MacGowan's Ghost (25 page)

Allie shrugged. “It's not that cold out tonight, really, and”—she glanced at him—“Justin, I just want to talk. We need to clear some things up. I don't like that you and Gabe are mad at each other because of me.”

He extended a hand, down the walk, indicating for Allie to lead the way. So she did. Justin fell in beside her. “I just want the verra best for you, Allie Morgan,” he said, his voice rich, deep, and a bit scruffy. “You're an advocate for the ghostly souls of the earthbound world. No' many like you, I'll warrant. I fancy you quite a lot.”

Allie smiled up at him. “Thank you. I think.”

Justin chuckled. “Forgive my bluntness. I speak my mind quite freely, in case you havena noticed yet.”

“Oh, I've noticed,” she said. “Slightly hard thing to miss.”

He laughed. “So it is.” He looked at her for a long moment. “I make you uncomfortable.”

She shook her head. “Not at all. I do appreciate the kind way you look out for my well-being.” She smiled. “It's what friends do for each other, you see.”

He grabbed his tricorn, slipped it from his head, and shoved his fingers through his hair. “Och, damn. I've been labeled
friend
.” He winked. “ 'Tis the silent relationship killer.”

She laughed. “Where on earth did you hear that?”

“Young Sean. He's quite knowledgeable with modern love, you know.”

Allie shook her head and smiled. “I'd use caution when taking love tips from him.”

Justin laughed softly. “Indeed.”

They walked in silence for a moment; then Justin cleared his throat. “You've a way with souls, Allie Morgan. 'Tisna often a soul like myself crosses paths with a woman like you. You're almost of both worlds—one who would fit in either, by the by. I would be a liar if I said I hadna hoped to have a chance to win your affection. And I'm many things.” He looked at her. “But no' a liar.”

Allie stopped, Justin stopped, and she looked up at him and smiled. “You are a very sweet, caring, soul, Justin Catesby. Ridiculously handsome, too.”

He grinned and shook his head. “But?”

Allie glanced back up the walk, toward Odin's. “But I hold something special—something completely unexpected yet familiar, here”—she placed her hand over her heart and looked at Justin—“for Gabe.” She sighed. “I couldn't make it go away, even if I tried. I'm sorry.”

Justin's eyes softened as he gave a winsome smile. “Dunna be sorry, lass. I will cherish your friendship always, and I am always and forever naught but a call away.”

“Thank you, truly. And Gabe loves you. You're part of his family.” She slid the ghostly sea captain a glance. “And you love him, too. So I don't want you two fighting anymore. Savvy?”

Cocking his head, he gave her a nod, then studied her for several seconds. “And what of you, Allie Morgan? Will you leave here? Leave Gabe and his family and Sealladh na Mara behind once the contract has become void?”

Allie crossed her arms over her chest. “God knows I don't want to. I suppose we'll have to see how things go.” She shrugged and smiled. “It may be too early to tell.”

He nodded. “So right.” With a grin, he inclined his head back toward Odin's. “Let us make our way back, then. And whilst we walk, why dunna you tell me about your bonny sisters . . . ?”

 

“Good-bye, Allie Morgan,” said Jake, throwing his arms around her neck and hugging fiercely. The sun had broken through the clouds, and it cast a golden glint to Jake's auburn hair. He pulled back and gave her a very serious look—a difficult feat seeing that his cowlick made the hair at that particular point of his hairline stand straight up. “Dunna worry. I'll handle things here at Odin's whilst you and Da go on holiday.”

Allie smiled. “I have no doubt you will. Now, you and your uncle Sean have lots of fun Saturday.”

Jake nodded.

Allie narrowed her eyes. “Are you still going to take me up to the MacGowans' keep?”

His wide blue eyes sparkled. “Aye—and Uncle Sean and Da says we're goin' to take the ferry over to Skye, as well. You'll love it there!”

“I can't wait.” She squatted down, to look at Jake eye level. “And don't you worry. I'll take good care of your da.”

Jake leaned forward, pushed her hair aside, and whispered in her ear, “Watch him during the night especially. He has bad dreams.”

Allie drew back and looked at him. “I will watch him very closely.”

Jake looked around, then met her gaze with one that seemed too wise for his six-year-old self. “If you can, Allie, could you try and mend me mum's soul? She scares my da, I think.”

Allie's insides turned cold just hearing little Jake's words. But she nodded and squeezed his shoulder. “I will. Now go and have fun with your crazy uncle.”

Jake jumped up and ran to his father. Gabe lifted him and pulled him into a bear hug.

Jake glanced at Allie over Gabe's shoulder and smiled.

Allie thought it the sweetest thing she'd ever seen.

Once Gabe set Jake down, the little boy ran to his uncle, who scooped him up sideways and scrubbed his head. Jake, of course, burst into laughter.

“You two have fun,” said Sean, that wicked gleam back in his eyes. “Dunna do anythin' I wouldna.”

Gabe grinned. “Well, that leaves verra few options, aye?”

Sean shrugged and laughed.

“You can reach me on my mobile if anythin' comes up,” Gabe said, then looked at Jake. “You mind your uncle and granny and grand. We'll be back sometime tomorrow.”

Jake nodded and wiped his nose on his sweater sleeve. “I will, Da.” Then he whispered in Gabe's ear, and Gabe turned and looked at Allie.

She wondered what Jake had said.

With Wee Mary, Gabe's parents, Sean, Jake, and the Odin's ghostly souls watching on, Gabe threw his and Allie's bags into the back of the Rover, opened the door for her, and inclined his head. “Ready?”

Oh, she definitely was.

After a stern look from the friar, a sly grin from Justin, and a wink from Dauber, and waves from the two dueling lords and the mademoiselle, as well as the rest of the MacGowans, she and Gabe left Sealladh na Mara.

Allie hoped, as she glanced at the sexy, sweet, funny Highlander beside her, that she would indeed be able to mend his soul. And she was willing to face whatever it took to accomplish it.

Even if it meant challenging a lost, malevolent—possibly dangerous—soul bent on making Gabe's life as miserable as that soul's once was.

And, apparently, continued to be.

Allie turned and glanced behind her. Sealladh na Mara grew smaller, a handful of white flecks against a gray-blue sea. And in the distance, off to the right, the ancient ruins of the MacGowans' keep dominated the coastline.

Gabe's hand covered hers, and together, their fingers entwined. The sensation of Gabe's calluses against her skin warmed her, and she looked at him and smiled.

“So, have you chosen a place to escape to?” Allie asked. “One where the friar can't find us?”

Gabe stared straight ahead, eyes fixed on the road, but a slow smile slid into place on the most handsome face Allie had ever seen. “Absolutely. You'll love it.” Then he looked at her, and his eyes locked on hers. “Trust me.”

And Allie did.

Chapter 22

T
he one thing Gabe quickly learned about Allie Morgan was that no matter where she went, souls took notice.

Live ones, and no'-so-live ones.

Gabe couldna blame them a bit.

And the one thing he'd always known about ghostly souls was they did just what they wanted. If they chose to let you see them, you would. If no', you wouldna. And it seemed everywhere he and Allie went, those ghostly souls recognized her as their champion and approached.

He wondered if he'd ever get her to himself.

They'd visited an ancient Norman kirk, a favorite of Gabe's, and Allie's wide blue eyes had scanned the old stones, seemingly amazed at the architecture and doubly amazed at the age.

A French-Norman knight had emerged from the wall, introduced himself as Sir Geoffrey de Gables, and had proceeded to ask Allie if she could discover how he might have come to the western Highlands of Scotland. She promised she'd look into the matter once she got back to Sealladh na Mara.

Gabe had been to that particular kirk scores of times and not once had that old knight shown himself. He couldna help but wonder just how jam-packed the mortal world was with otherworldly souls.

Apparently, Sealladh na Mara wasna the only unique place in the Highlands.

And he felt especially certain the reason the old knight appeared this time was because of Allie Morgan.

According to Dauber, 'twas her own unique brush with death and, thanks to her da, a fierce and sudden reentry back into the world of the living that made her soul so receptive to spirits. No' to mention her soul was by far the sweetest he'd ever encountered.

After visiting a circle of standing stones, where four druids sifted from the rock to ask Allie a few questions on the possibility of time travel, a small croft museum where an eighteenth-century Highlander, complete with pipes, insisted he play Allie several melodies, Gabe decided he should try to avoid all things
old
and just move on to their destination.

The Highlands—probably anywhere in Scotland—was apparently wall-to-wall loaded with spirited souls.

Allie scooted as close as her seat belt would allow and grinned. “Stop pouting. They were all very nice and interesting.”

Gabe grunted. “ 'Tis a good thing, then, we skipped Culloden. We'd no' have left before the gloaming.”

“Well, it's barely after noon, so we've plenty of time left. What's the gloaming?”

Gabe slid his hand to hers. Damn, he didna think he'd ever touched such soft skin. He wrapped his fingers through hers and looked at her briefly. “ 'Tis that moment in time where the last rays of the day slide into dusk. The Scots believe 'tis a magical time, the gloaming.” He lifted a brow. “You never know what you might encounter.”

Allie slipped her thumb over the top of his hand. “That is just plain sexy, Gabe MacGowan.”

And it was.

Gabe had decided to put everything behind him for the day. All he wanted was to be with Allie, learn more about her, her mother and sisters, where she grew up. He could hardly blame the spirits for being so drawn to her.

He certainly was.

While he drove, Gabe studied her with small glances—inconspicuous, he thought. Allie's hair, free and wild today, stood out against the thin black sweater and leather jacket she wore. Faded, frayed jeans clung to her long legs. The hiking boots on her feet were probably all that kept her slim, delicate body from drifting away.

Something about those rough hiking boots strapped to such a feminine body appealed to Gabe. She wasna afraid of anything, to go anywhere, try new things—she'd even had a bit of haggis at lunch.

He thought the stuff nasty, and he was a Scotsman.

Gabe noticed something else, as well. And the more he was around her, the more evident. 'Twasna just Allie Morgan's exterior that was lovely. Inside, her beauty all but stopped his breath. She had a deep, inner love for all souls, an appreciation for life, and he truly thought she'd give her life to help another.

So verra unlike anyone he'd ever encountered. So verra unlike Kait.

Not wanting to let go of Allie's hand, he rubbed his chin against his shoulder and mentally escaped that train of thought. 'Twasna fair of him, really. Kait had been young, her life abruptly changed, and she'd been in such a dark place when she died that he could only imagine how horrible it must have been for her.

Especially with a partying drunkard for a husband.

“Oh, Gabe! Pull over!” said Allie, looking out her window. “Please!”

Gabe glanced, and couldna help but grin. He pulled over, parked, and before he could walk round the car, Allie was out, hurrying to the fence where a handful of Highland cows munched on grass.

“They're so gorgeous!” she said, holding out her hand toward them and making a smacking sound to draw them near. She briefly looked over her shoulder at Gabe. “Don't you think so?”

The Highland sun shone through Allie's long, springy curls. They hung over her shoulders and down her back, and when she looked at him, the sheer joy of those long-haired cows made her eyes sparkle. That lovely smile, which stretched from ear to ear, touched him, and he couldna quite believe the feeling.

He, Gabe MacGowan, was touched by a grinning ghost ouster over a pair of silly cows.

He'd never admit it to anyone.

Walking up behind Allie, Gabe reached for her arm and gently tugged. When she turned, her eyes collided with his and she smiled—this time for
him
.

Behind her, the cows
mooed
their protest.

Too bloody bad. Let them find their own ghost ouster.

He'd found his and he wasna in the mood for sharing.

 

Allie thought the Highland cows—rather,
haidee coos
as Gabe called them, absolutely darling. With their long, shaggy hair and wide horns, their pudgy noses moist and cool, she thought they were the cutest things she'd ever seen.

Until her arm was tugged and she turned to face the sexy Highlander standing behind her.

Much cuter than the
coos
, she thought.

Gabe wore a pair of sexy shades, so those intense green eyes were covered. But Allie could tell by the clench of his jaw that those eyes were boring into hers. She shielded her eyes with her hand and grinned. A dark green long-sleeved shirt, brown leather jacket, and well-worn jeans and boots made Gabe MacGowan look mysterious, carefree.