“Nor should she.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead. “’Tis her celebration as well, after all.”
Where he thought Greer was the epitome of all things good, he realized God could bring him even more goodness with his daughter. With something so precious, there was no longer room for his demons. No longer room for his past. Only his future.
Where Fionna and Keenan had merged their households, Fionna was still as much in charge as his brother, standing side by side with him in all things. Isabella had since joined ranks with the head cook and regularly served fare that kept them all very happy. As he knew would be the case, Malcolm’s eyes never strayed, the deep love he and his wife shared the envy of many a young romantic
As to Greer, she and Fulbert had seen a new chapel built so that their people might have somewhere to worship and keep the faith. When not busy seeing to that, one could often find her by Ada and Mórag’s side, in front of a fire spinning tales for the wee bairns.
Between their renewed affiliation with the Campbells and Isabella and Greer’s dowries, they’d been able to truly begin rebuilding their clan. Thick tapestries now lined the castle walls, and though rushes still lay by the front door, carpets adorned the floors everywhere else. Furnishings were made, and crop seeds sewn. More defenses were built and cottages added. Their stables were filling with horses and their armory with new blades.
“Hold your positions,” Edmund declared, as though leading a charge. “We are almost there!” He stomped through the forest with a bunch of children. Malcolm’s son was on his left shoulder and Keenan’s daughter on his right. Ada’s Duncan led the charge with a wooden sword and her Besse, a wooden dagger.
“Och, ye’ve still a long way to go, Sassenach,” Ada countered. She cooed at her and Edmund’s wee son swaddled in her arms with his shock of red hair. “But ye’re getting closer.”
“Bloody hell right, we are, wife.” He winked at Dougal and Julianna, who pulled their hands apart when they realized Cecille followed. “’Tis just a matter of keeping an eye to our surroundings when the enemy approaches.”
“Language,” Dougal warned, winking at Edmund in return. “For ye are always being watched.”
“That’s right.” Ada gave Edmund a look, then a small smile just for him. “And heard.”
“Indeed,” Cecille agreed as she and Phillip joined them. She narrowed her eyes at Julianna and Dougal before she smiled at Teagan and his brothers. “We heard there might be a celebration out this way.”
Keenan shook his head and eyed his brothers. “Ye talk too much.”
Fionna nudged him. “As do ye, husband.”
“I think ye all do,” Aunt Mórag said, joining them as well. She’d come out of her seclusion entirely now and apprenticed other healers. No longer the haughty, self-important aunt from their childhood, she was now known as the healing witch of their clan. Accepted for her odd ways, even by the God-fearing folk.
Keenan eyed the lot of them. “Is that everyone then?”
“Almost,” Nessa called out. She and Tavish headed their way with their wee lassie, who insisted on toddling along rather than being carried. “We’ve a stubborn daughter, we do.”
“As do we a stubborn son,” Rona called out from behind them as she and Colmac’s son toddled right after his cousin.
“Almost there,” Colmac assured them, grinning at his boy the whole way.
“Well, then,” Keenan finally said. He shook his head with amusement at the bairns trying to over-talk each other as he made his toast to his brothers and their much-increased family. He raised his skin and smiled, looking from Fionna and their children to his brothers. “Here’s to getting far more than we bargained for when we made our pact.”
“Aye.” Malcolm pulled Isabella close and rested his hand on her slightly swollen stomach. “Everything we never knew we needed.”
“Without a doubt.” Teagan pulled Greer and their wee one close as well. “The verra best life has to offer.”
“Here’s to that!” Aunt Mórag agreed.
They all raised their skins and toasted a pact that changed life as they knew it. That wiped away the years of suffering, illness, and warfare, letting each and every one of them move on.
To find love.
Happiness.
A much-needed start to a happy new life.
In the end, their Highlander’s pact wasn’t one made by scoundrels, but by the men they were supposed to be. The past they were meant to leave behind. The future they were destined to embrace. Most importantly, though, the women and children that made it all possible, giving them far more than wealth ever could.
About the Author
Sky Purington is the bestselling author of over fifty novels and novellas. A New Englander born and bred who recently moved to Virginia, Purington married her hero, has an amazing son who inspires her daily and two ultra-lovable husky shepherd mixes. Passionate for variety, Sky's vivid imagination spans several romance genres, including historical, time travel, paranormal, and fantasy. Expect steamy stories teeming with protective alpha heroes and strong-minded heroines.
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