“The very best,” Abigail responded breathlessly. “We’ve come a long way in such a short amount of time. I can’t believe what we’ve been through in the last couple of moons.”
“Hopefully, life will be quieter until the wee one is here.”
“Then it will hardly be quiet again.” Abigail leaned against Ronan’s chest; his heat permeated her skin. “Are things truly resolved with Landry?”
“As best we can hope for. We’ll have safe passage to Stornoway any time you wish.”
Abigail squeezed Ronan’s chest as she burrowed closer to him. The shy man she thought she’d met never existed. Instead, Abigail discovered a wise and observant leader whose people trusted and respected him. She found love she never imagined she’d claim as her own. She had a partner in all things, and she knew she was becoming a woman she could be proud of. Despite the tribulations they’d endured during their brief marriage, she’d never been happier.
“Thank you, Ronan. For everything. For forgiving me my shortcomings, for trusting me, for loving me, for making a life together with me. I love you.”
“Abigail, I’ve loved you from the very start. You’ve helped me free myself of guilt that I carried for years. You put me at ease in situations that irritate me, and you make me smile whenever I think of you. I wasn’t a patient child or young mon, but I have never been more appreciative of aught than waiting until I met you. I wouldn’t share what we have with anyone else.”
Abigail swallowed before she stepped away from Ronan. “Does it bother you that I can’t say the same? You’ve said it doesn’t, but it would bother me.”
“You didn’t have what we do. Besides, someone had to know what we were doing.” Ronan grinned as he pressed Abigail back against the alcove wall. “I may be an apt student, but never was there a more desirable teacher. I think there is much for me still to learn.”
“I’m learning along the way, just like you. Mayhap you can teach me how to make you groan like you did last eve.”
“Gladly, wife. The only place we’re dancing together this eve is our bed. We eat and then we slip away.”
“I would follow you anywhere, husband.”
Ronan and Abigail entered the great hall with Ronan’s arm around Abigail’s waist. They sat with their guards, enjoying lively conversation, but when the first strains of music began, they made their escape. They moved to the music their bodies created as they came together in synchronicity.
Epilogue
“Aunty Abby!” Tawny braids flew behind the little girl as she launched herself into Abigail’s arms, likely knocking her over if Ronan weren’t behind her as they came to the door at Stornoway. “Uncle Ronan! Where’re Glynnis and Catriona? Where’s Gregor?”
“I’m—” Three youthful voices chirping beside her interrupted Abigail.
“Here we are, Amy!”
Five-year-old Glynnis and three-year-old Catriona grabbed hands with their eight-year-old cousin, barely sparing Amy’s twin Graham a passing wave. Abigail supposed the girls were headed abovestairs to Amy’s chamber. Their two-year-old son Bram kicked and waved his arms as Maude, Kieran, Madeline, and Fingal approached. Madeline carried her youngest, a baby girl named Finley. Abigail noticed Madeline and Fingal’s older three children, Magnus, Adeline, and Sarah, played with Graham near the hearth.
“I see ye’re still vastly outnumbered,” Ronan grinned at Fingal. “Three daughters and a wife to one wee lad and—ye.”
“I dinna see ye doing much better. Two lasses and a wife keeping ye and yer brawny lad alive.” Fingal clapped Ronan on the back as they came to stand together. Maude and Abigail peered at Finley, as the babe blew bubbles in her sleep. “Would ye have it any other way?”
“Nae even for a minute.”
“Where’s Mairi?” Abigail asked Maude.
“Likely driving Eara into an early grave, pestering her with questions aboot how to heal every animal the lass sees,” Maude grinned. Eara had been elderly even when Abigail, Madeline, and Kieran were children. They used to whisper secretly that the ancient healer would live forever. They seemed to have been correct. As if summoned by thought, Eara and Mairi entered the Great Hall from the kitchens. Mairi released Eara’s hand and dashed to her cousins before the fire.
“I think yer lad is auld enough for his first wee nip of whisky—for his gums, of course,” Kieran pretended to gasp when Abigail’s elbow landed against the hard planes of his belly. Kieran led his brothers-by-marriage to his solar, Bram reaching forward and tugging on the tawny locks Kieran had passed onto his children.
“Maude, the Great Hall looks magnificent,” Abigail said as she looked around her former home. “Ye’ve outdone yerself this year.”
Garland, holly, and lavender were draped over the mantles and around the banisters. Clusters of holly sat on the high table, while the rushes smelled of fresh rosemary. Sweet smelling candles burned in all the sconces, and the gathering hall held a cheery glow. While Abigail attempted to make the Great Hall at Dun Ringill festive when the MacKinnons hosted their extended family for Christmas, she never achieved what Maude did. The atmosphere strengthened their sense of kinship as they came together to celebrate Christmas, Hogmanay, and Epiphany. The trappings of being lairds and ladies, heirs and tánaistes fell away, with refined accents and pretensions cast aside as they gathered as one large and extended family.
“We have much to celebrate, and it’s nae nearly often enough that we’re all able to gather. I would make it special,” Maude explained.
“It’s as beautiful as ye made ma wedding day.” Abigail recalled walking down the stairs from the chamber she and Ronan would share that night. Only the births of her children matched the excitement she’d felt that day. As she looked at her older sister, the wistfulness on Madeline’s face struck her. “Madeline?”
“I wish we could have been at each other’s weddings. Things were different back then, I ken that. But it’s one of the few regrets I hold on to,” Madeline answered.
“We’ve made up for it by being together for the holidays and attending the births of our nieces and nephews,” Maude reminded them.
