“It doesn’t matter.”
They kissed again and this time was even more powerful than the last. “I love you,” she muttered between embraces. “I love you Wallace MacGregor.”
Up on the battlements Tanya peered out at the countryside beyond the castle, a wide grin glued to her face.
“What do you think?” Daisy asked. “You like it?”
“I think it’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I’m going to love it here.”
“You want to live here?” Jock asked. “In this castle?”
“If I’m allowed.”
“If you like this, wait until you see MacGregor Castle.”
“Is that where you’re from?”
“Aye.”
She pointed past them. “Can I go up that tower?”
“I can’t see why not.”
Tanya ran ahead, not noticing the captain was looking out at the countryside. “That’s Scarlett,” he said suddenly, staring into the distance as a figure approached. “If you’ll excuse me.” He was off running before anyone could stop him.
Tanya climbed the stairs of the tower, coming out on top, marveling at the sensation of being in the highest point of the castle.
She looked out and saw the captain running across the grass toward someone in the distance. They embraced and she wondered if all the highlands would be like this, filled with happy couples. Daisy and Jock were standing hand in hand down on the battlements, waving up at her as she waved back.
In the great hall Natalie and Wallace were hand in hand too, saying nothing. They were too busy kissing.
Tanya felt something under her feet. It made the tower wobble ever so slightly. “What was that?” she called down to Jock and Daisy. “It felt like an earthquake.”
They looked up in surprise. “We felt nothing.”
Tanya waited for it to happen again but the tower remained still. She shook her head. She must have imagined it.
Heading back downstairs, she went looking for her mom. She was hungry. Time to find out what kind of a food they had to offer in MacCallister Castle.
Outside the light began to fade. Inside the fires were lit and soon a group of people were eating together in the great hall, all of them laughing and joking as the night slowly drew in.
The smoke drifted up from the fire into wisps that curled and moved lazily through the air.
“What do we do now?” the captain asked, his arm around Scarlett’s shoulder. “We can’t all stay here, can we?”
“We will travel to MacGregor Castle and reunite our clan,” Jock said, some of the old authority back in his voice.
“And we will remain here,” Wallace added. “If you’re happy to stay of course.”
Tanya nodded, squeezing her mother’s hand. “I couldn’t be more happy.”
“What about you two?” Wallace asked. “Want to stay here?”
The captain shook his head. “Get involved in all the politics of uniting the MacGregors and the MacCallisters, ending the decade long feud and bringing peace to the highlands? I can’t think ofanything more dull. I’m going to fix my ship and head out to sea. Go find some adventure.”
“Are you now?” Scarlett said, mock scowling at him. “And what if I don’t want to go off with you?”
“Then I guess I’ll have to start a farm.”
