Gavin shifted Reese to his other arm and reached back to lay a protective hand on Alana’s shoulder. “I’ll be at the birthing too, Elspeth. I want to be the first to greet our daughter.”
With a smothered laugh, Alana looked up from under her lashes. “You are certain it’s to be a lassie?”
“Aye, it will be.” He smoothed her hair back. “A daughter with hair the color of a sunset, eyes the color of a summer sky, and charming little ears.”
She stepped away, laughing out loud. “Stop jesting about my ears.”
He leaned in, brushing her ear with his lips. “I adore your ears.” A familiar shiver ran through her. She was certain if he lived to be eighty, his touch would affect her this way.
God certainly worked in mysterious ways. Who could have guessed that the ears she’d hidden all her life would be the thing to convince the clan leaders she was heiress to Gilmour Hall—that and Elspeth’s confession. Aye, she should be grateful for her ears. They were unique, proof Robert Gilmour was indeed her father.
With little trouble, birth records were corrected, citing Robert as her father and changing her name to Alana Gilmour.
As they continued along the cobblestone walk, she caught the arid smell of smoke. Over the hills wispy spirals marred the cloudless sky. “What’s burning?”
“The Kerr’s hovel,” Gavin said. “I forgot to tell you, but Matt returned for his mother and took her back to Glasgow with him.”
Another prayer answered. Alana had prayed for poor Essa, left alone in that awful place. The woman had led a sinful life, but what horror she’d endured. Her three older sons were all convicted of robbery and murder and hanged.
No one came forward to accuse Matt, and he’d worked as an apprentice to a cobbler, opening his own shop in Glasgow recently.
They entered the graveyard, and Elspeth went to Lyulf’s grave, while Alana and Gavin made their way to Barthram’s.
Gavin set Reese beside the tall headstone, and the child patted the polished stone surface. “Dranfadder.” He looked up, obviously seeking his parents’ reaction.
Alana cupped her son’s chin. “That’s right, little love, Grandfather was a great man as your father is a great man.”
“Don’t give the lad unreasonable expectations, dearest.” Gavin squatted down beside Reese. “Great I’m not. Let’s just agree to do the best we can.” He held his hand out and Reese grabbed his finger.
With a smile Alana handed the roses to Gavin to lay on Barthram’s grave. “I believe it is reasonable. Your best has led to a better life for us all. Of course, only God is truly great, but he uses us to accomplish great things.”
Reese scampered away, chasing a beetle, and after placing the flowers, Gavin sprang to his feet. “God’s done a good job of it too.”
She leaned into him, resting her hands on his chest. “I know I must have befuddled you when I first came here, a bride.” She straightened the lapels of his coat as she studied his face. “I couldn’t believe anyone would love me, that you’d married me because you felt it was your duty to your father and the clan.” This was something she’d never shared with him, and emotions choked her for a moment. “Then as you showed me time after time that you did love me, I could no longer deny it, and I fell in love with you.”
Gavin had trouble expressing his emotions too, but she saw in his eyes that he was deeply touched. He covered her hands with his, and his mouth worked as he struggled for words.
She wanted to hear those words but caught sight of Reese out of the corner of her eye and jerked back. “Gavin, go get him. He’s going to eat a bug.”
Gavin laughed. “All right, it’s time to go. I’ll get Reese. You get Elspeth.”
She watched him scoop up their son. They would continue the conversation she’d started later tonight in the privacy of their bed chambers. Turning around, she made her way to where Elspeth stood at Vanora’s grave.
Even after almost three years, Alana wasn’t able to totally accept Elspeth as her mother, though she had forgiven her and given her that name. Reese had brought a measure of affection between them, and that affection was growing.
Elspeth clutched a single, white rose to her chest, and as Alana approached, she turned to show her face where the trace of tears still glistened. Alana took the hand at her mother’s side.
“When this child is born, you won’t find your love divided, Alana. You’ll love Reese as you always have, and you’ll love the new child just as much.”
Alana nodded. “Indeed, I shall. Love is never divided. It only grows.”
Elspeth’s glance dropped to the headstone. “I came to love her as my own, but I never stopped loving you.” Her voice fell to a croak. “Yet I failed you both.”
Alana had hoped Elspeth would put her guilt behind her, but it was clear regret still stalked her. Before Alana could think of anything to say, Elspeth continued. “If I’d not done…what I did, you wouldn’t have suffered as you did, and she wouldn’t have met such an unhappy end.”
“You canna think that way, Mother. Our past sins are behind us…as far as the east is from the west as Scripture says. My past suffering has no ill effect on me now. I have a wonderful husband and son, perhaps a daughter soon, and a loving mother. I could ask for nothing more.”
She squeezed Elspeth’s hand, knowing she was unconvinced. “As to Vanora…I was reading in Barthram’s Bible the other day about how Jesus cast out devils and unclean spirits. He never condemned those who were tormented by those spirits, and neither should we. Who is to know whether Vanora was affected by such things? We canna judge, Mother. All we can do is leave it in God’s hands and trust in Him.”
“You’re right, of course.” Elspeth’s drawn lips wavered into a smile. “I see Gavin beckoning to us.” She pressed the flower into Alana’s hand and ambled off.
Alana tarried, drawn not to Vanora’s headstone, but heavenward. In a strange way she owed all her happiness to her cousin. But for Vanora’s duplicity, she would never have married Gavin, the love of her life. Now she knew the joy of motherhood and had a living mother of her own.
She had been shunned, never feeling she belonged, but now the clans honored her.
Strange indeed. This mystery of iniquity, as Bartram had observed.
Woe to the world because of offences. For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes.
Vanora bore witness to that truth. Yet God had taken the evil and turned it to good.
Alana dropped the white rose on Vanora’s grave and, bunching her skirt on both sides, hastened to join her family.
Where she belonged.
Author’s Note
Thank you, dear reader, for reading The Chieftain’s Choice. Readers are so important to the success and growth of good Christian fiction. If you enjoyed this book, please help us promote it by letting your friends know through social media and word of mouth. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive a free ebook, Cloaked in Love, and announcements about future books. https://dl.bookfunnel.com/or10xrsvje And, most important, pray for me and other authors. The publishing industry is an important way to enlighten the public about the love of God in an entertaining way. Since reviews are more important than ever for books to get noticed, please leave a review at Amazon.com, Bookbub, and Goodreads. I write only for the Lord’s glory and the reader’s pleasure, so I would much appreciate your opinion.
Books by this Author
The Annex Mail Order Brides series:
Adela’s Prairie Suitor
Ramee’s Fugitive Cowboy
Prudie’s Mountain Man
The Annex Mail-Order Brides Boxset
Intrigue under Western Skies series:
Book 1, Pursued
Book 2, Surrendered
Book 3, Revealed
Book 4, Escaped
The Wolf Deceivers series:
Book 1, The Chieftain’s Choice
Book 2, The Duke’s Dilemma
Book 3, The Captain’s Challenge
Also:
The Perfect Gift, a Christmas Novella
The Washwoman’s Christmas
Cloaked in Love
About the Author
Elaine Manders writes wholesome, Christian romance about the strong, capable women of history and present day and the men who love them. She lives in Central Georgia with a happy bichon-poodle mix. When not writing, she enjoys reading, sewing, crafts, and spending time with her daughter, grandchildren, and friends. You may contact the author at any of the following.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elaine.manders.35
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ehmanders
Email: [email protected]
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elaine-manders
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14151675.Elaine_Manders
The Chieftain's Choice (The Wolf Deceivers Series Book 1) Page 25
