Epilogue
They walked the last few yards together. It felt like the right thing to do. “Do you remember when we first came here?” Tavish asked as the carriage rolled on by.
Lindsey waited until the three of them were alone before answering. “How could I forget?”
“I want tae see the hoose!”
Tavish looked down at his son who was straining to run forward.
“Go on then,” he replied with a laugh, letting go of his hand.
Thomas was off like a shot, dashing across the grass and pushing open the door to Tavish’s old house. They watched him go.
“When did he get so big?” Lindsey asked. “It doesn’t seem like two minutes since he learned to walk.”
“It’s getting him to slow down that’s the problem,” Tavish replied. “I cannae keep up with him half the time.”
“You do all right.” She reached up and kissed his cheek before the two of them followed Thomas inside.
The house was finished. In the three years since Thomas had been born it had been completely refurbished. No longer the empty weed-strewn building Tavish remembered, it looked much like it had during his childhood.
He glanced into the main living space, unable to keep the smile from his face. “I’m going to like living here.”
“Me too,” Thomas said, appearing at the top of the stairs. “Which one is ma room?”
“We thought you’d be sleeping outside in the stable,” Tavish replied.
Thomas stuck his tongue out before starting to giggle as his parents ran up the stairs after him. Lindsey stopped halfway, putting her hand on her stomach and wincing.
“Are you all right?” Tavish said, looking back down at her. “Is it coming?”
“At five months? I should hope not. I just need to remember I cannae run anymore.”
“You’re starting to sound a wee bit Scottish, ye ken?”
“Och, get away with your blether. Now where’s that boy of ours, I believe he needs tickling.”
A rewarding shriek was heard as the bairn hid from view in the bedroom, poking his head out from behind the curtain. Tavish scooped him into his arms and collapsed on the bed with him, Lindsey joining them a second later.
“What do you think about having a little brother or sister?” she asked. “Think you’ll want to share a room with them?”
“Aye, then ah can teach them how to use a sword.”
Tavish laughed. “It might be a few years before they’re ready for that. Now, come on. We can’t stay here all day. There are people waiting for us in Tavistock.”
They headed downstairs together, making their way outside into the sunshine. Tavish glanced back at the house as they walked away.
It was finally done. There were times when it felt like it would never be finished but the craftsmen had worked hard, putting as much effort into renovating as they had into rebuilding the village.
They crested the hill and looked down. It was different again to the last time he paid a visit.
The charred earth was gone. Three years had seen lush grass grow where once was scorched nothing. The ruined buildings were gone, new ones going up fast. Another year and the place would be finished.
Surrounding the village were enclosures of cattle and sheep, past them strip fields of wheat, peas, and oats. It filled his heart to see it.
“None of this would have happened without you,” he said, taking Lindsey in his arms while Thomas ran on ahead to Fingal who was waving from the village green.
“I didn’t do anything much.”
