Chapter 123: 3

His body landing in an unnatural mess of limbs upon the cold wet sand below, within seconds Jamie could see a small pool of red forming around the disfigured body. Only to grow and trail down the wet sand as the tide came forward and began its slow determined tug on his corpse. “Is he dead?” Nan asked, her voice a hallow whisper Jamie had almost missed, just like he had missed the second her arms had wrapped around him, pulling him back from the edge so he too would not go falling from its edge as Eli had. “Don’t much see how he couldn’t be.” Jamie replied with a casualness that belied what he had just done. Thought it was hard for either to feel any sort of guilt for the man that now lay dead and broken on the beach below. --- 10 Years Later Spring flowers filled the golden fielded as a dark haired little girl sat humming to herself weaving a daisy crown with her tiny fingers, the wind wafting through her dark waves like an angle’s gentle caress. “Sarah!” a man called, his voice gaining in strength as he rode closer. Jumping to ground though his horse had barely come to a stop, and he ran toward the little girl who quickly jumped to her feet. Bouncing up and down with gleeful laughter as she wrapped her outstretched arms about her brother’s neck, hugging him tightly as he spun her about in his arms. “You’re back. You’re back.” She squealed. “What did you bring me?” she asked once he had set her back on her feet, staring up at her brother with happy expectant eyes. “What did I bring you?” He repeated, glaring down halfheartedly at his little sister. “Are you saying I’m not enough of a gift? My, your dear brother’s, safe return, is not a gift?” He scoffed. Gapping openly at the cheeky little girl as she zealously shook her head back and forth. “No, definitely not.” She stated. Then smiled and took off running for the house. --- Sarah burst into her father’s study with a gleeful scream for him to save her as she ran to his side, hiding behind his chair. Fits of giggles escaping her lips as only seconds later her brother came in after her, coming up short at the sight of his father’s arched brow and folded arms. “Tell me Lieutenant Horton, what would your shipmates think of you chasing about a girl half your age?” William remarked with a questioning glare. Making the perfect show of the overbearing scolding father for his dear little girl, as he held his gaze on the youth standing in full uniform before him. “I imagined they’d think she was my cheeky little sister, and in need of a well deserved lesson in manners.” Jamie replied with ease, facing his William with much the same expression as he straightened his uniform, breath invisible lint from the sleeves. “Is that right?” William queried looking to his daughter with yet another questioning glare, though this had little to do with questioning as he could already see the mischief gleaming in his sweet little girl’s eyes as she began to back away from her father’s seat. Her smile growing wider as her eyes moved between the two men staring at her like two hungry cats preparing to pounce on a baby rabbit. With yet another squeal the girl ran from the room managing to avoid the clutches of either men, though they gave little effort in trying to catch the child. “Oh dear God! Sarah stop running before you break your leg!” Nan’s snapped, her voice sounding only feet from the door, matching the irritated look she wore as she entered the room, glaring back down the hall at her spirited daughter. “William you said you’d talk to… Jamie!” Nan beamed, all previous annoyance with her daughter replaced with a glowing smile at the sight of her eldest son, standing before her. “Hello Mama.” Jamie’s smiling face mirroring her own as he stepped forward to hug and kiss her. “Oh you look wonderful my love. When did you get back?” she questioned, cupping his face between her hands as she stared up into his handsome face. “Just now.” He replied. “Though I received Papa’s letter only last week.” Jamie nodded to William, as he took his mother’s hand. “Had Captain De’Mont not arranged for my leave I would still be at sea. So where is my little brother?” Jamie asked, eager to meet his newest sibling, which including him, Sarah, John and now little Nate put four children to the Horton name. “He should be sleeping, but I’ll take you in to see him anyway.” Nan stated, taking Jamie’s hand as she tugged him out of the study and towards the stairs. “He’s so utterly adorable.” Nan said with a prideful smile as she pulled Jamie along. Ten years, and this was what he had gained. From a scornful bitter disfigured man, to a man so in love with his wife and children sometimes he wondered if he had died in some drunken barrel and this was what Heaven had given him to make up for his pain. Though the thought made him laugh as he knew always he was far from deserving of such, yet somehow he knew that heaven should he ever reach it, would pale in comparison to his life with his dark Angel and all she had gifted him with. All he sought everyday to return to her in kind. “William,” Nan spoke, popping her head back into his study. “Well, come on.” She ordered, waving for him to get up. “He’s your son too, I’m not going to introduce him alone.” She stated, marching over to his desk, taking his hand as she dragged him up from his desk and over to the door. THE END