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Epilogue

EPILOGUE

R oselyn and Braden made a triumphant return to the castle. Duncan, the carriage driver, returned at first light, finding Roselyn and the laird asleep. He was filled with remorse when he discovered what had happened, having got lost in the dark and spent the night wandering in the forest.

Braden forgave him at Roselyn's insistence, and the carriage driver returned them to the castle, where there was much by way of a story to tell. Calder and the other clansmen had arrived there at first light, bearing Donald's body with them. He had been buried without ceremony and the full story was explained.

"I cannae believe it," Kenna kept saying, shaking her head, though it was not clear whether she was referring to her uncle's responsibility for the murder or Braden's speech.

The laird did not hold back, and the whole castle soon knew he possessed the power of speech once again. But it was Innes, his mother, who shed the most tears.

"I never thought I'd hear ye speak again, Braden," she said, embracing him, as tears rolled down her cheeks.

She had borne a terrible secret, crushed by the weight of what she knew and could not tell. She had done it all to protect Braden and Kenna, but the price had been a heavy one, and in marrying Donald, she had martyred herself for the sake of her children. But all that was behind her now, and for the first time, Roselyn saw a smile on her face.

"Ye see what ye've done, lass – ye see the good things ye've done," Braden said, and Roselyn smiled.

"It was you who did it, Braden," she said.

She had been welcomed as part of the clan, and with Braden at her side, she was acclaimed as mistress, even as one question remained to be asked.

"Will ye walk with Apollo and I this afternoon, lass? There's somewhere I want to take ye," Braden said, after Roselyn had rested that morning, and Elena had insisted on her bathing and changing into fresh clothes.

Roselyn agreed, happy to be in his company, and that the ordeals of the past hours were over. She had meant what she said in the forest – she loved him, and she would remain in Scotland, even as she knew her parents would have something to say about it.

She and Braden now walked up the steep path through the forest, turning off at the point where the stream flowed, and came to the waterfall, where Apollo promptly leaped into the water.

"Will he ever learn?" Braden exclaimed, as the dog shook himself vigorously on emerging from the water.

"Oh, Apollo, you're getting me all wet," Roselyn said, but the dog did not seem to care, leaping into the crystal-clear pool and swimming towards the waterfall.

"Shall we join him?" Braden asked, pulling off his shirt, and Roselyn smiled.

"What if someone sees?" she replied, glancing over her shoulder, but Braden laughed.

"Few people know about this waterfall, and fewer still come here. Besides, if they do, they'll only see two people in love – what harm is there in that. Come, lass, I want to ask ye somethin' – swim to the waterfall with me," he said, and he leaped into the water, emerging with a great splash, as Roselyn took off her clean dress.

"I'll be in trouble with Elena," she called out, as Braden beckoned her into the water.

Despite the warmth of the day, the water was icy cold, and as Roselyn jumped in, she let out a cry. Braden laughed, striking out strongly across the water, as Roselyn followed behind.

Reaching the waterfall, he climbed out, holding out his hand to her and pulling her up onto the ledge. He was dripping wet, and he threatened to shake himself off, even as Roselyn gave him a warning look.

"Oh, come now, lass, ye're wet already," he winked, but with a sudden movement she pushed him back into the water, laughing as he splashed about, grinning at her as he emerged from beneath the surface.

"Ye know I'll get ye back for that," he said, clambering back out.

She gave a shriek as he made to chase her, and ducked beneath the falling water to find that the rock space opened up into a cave, where the walls sparkled in the reflection of the sun through the falling water, and a thousand rainbows danced in the spray. It was beautiful, and Roselyn was quite taken aback by it.

"It's beautiful. I didn't realize it was here," she said, as Braden slipped his hand into hers.

"Aye, lass, tis' a beautiful place, and even fewer know of it than of the waterfall itself. I often used to swim here in my youth, and even now. I wanted to show it to ye, because tis' a special place for me and I want to ask ye a question here," he said, and to Roselyn's surprise, he kneeled before her, looking up into her eyes with an imploring and hopeful expression on his face.

"Braden, I—" she started, but he shook his head, causing her to fall silent.

"I wanted to ask ye this last night. I came after ye because I wanted ye to know how much I love ye. I wanted to show ye how much I love ye… and I want to do so forever. Marry me, Roselyn," he said, the last words almost lost in the rush of the waterfall.

But Roselyn did not need time to think. She knew her answer, and her answer was yes. In Braden, she had found the man she would marry – a most unexpected man, but a man who filled her with such happiness and hope for the future, a man she had fallen in love with in the most unexpected way.

He did not need words to express his love for her – he had shown her, and as he rose to his feet, she threw her arms around him, kissing him, as he embraced her.

"You have shown me how much you love me, and I hope I've shown you, too. My words are the same as yours. I love you Braden, and I can't imagine my life without you. I love you with all my heart, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I came to Scotland thinking I had a job to do – but the rest…" she said, as he ran his fingers through her hair, their foreheads resting against one another's.

"And ye did yer job admirably, lass – ye've brought out the best in me, but I suppose we cannae know for certain until yer parents give their permission," he said, but Roselyn laughed.

Her parents would give their opinion – she was certain of that – but as for objecting…

"Well, my parents can't possibly object now. They wanted me to marry, and that's what I'm going to do. They'll be surprised, I'm sure, but let them be," she replied, and leaning up, she kissed him once again, caught up in the happy moment of betrothal, and knowing only the happiness they now shared.

"Oh, what a steep climb. Are we nearly there yet?" Matilda exclaimed, pausing to catch her breath.

Roselyn turned to her and smiled. It was the day of the wedding, and the wedding feast and Roselyn, Braden, Kenna, Innes, Calder, and Roselyn's family – her mother, father, and two sisters – were making their way up the mountainside to the waterfall.

This was where the ceremony was to take place, presided over by one of the clansmen, a party of whom had gone ahead of them to make preparations. It had been strange for Roselyn to see the arrival of her family in Scotland, and even stranger for them. But she was glad they were there, and her parents had given her their blessing, despite their initial surprise at her desire to marry the Laird of the McGrahams.

"Nearly, but it's no different to walking the valley at home, is it?" Roselyn said, for in the months she had now spent in Scotland, she had become used to the steep climbs and soaring cliffs.

Matilda gave her a withering look, but it was not long before they arrived at the waterfall, where garlands of flowers had been hung from the trees, and the clan, in their kilts and tunics, were waiting with a guard of honor. A piper was playing, and as Roselyn and Braden entered the clearing, a cheer went up from the gathered assembly.

"Step forward laird, and take the arm of yer wife to be," one of the clan elders said.

He was to conduct the ceremony, and Roselyn and Braden were to pronounce their vows before their family and the rest of the clan. Braden offered Roselyn his arm, smiling at her, as the piper's tune came to an end. Silence fell around the water's edge, but a sudden movement caused Roselyn to startle.

It was Apollo, and he leaped into the pool, causing a great splash and cries of dismay from Matilda and Grace, both of whom were soaked. Roselyn and Braden could not help but laugh, even as Apollo climbed onto the bank and shook himself.

"Tis' always Apollo who steals the thunder," Braden said, but as the elder now beckoned them forward, it was Roselyn and Braden to whom all eyes now turned, and as they pledged themselves to one another, promising fidelity and love their whole lives long, no one could deny the love they shared, and their love expressed in word and deed.

The End?

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