“My grandfather said he’d tend it. Besides, I’ll build ye another one.”
“Aye, ye will, so dunna think leaving my birdhouse will keep me from going with ye.”
“I never thought that.”
“But ye’re trying tae talk me out of going.”
Cam smiled faintly. It was a touchy subject with her because he was concerned about traveling with a pregnant woman. He had promised to return to the Ludus Caledonia to finish his training and become a trainer himself, and he intended to fulfill that promise and he wasn’t going without Isadora. It was a future for him and for his wife, a chance for them to establish a life and legacy of their own.
They were looking forward to becoming part of the world of The Cal and then perhaps returning to Auchnacree at some point. But he’d thought to postpone until after the birth of their child and she wouldn’t hear of it.
She wasn’t going to let him delay his future.
“I’m not trying tae convince ye tae stay behind because I would never go without ye,” he said, coming up behind her andwrapping her up in his big arms. “All I’m suggesting is that we wait until the wee bairn is born and go when he’s old enough tae travel.”
Isadora collapsed against him, drawing on his strength. They were so symbiotic in their relationship that she couldn’t remember when she’d been without him. It seemed as if they’d always been of one heart, one mind.
But she wasn’t going to let him sweet-talk her out of this, as he was so adept at doing.
“We’ll go now,” she said firmly. “I know ye’ve been anxious tae go. Ternan Lindsay has kept good on his promise and our lives have been peaceful, which means ye have nothing tae do here. Ye came tae Auchnacree as a warrior and ye’ve served yer purpose. I willna see ye languish for the winter and be useless.”
There was something to that and Cam nodded reluctantly. “Mayhap ye’re right,” he admitted. “I have a horse and a weapon tae return tae Clegg, as he was kind enough tae loan both tae me. But mostly, I’m looking forward tae seeing my friends again, especially Galan. I’ve missed the dolt.”
“Then we must return right away.”
There was no deterring her and Cam kissed her on the side of her head before releasing her. “As ye wish,” he said, returning to his satchel. “But just know I’ll not let ye push me around like this all the time.”
“Who says? I’ve been doing it since before we were married.”
He snarled at her, but it was good-natured. “Ye’re a brash woman, my bonny lass.”
“And ye married me knowing full well that I was.”
“Then I must like a brash woman.”
Isadora giggled as she continued with her packing. “It’s hard tae believe how things have changed for us,” she said reflectively. “It seems like another world since ye came tae Auchnacree andsince the Lindsay has welcomed us. Sometimes I have difficulty believing everything that has happened.”
Cam sat down on the bed. “For me, also,” he said. “My life has changed more than I ever believed possible. Now, I return tae The Cal tae resume my training and become a teacher myself. Before the destruction of Netherton, I couldna imagine such a thing. I feel like…”
“A different man?”
“Aye. Completely different.”
She looked up from her satchel. “Ye’re not the same man I met in the vale, the meek smithy who wasn’t a warrior. I loved him, but I love more the man ye’ve become. Ye’re strong and confident and wise. Ye’ll make an excellent father tae our children.”
Cam reached out and took her hand, bringing her fingers to his lips for a kiss. “The smithy is part of my past. It was a very big part, but in losing him, I found a new purpose. My life is better than I could ever have imagined.”
She paused in her packing, standing between his legs as he sat on the bed. Arms around his neck, she looked at the man who had become her sun and her moon.
He was her everything.
A knock on the door distracted them and Cam, frustrated that he’d been deterred from a sweet moment with his wife, went to the panel and shoved it open to see a collection of people standing there. Surprised, he opened the door wider as Isadora came to stand next to him.
Niall, Ewan, Ossian, Nikolaus, and, most surprisingly, Clova were gathered in the coming twilight. The old woman was leaning heavily Nikolaus and her ever-present burning weeds were gone. She’d given up the habit the day Nikolaus had returned to her.
But she was still a bit eccentric, which only added to her character. Not an hour earlier, she’d been in her bed, announcing the approach of death. Cam and Isadora looked at her, and at Niall, with some astonishment.
“God’s Bones,” Cam said with a straight face. “The Lazaruses have arisen.”
