“You, milking cows? I’d like to see that.”
“I could milk cows.”
“When have you ever even seen a cow?”
“I’m looking at one right now.”
“You pig!”
She shoved him so hard he fell off his seat and landed on the floor. The room echoed with laughter, the sound mingling with the snaps and crackles of the fire as the sun disappeared from sight outside the castle. The day was almost over.
Tanya’s laughter turned into a loud yawn. She slumped forward in her seat, trying hard to keep her eyes open.
“Come on,” Natalie said, getting to her feet. “Let’s find you a bed.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Yes, you are.”
“All right, I am but you’re not the boss of me.”
“Yes, I am.”
“All right you are but I get to choose my bedroom.”
“Fine.”
With the entire castle to choose from, Tanya picked a bedchamber up on the third floor of the keep. It overlooked the courtyard and she peered out at the darkness for a moment before turning to face her mother. “I’m glad we’re here,” she said, yawning and stretching her arms out.
“Me too,” Natalie replied. “Now here’s a nightdress. Get changed and I’ll be back in a minute.”
By the time she returned Tanya was already asleep. She rejoined Wallace in the great hall. “All good,” she said.
“I am now,” he said, taking her in his arms and holding her close, kissing her softly so many times she lost count. “Because I have you.”
Epilogue
Wallace could see the castle from where he stood. It was a beacon of freedom in tense times. The news of the MacCallister and MacGregor alliance had spread rapidly.
For some clans it was good news, a sign that the violence that had plagued them was over. For others, the news brought consternation. What if the alliance meant a stronger joint army? What if that army decided it wanted to invade their territory?
Up and down the highlands the sound of the forges rang out during all the hours of daylight. Dark times were returning and they didn’t need the barefoot man to bring them. Clans could create darkness just as easily among themselves.
Wallace was nervous. Not because of the potential for war that might spread like wildfire across the hills and glens of his lands. He could handle war. As his father had told him during the last conference, the MacGregor Clan had survived many wars in its time. They would survive one more.
The risk of chaos didn’t scare him. What scared him was that Natalie hadn’t shown up yet.
“Relax,” the captain said, slapping him on the back. “She’ll be here.”
“What if she changes her mind?”
The captain laughed. “She’s spent six months preparing for this moment with my wife’s help and you think she might change her mind? Have you seen the way she looks at you? She loves you, Wallace, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
He nodded. He was a tough highlander. He didn’t get nervous. Still, he might have breathed a sigh of relief when her horse finally appeared over the horizon. It slowly made its way down the hillside, followed by her helpers, Scarlett at the front of them all.
“Told you she’d be here,” the captain said, punching his shoulder. “Now I better go get ready. Where’s Tanya?”
“Here,” a voice called out behind them.
