Page 43 of Her Scot of Bygones
“If nothing else, I’d say you've more than established that on your journey back to Lucas.” Aspen wrapped her hand with Hazel’s and gave her a look with less hatred in it now, when it came to their father. “Him leaving those special boots by the tree for you when you were young, and then you following him back in time, speaks volumes.”
“It does.” Hazel eyed the tree with a mix of awe and sadness. “Do you really think he’s alive still? That we’ll see him again someday?”
“I couldn’t say,” Aspen murmured. “But based on what happened to me on my journey and Lucas receiving that letter from Evan, who we now know didn’t write it, my gut says yes. Whether or not Chara felt Evan’s essence attached to it, I would guess our father wrote it, helping you three come back together. From the sounds of it, he’s more than capable of utilizing the magic needed to make the letter seem like it was actually from Evan.”
As if her words prompted it, Flame tossed back his head and howled, then cocked his head at me and Hazel as if wondering why we were still standing there.
“I tend to agree.” Aunt Chara smiled at us. “Especially when we were promised another wedding today.” She gestured outside. “Might it not be at your tree, then?”
“’Twould seem fitting.” Evan grinned at Hazel and me. “And nothing would make me happier than seeing my closest friends married at last.”
“Are you sure you’re up for it?” Hazel worried. “We can wait and—”
“Och, ye’ve been waiting far too long already,” Evan interrupted, shaking his head. “Some fresh air would do me good.”
“I agree.” Aunt Chara noted how Flame had already headed outside. “As does your other healer.”
“I know, but maybe it’s too soon, Evan,” Hazel argued, “because it’s a bit of a walk and—”
“Enough, lass.” I chanted her into a fur cloak, scooped her up into my arms, and smiled, giving her no room for argument. “It seems I need to steal ye away to the verra end and so I will.”
“Yet again, you give me no choice.” Seeming to accept Evan was okay when he nodded and his dragon eyes flared with reassurance, Hazel met my smile and said what I’d been waiting a lifetime to hear. “And I can honestly say, I don’t want a choice when it comes to spending forever with you, so you best steal me away every time.”
And so I did, right down to our hazel tree and into forever.
Not just that, but we got a bit more than we anticipated when the final piece of the puzzle leading us back to each other fell into place.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
–Hazel–
NOTHING HAD EVER felt so magical as when Lucas carried me out to our hazel tree at the edge of the forest beside my sister’s aspen. It seemed like something straight out of the very best fairytale. Although blustery and cold, it felt wonderful as he set me down beneath our tree amid big, fluffy snowflakes mixed with rays of sunshine, and those we loved watched as our wrists were bound with the MacLeod plaid and we exchanged vows.
If that weren’t perfect enough, when Lucas pulled me into his arms and kissed me with all the love he felt, the sun sat low enough in the sky that, when mixed with the scattered storm clouds, everything seemed to catch fire in pure blazing violet.
“Oh,wow,” I whispered, awestruck, taking it all in as we started back toward the castle and a night of celebration. We didn't get far, though, before sunlight cut across the horizon in such a way that everyone who had wandered down to witness us exchange vows seemed to vanish, leaving only us and our immediate family.
“Look,” Aspen gasped, gazing back at the hazel tree. “Do you see them?”
“I do,” I said, my voice thick with emotion, as a memory unfolded behind us near the base of the tree. “It’s me and our father.”
As if caught in a time loop, my dad and I came and went from the tree at various ages, sometimes together, sometimes apart, with no angst between us. We went our separate ways at some point, so I didn't know what he did when he was here, butthat was okay. He knew I was safe, and I knew I would see him again.
“Of course, he always knew I came here because he led me here,” I said softly, blinking back tears. “I couldn’t tell anyone for Lucas and Evan’s sake, but I always knew someday I could share my secret. He promised me, and I believed him because he was there for me and Mom so much more than I realized.” I shook my head. “So much more than he ever let on.”
“But how without you and your mom remembering?” Aspen murmured.
Yet again, as if her words invoked it, time became less fragmented, slowing down until one last memory appeared, and it all came flooding back as we watched me after I’d lost my virginity, standing at the tree, this time not wanting to go back. The sun had been setting in that magnificent way it did every so often, splashing the twilight forest in purple.
“Every time I returned to the future, it grew more and more difficult to leave you, Lucas, but that time.” A tear rolled down my cheek. “That time I almost didn’t do it. That time I almost stayed because I loved you so much, and it broke my heart to be apart from you, yet I knew my mom needed me.”
“So you were going to try to bring her back with you,” Aspen realized, catching my thoughts.
“I was,” I said. “But…”
I trailed off as my father stepped from the tree and looked at my younger self with adoration. He was dressed appropriately for the era, still wearing Sutherland colors despite being banished, handsome as ever with his ebony hair and swarthy features.
“Nay, lass,” he said softly, his brogue thick and his voice rough with emotion. He rested a hand on my shoulder, and his dragon eyes flared along with an aura that spoke to just how powerful he was. “Yer mother and sisters need ye. Sisters whowill lead ye back to yer mate and a bright future if all goes as I hope.”
