Mary’s heart lifted, nearly making her float across the floor. As usual, Cameron had said just the right thing.
Mary didn't tell the healer why she wanted her company, but merely led her to the kirk. If Cameron wasn't there when they arrived, or failed to show up soon after, Mary could tell her she was worried about her father and wished for the woman to pray with her. If Cameron let her down after suggesting this, likelyshe’d fall to her knees before the altar anyway. So, it made sense. But, her heart told her he would not fail her.
Cameron was there, waiting, when they entered.
“Ye found her,” he greeted Mary and kissed her cheek.
“What’s going on?” the healer demanded.
“We are going to handfast,” Mary told her, excitement bubbling along her veins now that they were here. “In secret for now. I dinna wish to make Da’s condition worse…”
“And we need a witness,” Cameron added.
The healer smiled. “I’m honored ye chose me. But I willna witness for ye.”
Mary’s heart sank. “Ye willna?”
“Nay. Well, I will, but ye need someone to conduct the handfasting, aye? I will do it.”
“We can do it ourselves,” Cameron objected.
“I dinna want ye in trouble with Da,” Mary added.
The healer snorted. “He’ll do nothing to me, no’ if he wants to keep what fragile health he has left. Now, have ye what’s required?”
Cameron pulled the length of Sutherland plaid from his shoulder and offered it to her.
“Excellent. Give me yer hand, if ye please.”
Cameron let her tie the plaid around his wrist, then the healer reached for Mary’s.
Mary’s heart beat faster.
“This is as sacred as marriage by a priest, especially when done here in the Rose kirk. Ye are bound to each other.”
She paused and looked from Cameron to Mary, meeting their gazes with a proud certainty that madeMary want to weep, or laugh. The emotions were so strong in her eyes, Mary couldn’t contain her own.
“The custom says for a year and a day, but I’ve watched the two of ye for months. This is for the rest of yer lives.”
Mary felt Cameron’s gaze on her. Was he still worried she might refuse? She smiled at him and nodded.
“May yer lives be long and happy, with love, and bairns, and always, with each other.” The healer concluded by wrapping both their wrists together with the rest of the plaid.
“Thank ye,” Cameron told her, then cleared his throat.
Mary could see a sheen of wetness in his eyes. So her strong warrior could be brought to tears as well.
“Do ye have anything ye wish to say?”
Cameron nodded and turned his gaze to Mary, then placed his hand over their joined ones. “I love ye, Mary Elizabeth Rose. I will be true to ye all the days of my life. And nights.” He grinned. “Ye saved my life…with help,” he added with a nod to the healer, “and became the one person I want to spend the rest of my life with. Ye mean the world to me, lass.”
Mary thought her heart would burst, it had swelled so with the emotions coursing through her. “I love ye, too, Cameron Sutherland. I will be true to ye. As much as I saved ye, ye have saved me. I’m proud to be yer bride. Even if we canna tell anyone yet.”
“Kiss her lad, before I start crying,” the healer sniffled, “and canna see ye do it.”
Cameron’s gaze never left Mary’s face. He leaned in until his breath warmed her cheek, and the anticipation of his lips touching hers nearly had her dancing. His moltenamber eyes stayed focused on hers, as if he tried to see inside her, to her soul.
“Aye, Mary, my love, this is real. With this kiss, ye are mine, and I am yers. For a year and a day, and I hope for the rest of our lives.”
