He glanced down at her loose sash. "Where is your brooch?"
"I left it at Raeglen Castle. I don't want to be transported to the future if I happen to touch your sword."
Saints! Unable to believe how blessed he was, he pulled her into a fierce embrace. "I love you so much, beautiful lass."
"But I love you more, devilish Highlander."
Epilogue
Aweek later, Dani and Gavin sat in the midst of their crowded wedding feast, underway in Caithmore Castle's great hall. Music, dancing, and merrymaking echoed around them.
Busy clan life had interrupted their honeymoon, but Dani had never been happier. She'd enjoyed meeting all the returning clan members. Lots of happy faces and laughter had surrounded her all week as they made repairs to the castle and curtain wall.
Dani hadn't expected so many wedding gifts. She untied a silken ribbon from the plaid cloth wrapping and discovered a hand-bound book. "Oh my gosh! Scottish Folktales." The same one her father had in his collection.
This manuscript had to be a different copy, didn't it? Of course, it looked far newer, but many things about it were identical to the one she'd paged through with reverence as a child. It contained the same hand-drawn pictures and the same imperfections. Chills coursed over her.
Noticing Gavin engaged in conversation with one of the other men, she slipped away to the small, quiet library at the back of the great hall. This manuscript was her sole link to her modern-day family, the one she would probably never see again.
She held it close to her heart as she relived the memory of her father reading it to her.
"I miss you, Dad."
Could she send him a message? It would be far slower than a text message; it would take four hundred years to reach him. She opened the book to the blank back page and lay it on the table. She sat in the chair and dipped a quill into the inkwell. When she touched the nib to the page it made a huge spot.
"Argh! I'll never learn to write with these things."
Trying again, she wrote:
Dear Mom, Dad, and Gracie, if you find this note and understand it, that means you remember me. I have traveled back in time to 1630 Scotland. I live with my new husband, Gavin MacTavish. I've found the love of a lifetime with him, and I couldn't live without him. Please know I'm well and happier than ever. I love all of you, and I'll miss you forever.
Hugs and love,
Danielle MacRae MacTavish.
"What are you doing?" Gavin sauntered into the room. "The clan is wondering where their beautiful lady slipped off to."
She glanced up into his gorgeous face, realizing yet again how much she treasured him. "But you weren't?" she teased.
"Aye, I was. I see you like the book my father gave you."
"Your father?"
"He wanted to give it to you because he so enjoyed when you read to him during his illness. But you only had a dry history book. This manuscript is more entertaining."
"Yes, it is. I love it!"
"He says you can read it to his grandchildren." Gavin winked.
She grinned, imagining how much she would enjoy that. "I will when they come along."
Gavin peered at the book. "What are you scribing?"
Self-conscious, she lifted the top corner of the page. "Um, just a note. It isn't dry yet."
Circling behind her, he leaned down, peered over her shoulder, and read it. Well, she couldn't hide the note from him, didn't want to, really. She would no longer hide anything from him.
Gavin's gaze lingered near the bottom of the page. Swallowing hard, he lifted his gaze to hers, then straightened.
