Read Love Beyond Dreams (A Scottish Time Travel Romance): Book 6 (Morna's Legacy Series) for Free Online

know his way around the castle.  
    “Okay, do you want to lead the way, or should I?”
    He looked at me like I’d asked him a trick question and, in a way, I had. I wanted to see if he would take charge. If he did, I planned to press him further about their history with the place. He was whip smart though, and instead held out a hand in front of him as he turned on his flashlight and illuminated a path for me.  
    “Me? This isn’t my castle. Why don’t you go ahead? I’ll follow you.”

    *   *   *

    With so many people staying in the castle at the present moment, we found that there were a good many rooms that we couldn’t wander into during this time of morning. Still, Cooper seemed to enjoy the parts of the castle that we did see and, even when I went into explaining the exact work that we’d done—conversation that should’ve been way over his head—he paid attention.  
    Our last stop was the tower. Since it was separated from most of the other rooms, I didn’t hesitate to light up the stairwell leading to it with the modern lighting. As soon as I flipped the switch, Cooper spoke.  
    “Oh man, that sure helps a lot. I wonder if that had been here the last time I was here, if Isobel would’ve fallen.”
    “Who’s Isobel?”
    Cooper smiled and surprised me by reaching for my hand as we started to walk up the stairs. I didn’t know if he offered it for my own benefit or his, but I took it without question.  
    “Oh, she’s a good friend, and she’s sort of my boss.”
    “Your boss? You have a job?”
    “Not a real job. I don’t get paid money. It’s sort of a work for sweets situation. I go each day, even when my Aunt Jane is away with Adwen. Ever since I turned six, my parents started letting me ride alone as long as they watch me until I get there. Anyway, I go every day for just a few hours and help her with some chores and, before I leave, she always gives me something sweet.”
    I laughed and let loose of his hand when we reached the top landing, speaking to him as I walked to turn on the light in the tower. “Well that sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Do you ever…”
    I stopped mid-sentence when I turned to see the way he looked at the painting sitting in the middle of the room—still on its easel, freshly painted and perfect. The child turned white as a ghost, and his lower lip trembled as he looked at it and backed himself up against the wall.  
    He didn’t look frightened, only shocked and confused. When he finally managed the strength to speak, his voice was shaky and breathless as he lifted one little finger to point at my stranger.  
    “Who is that?”
    I watched him carefully. He looked so shaken. I didn’t want to upset him by anything I said. Before answering, I approached him slowly. When I stood next to him, I bent to lower myself to his level.  
    “The man in the painting? I don’t know who he is.”
    Cooper waited and finally he pulled his gaze away from the painting as he turned to face me. His eyes were brimming with tears that were about to fall, and I found myself reaching for him as I pulled him in close.  
    “Cooper, what’s the matter? Do you want me to take it down? I can cover it with something if it will make you feel better. Is it frightening to you?”
    “No.”  
    There was a panic in his voice as he answered, a certainty that told me the last thing he wanted me to do was cover it.  
    “No, don’t take it away. I love it. It just…it just surprised me real bad is all.”
    He lifted himself off my shoulder but kept hold of my hand with one of his own while he reached into one of his pockets with the other.  
    “I can see that. Why did it surprise you? Do you know who this is?”
    He nodded and held out a small, smooth wooden chip. I took it and looked down in astonishment.  
    It was my stranger, the man I’d painted, carved with remarkable detail into the wood.
    “Yes. I know who it is. It’s Orick.”  
    So many months of wondering