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She was his first love. She was the first woman to touch his heart. And as long as they both lived, his heart would whisper her name with its every beat.

Epilogue

Six months later…

The road was quickly disappearing under the horses’ hooves. Amber thought that the Pass of Brander couldn’t be more beautiful in this weather. Owen rode next to her and eyed everything with a relaxed alertness, ready for any threat.

The summer was warm, and the sky was blue, the sun making the colors around them more vivid and bright. River Awe was brilliant, almost sapphire blue, and the mountains around them were lush with greenery. A breeze touched her skin and brought the scent of river water, grass, and flowers. The air was alive with birdsong and leaves rustling in the wind. The river murmured to their right.

They were on their way from Owen’s new estate, Kinleith, where they’d spent the winter and spring, to Glenkeld. After that, they would continue down south. They had no destination and no goal. Amber suggested they might travel around Europe, and Owen, who’d never been anywhere apart from Scotland, loved the idea.

The secret of Amber’s real origin, as well as Amy’s and Kate’s, was kept safely within a close group of people. The past six months had been blindingly happy. She’d never thought she could be this happy. Ever.

And now that she knew she could stand up for herself and those she loved, now that she knew how David must have felt when he confronted Goliath, she knew she and Owen could do anything as long as they were together.

And they decided what they wanted together was adventure.

They got married on his new estate a month after she arrived back. Although she didn’t want to live the life of a housewife, she’d enjoyed a few months of her and Owen in their own little cocoon, settling in the new house, and starting things their own way.

She’d bought a few books on ancient clocks and clockmaking back in the twenty-first century. Mechanical clocks had just recently been invented and were expensive and only available in cities. Amber was curious to see if she could make one of her own. Making clocks meant reconnecting to her mom. She knew that every time she worked on one, her mother would be right there with her.

When they descended from the Pass of Brander and reached the flat, sandy shore of Loch Awe, Owen said, “Do you feel like making a stop? I’ll catch ye a nice fish and roast it over the fire.”

She knew that tone. That little smirk in his voice meant he had something in mind. Something she’d love, and he didn’t want to spoil the surprise. She knew that was the perfect moment to play along.

“A nice roasted fish sounds great.”

They dismounted the horses and settled on the small beach. Owen started a fire and began undressing, and Amber stilled, admiring his powerful body, his muscles playing as he moved. She’d been married to him for a while now, and still, every time she looked at his gorgeous, hard body, he stole her breath away.

He removed his pants, too, and glanced at her over his shoulder.

“I don’t think you need to be that naked to fish.” Amber chuckled. “Though I’m not complaining.”

He walked to her, and she admired his long legs coiled with muscle. “Come swim with me.”

Amber stood up. “Swim? I don’t really feel like it. The water must be cold.”

“I’ll warm ye up, lass, dinna fash.”

“No, thanks.” She took a step back. “I’m good and warm here.”

He stepped forward. “Lass…”

She squealed and darted. He reached her in two large steps and caught her by the waist. In a practiced move, he threw her over his shoulder and walked to the water.

“No, Owen! I don’t want to change! Owen, no…”

He walked into the water until it reached his ankles and then stopped. “If ye dinna want to get wet, ye better undress, lass. Either way, ye’re going into the water with me. I have something in mind that ye’ll love.”

She grunted through a smile. “All right, all right. There’s no changing your mind, you stubborn Scot.”

“’Tis exactly right.” He put her back on the shore, and she undressed under his watchful eye. She didn’t need to worry about the cold. The sun was warm, but mostly, the heat in Owen’s gaze was enough to make her feel like she were on fire.

“Good lass.” He smacked her on her behind possessively, and she hid her smile from the look of male pride on his face. “Come on.” He picked her up and took her into his arms like she weighed nothing. With a satisfied grin on his face, he walked into the loch.

Amber hissed as cold water touched her behind. Owen kissed her while still walking, and she melted, forgetting everything. Then they were deep in the water, and he moved her so that her arms were wrapped around his shoulders and her legs around his waist.

The water was not cold anymore, and swimming in it with Owen felt wonderful.