evil man. I’m ashamed to admit that he belonged to me. Poor Ailis. If she only knew.”
“She knows, Da.”
Everyone gave Sheona their full attention. Dermot looked at her and said, “You say that with conviction, but I’m sure you’re right, if only you could ask her.”
“Nay, Da. I know. I spoke with Mama.”
Eva and Alma both gasped, while Sloan sat up and leaned toward her. “What do you mean, Sheona? How could you possibly talk with Mama?”
“Lia. When I was on Iona before Taskill came for me, Lia told me someone had a message for me. Mama told me to go with Taskill. She said there were men coming after me.”
Sloan said, “I know you believe that it was Mama talking through her, but it could be Lia just guessing. Or maybe she knew about the men somehow. It doesn’t mean you were conversing with Mama, Sheona. I’m sorry.”
“I have to agree with him, daughter. Mama is gone.”
“It was Mama. She said she wished she hadn’t let me have the third cinnamon cake. That I wouldn’t have gotten sick if I’d stopped at two. Do you remember, Papa?”
Her father paled, his voice coming out in a low tone. “Heavens above. It was Ailis.”
Rut came over and clasped his shoulder.
“What else did she say?”
“She said she was sorry about Rinaldo. That she wished she had been here to stop him, that his soul was evil. And she told me to go with Taskill. So, I did. Mayhap we shouldn’t have gone then because of the storm.”
The door opened, and a wee lass of six winters walked in, dressed in green and gold. She came into the group and folded her hands, waiting for their full attention.
“Chief MacLean and Alma, this is Lia,” Sloan explained.
“Greetings to you all. You stopped an evil group from their task, and you did it so well. The universe is grateful. Roger was interested in the coin. Simple greed.” Then she strode over toTaskill and Sheona, one small hand resting on each of theirs. “You needed to go then because they arrived on Iona shortly after you left. But it is over now, and you will have many happy years together with many golden-haired bairns to watch over.”
“Why are you here, Lia?” Taskill asked.
Lia smiled, then replied, “I have messages for Dermot and Rut.”
Dermot fell into a chair, his hand gripping the arm as he sat. “Ailis? Truly?”
“Aye, Ailis said she wishes you and Rut much happiness. And Rut,” Lia said, turning her attention to the tall woman who stood next to the chair, “Douglas said you deserve happiness too. Love him with all your heart.”
Lia took Dermot’s hand. “Love your grandchildren for her since she cannot, Dermot. Ailis says Rowan needs you more than ever. That Rinaldo was not a fault of either of you. That the universe has ways that no one understands at times. She says to let him leave your mind and enjoy the ones you have who are so wonderful. And Rut, Douglas says to love with that big heart. That you’ll have two grandbairns within the next year to love, and it’s your job to help raise the new MacVeys in the world.”
Dermot reached for Lia’s hand and said, “Ailis, are you angry with me? Do you forgive me?”
