Chapter 27

Goodbyes And A Fresh Start

One Week Later

Ragnall spent some time drifting in and out of consciousness. He saw different faces hovering above him, but the one constant face was Holly’s. Every time he regained some form of consciousness, he saw her face. She looked like an angel watching over him, and while he spent far more time unconscious than conscious, he could feel her presence.

He did not know how many days he had lain in bed when he had the vision. He saw the healer first as she pressed down on his stomach. Then, he saw Holly standing over him. Behind her was his mother, father, and sister.

They stood with Holly, shoulder to shoulder. His family looked happy, and he wanted to go with them, but he knew he could not. He did not know if they were really there or not, but he could feel they were departing for somewhere else, and that could only mean it was over.

He could not remember what happened with Fraser, but he knew the trouble and pain were over. He watched his family get swallowed up by white light, one by one, leaving him with Holly. He had wanted them to meet her, but he would settle for that. When they were gone, he looked up at Holly and smiled.

Then, he fell unconscious again.

Ragnall woke up, and everything felt different. He had slept for days, he was sure of that, and each time he had awoken, he had felt numb. He did not feel numb now—he felt a dull ache in his stomach where his wound was, and through the pain, he knew he was alive.

He blinked, licking his dry lips. There was a dull pounding in his ears.

He relaxed when he saw Holly above him again, her face angelic. Ragnall tried to ask for water, but he didn’t hear the words come out of his mouth. He must have spoken them because a cup appeared in her hand and she brought it to his lips.

It was uncomfortable to drink, but the Laird felt like he hadn’t had water for a year. He downed it thirstily, almost choking on it. He spluttered some onto the front of his shirt, and Holly returned with a piece of cloth to wipe his chin.

Ragnall focused only on breathing and staying awake. He did not want to go back to sleep—he only wanted to see his wife’s face again.

“I thought I had really lost ye this time,” Holly muttered.

His eyes widened when he realized he could hear her talking.

“Is he dead?” he asked.

Holly looked shocked that he had spoken, but that expression soon turned into a big smile.

“Ye’re awake,” she said. “Properly awake!”

“Aye, I’m awake,” Ragnall stated. He did not know what pain would come if he moved, but he thought it was better not to risk it. “What happened?”

“Ye killed him,” Holly stated proudly. “Ye stabbed Fraser in the chest and killed him.”

Ragnall felt like a weight had been lifted off his holders, and when it was removed, some of what had happened came flooding back to him.

“Ye saved me again,” he croaked. “Ye stuck yer dirk in his back. I wouldnae be here if it wasnae for ye.”

“We both wouldnae be here if it wasnae for ye,” Holly countered. She put a hand on his arm. “Dinnae try to move. Yer wound is still healing.”

Ragnall could feel the dull ache in his stomach again. “How long have I been asleep?”

“A week,” Holly replied, a little concerned. “I didnae leave yer side for a moment. He couldnae hurt ye despite yer injuries, but yer efforts reopened the wound in yer stomach, and ye lost a lot of blood. The healer said ye would be fine, but I saw the look on her face after she finished treatin’ ye. I kenned ye were close to death. I really thought ye had left me this time.”

“I wouldnae leave ye,” Ragnall said. “I saw them.”

“Who?”

“Me family,” Ragnall replied. “They were standing behind ye in one of me dreams. Nay, it wasnae a dream. I woke up, and ye were standin’ over me, and they were standin’ with ye. They were sayin’ goodbye, now that he is finally gone. It’s over.”

“Aye, it’s over,” Holly agreed, wiping the tears from her eyes.

Ragnall wanted to grab her hand, but he was afraid to move still.

“I’m sorry, Ragnall. I’m so sorry,” she wept.

“Sorry? Ye have nothin’ to be sorry for. Ye are a hero after what ye did.”

“After what I did?” Holly huffed. “Ye almost died twice protectin’ me! I should never have taken ye on that picnic to the middle of nowhere, and I should never have left yer side. Ye told me nae to leave, but I didnae listen to ye, and ye told me he would come back, but I didnae believe ye. I thought we were safe from him, and then I led him straight to ye.”

“Och, ye are a fool if ye think ye are a fool. I’m finally feelin’ like meself again. It was like I was in this body and I couldnae control it, but I kenned I wasnae meself. I saw ye there the entire time, but I didnae treat ye well, Holly. I didnae think Fraser was truly in the castle. Me mind was clouded by pain.”

“Aye, but ye were right,” Holly claimed. “It doesnae matter if ye were in pain or nae, ye were right. If ye didnae have yer sword, ye would be dead, and so would I.”

“Nay!” Ragnall argued. “If I didnae have ye, I wouldnae be alive!”

He was getting angry at trying to convince his wife of the truth, but she was too stubborn to listen.

“I was stupid, and I put everyone in danger, and maybe it would be for the best if I just left and let ye make the decisions,” Holly said.

“Dinnae talk such rubbish!” Ragnall snapped.

He had had enough, and he sat up in the bed despite the pain. He didn’t care if he reopened the wound in his stomach—he would not have his wife saying such things.

“Please, I’ll get the healer,” Holly said, getting up.

“Nay, ye will do nay such thing. I dinnae need the healer. I need ye. Can ye nae see that, Holly? Come back here, or I will be forced to get out of bed and chase ye out the room. Is that what ye want?”

“Please, Ragnall,” Holly begged. “All I want is for ye to feel better. Please, rest. Please! I’ll do whatever ye want me to.”

“Nay, ye will nae,” Ragnall said.

Holly looked shocked. “I will, I pro?—”

“Stop!” he ordered “Ye willnae do what I tell ye. Ye will do what ye think is best because that hasnae failed us so far. Ye are far too stubborn to be told what to do anyway, but ye havenae been wrong since I met ye. I might nae like some of the things ye say and do, but I ken they are for the best. I dinnae want a wife without a mind of her own. I want ye to stand with me in life, Holly.”

Holly sat patiently by the bed, listening to all the Laird had to say. He could sense the hesitation in her, and he knew the reason behind it. He knew it was his own fault that she was withdrawn, and he would fix it right there and then.

“I should have said it to ye back then, but I wasnae thinkin’ straight, and I couldnae properly control meself. I screamed it inside, but me body was only thinkin’ of Fraser. He doesnae cloud me thoughts now, nor does anythin’ else. I love ye, Holly. I can still hear ye sayin’ it to me, and I was a fool nae to say it back to ye. I love ye, and I want to spend the rest of me days with ye. That is if ye will forgive me for bein’ such an eejit.”

“Och, there is nothin’ to forgive for either of us. I love ye, Ragnall. I love ye so much!”

“Then why are ye still sittin’ there and nae kissin’ me?” Ragnall complained. “I cannae come to ye, but ye can come to me.”

“I dinnae ken if I should. The healer said to let ye rest.”

“Och, damn what the healer says. I ken me body the best, and the right medicine for me now is a kiss from the woman I love. If I cannae have that, then what point is there in livin’?”

“How can I say nay to that?” Holly almost cried with happiness.

She finally leaned down and gave Ragnall what he needed. The pain in his stomach disappeared as soon as her lips touched his.

He had been to hell and back on more than one occasion, and it had all been for revenge. Or that was what he had thought at the time.

Now, he knew it had all been for her. As Holly kissed him gently, he knew all the fighting was for a future with his wife. That is what made it all worth it.