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“In the summer, I will take you swimming here. I will teach our children to swim here,” he says, placing his hand over my belly. “My child may yet grow here.”
“I ken. I want that,” I assure him. He pulls me closer to him by my waist until my still-covered nipples are rubbing against his tunic-covered solid chest.
“I ken that ye do. Ye allow me to touch you, to spend my seed inside ye whenever I wish to, which is all the damn time. Ye are my perfect mate. I love ye, lass. Marry me in the church as soon as we reach Leydfrod.”
“I love ye too, Culloden. So much. In my heart, I am your wife, but I would be happy to marry you in the eyes of the church. God has already blessed us so much; we should share that with our family.”
“Agreed,” he growls, and then his lips are on mine, and nothing else matters. Not the cold, not the snow that is well past my ankles, or the fact that we are outdoors. All that matters is us. His fingers find themselves under my dress until they are inside me, but it is not enough. It will ne’er be enough.
“More,” I moan, and immediately he moves me over until my back is against a tree. He drops his kilt to the ground and lifts my legs, wrapping them around his waist. My skirt is raised, and then he is inside of me. Blessedly. Savagely. In and out, he thrusts, my back hitting the tree's rough bark each time he does so. I feel like everything inside me is on fire and will never be doused. My hand's fist in his longish hair as I hold on for dear life as he owns me.
I scream my release, his name always on my lips, as he fills me with his seed once again.
I ken now that I cannae and willnae live without him. I would die. Our love is everything I ever dreamed I would have and ne’er thought I would actually get.
“Sister!” Islay shouts as we enter the castle through the gate. They must have a watch that spotted us coming up. In quick succession, Culloden has me down off of the horse, and I run toward her like a hoyden instead of the lady I am.
“Islay!” I shout, gathering her up in a huge hug.
“I am so glad to see you,” she says. “So much has happened.”
“For me too. I am married now.”
“To Culloden?”
“Of course. He is everything to me.”
“His brother is everything to me as well. We are wed as well.”
“Everything has worked out well then, as it should have. I am sure Papa would be happy with these changes. He was an understanding man.”
“I agree. Come. I’ll show you to Culloden’s rooms. I am sure you’ll want to rest and maybe have a hot bath. You have leaves and tree bark in your hair.” I reach up and feel the offending things in my hair.
“Oh, my.”
“I understand, sister. Ye will bathe, and we can talk.”
“I have missed ye,” I tell her.
“I have missed ye as well, but I am not sorry that I came here. I was meant to be lady of this keep. I ken that now.”
“All is well, Islay. We can be happy.”
“I already am,” she says, smiling as she takes my hand and leads me down the corridor to a thick door.
“Me too. More than I ever thought I could be.”
God works in mysterious ways.
EPILOGUE
CULLODEN
One Year Later
“Hamish Culloden James Brodie Stewart,” I shout, holding up my newborn son to all those assembled in the great hall of Cadleigh Keep. Daracha did so well bringing him into the world. She’s a warrior. She should be resting, but she insisted that she was well enough to venture into the hall for supper. I held her hand while she labored; she insisted, and who was I to deny her? I lead her to the high table holding her hand. Crooked in the elbow of my other arm is Hamish, who is sleeping soundly.
King Alaric has blessed our little corner of the Highlands. My former soldiers, Tavish MacKinnon, Graham MacMurray, Tague MacGregor, Malcolm Alasdair, Connall Alasdair, and Egan Scott, have all been granted lands either forfeited to the crown for misdeeds or abandoned ones. Currently, at our table is Graham. He is seeking Daracha’s assistance in finding a wife, as he has been a soldier his entire life. The only ladies he knows are Islay and Daracha.
I continue to hold my son while I eat, a new challenge I relish. I look over at my wife, who is talking animatedly with Graham, and realize that my life is finally exactly the way that I want it. Gone is the savage man who killed so many people; a husband and father replaced him.
