“Aye.” Lach swung down. “I have others on their way to help, but before they arrive, I wanted to speak to you alone.”
Cam came to stand next to him, knowing it must be important.
When he’d returned home with his wife and child, he’d made the difficult decision to give up the duty of war chief, handing over the position to Bryce. While Cam would gladly raise his sword in defense of his clan, he didn’t want to be on the front lines any longer. He had too much to live for.
Bryce had been happy to take over the duty, not having anyone at home to worry over him. Nor ever wanting another family.
After drawing up the plans for his home, Cam had been commissioned to draw up other plans as well. He had a skill for seeing the way things looked before they were built. With Mari’s encouragement, he had sold a few drawings already.
“What’s amiss?” he asked when Lach hadn’t continued.
“I finally heard back from the McCurdy. It seems they’re getting desperate and have agreed to an alliance for peace.”
Cam’s eyes went wide. “Finally. That’s wonderful. We’ll gain access to the sea.”
Lach nodded but didn’t look as happy as Cam would have expected. This seaport had been his father’s lifelong dream for their clan, and they were finally getting it.
Lach grimaced. “The alliance will be through a marriage to the McCurdy’s daughter.”
Cam frowned. “Who do ye have to marry off? I thought he’d only agree to the laird or the war chief.” His voice faltered on the last two words. “Oh, God.”
“Right.”
“Does your new war chief know you’ve bartered him away for marriage?”
Bryce had been happily married and lost his wife and child. The loss had broken his heart. He’d sworn never to wed again.
“Not yet. I’ll tell him soon. We have a few months until the wedding will take place.”
Cam snorted. “Good luck to you.” He might have said more, but at that moment his wife stepped out from the trees. This time she wasn’t running with terror in her eyes. She was carrying their daughter and smiling.
Lizzy reached toward him, and he ran to meet them, scooping her into his arms and swinging her above his head to make her laugh. “Da!” she squealed so he’d do it again. But he sat her on his shoulders, holding her in place securely as he bent to kiss his wife.
“You’re making progress,” she said, taking in the stone walls that lined the perimeter of their new home.
“Aye. And it looks like we’re getting help.”
A group of men crested the hill in a line, with Liam leading the way. Women followed along behind, bringing food and ale to keep the workers nourished.
With this much help they’d be under roof by the end of the summer.
“Make sure not to do too much,” Mari whispered before leaning up to kiss him. “I don’t want you to be too tired tonight.” A saucy wink clued him in to what she had in mind.
He grinned. “The last time you met me in this field while I dug rocks, ye forced me into marriage. Now you’re seducing me to your bed. You provide a fine argument for spending all my days at the task.”
She playfully poked him in the chest. “Surely you’ll be too busy for such things when the second bairn arrives.”
“The second—” Cam swallowed in surprise, and then a smile that matched the one on his wife’s face pulled at his lips. “You never cease to make me happier than I ever thought possible.”
“And I’ll never tire of trying,” she promised with a kiss.