An image flashed in his mind of Senara cradling a child, his child, in her arms.
His family.
His throat went tight with a hardness he could not seem to swallow away.
Senara bit her lip. “I—I know why ye left to Dalmunzie Castle. I know about…” She straightened her back and shifted slightly away from him. “I know about Colina MacKintosh. I still want this baby though and will raise him or her on my own. I willna stay—”
“I went to Dalmunzie to tell MacKintosh I couldna wed his daughter.” Gavin drew her slight body into his arms once more. His eyes felt warmer than usual. He closed them and pressed his forehead to the top of her head. “Edana orchestrated it to get me to choose Colina over ye.”
“And ye chose me.” Senara’s words caught. “Ye chose us.”
Not caring if she saw the emotion on his face, he turned her toward him and caught her bonny face in his hands. “I will always choose ye, Senara. I told Anice to tell ye I’d return back to ye as quickly as possible. Did ye no’ get the message?”
She shook her head and tears spilled down her cheeks.
Gavin wiped them away with a swipe of his thumb. “I love ye more than my verra life, Senara.”
Her tears left her eyes bright and a beautiful smile lit her face. “And I love ye more than my verra life, Gavin MacDuff.”
“Have the last banns been announced?” he asked.
“Aye, despite Edana’s protests, the priest insisted on doing them.” Senara glanced toward the window with a measure of sorrow.
Gavin pulled her face toward him once more. “Then I want to wed ye as soon as possible, the way I should have done within a month of meeting ye. Would ye like that?”
“Aye, verra much.” She pressed a kiss to his mouth, warm and sweet with a wonderful familiarity. “And soon we will be a whole family.”
He was doubtless grinning like an idiot and didn’t care a fig. His hand covered hers at her abdomen. Their child lay beneath their shared caress, beneath the layers of cloth and just inside the cradle of her loving womb.
Their child.
Aye, they would be a whole family soon.
She’d given him everything he’d ever hoped for, and he was glad he hadn’t allowed himself to be blind to its beckon. He had her to thank for such insight, of course.
For she’d been right in what she said when they first met; no coin or station was better than the beauty of true love.
And he was grateful to have learned so valuable a lesson from so bonny a teacher.
Epilogue
4 years later
The clash of swords rang out, followed by a peal of giggles.
Senara looked up from the small, perfect bundle where she cradled her newborn son. “Be careful now.”
Gavin turned toward her and gave a sincere nod.
She laughed. “I wasna talking to ye.”
Their daughter, Jenny, held Senara’s sword between both her small hands and let it swing wildly toward Gavin. He gave a rich, warm laugh and ducked the assault before plucking her up by her waist. She shrieked in delight and wriggled against her captor.
“Aye, listen to yer ma, lass.” He chuckled and took the sword from her before she could attempt another blow.
Jenny ran toward Senara, blonde curls bouncing around her bonny face. Her eyes were the same as Gavin’s, rich brown and deep with emotion.
Senara couldn’t have imagined a more perfect babe than their Jenny. That is, not until Geordie had been born only days before and she realized two such perfect children could truly exist.
“May I ride Norbert, Ma?” Jenny lifted her brows up and down in silent encouragement for a yes.
Senara laughed. “Ye’re a wee silly thing, Jenny.”
Jenny gave her a wide grin and wisely said nothing.
“Aye,” Senara conceded. “But make sure ye bring him an apple first and let Renny help ye feed him.”
Senara hadn’t thought it possible for anyone to love Norbert more than she – until Jenny, that is. The lass had an affinity toward the old horse that had taken just as quickly to her. They’d been fast friends ever since.
“How’s our littlest one?” Gavin slid an arm over Senara’s shoulder, and her head immediately leaned into the familiar crook of his neck. The scent of spring clung to him, all fresh air and new grass.
Senara adjusted the small bundle in her arms. Geordie blinked his blue eyes open and squinted up with a furrowed brow.
“He’s been a tired lad,” she replied. In perfect sync with what she’d said, his mouth parted into a wide yawn, revealing toothless gums and a small tongue stained with milk.
Senara glanced up at Gavin, and their eyes met with all the love and joy they shared between them. “He’s a handsome one, just like his da.”
“We do make bonny bairns.” He stroked his hand over Jenny’s silky head.
The lass grinned up at him as if he were the sun, the same as Senara had always stared at her own da so long ago.
“Ye rest here with Geordie. I’ll take Jenny to see Norbert.” Gavin caught Senara’s face in his hand. “Ye’re so beautiful, wife. I’m a verra lucky man.” He gave her a soft kiss, a gentle caress of his mouth to hers. “I love ye.”
She smiled against his lips. “And I love ye, my husband.” He winked at her before taking their daughter’s hand and walking toward the stable.
Senara lifted Geordie so he lay against her chest and watched her husband and daughter stroll hand-in-hand. The sweet scent of new baby under Senara’s nose beckoned her to lay kisses on the top of his downy head.
Her father’s sword lay on the ground beside her, destined to belong to Jenny when she was truly old enough to learn. It struck Senara how much it would fill her parents’ hearts to see her so happy. The very thought brought tears to her eyes, but it also carried with it the same kind of peace she’d only ever felt the day Balthasar disappeared.
She hoped Balthasar had found such peace after his wall had been removed and his remains carefully gathered and returned to the MacKintosh clan for proper burial.
Senara’s families would live forever in her heart, the one she’d lost, beside the one she had now, and she’d be forever grateful for having both with her always.
The End
Thank You for Reading
Thank you so much for reading A Ghostly Tale of Forbidden Love. Please know that I read all my reviews and welcome your thoughts on my book.
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Books by Madeline Martin
Highlander Series
Deception of a Highlander
Possession of a Highlander
Enchantment of a Highlander
Novella
The Highlander’s Challenge
About the Author
Madeline Martin lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her two daughters (AKA the minions) and a man so amazing, he’s been dubbed Mr. Awesome. Madeline has an affinity for cat videos and wine memes as well as anything Scottish or rippled with muscle and wearing a kilt. She enjoys giving workshops and loves to help promo other authors. Make sure you check out her Facebook page every Friday when she features and gives away a book by a fellow author in her Free Book Friday event.
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A Ghostly Tale of Forbidden Love (Highland Passions Book 1) Page 8
