Somewhere out there, Kieran MacAllister might still be alive.
And G.o.d have mercy on his brother should he ever find him.
Epilogue.
A month later Ewan held Nora"s hand as they walked through the framework that would one day soon be their new home. It would be a fine manor home fit for his lady wife and their new babe, whose arrival was now confirmed.
His heart light, he watched Nora tell the steward exactly what she wanted the great hall to look like while his own thoughts drifted.
He still couldn"t believe what Lochlan had told him about Kieran.
None of them could.
Kieran was alive.
If he ever got his hands on him, Ewan would kill him for it.
d.a.m.n his brother for his selfishness that had cost all of them untold years of suffering.
But it was hard to hate Kieran, for it when all he had to do was look at his wife and think of the joy she gave him. For her, he would gladly suffer all over again.
Ewan was still wary that the MacKaids would make good their threats against them.
So far no trace of them had been found.
Not that he was worried. It would take more than them to come between him and his wife. Not to mention that Pagan had sworn to see them dead over what they"d done to Lysander.
Ewan held little doubt the man would make good on his promise. Something about Pagan said that he would make a formidable enemy.
Surely the man would make them regret the very day they had been born.
"Ewan?"
Looking up at Nora"s call, he went over to her side.
She stood in the center of what would one day soon be their own hall, where they would entertain and live out a life he had never dared hope for.
"Think you this will be finished by the time the baby comes?"
Ewan nodded. "Aye, my love. I"ll make sure of it."
He cast a meaningful look to the steward, who quickly a.s.sured him all would be done in plenty of time.
Nora smiled at her husband as the steward rushed away and told the workmen to hurry their labors.
These had been the happiest months of her life. She couldn"t imagine anything better than the life they had now.
Well, except that she still wanted to travel.
But Ewan had promised her that as soon as the baby was old enough, he would take them to Aquitaine to visit her mother"s family.
She took his hand and laced his fingers with hers. "You know, my lord, I am suddenly feeling very tired."
He c.o.c.ked a brow at that. "Are you?"
She tried to keep her face straight as she frowned, but couldn"t quite manage it.
Instead, she feigned a yawn. "Aye, you needs get me home soon or else I could fall asleep where I stand."
Ewan laughed and scooped her up in his arms. "In that case, love, I"d best be on my way."
Nora laughed as he sprinted with her toward their horses.
Once he had her astride her own, she leaned down and whispered in his ear.
"You know, Cat sent me a package."
A deep, l.u.s.tful glint came to his eyes. Every time a package arrive from Cat it always heralded something that made her husband extremely happy.
"Did she now?" he asked.
"Aye," she said, thinking of the sheer gown that awaited them. The material was so thin that it would scarce cover her. "This time, it"s ared one."
She saw the fire in his eyes as he leaped onto his own horse. He set his heels into the flanks and tore off at a breakneck speed.
Nora followed along at her slower speed.
"Nora!" he called, urging her on.
How she loved this man, impatience and all.
But then when taming a bear, one could only do so much.
THE END.