Page 27 of Highland Ghost

“Marry us. Quickly,” Caitlin instructed the priest.

“Are ye sure?” The priest looked upward once again as the crowd continued to scream and run away to hide.

“They’re sure,” Finn answered for them. “Now hurry, Faither. It’s just about midnight and the marriage needs to be done before the clock in the tower chimes.”

“Well, all right.” The priest pulled out his prayer book. “We gather here today –”

“Cut to the chase,” said Ian, taking Caitlin’s hand. “Just give us the vow part and make it fast.”

The priest did as instructed, and Ian and Caitlin had just finished their vows as the clock tower in the neighboring town rang out in the distance, telling them that it was midnight.

“Hold me, Ian,” cried Caitlin, wrapping her arms around him and burying her face against his chest. “I dinna ever want to lose ye.” She looked up at the hovering ghosts and shouted at the top of her lungs. “I love him! This is true love. He loves me, too. Be gone, ye wretched ghosts, and never bother us again.”

“Aye! It’s true,” yelled Ian. “She loves me, and I love her as well with all my heart and soul. Our love will last forever. Be gone, and take yer damned curse with ye. There is no place for either of ye here anymore.”

To Ian’s surprise, he saw both the apparitions of Sylvia and Bernard nod. Then the voice of his grandaunt rang out.

“The MacBains are redeemed by the love ye two hold for each other,” said Sylvia.

“Ye, and each generation of the MacBains to come, are now free from the curse,” added the apparition of Bernard.

“Thank ye,” said Sylvia, smiling, if Ian wasn’t mistaken. “Ye have also set us free.” The ghost of Sylvia took the hand of the ghost of Bernard – the hand that wasn’t missing his fingers – and the spirits dissipated together, leaving a feeling of calmness and serenity in the air.

“Did we . . . do it?” asked Caitlin, peeking up to the sky.

“Well, the ghosts are gone,” said Finn with a satisfied nod.

“And I’m no’ dead,” added Ian with a smile.

“Where are they? Where did they go?” asked Nash, holding his sword in two hands, looking upward and turning in a full circle.

“Caitlin!” cried Kellina as the wagon appeared in the courtyard next with the rest of Caitlin’s traveling companions. Kellina bolted from the cart and ran over to them with North at her heels. North had his sword drawn, ready to fight.

“Who the hell are we fightin’?” asked North, holding out his sword and looking at his brother.

“I’m no’ really sure,” Nash answered, still scoping the area, his sword clutched in his grip.

“Did it work?” Matilda hurried from the wagon to join them. “The children are sleeping in the wagon and I hope they don’t get scared if they see the ghosts.”

“The ghosts are gone, and the MacBain curse is broken, because of this wonderful woman.” Ian pulled Caitlin closer and kissed her meaningfully.

“Och, thank guidness,” said Kellina. “I was so scared for all of ye.”

“This is the oddest weddin’ ceremony I have ever initiated,” said the priest, still looking very confused.

“We need to celebrate,” called out Finn. “Bring out the whisky, Ewan.”

“We need to celebrate in the proper way,” said Kellina. “Tomorrow, Matilda and I will make all the preparations for one of the grandest weddin’ feasts of all time.”

“What do ye say, Ian?” Caitlin looked up at her new husband.

“I say, I am the luckiest man alive to have a wonderful lass like ye,” answered Ian, kissing her once again.

“And when he says alive, he really means it,” added Finn, causing them all to break out in laughter. They were happy that the curse was over and Ian and Caitlin had a future together to look forward to from now on.