Outside the chamber, all throughout the scullery and tavern, voices rose with huzzahs and shouts of “slàinte mhath!” It took Callum a full moment to realize they weren’t shouting hallelujahs for him… The clock must have struck twelve.
The first day of Hogmanay.
The first day of the rest of his life.
“Happy New Year, missus MacKinnon,” he said with a grin.
“Happy New Year,” she cooed.
Epilogue
One year later…
Callum MacKinnon cornered his wife at the top of the stairs, sweeping her into an embrace to keep her from going down to corral the children—not their own as yet, though he longed to hold a wee one in his arms, a sweet little girl, like her mother… with darling little freckles on her nose, a mischievous little grin more like his own, and an irrefutable sass she would come by honestly through both her parents.
“Callum,” she protested. “First footing will be upon soon… there’s still so much so do.” He loved that she was developing the barest hint of a brogue.
Together a full year this Hogmanay, he wanted to celebrate a wee moment just the two of them. Alice, their housemaid, along with Mrs. Grace to supervise her, was already well on the way to supplying the entire village with black buns. All he wanted from his lovely wife was two minutes alone to reveal his gift for her—his mother’s wedding band, hers to keep as the lady of Dunmore. “The neighbors can wait,” he said silkily, dragging her back into his arms when she tried to flee. “I’ve something tae give you, my beautiful wife.”
Her brows lifted, her attention piqued. They were still in the process of rebuilding Dunmore and their funds were tight as ticks on a dog in winter.
“A gift?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Aye, but dinna be so surprised, mo chroí.” The use of his Gaelic tongue still wasn’t entirely safe, but he had nothing to hide from his wife. “First I should ask… do ye mean to leave?”
Her brows drew together in confusion. “Leave?”
“Me,” he said, hitching his chin at her wrist, at the slip of ribbon she still wore hidden beneath her sleeve, knowing the answer before she gave it.
She squeezed him lovingly, lifting herself up on tippy toes to press her warm lips against his. “No, I’m afraid not, my love; you’re stuck with me.”
“Ach, then,” he said, with feigned disappointment. “In that case…” He fished a small box out of his pocket to hand it to her.
With blooming cheeks and wide blue eyes she accepted it, making short work of the ribbons, opening it to reveal a simple braided band—a silver ring that had been in his family’s possession since his ancestor, Iain MacKinnon had it fashioned for his wife to present to her on her sixtieth birthday.
“Oh, my… it’s beautiful,” she said, fingering the ring, with its delicate etchings—fine Celtic knots. And then she slid the ring on her finger, and lifted her hand to better inspect it.
“It belonged to my mother,” explained Callum. “And her mother before her. I wanted ye to have it.”
“Thank you,” she said, looking up at him with such love that it squeezed at his heart. “I—”
Something exploded, and there was an inexplicable clatter belowstairs in the general vicinity of the drawing room. Nothing good, Callum thought as he released his wife, and ran down the stairs to find what had transpired.
Elizabeth arrived only seconds behind him.
Lachlan and Rory stood facing the door, with their backs to a smoking hearth. Their faces were blackened with soot, only their wide eyes visible through smoke and ash.
The acrid scent of chemicals wafted from the room.
Elizabeth blinked, staring aghast at the boys—the young man she’d very nearly wed, and thanked God every day she had not. At Sixteen, Lachlan MacKinnon was no more a man than he was on the day they’d met. All four MacKinnon boys were present and staring at their eldest brother. “It was Lachlan’s fault,” claimed twelve-year old Rory.
“We wanted the fire tae be blue,” explained five-year old Ailbert, with such a sober look that Elizabeth wanted to laugh.
And Fergus, at nine, had little to say. He simply pointed at Lachlan, and, Elizabeth couldn’t help it. Although she was grateful that Maggie was in the kitchen with Alice, most likely poking at black buns, she did stifle a laugh.
“All o’ ye, out!” demanded Callum. “Get yourselves clean!”
He needn’t have said it twice. Like rats, the younger boys fled all together, the only answering sound the patter of their feet as they rushed into the hall, and rumbled up the stairs.
Only Lachlan sauntered by slowly, casting a glinting glance at Elizabeth, and giving her a conspiratorial wink before turning to his brother to say, “I’m sorry, Callum. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Nay ye werena’,” agreed Callum. “What do ye think Isobel Percy might say if I told her what ye did here today?”
He shrugged. “I think she would laugh.”
Callum smacked his brother on the back of the head as he passed by. “Aye, well, I can well assure ye her Da wadna, and if ye e’er hope to ask for the girl’s hand, ye’d better be thinking twice before ye lead your brothers astray.”
“Yes, sir,” said Lachlan, with a sheepish grin, and Elizabeth patted him gently on the shoulder as he passed, and said, still smiling, “There’s a clean set of clothes on your bed, Lachlan. Isobel and her parents should be here soon. Go wash yourself quick.”
“Yes ma’am,” he said, with a fond smile.
Once Lachlan was gone, Elizabeth embraced her husband, squeezing him tight. And then she lifted her ring finger again, and whispered for his ears alone, “Remind me to thank you properly once our guests have come and gone.”
“Ach, lass,” he said. “That’s a promise that requires a toast.” And with that, he lifted his wife up to sip from the delicate cup of her mouth, drinking deeply of her love.
Are you hoping this isn’t the end? Stay tuned for a brand new historical romance series. To make sure you don’t miss any news, please join my newsletter. [https://www.tanyaannecrosby.com/subscribe]
Did you enjoy this story?
One Knight’s Stand was part of a very special anthology titled A Very Highland Holiday. That collection is no longer available, but you can buy the books separately.
The Earl in Winter
by Kathryn Le Veque
Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders
by Jennifer Ashley
The Earl of Christmas Past
by Kerrigan Byrne
The Legend of a Rogue
By Darcy Burke
The Highlander Who Stole Christmas
By Eliza Knight
Also by Tanya Anne Crosby
Coming Soon
A Brand New Series
One Knight Forever Series
One Knight’s Stand
Daughters of Avalon
The King’s Favorite
The Holly & the Ivy
A Winter’s Rose