A walk between worlds

The Confrontation

Once I hit the top of the field, I could see Lord Richards and several British behind them.  I dismounted my horse and walked to the center of the field and yelled “Stop, you can not trespass on my land!!”

          Lord Richards cold stare bore through me, “You forget Isabell, these are my lands which you live on, not yours.  You are unwed with no heir.”

          “That is where you are wrong, my lands have been gifted to my nephew Tavish McNeil and you have no claim to them!!  These lands belong to Clan McNeil, now remove yourself!!”

          Lord Richards dismounted his horse, “You little b***h!!  It won’t matter, because nothing can help you get away from me.  You are mine and I will take you and make your life a living hell, because there is no one here to stop me.”

          There were at least 20 British men behind him, all armed and ready to go to battle.  I could not stop them all, I just needed more time. 

          Suddenly I heard horses from behind me and when I turned, I sighed in relief.  Help had arrived, members from Clan McNeil were arriving on horseback.  James must have sent word this morning.  Thank God!! 

          Liam McNeil brother to my late husband came forward and looked down at me, “Seems you have gotten yourself into a bit of mess lass.” 

          “Yes, Lord Richards and these men are trying to take my lands away from me, but I already gifted them over to Tavish McNeil, my nephew.”

          Liam nodded with a silent understanding.  “Well then, I believe we have what you Brits would call a situation then, however, as you can see, you are outnumbered.  So, you can either leave or be killed.  Your choice.”

          The Lieutenant came forward, “We don’t want a problem; besides, we have no issue with the lady, just the ship, which we can chase to another port.  We will bid you farewell.  Come men, we have bigger fish to catch.”

          Looking out to sea I saw the ship headed towards the horizon; they had a head start.  My heart leap in my chest.  There was hope yet.

          “Thank you, Liam.  I owe you, my debt.”

          “No need for that lass, will you be alright?"  He motioned to Lord Richards who was seething at this point in anger. 

          “Yes, we have unfinished business.  You can go.” 

          “Aye lass, we will stop back tomorrow to check on you and your “nephew Tavish”.”  He smiled.

          As they turned to ride away, I put my focus back on Lord Richards. 

          Lord Richards took a step closer to me, “How could you do this me.  I waited for you to love me, to come to me of your own free will.  Now I will have no choice but to force you.  Do you have any idea how much I wanted you by my side, I even got rid of your husband Angus because you were to be my bride, not his!!”

          I gasped, “What, no, Angus was a good man.  You are mad, what did you do to him!!”

          Lord Richards smirked, “You really have no idea who or what I am do you?  Maybe its time to cut to the chase.”  Just then a purple glow emitted from around him and he started to chant something that I could not understand.  The wind started to curl around him and standing in front of me was no longer Lord Richards, but a half man, half hooved warlock with glowing eyes.  He could see my shock and laughed at me and said, “Now who will save you Isabell.  Where is your Murdoch now?”

          Looking down at my ruby ring, it started to glow, and I felt such power come from within me that I could not describe it.   I knelt down and embraced the warmth that ran through every part of my body.  My hands started to glow and I felt like I was on fire from within.

          When I looked at Lord Richards, had stepped back away from me.  “I am not afraid of you and I will never be with you.  Not now, not EVER!  This is for Angus!”  My arms came up and fire came from my hands and wrapped around Lord Richards frame.  The field around him was on fire.  My anger was taking over my soul. And I could think of nothing else than destroying him.  He screamed, and tried to fight my wraith with his own magic.  Finally, after failing miserably, he screamed at me, “This is not over, I will have you yet!!”  Then he disappeared.

          I had collapsed in the aftermath of my fight with Lord Richards.  Tavish and James had found me and taken me back to the cottage.  When I woke up, I was in my bedroom and the sunlight was dancing across my bed.  I suddenly realized how real everything was and that Murdoch was not with me.  My heart ached and I felt like I wanted to die.  I needed to stay strong but I missed him and his touch.  His blue eyes haunted me.

          I needed to get up and move and get things sorted with Tavish as soon as possible.

          When I finally got out of bed and went downstairs, I realized how quiet my home now was with everyone gone.  The smiles of Jack and Peter and how they would banter with each other were now gone and replaced by silence.    

          I stepped outside for fresh air looking across the field and spied the charred remains in the shape of a circle.  Looking down at the ring on my finger, I vowed to never take it off.

          Tavish was coming out of the barn when he saw me and started running to me and yelling my name.  I waved my hand in the air to him and smiled thinking at lease I had Tavish and James.  Tavish crashed into me wrapping his arms around my waist.  “I was so worried Miss, afraid I lost you.”  I could feel him sobbing in my arms and whispered to him, “It’s alright.  Hush now, I need you to be strong.  You are now the head of the house Mr. McNeil.  Now stand up straight, because there is much to teach you.  Eventually I will go to the America’s to meet Murdoch, but not until next spring.   So, until then, you and James are still my family.”

          Tavish smiled up at me, “Thank you Miss.  Do you think that Clan McNeil will accept me?  I am of Scottish decent but unaware of my parents’ last name.”

          Wrapping an arm around Tavish I smiled down at him, “They already have Tavish.”

Leigh Present day

          That’s where the Journals ended.  There had to be more but unfortunately this was the last one in the hiding place. 

          Leigh sighed inward, as she turned the last few pages and found sketches that her grandmother did.  There was a sketch that she assumed was Tavish, and perhaps the other was James.  Tavish was a handsome young man with such a beautiful smile.  He looked happy and full of life.

          Turning the next page were two young men, one with crutches and the other one with his arm in a sling.  She knew that must have been Jack and Peter, but what startled her the most was that they looked exactly like Jace and Paul.  Her hands trembled and she eagerly turned to the last page, almost knowing who was going to be staring back at her.  “Oh my God.”  She said in a whisper.  Staring back at her with that devilish smile and those mischievous eyes was Murdoch…. or was it Shawn…. because they were completely identical.  I traced my fingers over the sketch, how is this even possible.  Then Diana’s words echoed in my mind, “Everything is connected like a circle that can’t be broken.”

          She needed to talk with Diana as soon as possible.  The ring’s origin and the amethyst Isabell used to heal Murdoch were now solved.  But what happened with Murdoch and his men?  And what of Lord Richards?

          Isabell did come over to the American’s but Murdoch had not joined her.  She only knew this because her grandmother married when she was almost 30 and had two children with Henry McKenna….

          The night Shawn whispered to her, “Mo ghradh, is leatsa mi.” (my love you are mine)”.  Was it Shawn saying that or Murdoch, because Shawn didn’t even know he said those words to me?

          I needed answers and quickly.  Because I suddenly felt a wave of uneasiness flood through my body.  Maybe it wasn’t over and Shawn and I were still in trouble…