All the papers had been signed. Now, Seona and her family members waited outside the charming small chapel, almost hidden amongst the trees. She held a bouquet of bluebells tied with a yellow ribbon. When Keegan had presented them to her earlier, tears had gathered in her eyes.
“Wait! Wait!” Aunt Patience trotted along the flagstone pathway, near out of breath, her face red. MacMillan followed behind her.
“Och, nay,” Talia whispered beside her.
“What is she about?” Malcolm muttered.
Seona prayed her aunt wasn’t going to cause a fuss.
“I have to be here for this.”
Seona frowned. “You’re not going to try to stop me?”
“Nay. You deserve happiness.” She gave Seona an awkward hug then stood back, tears glistening in her eyes. “I’m sorry I was so… harsh and uncaring before. I only did it because of your father. He’d threatened me. If I’d let you associate with any man he wouldn’t approve of, he would’ve turned me out on the muddy street without a shilling to my name. I hope you can forgive me.”
Was her aunt being truthful? She couldn’t figure out a reason Patience would need to manipulate her now. Malcolm would treat her well and provide for her.
Seona was unsure she’d had such a quick change of heart, but she didn’t want to argue on her official wedding day. “I’m willing to forgive anyone who’s truly sorry for what they’ve done.”
Her aunt nodded with sad acceptance. “I know you have a hard time believing me, but I’ll prove it to you.”
The reverend motioned them forward. Seona took Malcolm’s arm and they stepped into the tiny chapel with its polished oak ceiling and gray stone floor. She found her knees were weak as she stood on the threshold. She had been in this chapel a few times before, but never had the stained glass windows appeared so vivid and colorful.
Keegan waited for her at the front, near the altar. She focused on his smiling sky-blue eyes, shining with love and happiness, as she made her way toward him.
They repeated the vows they’d already said to each other in private days before. If possible, Seona meant the words even more now. Her love for Keegan grew each day.
When the ceremony was over, the minister announced they were man and wife. Keegan placed a quick kiss upon her lips and rushed her out the door. His friends followed, and once they’d exited the church, let loose shrill whistles and made raucous and bawdy comments.
Keegan glanced back, then dragged Seona behind a thick yew bush where he promptly kissed her senseless.
***
A week later, relief flowed through Keegan when they topped a very tall hill and spied Teasairg Castle in the distance. The sun hung low in the sky, casting vivid yellow, orange and pink across the horizon and the loch.
“What a beautiful sunset,” Seona said, riding pillion. Although she had her own horse, he wanted her as close as possible in the event Haldane attacked again. And he was simply addicted to the feel of her body against his.
“Aye,” he agreed. “But not as beautiful as you.”
“You are naught but a charmer,” she chided, playfully smacking his arm.
He grinned and twisted around for a kiss. He savored her sweet lips, wanting to drag her onto his lap.
“We’ll arrive at Teasairg soon enough and you two can take a private room,” Fraser said.
Talia, riding a separate horse behind his, blushed.
“Do you think your brother will allow us to honeymoon there?” Keegan asked.
Fraser snorted. “’Haps. So long as you don’t flaunt your marital bliss too much.”
MacMillan rode by, Lady Patience behind him. They had secretly married just a few hours after Seona and Keegan. And he was glad to see the lady no longer glared at him. In fact, she had taken on the unusual habit of smiling at everyone. He supposed MacMillan deserved the credit for that. Keegan still didn’t trust her, but he hoped she’d truly changed.
He guided his horse forward, wanting to arrive and see how Dirk fared, not to mention eating and taking Seona to bed. Not that he preferred eating food to bedding her, but he would need his strength. He grinned, imagining all the delicious, naughty things he would do to her. They’d had very little private time over the past week and he looked forward to much more.
An hour later, they neared the castle gates. Once the guards recognized Dermott and Fraser at the forefront of their party, they raised the portcullis.
Horses’ hooves clomped across the thick wooden boards of the long bridge that led out to the small island where the castle sat.
Guards and groomsmen greeted them in the walled courtyard. Keegan dismounted and lifted Seona down. The smile she gifted him with inspired him to give her another quick kiss.
“What the devil is going on here?”
Keegan turned at the familiar voice and watched Dirk approaching with a grin, hardly a limp in his step.
“Cousin.” Keegan took Dirk’s forearm in a warrior handshake. “Are you well?”
“Aye. My leg is mended and only a wee bit of soreness remains.”
“Thanks be to God,” Seona said.
“Chief, I’d like you to meet my wife,” Keegan said proudly, his arm around Seona’s shoulders.
Dirk’s smile grew wider and he bowed. “I’m more than happy to welcome you to the clan, m’lady.” He shook Keegan’s hand again and gave him a back-slapping embrace. “’Twas what I was hoping to hear. But how could it be anything else since you brought her back, aye? Isobel will be happy to hear this news as well.”
“I’ll go find her.” Seona rushed up the steps and inside, Talia following.
Rebbie strode forward and greeted Dirk.
“What of Chief Murray?” Dirk asked.
“Dead,” Rebbie said.
Dirk’s eyes widened and darted to Keegan. “What happened?”
“’Tis a long story,” Keegan said. “Come. I’ll tell you. But first, I will say there is naught to worry over. I signed a peace treaty with Malcolm Murray, the new chief.”
“In truth? You did well, Keegan.”
“The only bad thing is that Haldane and McMurdo are still roaming free.”
Dirk frowned. “Well, they are wily. And I always feel torn about Haldane. On the one hand, he is my brother and I hate to see him dead. On the other, he keeps trying to kill me, so we have to take him out if we can.”
Keegan nodded. “I feel the same way. I suspect he and his men have hastened to Durness to ambush us when we arrive back there.”
“Saints! ’Tis a good thing I left plenty of men guarding Dunnakeil, including my sword-bearer. I ken Jessie couldn’t handle it alone,” Dirk said.
“Nay.” ’Twas true Dirk’s sister was tough, but she was not a fearsome warrior.
“We’ll need to return as soon as possible.”
***
That night after supper, Seona and Keegan were escorted to one of the nicest bedchambers at Teasairg. Seona had noticed Isobel whispering with the maids during supper. Now, she and Keegan stood just inside the closed door of the chamber. A huge tub of steaming water sat before the hearth, where a roaring fire burned. The covers were turned back on the bed, the clean white sheets glowing in the candlelight. A bottle of wine and two silver goblets sat on a small table along with a vase of bluebells.
“’Tis amazing,” Seona whispered, her throat tight. Tears burned her eyes.
“Och.” Keegan took her into his arms, his warmth and strength seeping into her. “Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m so happy. I never truly thought ’twould be possible to have you for my own.”
He grinned and kissed her forehead. “Well, maybe I believed it enough for both of us.”
She stared up into his blue eyes, turned darker in the night. There was naught she enjoyed more… well, except for kissing him… and making love to him.
He leaned down, claiming her lips with slow sweet kisses that grew hotter and more urgent with each moment that passed. He tasted of spiced wine and she could not get enough.