Keegan waited for her at the front, near the altar. She focused on his smiling sky-blue eyes, shining with love and happiness, as she made her way toward him.
They repeated the vows they’d already said to each other in private days before. If possible, Seona meant the words even more now. Her love for Keegan grew each day.
When the ceremony was over, the minister announced they were man and wife. Keegan placed a quick kiss upon her lips and rushed her out the door. His friends followed, and once they’d exited the church, let loose shrill whistles and made raucous and bawdy comments.
Keegan glanced back, then dragged Seona behind a thick yew bush where he promptly kissed her senseless.
∞∞∞
A week later, relief flowed through Keegan when they topped a very tall hill and spied Teasairg Castle in the distance. The sun hung low in the sky, casting vivid yellow, orange and pink across the horizon and the loch.
“What a beautiful sunset,” Seona said, riding pillion. Although she had her own horse, he wanted her as close as possible in the event Haldane attacked again. And he was simply addicted to the feel of her body against his.
“Aye,” he agreed. “But not as beautiful as you.”
“You are naught but a charmer,” she chided, playfully smacking his arm.
He grinned and twisted around for a kiss. He savored her sweet lips, wanting to drag her onto his lap.
“We’ll arrive at Teasairg soon enough and you two can take a private room,” Fraser said.
Talia, riding a separate horse behind his, blushed.
“Do you think your brother will allow us to honeymoon there?” Keegan asked.
Fraser snorted. “’Haps. So long as you don’t flaunt your marital bliss too much.”
MacMillan rode by, Lady Patience behind him. They had secretly married just a few hours after Seona and Keegan. And he was glad to see the lady no longer glared at him. In fact, she had taken on the unusual habit of smiling at everyone. He supposed MacMillan deserved the credit for that. Keegan still didn’t trust her, but he hoped she’d truly changed.
He guided his horse forward, wanting to arrive and see how Dirk fared, not to mention eating and taking Seona to bed. Not that he preferred eating food to bedding her, but he would need his strength. He grinned, imagining all the delicious, naughty things he would do to her. They’d had very little private time over the past week and he looked forward to much more.
An hour later, they neared the castle gates. Once the guards recognized Dermott and Fraser at the forefront of their party, they raised the portcullis.
Horses’ hooves clomped across the thick wooden boards of the long bridge that led out to the small island where the castle sat.
Guards and groomsmen greeted them in the walled courtyard. Keegan dismounted and lifted Seona down. The smile she gifted him with inspired him to give her another quick kiss.
“What the devil is going on here?”
Keegan turned at the familiar voice and watched Dirk approaching with a grin, hardly a limp in his step.
“Cousin.” Keegan took Dirk’s forearm in a warrior handshake. “Are you well?”
“Aye. My leg is mended and only a wee bit of soreness remains.”
“Thanks be to God,” Seona said.
“Chief, I’d like you to meet my wife,” Keegan said proudly, his arm around Seona’s shoulders.
Dirk’s smile grew wider and he bowed. “I’m more than happy to welcome you to the clan, m’lady.” He shook Keegan’s hand again and gave him a back-slapping embrace. “’Twas what I washoping to hear. But how could it be anything else since you brought her back, aye? Isobel will be happy to hear this news as well.”
“I’ll go find her.” Seona rushed up the steps and inside, Talia following.
Rebbie strode forward and greeted Dirk.
“What of Chief Murray?” Dirk asked.
“Dead,” Rebbie said.
