“Well, you erred. I looked away because of guilt. It hurt me to ride past there with you.”
“But why?”
“Good enough reason, and one that I hope will make your heart soar.” She blinked, dashed a tear off her cheek. “You see, Draugar was already falling when my father was young, but it wasn’t in the ruinous state it is now.”
“Of course, not, sweeting. Time and weather-”
“Nae, not that.” She shook her head. “It was my father. Seacliffe needed repairs and he took the stones from Draugar to rebuild many of Seacliffe’s walls.
“That means…” Her voice broke, tears rolling down her cheeks. “A good part of Draugar Hall lives on in my home. Inourhome, once we live there as one, raise our family there.
“You will be home again,” she finished. “Leastways if you can see it that way?”
“Och, I can, lass, I can.” Callum grabbed her, hoisting her in the air and whirling her round and round, his heart full. “Guidsakes, I love you!”
Then he released her, and whooped his joy, every soul on the beach hurrahing with him.
Yule was good that night.
And somewhere faraway, a certain meddlesome crone hobbled out of her cottage and tossed her horned helm high in the air, hooting and cackling with him, her red plaid shoelaces glowing bright.
Epilogue
Seacliffe Castle, the great hall
A Yuletide feast, one year later...
“Itold you we’d see her again.” Callum tore his gaze off the tiny, black-garbed crone at the far end of the high table and smiled at his much-loved wife. “A man could think you’d trust my word after all these years.”
“Shhh...” Alanna slipped a hand beneath the table covering, pinched his thigh. “The hall is full, and Highlanders have long ears. Some may not understand. All know we’ve been together a year this night, not years.”
“Aye, well.” Callum slid an arm around her, drawing her close. “If anyone heard and asks we’ll just tell them the way of it. The truth is aye best.”
“You weren’t very truthful when you rode into this hall last Yule, snatching me away.”
“You have me there.” He leaned in, dropped a kiss on her brow. “So I’ll tell you a truth now...” He sat back, gave her a wicked smile. “If you keep your fingers splayed across my thigh, you’ll have even more reason to blush.”
“Oh!” Alanna snatched back her hand. “So you’re pleased the great Devorgilla is here?” she asked, changing the subject. “I thought you didn’t like her?”
Callum waited as a serving lass refilled their mead horns. When she moved on, he took a long drink, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “She has every right to be here,” he said, casting another glance down the table. “She helped bring us together, didn’t she?”
“So you do like her?”
“Aye,” Callum admitted, watching the crone cackle at something Alanna’s cousin Boyd was saying. “She may have brought Boyd and his new wife together, too.” He turned back to Alanna. “Why else would such a wee, delicate lassie want a big, ugly brute like your cousin?”
“Boyd has a good heart,” Alanna reminded him. “He had a role in our happiness, too.”
“So he did.” Callum’s smile returned. “More than you ken.”
“Oh?”
“At least Devorgilla didn’t wear her horned helm this year,” he deflected, wanting to draw out his Yuletide surprise. “Her garland of dried seaweed suits her better, eh? And the mussel shells she worked into it. A fine touch.”
“What did you mean about Boyd?” Alanna lifted her voice above the shouts and laughter of the guisers, a local group this Yule, and just bursting into the hall. “You said he helped us more than I know.”
“Did I?” Callum stood, waved his mead horn in salute to the guisers as they leapt and twirled past the high table. “Hail, Thor and Odin!” he roared, grinning round. “Merry Yuletide!”
Beside him, Alanna also pushed to her feet. “You might not find the night so merry if Kadlin comes to call,” she warned, her smile tight. “Her Viking blood is heating, so have a care.
