Redeeming Vows (26 page)

His release soared through him, catching her a second time. Emotion caught in his throat. The moon really did shine in her eyes and helped him see his future.

Lord help him if she only bonded with him to return to her son. Because as far as Fin was concerned, Liz was his. Now and forever.

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Eyeing the long cape Grainna wore, Tatiana listened to the witch bellow orders to her men.

Something had happened. She was certain of it. The balance of power tilted in Grainna’s favor, which she exploited mercilessly.

Two clans attempted to leave the Brisbane camp to find their numbers quickly depleted and their women and children returning to the safety of Brisbane’s keep.

The fog from the sea never seemed to lift. The mist held the poison Grainna used to enslave the minds of her people. Yet Tatiana didn’t feel the drug of Grainna’s spell and didn’t know why.

She hung her head in shame. Unable to stay away from the MacCoinnichs’ youngest son would prove deadly to her or him, this she knew for certain.

The way the witch studied her and raped her mind after their encounters violated her more than her uncle ever had.

She was a fool to have ever thought that being at Grainna’s side would hold some redemption for her sorry existence.

Cian was everything good and pure. With him, Tatiana forgot who she was and the witch she served.

“I want each of you to bring me the severed hand of one of the knights protecting our enemies before the sun rises.” Grainna gave her orders. The knights bowed their heads and lifted their swords to her.

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Tatiana’s lip trembled. “Would it not be better to capture them alive and whole?”

In painful slow motion, Grainna craned her neck toward her. She blinked twice, once revealing pitch-black eyes that appeared blind, and then a second time to dark soulless eyes. “You question me?”

Tatiana lowered her eyes and cowered. “Forgive me.” She heard her approach, but didn’t move. Why had she spoken?

Grainna reached a hand down and touched her face. Tatiana shook so violently her teeth chattered.

She didn’t dare close her eyes for fear she’d never be able to open them again.

“Where is your loyalty, my dear?”

“With you,” she whispered.

One of Grainna’s cold, pale fingers raked down her left arm, tearing her dress in its wake.

Tatiana’s knees buckled as fear washed over her. “I don’t believe you.”

“Please, forgive me,” she wept.

Grainna knelt down and forced her gaze to hers.

As she did, the stench of rotting flesh swam into Tatiana’s nose and made her eyes water. Grainna’s expression hardened. She clasped onto Tatiana’s left hand and squeezed.

Searing pain burst through her hand and deep in her bones. She tried to pull away but couldn’t.

Smoke lifted from her flesh. Tatiana didn’t realize the unearthly scream came from her until after Grainna let her loose. She fell in a ball at her feet, cradling her broken and burned hand.

“Perhaps now you’ll know never to question me.”

As Grainna walked away, the stench left with her. Before Tatiana could find her balance and seek herbs to relieve her pain, the witch spoke again. “If 227

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any knight returns without a hand, I’ll take yours instead.”

“Please, nay.”

Grainna walked away laughing.

****

They hopped into one rental car then another so many times Liz lost count. Cars trailed behind and surged ahead, all watching for the police or any indicator of trouble. Sometimes they spoke to one another with cell phones, other times, walkie-talkies. Liz stashed a second set in her backpack just in case they returned to the sixteenth century. Radio waves were available in Fin’s time, where cell service wasn’t. Having the ability to communicate with a short wave radio would have its advantages.

The plan was to continue moving until nightfall, then meet at the Observatory where there were bound to be hundreds of stargazers gathered for the celestial event. Selma planned to hide Fin and Liz in the crowd and sprinkle her family into the crush of people in hopes of bringing them all together to welcome the eclipse. By the time any authorities could overtake them, Liz and Fin should be gone.

With some planning, and a little luck, the plan just might work.

Sandwiched between Fin and Selma, Liz listened to yet another Mayfair cousin bringing Selma up to date on the family members who weren’t a part of their little adventure.

“If you hadn’t told us to pull out of the market when you did, we’d be in a heap of trouble now,”

Linda Mayfair, now Linda McBride said from the driver’s seat.

“I’m happy you listened. I didn’t think Stan 228

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believed in my gift.”

“He didn’t, but does now. Which is why I’m here.” The women laughed.

“Where do you live,” Liz asked.

“Vegas. Stan runs three of the biggest convention centers on the strip.”

“We appreciate your help,” Fin told her.

“Please, a free trip to LA and a family reunion.”

“Free?” Liz was wondering where all the money came from for Selma’s family to jump on planes and make it to LA within twelve hours.

“I told you about the gems in the trunk. They were worth a lot of money.”

“Enough to afford all this?”

Selma lifted a brow but didn’t commit to saying she had enough money.

“Selma, tell me you aren’t hocking yourself to the hilt for us.”

“Stop worrying about me. I’ll be okay.”

Geez, she’s going in debt.
Liz wished she could get her hands on the money she’d put in the bank from the sale of the candlesticks Myra had brought with her in time. There was no way she’d be able to go into a bank and leave a free woman. Hell, there wasn’t a guarantee there was any money there at all. Who would it go to? Without Simon or Tara to inherit it, who would the authorities give it to?

There was only one answer to that.

“Let’s find a place to stop for a while.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I need to make a phone call.” The call wouldn’t be easy, but Liz didn’t see any way around it. Once they found a quiet park, they exited the car and stretched their legs.

“What are you thinking about?” Fin asked once Selma and Linda walked away.

Liz nodded toward Selma. “She’s spending her 229

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money to make this happen. I’m guessing all of it.

It’s bad enough she may have some serious explaining to do once we’re gone, if we manage to leave. But to bust her financially isn’t right.”

“’Twas her choice.”

“Really? Seems like we forced her into this.”

Fin leaned against the car and folded his arms over his chest. He’d shaved his face earlier in the day in hopes of not being noticed. Their pictures were already back in the news. Liz pulled the baseball cap further down her head, her hair tucked into it to hide the color.

“I may be able to give Selma something back.”

“How?”

“My parents.” She hadn’t thought of her parents in months. Not since she’d landed in Scotland did she consider their thoughts once they found that both their daughters were missing.

Calling them and telling them to give any money that may end up in their hands from her account to Selma was the least she could do. There was no guarantee they’d do it, but she had to try.

Then again, they would link Selma to her disappearance, and that may land her in even more trouble.

Fin voiced her concerns as if he’d read her mind.

“If you tell your parents to give Selma money, the police will question her and possibly hold her.”

“Would Jake let that happen?”

“He may not have a choice.”

Liz started to pace. “There has to be a way.”

“Is there anyone else you trust here?”

“Not on this level.”

Fin scratched he head. “What of Tara’s friend?

The one who took her to the Faire?”

Her eyes lit up. She placed one very noisy kiss on his lips and backed away. “Cassy! Of course.” Liz opened the phone and made the call.

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Cassy was easy. Her part in Lizzy’s plan didn’t require anything illegal. Because she worried about tapped phones and everything CSI, Liz kept her conversation short and to the point. Cassy and Selma would never meet, never even know the other person’s name.

Calling her parents proved harder than she thought. Part of her prayed for an answering machine, while the other part knew her luck wouldn’t hold for that.

When her father’s voice, weakened by his growing age, rumbled through the line, Liz felt the rush of every broken dream she’d ever had crash over her.

“Hi, Dad.”

He didn’t say anything at first, but Lizzy knew he was still on the line because the television blared in the background.

“Elizabeth?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

The volume of the TV quieted. She had his attention.

“Where are you?”

Like he really cared.
“It doesn’t matter where I am.” “You always were snotty. Do you have any idea what your mother has been through?” The disapproval in his voice overruled his concern.

“No, why don’t you tell me? Tell me how either of you could possibly care what happened to Tara, Simon, and I.”

“Elizabeth? God, Elizabeth where are you?” Her mother’s tearful voice on a second line had Lizzy choking back. When Tara disappeared, neither of them bothered to travel to Orange County to join in the search. To think that either of them batted an eye at her and Simon’s disappearance never crossed her mind.

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“Hi, Mom.”

Her mother sobbed into the phone.

“Stop it, Louise. She isn’t worth it.”

“Shut up! I’m sick and tired of you telling me how to feel. I’ve lost both my children and my grandson because of you, and I’ll be damned if I listen to you now.”

Liz lifted her chin, wished she could see the expression on her father’s face.
Go, Mom!

The phone clicked and Louise McAllister quickly said, “Are you all right? Where’s Tara?”

“We’re fine, Mom. All of us.”

“I’m so sorry, Lizzy. Sorry for not being there for you. I thought you were all dead, gone.”

“Is Dad off the phone?”

“Yes, he stormed out of the house. I need to see you. Where are you?”

A tear ran down her face. There wasn’t time.

“Listen, I don’t have much time.”

“What do you mean? Good God, is someone holding you against your will?”

“No. Please I need you to do something for me.

For all of us.”

“Anything,” Louise sighed into the phone.

“Did you and Dad end up with my savings account?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact we did. Where did you get that kind of money, Lizzy?”

“It doesn’t matter. Do you still have it?”

“Yes.”

Good.
“I need you to get the money to Cassandra Ross. She and Tara were roommates. Are you writing this down?”

“I am, but I don’t understand. Don’t you want it?” “I don’t need it.”
Not where I’m going.
She gave her mother Cassy’s phone number and address.

“Are you in trouble with the law?”

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“No, Mom. We haven’t done anything wrong. I can’t explain what’s happening and you wouldn’t believe me if I did.”

The pause on the other end of the phone had Liz wondering if the batteries had gone dead on the phone.

“I’m never going to see you again, am I?”

Big, fat tears sprang from nowhere. Fin came from behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I don’t think so,” she sobbed. How unfair that she learned that her mother cared now only to say goodbye.

“I suppose this is the bed I’ve made. I didn’t appreciate you when I had you, and now you’re gone.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t a better daughter for you.”

Louise’s voice grew stern. “You stop that right now, young lady. I’m the one who is sorry. Can you ever forgive me?”

“Yes.”

“You and Tara were more than I ever deserved. I wish you both all the happiness in the world. Take care of my grandson.”

The knot in Lizzy’s throat erupted. “I love you.”

“Oh, Lizzy, I love you, too. All of you. Be sure and tell your sister.”

“I will.”

“I’ll forever be thankful to have had a chance at redemption.”

Liz glanced at Selma who walked their way and made a rolling motion with her fingers.

“I’ve got to go, Mom.”

“You be safe.”

“I will.”

The line went dead.

“We’ve got to go. Jake called, said the cell you’re using is being tracked.”

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away from the car. Selma jumped in the front seat while Fin opened the door to the back.

“Wait,” Liz yelled before running over to a massive oak tree.

“What are you doing?”

Liz placed her finger on the bark above her head and singed the bark until she made the shape of a heart. Satisfied, she followed Fin to the car.

“What was that for?” Selma asked while Linda started the engine and backed out of the parking lot.

“For you. Come back here in one month and dig.

If you’re being watched, wait until it’s safe.”

“What will I be digging for?”

Liz clasped Fin’s hand in hers and smiled.

“About three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

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Unwilling to eat the food his falcon body or wolf form craved, Simon survived on stolen bread and water left in simmering pots. He spent the entire night and following day circling the camps in either wolf or falcon form. He’d stayed warm in animal skin and shifted easily from one shape to the other. His anger lifted, but not to the degree that he was ready to face the MacCoinnichs.