Epilogue

EPILOGUE

May 18, 1784

A longside Margaret, Muireall gathered dishes and returned them to the basket in which they had carried the food and supplies for their picnic. Warm sunshine bathed them while a gentle breeze kissed their faces. Muireall paused and closed her eyes, releasing a contented sigh. Now full of green leaves, the trees of the forest offered their hushed whispers while a cardinal chirped its tell-tale "tweet" from a safe distance.

Deep chuckles drew her from her reverie, and she turned to where Jude and Iain played mock sword-fight with the boys with long sticks they had scavenged up. Muireall smiled. "They are so precious," she told her sister for what was probably the millionth time in the last month and a half.

"That they are." Margaret gave her usual contented reply, as she, too, leaned back and watched the men and boys play.

Muireall settled in next to her, testing her arm as she leaned on it. Though the bone had mended, the muscles protested the stretching after their time of confinement.

Once again, she closed her eyes and turned her face heavenward. Thank Ye, Lord, for the blessin' of family. An' for gettin' us here today, all together, Margaret's family an' me own. I only pray that Ye bless ours as Ye have hers.

A shadow fell over Muireall, and she opened her eyes to find her husband smiling down at her. He pulled his hat from his head and tossed it to the side as he settled beside her. He leaned close. "I suppose it could not hurt to have a couple of young 'uns of our own runnin' around."

Muireall planted a kiss on his cheek. "I believe ye read me mind." She nestled into his strong, if sweaty, embrace and relaxed into the joy and peace of the moment.

"Hey." Jude nudged her, coaxing her attention to his face. "I love you."

Muireall grinned. "I love ye too."

Finally, after years of searching, she had no fear of the future and what it might hold. Over and over, the Lord had seen her through the unimaginable. And now, she was surrounded by family who could help her through whatever life threw her way. That, it seemed, was the greatest blessing. For now that the truth was in the open, she had the support she needed. No longer did she have to wander through the darkness alone.

T urn the page for a sneak peek of Rescue in the Wilderness , the next book in the Frontier Hearts series!