Epilogue

One Year Later

"Ye arenae bringin' him with us," Alex said sternly at Isobel's defiant look.

In her arms was a tiny brown puppy, whom she had named Maximus. She nuzzled her nose into the puppy's ear, and it licked her enthusiastically.

"Dinnae listen to him, he's just jealous," she said in her baby voice, something Alex had grown accustomed to over the previous year.

Alex pulled her to him, the puppy between them looking up at their faces and trying to lick them both.

He gave her a long kiss. "I am jealous of anything ye hold like that," he grunted.

She laughed, lowering the puppy into the little cot she had set up for him in their room—one of many for their multitude of pets. Alex was beginning to lose count.

He pulled on his short jacket as he readied himself to go downstairs and noticed her watching him appreciatively.

He turned to her, one eyebrow cocked as she looked him up and down. "Gone are the days when ye had three léines to yer name, M'Laird. Yer wardrobe is rivaling mine."

He looked down at himself, fully decked out in Rothach colors, and looked up at her laughing face.

"It certainly wasnae a complaint," she added. "I shall enjoy peelin' all those layers off ye later," she said with a wink.

Alex felt arousal shoot through him at her playfulness.

"Come now," she continued in that tone of hers that brooked no argument, "me sisters have arrived, and the games are about to begin."

As Isobel walked down the stone steps ahead of him, Alex felt a swell of pride as he saw the banners and flags of both clans flying ahead of them, just as they had at their wedding. How different he felt now than he had that day. All the uncertainty and shame were gone, and now he simply loved the life he had built with his wife.

The castle around them was now fully refurnished, every window replaced, every wall rebuilt. Isobel had left her mark on it, just as much as Alex had, over the previous year.

After the main structure was complete, they had restored the gardens, and he had spent many happy hours with Isobel in what had once been his mother's rose garden. They had chosen new plants and designed it together, and it had become one of his favorite places to spend time in. He was truly at home here.

He looked to his left as a black furball sprinted over the wall toward him, and with a great yowl of protest, another ginger furball followed it.

"Nicholas!" Isobel called angrily to the ginger cat that landed on the grass and continued to chase the black cat around in circles. "Ye stop that at once."

She purposefully stepped off the bottom step and went to separate the cats, picking up the black one and glaring daggers at Nicholas. A long titter of laughter from the assembled crowds on the lawns floated to their ears.

She turned, handing the black cat to Alex, who took it into his arms without hesitation, and it settled happily in the crook of his arm.

"I dinnae ken why ye cannae get along with each other. Willow is the gentlest thing on this earth," Isobel chided.

Alex was about to reply that he had no problem with Willow when he realized she was speaking to the ginger cat. He chuckled as he gently placed Willow down on the stone wall beside him, where she settled on a warm stone and rolled over on her belly in the sun.

"How many is it now?" Lionel asked as he approached them.

"How many what?" Alex asked him. "Cats or dogs, or rabbits?" he said with mock exasperation. "If she could catch a deer, I swear we'd be breeding stags before the year is out."

Lionel laughed heartily, and Alex grinned at him.

Over the past year, Lionel had proven himself to be a great friend, helping Alex and Isobel overcome the many obstacles they had faced.

"At least Rothach castle is full of life now." Lionel smiled warmly.

"Rothclyde!" Isobel and Alex corrected him at once.

"How does she hear everything?" Lionel asked, and Alex laughed as Isobel glared at them before walking away.

"She is right, though," Alex said softly.

Angus, who was standing a few feet behind them, as the official adjudicator for the games, gave Alex a nod in greeting. Isobel turned back, rolling her eyes at him affectionately as she walked over to him to discuss the proceedings.

Alex looked around for something to occupy himself with. He knew better than to try to take any control today—this was Isobel's tournament and always would be.

He glanced across the open arena and spotted Gavin in the crowd grinning widely at him. He walked over to him as Isobel and Angus began to make the announcements for the beginning of the tournament.

It was a year to the day since Alex had first seen his warrior woman and won her hand. Isobel had been adamant that the archery cup would be held annually in honor of that day.

"Ye look pleased with yerself," Gavin noted as Alex took up the spot beside him to watch.

"Is he givin' ye any trouble yet?" Alex asked, addressing Gavin's beautiful wife, Meredith, whom his man-at-arms had married only four weeks ago.

Meredith's eyes shone with merriment as she looked up at them both. "He's a bother every day, M'Laird. Did ye nae ken that already?"

Gavin shook his head at their laughter, as they both exchanged knowing glances. Alex looked around at the many people gathered together, catching sight of a few of the pirates amongst the crowd, as well as an intermingling of Clan Rothach and Clan Clyde guests.

It had been many months since he had to worry if the pirates would settle in these parts. Since Rory's death, any animosity and unrest appeared to have died down, and they were fully settled within the villages, happy and content.

It had been a most happy occasion when Gavin had approached him to tell him that he was thinking of proposing to a girl from the village. Meredith was good for him. Alex still enjoyed the moments when Gavin's gaze would catch his own, both of them marveling at how two pirates had managed to find love.

As Alex continued to look around the assembled crowds, Isobel's sisters approached, along with Leo and Hunter. They all bowed low to him, and he bowed in return with a smile.

Lydia came to stand beside him, looping her arm through his, and he smiled down at her. She was no longer afraid of him. In fact, he was teaching her how to shoot arrows like her sister. She had complained that Isobel was far too intimidating to learn from, and he had jokingly offered to help.

It had been a stroke of genius. The timid, little sister he had grown to be wary of had begun to blossom in recent months. She seemed to be coming out of her shell, although he still couldn't keep up with the number of books she devoured.

"Who do ye think may win today?" Alex asked her.

"Isobel," Emma, Lydia, and Nora all answered in unison.

Alex frowned at them as they chuckled at his expression.

Lydia sighed loudly and then giggled with delight as one of the many kittens and cats around the castle chose that moment to rub against her legs. She picked it up and hugged it to her chest happily.

"Which one is this?" she asked Alex.

"I believe that is Ember. Isobel will tell ye he has red flecks in his fur, but I cannae see them." He scratched the cat beneath its chin, and it started purring.

He looked down at Lydia and frowned at her sad expression.

"Everythin' all right, lass? I'm sure we can manage to lend ye a kitten if ye need one."

Lydia gave him a brave smile. "I just wondered if I'll ever be as happy as ye are. I didnae believe it would ever work out like it has, but I'm glad ye're me braither-in-law. I wasnae sure if ye would ever admit ye love her. I believe it happened at the first arrow."

Alex chuckled affectionately and lowered his voice. "I believe ye may be right, but dinnae tell yer sister that, or else I'll never hear the end of it," he said with a grin. "There's plenty of time for ye to find happiness, lass. We'll find ye a man who will build ye the biggest library in the land."

Lydia's eyes sparked with delight at the thought, and Emma laughed at her.

"He'd never get her back if he did that, Alex," Hunter teased, and they all laughed together.

Suddenly, a hush fell over them, and Alex turned to see Isobel looking at him expectantly. Clearly, he was meant to be listening, which he had entirely failed to do. He looked back at her a little sheepishly.

She turned to the crowd with a put-upon sigh. "It appears Laird Rothach wasnae listenin'. Shall he forfeit the game?" she asked, and there was much hollering and cheering from the crowd.

Alex stepped forward swiftly. "Cannae take me, is that it?" he taunted.

She looked up at him with a scowl. "I can take any man ye throw at me, M'Laird, and I'll even give ye the first shot."

He bowed low as she stepped back, her arms crossed over her chest, the crowd watching them with bated breath. Alex selected his bow and arrow from those on display and stepped up to the mark, taking a deep breath.

"I hear ye're quite the archer," she said, for his ears only, and he felt a grin spread across his face.

He had never smiled so much as he did with this woman by his side.

"I'm a fair shot, ‘tis true. But some say I'm married to the best archer in all the Highlands."

As his gaze returned to the target and he loosed the arrow, he felt everything come full circle. Today was the happiest of days, born from the darkest of times in his past. He could not be happier to be standing amongst his people with his wife by his side.

He turned as she stepped up to the mark.

Isobel notched the arrow in her bow, taking careful aim. The crowd was utterly silent. Then, with a cheeky smirk, she looked over at him as she loosed the arrow, not even watching it as it sailed toward the target.

The crowd roared wildly as her arrow hit the center of Alex's attempt, splitting it down the middle and breaking it into pieces.

Isobel lowered the bow as he watched her, feeling heat coil in her belly at his look. "I believe that means I get to claim the prize," she quipped, turning to him with a low bow.

Alex pulled her to him, his love for her suffusing his being as he took her lips in a short but intense kiss.

The crowd cheered.

"I dinnae need to win," he whispered in her ear. "I won the best prize there is a year ago today."

The End?