Sea Wolf Magick (Highlander Magick Series Book 2) (20 page)

Chapter 30

The morning rays warmed her face. Beth laughed at the otters popping their heads over the sides of the tilting rowboat to greet them.

The sweet perfume of violets filled the air. Quinn steadied the boat and helped Beth stand on the stepping-stones carpeted with the lavish oyster plants in shades of violets, purples, and blues. He lifted her to the boulder across from the waterfall and leapt up beside her.

“I love this spot. It’s breathtaking.” Beth sighed, leaning back against his chest.

“Come on, woman, there’s a surprise waitin’ for ye.” Quinn smiled and scooped her in his arms, climbing the new set of wooden steps leading up the side of the hill. “Now dinna look until I tell ye to.”

Quinn set her down. “Ye can open yer eyes, love.”

Beth gasped.

The quaint cottage that she called home, nestled in the Isle of Skye, was standing directly in front of them. She covered her mouth with her hand.

“I can’t believe this. How did you manage . . . ?”

Darby opened the door with his pipe stuck in his hand. He grinned. “Come inside, lass. I think everything’s pretty much as ye left it.”

Beth strolled inside with Quinn right behind her. A trace of Darby’s tobacco lingered in the air. Her workbench was set not far from the window with her pestle and mortar sitting on top. She glanced over at the bookcase filled with her favorite books. Darby led the way through the pantry, lined with shelves filled with jars of herbs, candles, and her remedies. Loose bundles of hyssop, rosemary, and lavender tied with twine were hanging upside-down from the rafters to dry.

Something was different. She put her finger to her lips and spotted a new backdoor cut into the house.

“C’mon, lass. Kalista grows inpatient waiting for ye. She has a surprise.”

Kalista whimpered and glided on Quinn’s shoulder from the top of an arched loveseat covered in garland, made from oak and maple fall leaves. Vibrant yellow, rust, and white chrysanthemums filled the backyard.

Beth gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. She hugged Darby and laughed. A stuffed scarecrow made from straw and wearing a checkered red, white, and blue shirt sat in the middle of the loveseat surrounded by pumpkins.

“Ye have Quinn to thank. He wanted to surprise ye,” Darby whispered up at her and winked. “Quinn’s a fine man. Hold on to him, lass. Ye’re both lucky to have each other.”

“We both need to thank Darby and Kalista. They’re the ones that did all the work.” Quinn shook Darby’s hand.

“Quinn met me early on deck before I left and was tellin’ me his plans. I thought the old cottage would make a nice weddin’ present. He mentioned how much ye missed yer autumns back home. I remembered the packet of pumpkin seeds ye had saved and tucked inside yer trunk. I figured ye wouldna mind if I coaxed their growth with a wee bit of magic.”

Beth didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “I don’t know what to say except thank you. I’ll treasure this day for the rest of my life.”

Quinn came up from behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Welcome home, lass.”

Beth cleared the last dinner plate from the table and joined Quinn and her friends in the backyard.

“Kalista and I have a present for the baby.” He handed her a crystal snow globe, identical to the one Kalista carried around her neck. In front of the Mystical Fairy Tree stood a miniature figure of Darby holding Kalista. “’Tis just a wee keepsake to give to the wee lass, from her Uncle Darby and Aunt Kalista to remember us by. When she’s old enough, she’ll know what to do with it.”

Quinn chuckled. “I see ye both are determined we’re about to have a lass join the family. I take it the bow and arrows set I made for the baby will have to wait ’til we have a son.”

“Don’t be so sure. Especially if she takes after her Aunt Keara.” Beth sniffled and swallowed the lump in her throat. She knelt, facing her beloved friend. “Thank you, Darby. I promise, I’ll make sure she gets it. How long will you both be gone? You make it sound like you won’t be back.”

“The Elders have summoned me to stay at Halldora’s hidden haven until they find someone else capable of overseein’ the place. Och, dinna be sad, lass. Ye young lovers certainly dinna need us hangin’ around right now. We’ll always be with ye in here.” Darby blushed and placed his hand over her heart. “I’m happy for ye, lass. Wee Kalista and I will be busy makin’ plans for some new adventures of our own.”

Kalista nuzzled Beth’s cheek. Darby’s wet cheeks glistened. He held his opened hand in the air as Kalista glided inside.

“Darby, I swear. Don’t you think it’s time you got a new jacket?” Beth’s voice broke, her heart aching. She twisted her hands in front of her, bracing herself for what she expected might happen next.

“I’m afraid I couldna bear to part with it. ’Tis too much like an old friend.” Darby winked and threw a sparkling emerald powder in the air. Within moments, both he and Kalista had vanished.

Beth gasped and wiped her eyes. “Do you think we’ll ever see them again?”

Quinn helped her to her feet and cuddled her next to him. “Once our daughter’s born, ye willna be able to keep them away.”

They sat on the loveseat and stared at the brilliant stars lighting the sky. A falling star raced above their heads, leaving a white streak tailing behind it.

“Aye, ’tis a grand sign.” Quinn wrapped his arm around her and sighed, contented.

Beth snuggled next to him. She closed her eyes and a soft whimper escaped her lips. “Hmmm.”

“Quick, love, look before it disappears.” Quinn leaned up, helping her to her feet and pointed to the sparkling cluster hovering above their heads.

Beth’s eyes widened. She gasped in disbelief. “By the Goddess, do you think Darby had something to do with that?”

“I certainly wouldna put it past the wee codger.” Quinn chuckled and kissed her cheek.

Like flickering lights on a Christmas tree, the outline of a white wolf identical to the one on her wrist glimmered below a cluster of moonlit clouds, with the silhouette of a tiny dragon hovering by its side.

Also from
Patty Taylor
and
Soul Mate Publishing
:

MORTAL MAGICK

When an immortal Highlander falls in love with a human witch, MORTAL MAGICK soon casts a spell of its own.

Doomed for eternity to wander nights as half man and half creature, rugged Highlander Duncan McCord discovers his curse is the least of his problems when he sets out for a cure and rescues the beauty determined to help tame his beast.

When a modern-day reluctant witch, Keara, gets whisked back to the 18th century mystical Isle of Skye to learn lessons in magic, she faces the true test of love when she meets the man beyond her wildest dreams burdened with dark secrets from his past.

Forced together to journey through an enchanted country filled with mythical creatures and magical lore, will they survive in a world where evil sorcery reigns, or will a shocking twist of fate tear them centuries apart?

Available now on Amazon:
http://tinyurl.com/j4bw6o3