Together, they made their way out into the courtyard where the horses were waiting.
Rachel had been learning to ride but for a journey of this length she still preferred to sit with Cam on his horse. He didn’t mind. It gave him the chance to hold her close and think about all the things he wanted to do to her.
The journey to Tallis was much quicker by horse than on foot. They were there by the end of the day. The sun was setting when they reached the village, the water of the loch beyond it still. It was a warm evening. Most of the villagers were done for the day, sitting together on the grass and talking excitedly about the upcoming consecration.
Morag’s words had cut deep with them all when she landed from exile. They had come to a decision since she went. The abbey was to be rebuilt, the villagers providing the labor. Work had begun and at midnight the bishop, who’d come all the way from Stirling, would reconsecrate the church and give his blessing to the endeavor.
With the arrival of Cam, things swung into action. The line of rowboats along the shore began to fill with people. Cam took the last of the boats with Rachel, the two of them following the twinkling lights that spread out across the water in front of them.
“How does it feel tae be back here?” he asked as he pushed the oars deep into the water.
“Strange,” Rachel replied. “I miss her, you know?”
“Aye. I ken you do. I get the feeling you will see her again someday though.”
“You do?”
“Aye.”
“I was so close to my mother and I didn’t even know it was her it until it was too late.” She was silent for a moment. “At least she survived that knife wound.”
“I would have sworn such a thing was fatal.”
“Medicine’s come a long way.”
“You still happy you stayed? Don’t want tae go back tae your own time?”
She reached across and put her hand on his. He stilled the oars for a moment, letting the boat rock gently on the water. “I made my decision,” she said. “And it was the right one. Is this just your way of saying you want to get rid of me?”
He laughed. “I dinnae think I could get rid of you if I tried. And I did try.”
“Yes you did.”
He resumed rowing, reaching the island not long after the others. They could tell where they were by the lights heading into the distance. Cam didn’t follow them, instead taking Rachel’s hand and leading her across the beach to the cave. Inside everything was as he had arranged.
“What’s this?” Rachel asked, looking at the blanket lit by candles, the food arranged neatly in baskets. “Did you do this?”
“Aye. I thought we could be alone together for a while. It’s hard enough getting away from my people tae spend time with you.”
“What about the consecration? The bishop will be waiting.”
“He can wait a little longer. First I want you to sit down so I can ask you something.”
Rachel sat cross legged on the blanket as Cam reached into his pocket and brought out a ring. He got down on one knee and held the ring out toward her.
“What’s this?” she asked. “What are you doing?”
“I ken when you first came I pretended you were my betrothed. I ken that we told our people after that it wasnae the truth. Now I want that tae be the truth, a truth that is as solid as my love for you, as solid as these stone walls that surround us.
“I love you, Rachel Fisher. I want you as my bride. If you agree tae our union, I swear I will spend the rest of my life showing you just how strong my love for you is. Will you marry me?”
She looked down at the ring and then up at him. For a moment he thought she might say no. There was no smile on her face.
“I can’t believe it,” she said at last. “You really want to marry me?”
“Of course I do. Did you no think I did?”
“No, it’s just, I didn’t think anyone would ever want to marry me.”
