Epilogue

Epilogue

One year later…

War still raged between Clans McMillan and McFerguson, and it seemed unlikely that it would stop any time soon. Though Jocelyn enjoyed much of her life these days—freedom to spend time with her sisters doing as they pleased, every wonderful moment she got to spend with her nephews, and every second she was with her beloved husband—fear still resided in her heart. It wasn't fear for herself, nor even for Lachlan; she knew that whatever happened, they would survive so long as they had each other.

But since the moment she'd discovered that she was pregnant a month before, a new kind of concern and worry had settled in her heart. When her baby arrived, she knew that it would be brought into a family who loved and protected it more than many children would ever know. Her little one would be blessed with aunts and an uncle and a mother and father who'd do anything to keep him or her safe. Not to mention the child's grandmother, Maggie, who was stepping into the role of mother for Jocelyn in a way she'd never known before.

It wasn't enough, though; panic still plagued Jocelyn's heart at the idea of bringing her child into this world while Bram was still active and very much seeking to hurt them all. She heard reports from the front line of the war every day, and the battles often led to bloody conclusions that would have broken even the hardest of hearts.

She'd voiced her fears to Lachlan, and though he'd tried to comfort her, she wasn't sure he knew exactly what to say. After all, words could not change that Jocelyn's murderous cousin wanted nothing more than to see her and her whole family dead—and that bringing a baby into the middle of things would just complicate it even further.

But now she sat on Lachlan's horse, her arms around his waist as they rode to a mystery location he'd promised would help soothe her fears. She didn't know where they were going and he would not tell her, but they'd been riding for hours, and she knew they must now be close to the borders of the clan.

"Where are we—" she asked again, but then they turned a corner and the glistening waters of Loch Skuggi were there to answer her question, greeting her like an old friend.

Lachlan led Stormcloud to a newly-erected hitching post, complete with hay and water for the horse to graze, and helped Jocelyn down to the ground. Silently, he offered her his hand, and she took it, allowing her to guide him a short distance away.

It was a small but well-built cottage, obviously brand new, surrounded by flowers and fresh grass, right there on the shore of the loch.

"What is this?" she asked in wonder.

He led her inside. The little cottage was beautifully decorated, warm and cozy, a large fireplace cheerfully greeting them with its already-lit flame. Lachlan must have asked someone to prepare it ahead of time. There were three rooms; the main sitting area, complete with several bookcases full of stories, and a bedroom, which housed a large, comfortable looking bed.

It was the third room that made Jocelyn gasp. A beautiful hand-crafted crib sat there, and the room had been carefully decorated to mimic the beauty of the forest outside. When she glanced out of the window, she saw the beauty of the shore.

"James gave me the land as a weddin' gift," Lachlan told her. He was watching her carefully, a gentle smile on his face. "Just as he always said he would. I made him swear nae tae tell ye, nae until I'd finished makin' it perfect. And now I have."

Jocelyn stared at him in pure wonder. "Ye did all of this?"

Lachlan nodded. "Our home is in the castle, of course," he told her. "Me duties lie there, and our family is there as well. But with all this madness goin' on, with the war, and with the bairn, and with everythin' else—I thought we deserved a wee sanctuary of our own, as well."

"Lachlan," she whispered, her hands going to her belly for a moment. "It's wonderful."

"Ye really like it?" he asked. His eyes shone wide and hopeful, making him look young and innocent.

She laughed, running forward and into his arms. As they held each other, she said, "Ye're still full of surprises, Lachlan McAndrew."

He chuckled and kissed her hair. "Whatever happens next, Jocelyn, I want ye tae ken one thing for sure. I'll always protect ye, and the bairn, nay matter what."

"I ken," she told him, nestling into his chest and enjoying the sound of his heartbeat. "And when our bairn is born, he or she will ken that their daddy and uncle are fightin' for peace."

"And their mother and aunts, as well," Lachlan added. "Ye four sisters have fight in ye, right enough."

She laughed and kissed him briefly. "And one day," she added, "Hopefully soon, the war will be over. Then, our bairn and our nephews will finally be able to live in peace. In the land of their mothers' birthright. I'll make sure of it."

Lachlan nodded, looking serious now. "I ken. And we will make sure of it, I swear it. Together."

Thank you so much for reading my book!