Bonus scene

Sunlight streamed through the open curtains, landing in golden streaks on James’ face. Taryn propped herself up on one elbow, studying the way his lips rose to two gentle peeks below his strong nose. She traced the lines around his mouth with her finger, and then moved up to the few wrinkles that were already present around his eyes. She wondered what he had laughed at so often in his life to have caused the happy lines.

Under her touch, James roused, a slow, sleepy grin spreading across his face as soon as he realized where he was and who he was with.

“This is the first time in I dinnae ken how long that I have woken up in a bed nae in a room with fifty other men,” he joked, tucking a hand behind his head.

Taryn rolled until she was laid on his chest, one hand still holding her head up.

“I hope that is a good thing. If ye miss their company, or prefer the snores of men over mine, I am sure Lachlan would be happy to find ye a spot in his barracks.”

James laughed and raised up to kiss her. It was sweet and gentle, nothing at all like the kisses they had shared the night before.

“This is the happiest I have been, perhaps ever. Ye have spoiled me, my love. I will never again be content with a bed in the barracks.”

“Well,” she said with a smile. “It is a good thing ye will nae have to. I expect my husband to spend every night next to me.”

“Husband?” he questioned with an arched eyebrow. “Did I miss our wedding?”

“Nay,” Taryn shrugged. “But we have made vows to each other before God and others. Ye ken that I am yers and ye are mine. After last night, I am ruined for any other man, which is just as well—I dinnae want any other man. As far as I am concerned, we are wed.”

“Ye dinnae want a large wedding?”

“Who would we invite? My parents? My uncle?”

She said it in jest, but after another moment grew serious.

“We have been given a second chance, James. When I walked away from the McGregor Clan all those years ago, I thought I had given up any chance of a future with ye. I refuse to waste a single moment of the time we have together. If ye want a proper wedding, we can have one after we get Sorcha and Laura back. But I am telling ye now, in my mind, ye are my husband, and I am yer wife. It is as simple as that.”

James pulled her in close, pressing another kiss to her sore lips.

“As simple as that,” he echoed. “I suppose that means I can do much more of this.”

He kissed her again, deepening it, his hands roaming her skin. She was more than thrilled to be lost in the moment, but a knock at the door interrupted them.

“Taryn! We want to hear about where ye went,” Arran announced through the door.

“We?” James asked.

“Christopher says that ye were stolen, but that is nae true, right?”

“It is true, Elsie!” Christopher argued with his sister.

“They will stand there all day if we dinnae answer,” Taryn whispered to James.

He chuckled and moved from the bed and crossed the room. As he went, he pulled on his pants and shirt, hastily tucking them into place. Reaching in the wardrobe, he found Taryn a clean shift and a dressing gown, tossing both in her direction.

Once she was dressed, James opened the door, letting the children tumble in and climb onto the bed with Taryn.

“I hate to tell ye this,” Taryn said to Elsie, “but I was taken. A man snuck up on me while I was out on patrol and knocked me over the head so he could steal me away.”

Little Elsie gasping in horror.

“Was it verra scary?” the girl asked, clutching the blankets.

James eased into the chair by the fire, content to sit back and listen to Taryn tell their story.

“It was at first, but then two things happened that made it so much less frightening. First, I realized that I kent the man who had taken me. He was a dear friend of mine when I was a lass. I kent that he would never hurt me.”

“What was the second?” Arran asked, too quick to let anything go.

“I caught him talking to his horse!”

They all burst into laughter, James along with them. He watched as Taryn pulled the children in close so she could tell them about what it meant to do the right thing, and how she had been able to find her courage because of her memories with the people she loved.

“It is the ones we hold dearest who help us to be brave when things seem so verra dark. And it is those same people who push us to do better, to do what is right, even when it is hard.”

“Is that why James came back to rescue ye from the Laird? Even though he brought ye there in the first place?” Elsie questioned, still trying to work it all out in her young mind.

“I came back,” James answered, “because I had finally realized that I loved Taryn. That she needed my protection just as much as my sister does. I was too foolish to see it before, so I hope ye will learn from me, but it took finding Taryn again for me to realize that what has been happening in our clan is wrong. Even if nay one else stands up for what is right, I must.”

“But ye are nae the only one,” Christopher pointed out. “The courtyard is full of McGregors. They have been telling Lachlan all morning that they want to fight with ye.”

“Then that is what we will do,” Taryn told them all. “We have all felt the pain of losing our homes. Now that we have one again, we must fight for it. We must make sure that it stays safe and peaceful for the rest of our days.”

Taryn looked over at James, the continuous onslaught of questions from the children going in one ear and out the other, as she realized just how sincere her words were. She had never felt so at ease before, so completely at home and safe. And she knew she would do anything to protect her home and these children, her children. James gave her a knowing smile, one that promised he would be by her side throughout it all, no matter what may come.