Epilogue

Two months later…

Summer had come to the Highlands, and the scent of heather and flowers was heavy in the air. May smiled as she breathed in the smell from her window. Today was her wedding day, when she could finally embrace the happiness she’d always yearned for.

The last two months had been the best of her life. Not only was she betrothed to Evander, but the feud was over, so she no longer had to fear the depredations of the MacDonell clan.

Even better, she and her father had finally mended their relationship and begun to develop the closeness she’d always hoped they might have. They’d bonded over stories of her mother as May prepared for her own wedding to the man she loved.

A knock at the door announced the arrival of Catreena MacBean and Lillias, who would stand with her. Alec and Bran Mackintosh would be standing with Evander, while the rest of their assorted kith and kin would stand as witnesses when she and Evander joined their lives together.

Catreena looked bemused, and May glanced at her. “Is something the matter with me dress?” She was wearing a new pale green dress with delicate embroidery. She also wore a sash in MacPherson colors, which would be replaced with one in Mackintosh colors when the ceremony was over.

“Nae yer dress. I was just surprised tae see Enna Cameron here.” Catreena looked a bit flustered. “I kent that Evander felt it needful tae invite her, but I’m surprised she came.”

“Nae Cameron,” Lillias shook her head. “She’s wed, and it’s her husband that came with her.” Lillias smiled. “She did tell me more than once that she wished Evander and May happiness.”

May smiled. She and Enna had become something like… friends over the past two months, now that they were no longer competing for Evander’s affection, and she knew the other woman was happy with her new husband, laird Finn MacDougall. “’Tis true enough.”

Catreena shrugged. “As ye will. In any case, ‘tis almost time fer the ceremony, so we’d best get tae our places.”

May nodded and followed her two ladies to the doors of the Great Hall of Mackintosh Castle, where her father was waiting for her. Within the Hall, she could hear the soft voices of their guests, and the sound of music. Her heart swelled with joy, and she clutched her father’s arm.

Silence fell, then the music for the groom’s entrance began. May felt a momentary pang of doubt, a small fear that Evander might not come, might leave her waiting at the altar. It was banished a moment later, as the music for her own entrance began to play, and her father led her through the doors behind Catreena and Lillias.

Evander stood beside his brothers and the priest, dressed in a Mackintosh kilt, a fine linen shirt, and a tooled leather vest. His golden hair shone bright as the sunlight that fell around him, and his green eyes were blazing with love and joy as he watched her approach.

All around them, their friends and family watched, whispering, as she walked up to meet him. May only had eyes for Evander, and she scarcely would have remembered to pass her flowers to Catreena, if her father hadn’t nudged her gently to remind her.

Her hands were placed in Evander’s, and the two of them turned to the priest.

“Who brings this man this day tae be wed?”

“I, Alec Mackintosh, Laird of Mackintosh Clan, dae bring this man, Evander Mackintosh, tae be wed this day.”

“And who brings this woman tae be wed?”

“I, Connor MacPherson, Laird o’ Clan MacPherson, dae bring this woman, me daughter May MacPherson, tae be wed this day.”

The priest spoke a short blessing that May didn’t really hear as she focused her attention on Evander’s brightly glowing eyes and the love she saw there.

She heard the priest speak to Evander, asking their vows, and Evander’s strong voice. “I dae so swear.”

Then the priest turned to her. “And dae ye, May MacPherson, swear tae take this man and cherish him, through all seasons of life, through toil and trouble as well as joy and laughter, in sickness and health and all in-between?”

She raised her chin, her eyes meeting Evander’s as she spoke her own vow. “I dae so swear.”

Another blessing. Her sash was removed and her new one draped across her shoulders by Alec, in his position as Laird Mackintosh. Then she heard the words she felt she’d been waiting a lifetime to hear. “I now pronounce ye husband and wife. Ye may kiss yer bride.”

Evander’s kiss was fierce, as brilliant and full of warmth and joy as his eyes. May would willingly have drowned in the heat of his mouth, the warmth of his touch, had not a discrete cough brought them both back to their senses.

Her cheeks flushed as they turned to face the waiting crowd, her steps weightless with joy as they began to walk back down the aisle, accompanied by the words she’d yearned for – words she’d once feared she’d never hear.

“I give ye War Leader Evander and May Mackintosh!”