Page 40 of Highland Dove

Angus leaned over and talked to both the little girls. “Now remember, both of ye bring back an extra minced pie for me. And stop by the table with the black bun on yer way back and get me some of that, too.”

“We will, Uncle Angus,” said Ilona, taking Ava’s hand and running through the great hall squealing.

“They look happy,” said Mari.

“That’s because they think Angus is funny and they’re happy he’s goin’ to be part of their family,” Tillie told her, holding on to Angus, but using his plaid so she wouldn’t touch his skin.

“Tillie, is there somethin’ ye want to tell me?” Mari looked quizzically at her sister.

“Mayhap.” She looked up at Angus and smiled.

“Let me tell them,” said Angus. “I asked Tillie to marry me.”

“Ye did?” asked Duncan in surprise. “And she said yes?”

“I did,” said Tillie with a giggle.

“Are ye sure it wasna out of pity?” asked Duncan.

“Or because she likes to cook and ye like to eat?” Mari teased him as well.

“We’re in love, no matter what ye think.” Angus squirmed and scratched some more and tried to dip down to kiss Tillie but she stopped him.

“No kissin’ until yer blisters disappear,” she told him. “Ye’ll have to stay in bed for a few days.”

“As long as ye bring me lots of food, I willna complain,” Angus told her.

“It’s a deal.” Tillie blew him a kiss.

“It feels guid to have the castle back, and I’m thrilled that ye each found the love of yer life,” said Emmaline. “But I will never get over losin’ yer faither.”

“Aye, it is hard and takes a while,” said Mari’s father. “When I lost my wife, I felt like I would never be able to live without her. Do ye want to go sit down and talk? Or mayhap dance?”

“Well, I dinna ken,” said Emmaline, being hesitant.

“Go on, Mathair,” said Duncan. “It’s all right. Faither would want ye to have a little fun on Hogmanay, so dinna feel guilty.”

“Aye, it’s guid to see ye smile again,” said Angus. “We’ve missed that.”

“Well, mayhap just one dance.” She took Daniel’s arm and they headed away.

“It looks like ye’re chieftain now, big brathair,” Angus told Duncan, scratching the top of his head. “I’m just glad everythin’ worked out.”

“I still dinna understand how ye were all able to get into the castle,” said Mari.

“It was because of Harris,” Duncan told her.

“Harris?” Mari looked across the room to see Harris with his family. He nodded to her and she nodded back. “I dinna understand. He was the one who told Eideard that yer mathair had escaped.”

“He only did it as a cover,” said Angus, snatching a sweetmeat off the tray of a server as she passed by and popping it into his mouth. “He had to make it look like Eideard could trust him. Then he talked to all the men who were once loyal to Faither and convinced them to work with him and no’ to live in fear of Eideard anymore.”

“That’s right,” agreed Duncan. “And with help from the inside, it was easy to get inside the gate. I kent everyone would be celebratin’ Hogmanay and would be distracted. So attackin’ at midnight worked in our favor.”

Angus snitched an umble pie next, taking a big bite of the small pastry stuffed with spiced entrails. He moaned in ecstasy as he chewed. “This is the best umble pie I’ve ever tasted.”

“Really?” asked Tillie, cocking her head.

“Well, it’s no’ as guid as yers, of course,” said Angus with a deep swallow. “No one can bake like ye.”