“I need a priest as soon as one can be found,” he told Simon.
“So ye finally came to your senses,” Simon said, and yawned widely.
“Aye, though it was a long road and I said stupid things. Fortunately, she is a forgiving lass and a lot smarter about such things than I am. And I think she kens me better than I do myself. But I dinnae want to wait long in case she comes to her senses.” He glared at Uven who just laughed.
“So ye wish us to be up early and go search out a priest?”
“Aye.”
“She is happy enough with such a hurried wedding?” asked Uven.
“She said aye.”
“Might I ask just what made ye so slow? I ken ye think about things too much but nae sure that explains it all.”
Callum sighed and dragged his hand through his hair. “It was stupid and something Payton often lectured me on. I kenned it the moment I asked her to marry me and my innards froze in fear she would say nay. I ne’er fully accepted his lesson that I am nae to blame.”
“Ah. That whole ‘unclean’ problem. Fool.”
“Weel, she didnae call me that but I think she thought me a fool.” He grinned. “Then asked me a couple of questions concerning Laurel and what might have been her if I was not in time and something just fell into place for me. Nae sure what it was and why it didnae work with Payton, but there it is.”
“Probably because Payton didnae have someone ye kenned that he could point to and ask ye if ye thought them unclean. Aye, there were the other lads, but too close, too much like ye were. Who kens. Things like that are hard to understand and what fixes them even harder. But glad ye finally came to your senses. It would have been bad if ye had lost her.”
Callum stood up. “Aye, there is nay doubting that. So I will see ye two when ye return with a priest, aye?”
“Aye. Might be a day or two or e’en longer. If we cannae get one close at hand I ken where to find one.”
“Thank ye. Best get back to bed in case she wakes and wonders where I have run off to.”
Uven watched Callum leave and looked at Simon. “I had wondered if he still had that old fear but it isnae something ye can ask him about verra often.”
“Nay. Ye dinnae wish to bring up old, sad memories either. Then there’s how cocky and strong he is and ye forget there might still be scars on his heart. Weel, except for that anger that can show at times.”
“True. Weel, ’tis just ye and I left, old mon.”
“I am nae about to run out and get wed just because Callum and Robbie feel the urge. I have a lot of living yet to do. A lot of lassies yet to enjoy.”
“Certainly and I am sure they are all lined up eagerly waiting for ye to come and enjoy them.”
Simon cursed and tossed his pillow at Uven.
* * *
Callum slipped back into bed and tugged Bethoc into his arms. She settled herself against his chest and he smiled. This was what he wanted. He could not believe he had been such a fool as to not see it clearly.
He felt an odd lightness in his chest. Then he realized it was because he had recognized and tossed aside an old fear. He had finally accepted that what had been done to him when he was a child had not been his fault, had never been his fault. Most of the time he had believed he had ceased thinking that but, facing Bethoc, opening his heart to her, had shown him that he had just buried it deep, not gotten rid of it. Some part of him had still clung to that useless guilt and shame.
“Callum?”
“What, love?”
“Why are your feet cold?”
“Ah, I went to see Simon and Uven to be sure they left early to find us a priest.”
She sleepily kissed his chest, snuggled closer, and went back to sleep. Callum smiled and closed his eyes. He wondered if his nightmares were gone too, and had a feeling they would not return. After all, he could reach for Bethoc now and he knew she would always be there.
Epilogue
