Wedded to the Twisted Highlander (Taming the Kilmartins #3)

Extended Epilogue

One Year Later

“There, good as new,” Astrid said as she peeled off the last of the willow leaves from Reid’s face and chest.

Her eyes widened at the sight of him. She had heard of the willow tree’s medicinal properties, but she had never seen it with her own eyes.

“I wouldnae say that,” Reid grumbled as he picked up the mirror from the side table and glared at his reflection. “Do ye think anyone will notice the scar?”

Astrid couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not. While his gaze was stern, it was the hint of sarcasm in his question that had her question him.

“Nae in the slightest,” she answered as she snatched the mirror from his hand. “And anyone who does isnae worth yer time.”

“That’s easy for someone like ye to say. Ye’re nae the one wit’ half yer face stitched back together. I’ll never find a wife lookin’ like this.”

“Ye dinnae ken that. There are plenty of fair ladies out there who would love to have ye as a husband. Ye’re brave, kind, funny, and ye always manage to find the bright side of every situation. There are men I’ve patched up who groaned far more than ye have. And they have wives and families. Ye’ll have that, too, someday.”

Reid shook his head as he slid down from the table and pulled his shirt back over his shoulder. Astrid tried not to stare too long at the scar streaking down his chest. Drawing more attention to it was clearly not the best thing to do.

“Ye wouldnae have something ye could give me? A lotion or something that will help the scar fade?”

“Reid, just tell the lasses how ye got the scar. I promise, ye’ll have an endless supply of damsels to court,” Astrid said as she cleaned up the remaining willow leaves and tossed them into the fire.

She tidied up her area and wiped her hands on her apron as she watched Reid loiter by the window.

“Are ye sure ye’re all right?” she asked as he fiddled with the hanging lavender she had picked yesterday.

Reid nodded and glanced over his shoulder to flash her his playful grin. “All is well,” he answered.

Any attempt he made to keep the sorrow from his voice failed. Astrid wished there was something she could do for him, some way to boost his confidence. If only he could see himself as she saw him.

“I promise. In fact, I think I’ll ask Thomas for an advance and take a trip somewhere. I heard Rome is a lovely place to visit.”

“Ye cannae run from yer problems—they’ll catch up to ye nay matter where ye drop anchor.”

“They can try.” Reid shrugged. “The trick is to stay one step ahead.”

“Well, when ye manage to do that, let me ken—I’ll have a cake made just for ye,” Astrid said as she started toward the door.

“As long as it’s chocolate,” Reid called with his usual grin that convinced Astrid he’d be well in time.

It would take Reid a while to come to terms with his new looks, Astrid just wished that she had something she could give him that would help. But until she found something, the huge, jagged scar would remain on his face.

“There ye are, I’ve been lookin’ for ye,” Thomas said as she pulled open the door of the infirmary.

“What’s wrong? What’s happened? I heard the explosion a while ago. I just figured that ye’d have come if it was grave.”

Thomas shook his head and grabbed her by her wrist. He crushed his lips to hers as he spun her around, making her nearly lose her lunch.

“Well, I dinnae think I’ve ever seen me braither so animated before,” Reid noted behind Astrid’s shoulder. “Pray tell, what news do ye bring?”

“That is none of yer concern, nor will it ever be,” Thomas answered, pushing Reid back when he tried to steal his kisses.

Astrid giggled as she watched the two argue over her. Although it was just play, she rather enjoyed the attention.

“It will be when ye find out that it is me child yer wife carries,” Reid shot back.

Astrid’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. Such an accusation could get her killed. If the clan thought for a second that she wasn’t carrying the heir of Laird McFair, she’d lose her entire future.

“Ye watch yer tongue there, Braither,” Thomas hissed.

“It was all in jest,” Reid said. “As if I could ever sleep wit’ the healer. Nay. I need the healer to like me so that I will live.”

“Always thinkin’ ahead there.” Astrid chuckled as she shook her head.

Thomas glared at his brother.

Astrid had seen that glare on his face once before, and nothing good ever came out of it.

“And that is me cue to leave,” Reid said, squeezing between them.

Thomas pinned him against the cold stone wall, making it nearly impossible for him to escape.

“If ye wanted me to stay, all ye had to do was ask,” Reid whispered seductively in Thomas’s ear.

Astrid’s laugh filled the hallway as Thomas stepped back, too caught off guard to care whether his brother stayed or left.

“I swear, yer braither needs help.” Astrid giggled. “I dinnae ken what sort of help he needs, but there’s nothing I have or can do to help him.”

“Dinnae fash yerself,” Thomas said as he pulled her close, his eyes roaming over. “Ye shouldnae have so many responsibilities. Ye should be in bed, restin’.”

“I dinnae need rest,” Astrid protested as she gave him a peck on the cheek and tried to slip past him.

Thomas pressed his lips together to stifle a smirk. “Aye, ye say that now. But ye’ll be wishin’ ye stopped later,” he said. “Or did ye nae want to go to Melody’s birthday party?”

“I cannae miss it,” Astrid sighed. “She’d never forgive me.”

“And seein’ as how it’ll be the first one ye’ve had here wit’ me, I thought to make it extra grand. I’ve got everything planned the way a seven-year-old would want it.”

“Ye thought of everything, did ye nae?” Astrid asked as he stepped back as far as he could to give her room to pass.

Her lips turned down as she waddled through the tight space and exhaled the moment she passed through the narrow gap. She glared at the gap, wondering when it had become so small that she had to squeeze through it.

Astrid stopped at the top of the steps and counted on her fingers for a moment before turning to Thomas.

“Ye look as if ye’re about to pass out,” Thomas remarked as he came up to her and wrapped his arms around her, ensuring that she wouldn’t fall.

“I’m fine,” Astrid answered as a sharp pain lanced through her stomach like a lash and curved around her back.

She wanted to cry out as water pooled at her feet.

“Astrid?” Thomas grimaced as he held her stomach.

“Fetch the midwife,” she growled as a contraction seized her. “The baby, it’s comin’.”

A million things raced through her mind as the events leading up to her daughter’s birth blurred around her. She couldn’t remember the delivery or anything before holding Erin in her arms. It seemed as if nothing mattered up until that moment.

“She’s so lovely,” she cooed as she held her daughter to her breast to let her suckle.

She glanced at Alba, who had been a strong, encouraging voice during her transition to motherhood.

“Aye, that she is. Do ye see? She has her maither’s eyes and her faither’s nose. Och, she’ll be a bonny lassie, for sure,” Alba said as Eileen patted Astrid down with a cool, damp cloth.

Astrid glanced at the faces around her and the women who supported her.

Olivia squeezed her hand as she leaned over to get a look at her niece. “The child is goin’ to be spoiled,” she commented. “And I’m nae sayin’ I willnae be just as equally guilty, but I will.”

“Do ye hear that?” Astrid cooed as she studied the small bundle at her side. “Ye’re loved, and ye’re home. Ye’ll never ken what I have kenned, for ye’re loved so very much.”

“Tell me something,” Thomas said, poking his head around the door. “I’ve been pacin’ and listenin’ to the screams for three hours, and then they stop. If Astrid is gone, tell me now, but dinnae keep it from me any longer.”

“Come in and meet yer new daughter,” Astrid called with a welcoming smile.

Thomas’s eyes widened as he entered the room. A hush fell over the women as he stepped up to claim his firstborn.

“I have a daughter,” he mumbled as Astrid placed their child in his uncertain arms.

“It’s very different from carryin’ a sword, is it nae?”

“Aye,” Thomas answered. “Such a wee thing. What are we callin’ her?” he asked as he glanced at her.

Astrid swallowed hard as she stared at the baby in her husband’s arms.

“Erin,” Alba answered. “She’s decided to name her Erin. Out of all the names that could have held meanin’ or added weight to her future, and ye pick that?”

“I think it suits her,” Thomas chimed in as he glanced at Astrid as if asking for her permission to take the babe.

As much as Astrid wanted to keep Erin hidden from the world, she couldn’t. With a tired but radiant smile, she nodded.

Thomas walked to the window and, with a loud shout, announced the birth of Erin.

“Does this make me a sister now?” Melody asked as she craned her neck to catch a glimpse of the baby.

Astrid bobbed her head. “Aye, I suppose it would,” she answered. “Does that bother ye? Havin’ Thomas as yer faither?”

Melody tapped her finger on her chin as she tried to hide a smile. “I suppose he’ll do.”

“Och, well, thank ye very much,” Thomas drawled. “I’m so glad ye have confidence in me.”

“Of course, I do,” Melody said, throwing her arms around his legs. “I love ye. Ye’re the closest thing I’ve got to a faither. I’m just glad ye want me.”

“Aye, Melody, I want ye. Ye and yer maither, too. Ye’re me family and me home, now and forever.”

The End