Greer peered down at the gown she wore. It was magnificent and a complete surprise from Siùsan that afternoon. Her mother-by-marriage slipped into Greer and Thor’s chamber while Rose kept her company as she bathed. The other lasses begged to be part of the wedding preparations, but the older generation refused, knowing it would traumatize Greer. Instead, they sent Rose to help her bathe and get ready. Siùsan explained she’d begun working on the gown when Greer arrived at Dunbeath the first time. The moment she’d seen how Thor reacted, she knew something special existed between them. She’d prayed and had faith that they would reconcile, so she’d created a wedding gown for Greer.
“Are ye ready, lass?” Callum whispered beside her.
“So vera ready, Da.” Greer beamed up at him, seeing a face so recognizable to her. She knew from Callum how Thor would look as they aged together. She knew he would only grow more handsome with the passing years, and she looked forward to the life they would make together.
Callum led her across the bailey to the kirk, the clans members stepping aside to allow them to pass. The moment she had a clear view of the kirk’s steps, her gaze locked with Thor’s. He took her breath away. He wore a saffron leine, denoting his position in his clan. His plaid appeared brand new. The hilts of his sword and dirks gleamed, and his hair shone in the waning sunlight. She barely noticed anyone around them, only registering later that Rose stood beside her twin throughout the ceremony. The couple only had eyes for each other. Every moment during the exchange of vows would stick with them both, even if the wedding Mass passed in a blur.
“Are ye happy, wee one?” Thor asked as he handed her their chalice during the wedding feast.
“I couldnae be happier,mo ghaol. Ye’ve given me so much, and I finally feel whole again. I’m as happy as I was when we were younger and all we worried aboot when we were together was whether we’d be rained on. Ma heart hasnae felt this light since then. Are ye happy?”
“Beyond belief. I’ve considered ye ma wife again since we talked in yer chamber that day. I kenned then that I would never let ye go again. We’ve wed by consent, by handfast, and by a priest. There canna be any doubt to anyone what we’ve always kenned. The Lord meant us to be together, Greer. Naught will keep us apart again.”
“There is nay mon better than ye. I dinna care what any other wife in here believes. She’s wrong. Ye are the best.”
“I love ye, wee one.”
“I love ye.”
“Shall we retire and see if we can make a real wee one?” Thor waggled his eyebrows.
“Mayhap we already have.”
Thor froze, his eyes widening. “Have we?”
“I dinna ken yet. It’s far too soon. And ye ken I—” Greer couldn’t finish.
“If we dinna have any bairns, that simply means I dinna have to share yer attention. I always shared everything with Rose. I dinna mind having something that is only mine.” Thor winked.
“Ye’re an overgrown wean.” Greer giggled.
“I’ll show ye something that’s grown. Come here, lass.”
“Catch me first!” Greer pushed back her chair and gathered her skirts, racing to the end of the dais, uncaring that people watched her. Thor snagged her around the waist, tossed her in the air, then slung her over his shoulder.
“I always will.”
The couple disappeared abovestairs for the sennight Thor promised. When they returned to the land of the living, their love and happiness radiated from them. It took no time for the clan to love Greer just as they loved each bride who married into the Clan Sinclair. Some whispered things they heard at markets and Gatherings, but no one dared say it where any member of the laird’s family might hear. None wished to die for the sake of gossip.
A moon after they arrived at Dunbeath, Greer took Thor to the loch where they’d first met. They made sure they remained on the Sinclair portion of the land surrounding the water. “Mo ghràidh, do ye remember this tree?” she asked.
“Of course, I do. It’s where I asked for our first kiss. It’s where I asked ye to handfast with me. It’s where we made love for the first time.”
“We had many firsts here, but they were never destined to be our lasts. Remind me again of what it’s like to make love on a plaid beneath an oak tree.” Greer tugged at her laces as she kicked off her slippers. A moment later, they sank down onto the plaid they’d spread for their picnic. Time slipped away, and they were once again the besotted adolescents they’d been eight years earlier. Hours passed as they coupled and swam.
They’d begun their life together under that tree, and just as it had the strength to withstand the harshness of life in the Highlands, Thor and Greer had the strength to keep their love strong despite life’s harshness.
EPILOGUE
“Would ye stop? We shall be late.” Greer pretended—not too hard—to shoo Thor away as he plucked at her kirtle’s laces as she attempted to tie them.
“We have five minutes.”
“Since when do ye only take five minutes? We’ll be here for at least an hour.”
“Lass, it’s still a battle of wills to nae finish in five minutes. However, that would be a good thing today.” Thor pressed a kiss to Greer’s neck as his hands gripped her backside. He felt her sigh as his kisses trailed along her jaw until their mouths fused. He gathered her skirts and drew them upward, but the moment the cooler air hit her legs, she danced away.
“Yer parents and everyone else in the clan will ken why we’re late. I canna face all of them like that. Cease, ye randy auld mon.”
