He smiled as he turned from the battlement and descended the stairs to the courtyard. He was lucky for many reasons. The bitter rivalry with the MacKays was at least temporarily abated. He had met a woman who’d traveled across centuries to be with him, a beautiful, a woman who was waiting for him in the chapel at that very moment.
He was lucky that Edward hadn’t snatched her away from him. He was lucky that she was so fast on her feet that Edward had fallen out of the tower window when he had managed to sneak into the castle to attack her. He was lucky that she hadn’t returned to the future. He was lucky she had decided to stay.
He smiled as he pushed open the doors of the chapel and walked inside. Abbot Fingal was standing by the altar. Beside him Kerry was standing in a stunningly beautiful tartan dress. The MacCleod colors suited her. Behind her stood his parents, both of them in their finest attire.
The chapel was crammed with people. Everyone but the guards on duty had squeezed in. They all watched Callum as he walked in, moving aside to allow him to pass through the crowd.
“Glad you decided to join us,” Alan whispered as Callum passed him. “It’s bloody freezing in here and your bride to be is turning into an icicle waiting for you.”
“He’s on time,” Gillian hissed. “You kept me waiting for over an hour, remember.”
Alan colored as Callum walked by to stand beside Kerry.
The abbot smiled at them both, clearing his throat before beginning. “We are gathered here today in the sight of God and the MacCleod clan to witness the blessed union of two people dear in the hearts of many. Kerry, since your arrival I hear tell you have revolutionized the way meals are prepared in the castle kitchen.”
“I only showed them how to prep a few things,” she replied.
“It was a lot more than that,” someone shouted from the back. Callum turned to see one of the cooks step forward. “She’s taught me how to make scones, sponge cake, Norman toast, jam tarts. I never knew of such things until she came along. God bless that woman.”
“If I might continue,” the abbot said. “Kerry, you have brought joy to many but you brought the most joy to Callum MacCleod, son of Alan and Gillian who both give their consent for this union today. Callum, you have protected the clan for years with your men.”
“Aye,” said a chorus of gruff voices at the back of the chapel, one of them adding, “When he’s not off chasing women or drinking ale.”
A ripple of laughter went around the chapel.
The abbot ignored them. “If you two are to wed today know this. You become part of the highlands. You marry not just each other but also God and Scotland. If you agree to this, say aye.”
“Aye,” they said in unison.
“Callum, will you take this woman to be your wife, to protect and to worship, to take care of for the rest of your lives, to love and cherish until the day you die?”
“I will.”
“Kerry, will you take this highland fool for your husband, to protect and to worship, to take care of for the rest of your lives, to love and cherish until the day you die?”
“I will.”
“Do you have the rings that show all here present that you are true to your vows?”
Alan and Gillian held out their hands, palms upward, two gold rings waiting to be taken.
Callum took his first, sliding it onto Kerry’s finger, looking at her all the while.
Kerry lifted hers from Gillian’s hand, looking at it in wonder and smiling as she placed it onto Callum’s finger.
“You are now wed in the eyes of God and man and the highlands themselves,” the abbot said. “Go forth from this place as husband and wife and gather heather under the gate with my blessing.”
The crowd streamed out of the church, Callum and Kerry last to leave as tradition dictated. They made their way hand in hand to the gate where a sprig of heather had been placed on a slab of wood on the ground. Callum lifted the heather into the air, showing it to the crowd before attaching it to Kerry’s dress with a silver pin. With that done the crowd cheered and as they did so he leaned forward, kissing his wife for the very first time.
The feast came next. Everyone in the local villages had provided something and the tables sagged with the weight of it all. There was no space to move in the great hall, everyone talking and laughing, indulging in what might be the last large meal before the winter. Rumor was it that snow was coming and soon all would be hunkered down to ride out the cold months.
The thought of winter was far from anyone’s thoughts while they ate, cheering the happy couple who sat together on the dais, surrounded by wellwishers.
“Are you happy?” Callum asked, seeing Kerry examining the ring on her finger. “Not having second thoughts?”
“I couldn’t be happier,” she replied. “This is where I was always supposed to be. I know that now. What about you? Wouldn’t you rather have married Nessa?”
“I would rather have wed a sheep than her.”
