Grace: the Rose of Promise: The Rose of Promise

By Denise Flora

Grace wakes each night to the sound of an alluring voice, pleading for help, and reaching out to her from a time far ahead of her own. Unaware of the danger, or even the heartbreak that she could possibly face, she follows her instincts and her inner power of magical guidance on an extraordinary journey to where the voice leads her.

Broc, lost in a world unfamiliar, a foreign land and time, struggles to find a way home by pleading to the powers that be to show him the way. Unexpectedly, an answer to his plans presents itself, and a lurking danger from the past confronts him in a battle of strength and will, taking from him the two things he treasures above all else.

A story of love, loss, redemption and magic in the Scottish Highlands
Grace The Rose of Promise Book three in the Murray Series

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493174171

Denise Flora

I have lived a life of dreams, of looking over the horizon and imagining what lies beyond, always hopeful, always willing to take that first step into the next adventure. Born and raised in a quaint rural town outside of the windy city in Illinois, I was transplanted to California, where I have made my home for the last several decades. My love of writing romance mirrors the traditional and seasonal charm I still miss and crave. Scotland, the setting for this series, is a place I have always wanted to go and been fascinated with, due to its fascinating Celtic lore, ancient castles and magical legends. I look forward to putting on paper more what lies in wait in my imagination… I would love to hear from you. Pleas contact me at www.deniseflora.com.

Book preview

Grace

The Rose of Promise

Denise Flora

Copyright © 2014 by Denise Flora.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014902913

ISBN:   Hardcover   978-1-4931-7418-8

             Softcover    978-1-4931-7419-5

             eBook         978-1-4931-7417-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Rev. date: 02/17/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Sunset

Chapter One

The Adventure

Chapter Two

The Arrival

Chapter Three

An Intriguing Discovery

Chapter Four

Under a Three-Quarter Moon

Chapter Five

The Separation

Chapter Six

Going Home

Chapter Seven

The Summons

Chapter Eight

Unexpected Vengeance

Chapter Nine

Another Life

Chapter Ten

Edinburgh

Chapter Eleven

The Docks

Chapter Twelve

The Rose Of Promise

Epilogue

Prologue

Chapter One

Happenstance

Dedication

I am dedicating, ‘Grace’, this third book in my Highland Romance series about the Murray Clan, to my late brother-in-law, ‘Davey.’ He gave to me the treasured gift of his extraordinary talent by creating the drawing, and then the watercolor painting of the beautiful artwork for this cover. He left this earth in December this year to follow the purple light, a light and color he always thought was magical. I will miss him immensely, as he was an inspiration to me, and a storyteller in his own right, always living life as it came, and always to the fullest. Farewell for now, my friend, until we all meet again.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank my family for the continuing encouragement they offer me throughout all of my writing adventures. My husband, John, who was a constant source of help throughout the editing process of this book, ‘Grace,’ and, ‘Rowan,’ book two in this series. Musician and teacher, his expertise, knowledge and guidance, continues to be an invaluable gift. Sitting side by side at the computer, reading through the manuscript, restructuring sentences, eliminating redundant words, adding stuff, changing stuff, laughing at errors, and fixing the glitches, is my favorite part of the final creative process.

And thanks, to my wonderful Mother, Marylee, my heart, who listens to me when I read to her each night over the phone, offering me welcome and wonderful advice. Mom, you’ll never know how grateful I am, and how heartwarming it is to hear your words of encouragement and guidance each time I read to you. Thank you, with all my heart. And once again, thank you, Elizabeth Dobbs, for the author photo.

Prologue

G race sat contentedly on the colorfully woven tartan that was the Murray plaid, her legs lazily stretched out before her, relaxing next to her mother, and sister Rowan, while watching the men of clan Murray wage imaginary war on one another as they competed in mock battle games that were a tradition in the Highlands for as long as she could remember, as long as there were brave and noble men defending their clans, castles and lands.

It was another sublimely beautiful and magical October evening, All Hallows Eve. The hills were coated with a multi-shaded blanket of amber foliage that danced to the rhythm of the blustery winds. The days were growing shorter, but on this day the sun was slow in setting, as it was every year in the highlands on All Hallows. She noticed her youngest brother, Tristin with a comely, young lass possessing hair the color of moonlight, and then watched them with a keen interest as they walked towards the woods. The couple appeared to be engaged in a curious conversation, and from what Grace could surmise, it looked as if a budding romance was beginning to bloom.

Across the field, her brother Liam was going head to head in a factitious battle with her husband for the prize of the day, one of her mother’s famous and delectable Scottish cakes.

Sunset

G race leaned back on her hands and turned her attention to her children, where they sat completely entertained by their overindulgent and doting grandmothers. Satisfied that they were well looked after for the time being, Grace lay back with her arms crossed comfortably behind her head, closed her tired eyes and felt the dim haze of the slowly emerging moonlight penetrate her eyelids, as she reflected on a time long ago, a time when she was younger and wild of nature, fearless, rebelling against and resisting the rigid traditional boundaries set down for her by her overly protective and strict father.

Her mother, Mckenna Murray, was raised in the future, world’s apart from Grace’s father, having been taken there by the clan’s resident wizard, Alzar, for safe keeping, until it was deemed practical to bring her back to her own home and time. Grace thought back to when she was old enough to realize how different her Mother was from her Da, and about all the traditions that were practiced here in the highlands, and handed down from previous generations. She had adopted a bit of each of her parents traditions, believing, practicing and adapting to both ways of life. Often times she felt the duality of being torn between the old ways of her father and the modern memories of her mother.

From her mother, Grace had inherited deep blue eyes that curiously changed hues when she wore the reflective colors of blues and greens; and from her father, raven black hair, streaked with the darkest highlights of chestnuts. She was of average height, not quite as petite as her mother, but nowhere near as tall as her father, who towered over her like the battlements surrounding the Keep. Their firstborn, she had been coddled and spoiled as a baby and toddler, and overprotected to a fault. After being told the story of how she had almost died when she was just one year of age, and taken through time to the future for a cure, she had always felt the compelling desire to return there to see her mother’s adoptive parents, and to experience the future, a time her mother had long ago left far behind, the place where her mother had grown up and lived for twenty-nine years of her life.

Grace thought it would be grand and wildly exciting to finally experience all the sights, sounds and advances of the future, if only for a very short while. Of all the traits she possessed, her curiosity, without a doubt, was the most evident.

She thought that, had she been raised by a mother reared in the same environment, she might have been like any other Highland lass of the seventeenth century, but she was not. Her mother was decidedly different.

Mckenna Murray had tried to fit in and adapt entirely and quite willingly to the past, even to the point of learning to speak with the Gaelic tongue and lilting Scottish brogue of other women, but her modern day language and ways had always surfaced and gleamed through the amour she had hoped would keep them concealed. However, Mckenna had found her own balance fairly early on, and after that, she was comfortable within herself, no matter who remarked on her odd ways or criticized her for being different. And her husband, Colin, Grace’s father, worshiped her, so little else mattered.

Tired from a full day of festive games, songs, dances, and a bit too much honey wine, Grace’s mind began to drift into memories of the past, memories that took her back to her journey to the future, to where she had first laid eyes upon a most dashing and intriguing man, a man, who from the first look, changed her life forever.

Chapter One

The Adventure

G race knew for certain that her mother was going to be grievously furious with her when she told her of her well thought out plan, so she went to consult first with her Da, to ask his advice on the best way to broach the subject of her desires with her mother. She had turned twenty years old today, and after yet another birthday celebration leaving her feeling still unfulfilled and unhappy about gaining years and not gaining a spark of interest in any of her many suitors, she badly wanted, and had decided in her own mind, to finally explore the dream she nurtured of traveling to another place, another time, her mother’s time . She felt certain that this dream, this journey, would open an undiscovered secret door that lay closed and bolted deep within her heart.

Grace’s father, Colin, was in his library, the place where he did his most serious pondering, where he saw to matters of payments made and given, and to the general well being and running of his Keep. He mulled over new building projects and did his most creative thinking toward evening while awaiting his wife to call him to another of her ever artful and inventive suppers. With his feet propped up on the end of his oversized desk and a dram of his finest whiskey in his hand, he sat leaning back in his comfortable overstuffed, blood red leather chair, sipping the contents of his cup, the fine Scottish whiskey burning a happy path down his throat, when a knock sounded at the door.

Da, ’tis Grace. May I come in? she timidly asked through the door.

Aye Grace, of course, he answered, while removing his boots from their newly found comfort and straightening in his chair, his moments of blissful solitude broken. Grace opened the door and walked in wearing a questioning grin. Grace? What are you up to, lass? You have the curious look of your mother on your face that leads me to wonder if you are here to gain approval for something at least one of us will find unsuitable for you. Am I correct? Her father gave her that questioning and scrutinizing expression she knew only too well.

I cannot conceal a solitary bit from you, can I? she asked, as she walked around the chair facing the massive desk before plopping down onto its well-worn cushion, folding her arms in front of her, acutely demonstrating her frustration.

Well, Gracie, now tell me, what is troubling you? Colin asked, leaning forward, scrutinizing, and compassionately delving deeply into her complex and worried gaze.

Da, I wanted you to advise me on how to approach mother on a rather, well, a rather sensitive topic? She cast her eyes down to the stiffly folded hands in her lap, trying not to give away too much too soon.

’Tis a difficult matter then, I assume? Colin asked, suspecting what the question would be that Grace wanted to ask him, once she had revealed it to be sensitive, and so he intentionally did not make it easy for her. He believed that all of his children should never be afraid to feel confidence in their desires and needs, and he also knew that confronting him solidly would ultimately make them stronger. So he held to his plan and waited for her to face her fiercest demons.

Aye, most difficult, Da, she said, looking up apprehensively into her father’s strong face, that now held a hint of sympathetic humor.

Well out with it then, Grace. There is no sense at all in paining yourself over it. He urged her to be forthcoming, already suspecting what her plea would hold.

Grace found her resolve, and by sheer force of will, blurted out, Da, I want to go see Charmaine and John. She paused, waiting for his reaction and then forged ahead. In the future, to Mama’s old home there. She raised her eyes to meet her father’s; afraid anew of what she might see there.

Colin knew there would be no use in raising his voice or becoming angry, or even expressing the sudden fear he felt at such a request. Two of his children had been given the gift of time travel by the Druids, and one of them was Grace. She may well retaliate and use her gift in defiance against his wishes if she so chose, as she was now of an age to do so. So he forced himself to remain calm and drew from his abundant source of well-endowed logic to solve this dilemma. Grace, you already know how I must answer you and how I have always felt about this very thing. As I have always told you and the rest of my children, you must seek your own paths when your destiny calls to you. So then, why come to me at all? he asked, when the light suddenly went on in his head. Ah, I see, you want me to help you with your mother. Colin knew in that instant that his daughter would need approval from his wife, and Mckenna was firm in her resolve about time travel.

Mama will not want me to go, I know it, she responded, rising from her chair and pacing in a circle, worrying her lip with her teeth. You know how she worries over us, she hesitantly implored her father, looking up at him with pleading eyes that were misting over with threatening tears.

Aye, I do, that. And I must tell you that it is a worrisome thought. But, if you were to be chaperoned by your Grandparents, it would only be the time travel that would worry her. Perhaps if you break the pieces apart for her to examine, and give her a day or two, maybe she will come around to agreeing, Colin explained, pacing, while rubbing his chin, an action he often performed that accompanied his thinking process.

Well then, I will try, but Da, if she says no, I still want to go. I am twenty summers now, past old enough to begin my own life, she stated proudly, with sudden confidence and unwavering conviction.

Aye, you are that, lass. But pray, tell me what do you think you will find there? A husband who suits your wild ways, perhaps? As it is clear, no man in this fine land is acceptable to you. Colin’s ire was suddenly lit and rising the more his daughter tried to state her seemingly infallible case. He had already found her request moderately acceptable, but now he was beginning to dissect the enormity of it all. You intend to do this with or without the consent of either of us, do you not? he asked with authority, standing firm, with boots astride, seemingly bolted to the floor, and wearing on his strong face a most intimidating look.

Aye, Da, I do. Her bottom lip quivered and trembled when she spoke those last two words. She adored her parents, and knew that this request would hurt them both immensely, but she felt firm in her decision, and deep in her heart, committed to finding her own destiny and satisfying her inner longings. And in the end, if she failed in the quest she had dreamed of, she would be content to come home and willingly settle on a match presented to her, never again to succumb to the feel and pull of something or someone beckoning to her from another time.

Colin watched his daughter’s face with scrutiny when she spoke those last few words that spelled out her firmly rooted and carefully conceived plan, and he knew, at that moment, nothing he could say would change her mind. His thoughts shifted to his wife, her mother. There would be hell to pay for them both, but it seemed neither of them had a choice, other than to offer their combined and heartfelt support.

Grace?

Aye, Papa?

We will go now and talk to your mother. But before we do, there is one more thing I feel I have to say.

What is it, Papa? She shifted her feet beneath her skirts, waiting for the inevitable and ominous ax to fall.

"You are our firstborn. We near lost you once. It shall be our end if you should not return from this fanciful journey you are intent on taking. You must promise me that no matter what you find there that you will return. No matter for how brief a time. And, you must send word through Alzar that you are safe. I cannot in good conscience allow it otherwise. Do you understand?"

Yes, Papa, I understand. And Papa, I do not want to cause you or Mama any pain. Please believe me, ’tis not about wanting to leave forever. I just need to explore these feelings, these urges for discovery that I am filled with. And ’tis not for a long time that I want to stay there, just a few weeks. Please, Papa, understand that I do not want to leave forever, I just want to take a trip, ‘a vacation’, as Mama used to put it, she implored him, her features brightening, as she tried to break her father’s suddenly sullen mood. She did not, however, mention or explain to him about the voice that called to her in the night, waking her, leaving her heart pounding, a sheen of cold moisture on her skin. She feared her father’s reaction to any possible danger by way of some unforeseen magic, magic with which he was all too familiar.

Colin still stood firmly, but slowly relaxed the muscles in his shoulders, indicating to Grace that he had accepted her wish. Let us be off then, I think your mother is in her garden. Shall we? He gestured by holding his arm out for her, patting her hand when she slid it into place to rest on his forearm.

They walked from the castle, out across the bailey to the garden, and found Mckenna on her knees digging potatoes, strands of her copper hair blowing about her beautiful sun-kissed face. Mckenna heard her husband’s familiar footfalls and turned to see not only her husband but her daughter Grace as well, clenching her father’s arm in anticipating fear. Mckenna noticed immediately the look of anxiety on her daughter’s face, as well as on that of her husband, and that could only mean one thing—Grace had been to see her father first, she wanted something, and badly.

What are you two up to? she asked, straightening and brushing the dirt from her skirts and tucking a spiraling lock of her escaped hair behind her ear. Grace poked her father in the ribs with her elbow, hoping he would lead the discussion. He looked down at Grace’s upturned face and decided to take pity on her as she peered up at him with her pleading, soul-filled eyes.

Mckenna, Grace came to see me a bit ago, to ask my advice on a matter of great concern to her. He stood looking into his wife’s eyes and witnessed the escalating fear rising to the surface of her pupils. Mckenna always knew when an event of this nature was about to take place, ever since her pregnancy with Grace’s younger sister Rowan, when she had, through no wish of her own, gained her newborn’s enhanced intuition.

She drew a calming breath, as Alzar had taught her to do when facing adversity. Well, what is this matter of concern? Do I need a little something to settle my nerves first? she asked them, placing her hands on her hips and looking humorously at Colin and Grace, as though the gesture would break the fear in her heart. Colin smiled at her valiant effort, reaching out to take his wife’s hand, then led them both over to a seat on the garden bench.

Grace you and your mother relax here while I go fetch some honey wine. He strode back into the castle. When his boots hit the stone of the kitchen floor, he turned to look out the long open window to see if Grace was ‘spilling the beans,’ as his wife called it. She was. Colin smiled. His task was complete for the moment.

Grace held her mother’s hand and began to tell her about what she had spoken to her father. Mama, I want to go see Charmaine and John, Grace said with a quavering voice, knowing how her mother would surely react. Mckenna gasped, instant tears surfaced, but she bit back the fear she felt and waited for her daughter to continue. Mama, you know how I feel and how badly I have wanted to go. ‘’Tis time for me, I just feel the need to explore a little. ’Twill not be for long, a few weeks, I promise. And Da said Alzar will help me, so I will be safe. Grace searched her mother’s eyes and sudden mood change, breathing rather shallowly herself while waiting and desperately hoping for her mother’s approval.

Mckenna clenched her hands and said a silent prayer while gazing at the universe above, gathering together her resolve, and then took her daughter’s hands and looked her square in the eye. You know how I feel Gracie, I cannot in good conscience give my consent to your request.

Grace’s hopes were dashed with her mother’s first sentence, and she released her hands and scooted back, turning her crestfallen face toward the ground. Grace? Mckenna drew her daughter’s down turned face upwards and looked into her eyes. I have not finished, dear. I was going to say, that I also know that you will go on your own no matter what I say to you. Oh Grace, you are so much like me in spirit, so you see, my love, I cannot blame you for your desires. And I am afraid that I always knew this day would come, and I also knew it would be soon. And so, since you have made your decision, there is nothing I can do to interfere, or to change your mind. I just hope you have considered all the dangers. I am not worried so much about your going, as I am the travel itself, and you know well why. Her mother explained again to her, as she had done so many times in the past, in vivid detail, about their family’s travel back from the future after Grace was finally cured of the ague, when she was but a babe of one year, stressing the part about the danger and the unexpected trouble Alzar had experienced upon reentry.

Aye, I remember, Mama. But you too must remember, I can go at will, the Druids would not have marked me if it were not so. And Alzar will go with me, most likely, Grace blurted out, hoping Alzar would consider making the trip once she asked it of him, very nicely of course.

Did Alzar say he would take you? Mckenna felt a ray of hope surge through her beaten spirit.

Nay, not yet, I have not yet asked him, Grace admitted.

And what if he does not agree?

I do not know, but I still want to go. Grace thought on what her mother had said a bit longer, wondering if Alzar would possibly refuse her request.

Oh Gracie, please at least let your father and I help you, if you really feel you have to do this. Mckenna urged her to be forthcoming with her plans when the time came.

I will, Mama, I promise. I will go to see Alzar tomorrow and ask if he will agree to accompany me. Would you like to come?

Let me sleep on it Grace. Alright? Mckenna’s voice had become wistful. She had always known this day would come, but had always hoped it could have somehow been avoided.

Alright, Mama, I love you.

I love you too, my dearest girl, Mckenna said, tenderly. Grace threw her arms around her mother in thanks and appreciation for her constant love and wisdom.

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Before dawn, Grace was already out of bed and readying herself for travel. She could go to see Alzar in an instant, and she had gone to the mountain many times before to see her sister Rowan by way of the magic gifted her. But this time she had to think of a good plan to convince Alzar to accompany her on this journey through time so that her mother would not be overcome with worry.

Grace went to Liam’s room to wake him and hopefully convince him to accompany her for an early ride through the hills to bide her time, knowing Alzar was not an early riser. She approached her brother’s bed, leaning over and glancing at his sleep shrouded, smiling face, and grabbed his shoulder.

Liam, are you awake? she asked, vigorously shaking his quilt-covered shoulder until he stirred from his happy slumber.

Aye, now, he uttered, half sitting up, braced by one arm, with one eye open, obviously irritated and reluctant at having to leave behind his rather vivid, enticing and carnally pleasing dream. What is amiss, Grace? he asked irritably, still hoping to return to his reverie.

Nothing is wrong, I just want you to ride with me this morning.

At this hour Grace? Are you daft? he grumbled, before turning over, burrowing back beneath his quilt.

Nay, Liam, I am not daft, I simply cannot sleep. And ’tis not that early, nearly six, we should be well up by now. Come with me, Liam, please? she begged.

Alright, Grace! Go then, wait for me in the stables. I will be along shortly. Liam dressed haphazardly, and reluctantly went to meet his sister for her morning ride while thinking ‘she must have a heavy mind full of woes to drag him from his bed this early, to ride no less. Well, he was her brother, isn’t that what brothers do?’

Brother and Sister waited while the sleepy stable boy, also jarred from his rest, saddled their mounts, and then they were off, riding the hills with speed and abandon.

On the way back to the castle, after riding all the way to the Loch Tay, and once his sisters nervous energy had been spent, they walked beside one another, leading their horses through the waist high grass. Liam bent and picked a long chute of the tender grass and began to chew on it. What ails you, Grace? he asked, looking curiously at her, and feeling a bit regretful at having been so irritated when she woke him.

I am going to the future, Liam. I needed to clear my head before I speak with Alzar, and your company always calms me. Thank you for coming along this morning. She looked at him, smiling, while she rubbed her mount’s neck, finally feeling herself relax for the first time in weeks.

Ah I see, so it really was urgent then. Well, are you sure ’tis what you want? he asked, hoping to gain more insight on why she was so insistent on going.

Aye, I have thought of little else for the past five years, and now that I am of age, I am compelled to go. I must follow my heart. Something there is calling to me somehow. I do not know why, but whatever it is, it calls my name in the night, and Mama’s old house is always in the vision I see in my dreams. Does that sound crazy? she asked a bit woefully.

Aye, but ’tis your mind you must appease, not mine.

Oh Liam, you are so logical, always saying the right things, and you have always understood me. You are right, ’tis my own mind I must appease, and so I shall.

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Mckenna and Colin decided to go along with Grace when she visited Alzar and asked humbly for his assistance and company on her journey. Mckenna was hoping to convince Alzar herself to see her daughter safely through the travel before she collapsed from worry.

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To travel to Alzar’s mountain, the three used the circle in the chapel that the wizard had drawn behind the altar, as they had done many times before when the need arose. They stepped inside the circle, joined hands and closed their eyes, picturing themselves on the mountain, in front of Alzar’s elaborate cave. And in a whisper of time they were there, appearing in plain view on the plateau above the wizard’s magical dwelling.

The wizard, Alzar, was upstairs in his loft, mixing some apparently potent potions, judging from the smoke rising up under his nose and the sudden blurriness in his vision, when he felt the approach of his extended family. Leaving his overly smoky and pungent room to air out, he hurried downstairs and opened his door to greet them. He knew of course, already, why they had come. "Greetings, Mckenna,