Callum laughed softly behind her, tightening the arm that rested around her waist. “Yes, Victoria, I agree.”
“Callum, what are we going to do now?”
The question hung in the air between them, as they both thought about their past, what had transpired that night, and the future that lay ahead.
After Angus had arrived with two of his officers, he quickly assessed the situation and took the three fur trappers into custody. They also helped a weak, fairly silent Gregor out of the cabin and onto a horse. Callum still hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to him about everything that had transpired. The Mounties also still had questions for him, about Sophie and the apparent treasure that had led to so much trouble.
After determining Callum and Victoria would both be fine after some rest, the two of them climbed on Ansgar and headed for home. “Home,” for tonight at least, would be Aunt Sarah’s.
They brought up the back of the line of horses, with the offenders out front flanked by officers, and Gregor ahead of them.
As Callum wrestled with his thoughts, Victoria broke the silence. “Callum, I know you have responsibilities at home, in Scotland. As beautiful as this land is, if you’re going back, I’m going with you. I know your land would be just as wonderful, and your family sounds so amazing. The people may not like an Englishwoman in their midst, but I’ll do all I can to make them like me eventually. I would be happy to meet them and live with them — and most especially with you, wherever you may be.”
Callum planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Thank you Victoria, that means the world to me. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I love it here as much as you do. I can really see a life for us here. A fresh start. I like Angus and I think I could work with him and the Mounties. Your aunt is here, and you’ve just reconnected. Perhaps we stay.”
She sat upright.
“What? But you have so adamantly said that you have to keep your promise, your traditions. How has that changed?”
“You’ve changed me. My thoughts, my realization that sometimes you have to weigh your priorities. I love my family, but I love you too. The most important thing now is that we are both happy, together, and we create our own life. My father’s letter and the talk of Finlay and Kyla and the connection of the clans also had me thinking. I may be the eldest, but Finlay is the one with the passion for the job, and the head on his shoulders to really make a difference in the clan. He should take over as chieftain, not me. It was always meant to be him. Maybe it’s time for tradition to change.”
“You love me?” A tear fell out of one of her eyes as he gently pulled her to him and kissed it away.
“Yes, Victoria, of course I love you. That’s why, I think, we should stay here.”
“Oh Callum, I love you too. So much so. But are you sure?” Victoria looked back at him over her shoulder. “It is up to you Callum, it really is.”
“I am fairly sure. I’d like to write Finlay about it before talking to my father. I need to know his thoughts. This land, though — it speaks to me.”
They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they followed the horse in front of them, Gregor’s head bobbing.
Victoria woke the next day and quickly realized that it was not morning. Their return had been so late, they didn’t sleep until it was nearing the morning hours. It was now certainly past noon. She didn’t have to look beside her to know that Callum was no longer in bed with her.
She heard voices downstairs and figured he must be up with Aunt Sarah. It had been quite the return last evening. Sarah had been distraught over Victoria’s whereabouts, and it had taken quite some time to provide her enough details to satisfy her and for Victoria to calm her down enough to sleep. They promised to go over the whole escapade in detail when they woke up.
They were, however, still in the dark about quite a bit that had gone on. They were due at the barracks to have dinner with Gregor, and the chance to understand the past happenings after the Mounties questioned him. Callum had wanted to be there for the questioning, but Angus had drawn the line at that.
She readied herself and made her way down the stairs.
“Good morning — or, good afternoon?”
“Oh Victoria!” Sarah rushed at her again, enveloping her in a giant hug as if she hadn’t just seen her hours before. “Callum was just filling me in with a few more details. Now here, let me make you something to tide you over and then you must be on your way.”
Victoria and Callum shared a small smile as Victoria allowed Sarah to shuffle her over to the table and prepare toast and tea.
The back door suddenly opened and Charlie’s big frame filled the doorway. “Good morning!” his voice boomed. “Victoria, how are you my dear?”
“Fine, Charlie, thank you.”
“You caused quite the excitement around here last night. Poor Sarah was worried sick.”
“I know, I’m so sorry. And to you, Charlie, for causing any hardship as well.”
“It’s no hardship to console a beautiful woman,” he answered, looking at Sarah, who quickly returned to her task but not before her face flushed a deep crimson.
“Well, perhaps we should be going to see Angus,” said Callum, standing up and drawing Victoria to him.
“Angus? I thought we had some time until—”
“Victoria, time to go.” Callum interjected, raising his eyebrows toward Charlie, who was still staring intently at Sarah, who was equally determined to ignore him.
“Ah, yes, that’s right. We did say we would go early. All righty, see you later, Sarah, Charlie…” Victoria chattered as Callum guided her out the door.
When they’d gone, Charlie walked over to Sarah, and put his hands on her waist slowly, so as not to startle her away. Her turned her around to face him.
“Sarah,” he said. “I think you must know by now my feelings toward you.”
“Well, I do feel as if you have a certain affection toward me, surely…”
“Affection, yes, but it’s so much more than that. Last night, when Victoria was missing and you turned toward me, I was overjoyed. That I could be there for you, and that you trust me, has such meaning for me.” He brought his forehead down to hers. “Sarah. Say you’ll be mine.”
She started to tremble, her lip quivering, as he leaned on the counter and supported his weight, landing on one knee.
“Sarah, will ye marry me?”
Tears fell from her eyes as she knelt down with him and softly kissed his lips. “Of course I will. Now what are two old fools like us doing on the floor?”
He laughed and drew her to him, but lost his balance and they fell to the floor, laughing at one another as they held each other close.
Callum and Victoria greeted Angus at the door. He was quick to tell them that the three former fur trappers had turned on one another and confessed all, each in a quest for a better deal. Angus was grateful to Callum and Victoria for their help, but fairly stern about civilians taking the law upon themselves to uphold.
“It’s quite the tale your cousin has, lad,” Angus told Callum, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll let him tell ye himself.”
He led them into the barracks, to a room with a long table and benches, likely a dining hall for the officers.
Seated at the end of one bench was Gregor. He had washed, but he still had a haggardness about him, and his shoulders drooped low.
“Callum,” he said, rising. “And lass, thank you.”
Callum made the introductions, Gregor’s eyebrows rising when Callum introduced Victoria as his wife. He didn’t question it though, but sat down to the split pea soup that was placed in front of them.
“I must apologize, Callum,” he said. “For you coming all the way from England, for dragging you into this mess, for putting you in danger — all because I wanted to get away from it all and then had my head turned by a pretty face. No disrespect, lass.”
“It’s fine,” said Victoria.
“Sophie, she’s a looker, that one.
She caught my eye not long after I arrived. I got on with Hudson’s Bay and was helping with land deals. We met one day at the diner, or saloon if you prefer. I was having a pint, she was having a meal. Her blonde curls and sweet little dimple drew me in. I’d heard the stories about her, her family, but didn't know what to believe. We spent some time together, but she never mentioned any sort of treasure, and I never pressed her.
“We were out walking one night when those three happened upon us. They took us up to that shack and insisted we tell them where this treasure was hidden. Sophie told them she had given it to me and had no idea where it was, so could she go free? They said they agreed and took her to another town. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. She sold me out, but I hope she’s all right.
“They kept pressing me about it, but as I didn't know anything about this treasure, there was really nothing to tell them. Finally, you came along.”
There was silence for a moment before Victoria asked, “Angus? Have you found anything about the girl?”
“The men say they did in fact take her to a town a few days’ ride from here. We have an officer going to see if what they say is true. I cannot see why they would lie, knowing we can check up on the story.”
“What now?” asked Callum. He had been silent through Gregor’s story but now spoke up.
“Now? I’m not sure. I cannot go home, to Scotland, after this. Nor do I want to. I think now, I do what I came here to do. Find land, make this home.”
“I think that’s a fine idea.” Callum broke into a grin and the two hugged one another like the brothers they truly were.
Before they left, Angus took Callum and Victoria aside.
“I’ve been very pleased to get to know both of you,” the formal Angus had said to the couple sitting in front of him. “I ken ye must be anxious to get back to Scotland and your family, but I do hope you’ll say goodbye before you leave.”
“Well Angus,” said Callum, his face a solemn mask, “I do not think I can keep that promise. You see —” a slow grin spread across his face, “It does not look like we’ll be leaving after all.”
“You’re staying here?”
“We hope to be..”
“Well, I’ll be…” The usually expressionless man looked perplexed. “Are ye not the eldest son, next to be chieftain?”
“I am.”
“Ye cannot leave your home then —”
“I think perhaps I can. Times are changing and I don’t see why we canna change with them. My brother is competent and much more willing to take on the role of chieftain. He will do a far better job than I ever would. It’s not unheard of for the role to pass to another in the family. And I’ve come to love it here, as has Victoria.”
“Well then,” said Angus. “I donna suppose I could convince you to take a position with us at the North-West Mounted Police?”
“Why Angus,” answered Callum, “I thought you’d never ask.”
On their return, as Callum wrapped his arms around her and nudged the horse along the path, Victoria thought back to the not-so-distant past when all she wanted was to run away from the Duke and her stepfather. If only she knew how much her life would change in such a short time. And how different it is when you have someone or something to run to. Home is not so much about where you are but who you’re with. This place was now home but she was willing to leave it all if it meant more of a life with him. But — she had to admit to herself — she was so happy that he wanted to stay here as much as she did.
“Victoria,” said Callum. “What are you thinking about?”
“Life. You, us.”
He picked up her hand in his and brought it to his lips. “No more thinking,” he said. “Time to start our lives — together. This is where your stories say comes the time where ‘they all lived happily ever after.’”
Epilogue
The little girl ran through the grass, her hair streaming behind her as she waded into the lake. She giggled as the water lapped at her ankles. The sun bounced off her dark curls as she turned to look at her mother, who smiled at her while contently holding the girl’s little brother in her lap.
Suddenly the girl was scooped up from behind, and she erupted into laughter when she realized it was her father, who was soon raining kisses all over her face as he carried her back to where the picnic basket awaited the family.
Victoria shuffled the little boy into the crook of her left elbow as she opened up the basket Sarah had made for them that morning. As much as Victoria tried to convince her that she was a grown woman who was perfectly capable of cooking for her family, sure enough a couple of times a week Sarah would arrive at their home a few miles from town with baskets of food. This, in addition to the weekly Sunday meals Sarah and Charlie hosted.
Their wedding had been a beautiful affair. Victoria smiled as she thought of it. They held it outside the summer of 1883, on a July morning when the brilliant sun was just starting it’s ascent into the sky. The newlyweds beamed at each other with smiles of the young at heart.
Callum and Elizabeth’s arrival brought Victoria out of her daydream and back to her present, in which she was just as content. As Callum reached her, he dropped a kiss on her head, just as he had to Elizabeth, and reached an arm around his wife.
“Great spread, Vic,” he teased, tucking an unruly curl behind her ear.
“Why thank you,” she replied. “I worked quite hard.”
They spread out their dinner as Victoria smiled, thinking of how lucky they were.
She and Callum had returned to Scotland, long enough for Callum to express his wish to return to Fort Qu'Appelle, and to see the McDougall estate safely in the hands of his brother. Finlay had a way with the land and the people, and would make a fine chieftain. Now that he was named successor, the people would accept him as their future. Their father had taken some convincing, but accepted the fact that this was how his sons were determined it was to be.
They were in Scotland when Victoria had shared with Callum that she was with child. His family was jubilant, but they had returned home for Victoria to give birth. Callum made the return trip, in a cabin this time, with a newfound freedom as the weight of his future had been lifted from his shoulders. He realized now that becoming chieftain was always a burden to him, not a privilege, and he would be much happier in the life that was now set out before him.
He also had Gregor here with him, less than an hour’s ride away. Everything had been settled following his kidnapping affair. They were all relieved to hear that Sophie had been found alive and well, though without much explanation for her actions.
Victoria and Callum had lived with Sarah until they finished their dream house on the piece of land Callum had bought. It hadn’t been hard to convince Angus to give him a job as part of the North-West Mounted Police. He loved it.
And he loved his family. He looked over at his wife, busy trying to keep both children in line and fed while her hair, like always, came out of the top knot and trailed along the side of her face. As scattered as she was, when she looked up and smiled at him, her violet eyes that had always captivated him so reached in and reminded him that as much as the land felt like home, his home would always truly be not in any one place, but with her.
Read more by Ellie St. Clair
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ALSO BY ELLIE ST. CLAIR
Unmasking a Duke
Happily Ever After
The Duke She Wished For
Someday Her Duke Will Come
Searching Hearts
Quest of Honor
About the Author
E
llie has always loved reading, writing, and history. For many years she has written short stories, non-fiction, and has worked on her true love and passion -- romance novels.
In every era there is the chance for romance, and Ellie enjoys exploring many different time periods, cultures, and geographic locations. No matter when or where, love can always prevail. She has a particular soft spot for the bad boys of history, and loves a strong heroine in her stories.
She enjoys walks under the stars with her own prince charming, as well as spending time at the lake with her children, and running with her Husky/Border Collie cross.
www.prairielilypress.com/ellie-st-clair
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