Page 105 of Her Reluctant Highlander Husband

“We will make new memories. Happy ones. It will be a true home, and you and the rest of the family will always be welcome.”

“We’ll visit often,” he promised with a smile.

“A laird!” Bryce laughed again as if still in disbelief. Then the smile turned to worry. “Bloody hell. I don’t know how to be a laird.”

Lachlan laughed. “You’re a fair man. You’ll make a fine laird. Besides, ye don’t have to do much to be better than what these people had before.”

Rory nodded in agreement, and Dorie squeezed Bryce’s hand. He pulled her into his arms, whispering in her ear. “Can I do this?”

“You’ll do it so well,” she assured him.

“Can you be happy here?” he asked, sharing the same concern her father had voiced. When she was imprisoned in her room here, she had dreamed every night of escaping this place and being free.

But as she looked around at the sunken faces of the women and children who had also been trapped in this place, she wanted to make it better for them as well. She’d seen what could become of a place where love ruled. The people thrived.

“Let’s make this a home for ourselves and for everyone here.”

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her hair. When he finally backed away, he was smiling. “Welcome home, wife.”

“Welcome home, laird.”

Epilogue

One year later

Bryce balanced himself on the edge of the Baehaven battlements for a few seconds longer before stepping back. The sound of laughter rose up from the bailey where the McCurdy children chased after Rascal who was clean for once, in anticipation of the festivities.

He turned toward the ocean, breathing in the salty sea air and the scent of summer in the Highlands. The MacKinlay ship, the Davinna, sat at the dock still under construction. Dorie’s father’s ship sat next to it.

The castle was filled with family. His cousins and their wives were visiting, along with some of the Campbells.

In a few hours, the remaining McCurdys would be pledging their loyalty, and everyone in his motley clan would be taking the name MacKinlay.

“I knew I would find you up here,” Dorie said as she came up behind him.

“I can’t get enough of this view. I feel so alive here.” It was a huge change from the times he’d spent atop the walls of Dunardry, when he’d allowed his pain to bring him to the edge.

“Are you ready to become Laird MacKinlay of Baehaven?”

“I am. I feel I’ve always been more a MacKinlay than a Campbell, having spent much time with my mother’s family. It’s time to make it official.”

When his wife shivered, he led her below, out of the brisk spring air.

“Be careful on the steps,” he warned, going before her to lead her down the tight stairs. “I don’t know how you see past that lump.”

“Are you calling our child a lump?” she accused as she rubbed her stomach affectionately.

He turned and placed a kiss where their child grew. The expected arrival was the other reason their family had gathered.

“Before we go down for the celebration, there’s something I want to show ye,” Bryce said, feeling nervous. “I have a surprise. I hope you’ll like it.”

In truth, he wasn’t sure how she might feel about his efforts. She followed him down the hall to stand near the room that had served as her prison for part of her life.

When her father had first suggested renovating the castle, he worried how they would ever make it a home when it held so many bad memories. But Baehaven was a beautiful castle and as the changes were made, they found ways to fill it with light and happiness.

But this room had been the hardest. At times Bryce wanted to wall off the door and never look upon it again. But in the end he’d found a way to make it a place of peace. At least he hoped so.

“Are you ready?” Bryce asked as they stood by the doorway. The door to the room had been removed so it would always be open.