* * *
“Can ye see him? Aye, that’s yer faither.”
Elena’s voice drifted into Gabriel’s ears and plucked him from his sleep. He slowly opened his eyes. White light was all he could see and for a moment he wondered if he had slipped into heaven. The instant he tried to move it was clear he wasn’t dead, his body ached far too much.
“Elena?” his voice was raspy as he lifted his hand to shield his eyes from the light. He was filled with hope as he scanned the room around him. Slowly Elena’s face came into view. His heart skipped at the sight of her. She looked so different than what she had appeared to him in his dreams.
“Is that really ye?” he asked as he stretched his hand out to her. Elena clasped her hand to his and drew it to her face. Her cheeks were moist and her eyes red.
“Aye, my love, it’s me,” she said as she scooted closer.
Gabriel became highly aware of something bundled in Elena’s other hand. A soft coo sound came from the bundle in her arm.
“I’d like ye to meet yer son,” Elena said, showing the child to him. Gabriel’s eyes widened as he stared into the small round face. A smile stretched across his lips as he brushed his fingertips ever so lightly over the baby’s cheek.
“Am I dreamin’?”
“Nay,” Elena answered. “Although, ye scared me there for a bit.”
“I scared ye? Yer the one screamin’ like a banshee upstairs,” Gabriel teased. “I thought ye’d stepped on the dog again.”
Elena giggled as she stared at him. Her tears spilled down her cheeks as the room fell silent.
“I thought…when Anna told me what happened…” Elena gasped and squeezed Gabriel’s hand tighter than before. He wished he could take back the horrible events, and give her back her uncle, but he knew he’d never be able to do that.
“Does Anna ken about Vincent?” Gabriel asked as he felt a lump forming in his throat. Images of Vincent flashed before his eyes as panic coursed through him.
“Aye. Jacob brought the men home,” Elena said. “Anna’s been cryin’ in her room since he came.”
“I’m sorry,” Gabriel said as he tried to hold onto Elena’s hand. “There was nay other way.”
“It’ll take time for her to come around,” Elena said. “But ye must nae feel guilty about a thin’. From the way the poison spread through yer body, it was clear Vincent was behind poisonin’ Darragh too.”
“Aye, that is what Anna said too.”
“As I see it,” Elena said, reaching for his face. She rubbed her fingertips over his jawline before bringing her eyes back to him. “It was ye or him. And to be selfish, I’m glad it was him.”
The baby in Elena’s arm squirmed a bit forcing Elena to let Gabriel go to tend to the baby’s needs.
“Ye never told me his name,” Gabriel said with a smirk as he watched intensely at how well Elena handled the child.
“Darragh,” Elena answered. Her cheeks burned a bit brighter causing Gabriel to smile at her blush.
“Tis a fine name, a strong name,” Gabriel said. “And one that will suit him well.”
“I love ye, Gabriel McAllister,” Elena said. “But so help me, if ye ever scare me like ye did again, I’ll leave ye.”
“Nay ye willnae,” Gabriel chuckled as he leaned forward despite the pinching at his side. “Because I’ll nae let ye leave. Yer mine Elena McAllister, now and always.”
Epilogue
Elena sighed deeplyas she stood beside Iona, with her child in her arms. Her heart ached as the clan lowered Laird Darragh into the barren wooden dingy. Although she and her uncle never saw eye to eye, she understood he meant well. After all, it was he who taught her to ride a horse. It was Darragh who showed her the difference between the ivy that grew wild in the woods. Elena’s mind shifted and pulled forth the memories she promised herself she’d hold on to forever.
“Are ye goin’ to be alright?” Elena asked Iona as the men pushed the boat off of the shore. Elena’s eyes drifted to Iona’s face as her mother’s attention remained locked on the boat.
“Yer uncle took care of me when yer faither passed. He was the one who made sure everythin’ was in order, ye ken. To be honest wit’ ye, I daenae ken what we’ll all do without him. He was a kind man.”
“Let’s nae forget stubborn,” Isobel mumbled in Elena’s ear.