Chapter 30
CHAPTER THIRTY
The village square was chaos when they returned.
Mhairi stepped into the center of it all, baskets heavy in her arms, and immediately began organizing. Years of managing her father's household, before everything fell apart, had taught her how to impose order on disorder.
"The grain here," she directed, pointing to a cleared space near the rebuilt storehouse. "Stack it neatly so we can count what we have. Meat over there, away from direct sunlight. And someone needs to sort through these herbs before they wilt."
Villagers moved to obey without question, and Mhairi felt a strange flutter of surprise. Those weren't her people, she had no authority there, yet they listened as if she had every right to give orders.
"Me lady, where should we put these berries?"
"In clay pots if ye have them. They'll keep longer that way." She set down her own basket and began sorting through the wild onions she'd gathered. "And make sure everything's labeled. We need tae ken what we have."
Alpin appeared beside her, carrying both their baskets plus several others. He set them down with a grunt of effort.
"Ye're good at this," he observed.
"At what?"
"Takin’ charge. Organizin’ people." He gestured to the square, where villagers were following her directions with efficient purpose.
"They trust ye and ken I'm helpin’."
"Ye're daein’ more than helpin’." He reached for the basket of herbs she'd just finished organizing. "Here. Let me get these tae the storage."
Their hands brushed as he took the basket.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered after the fifth time their fingers touched while passing supplies.
"What is?"
"How every time we work taegether, we end up..." She gestured vaguely between them. "This."
Alpin's mouth quirked. "Touchin’? Is that so terrible?"
"It's distractin’."
"Fer ye or fer me?"
"Both, apparently, given how often we keep finding excuses tae dae it." But she was smiling despite herself.
They continued unloading, falling into an easy rhythm.
Alpin would lift the heavier items while Mhairi directed where they should go. When she struggled with a particularly unwieldy crate, Alpin was there immediately.
He helped her lift it onto the bench. "There. Much easier with two of us."
A few minutes later, as they sorted through the herbs, Alpin held up a cluster of unfamiliar leaves. "Are these safe tae eat, or are they just fer medicine?"
"Those are medicinal only," Mhairi said, taking them from his hand. "Good fer treatin’ fever, but they'll make ye sick if ye try to cook with them. The ones with the rounder leaves, those are edible. Good in stews."
"How dae ye keep track of all of it?"
"I kenned a bit afore, but Donnach drilled it intae me. Over and over until I could identify them in me sleep." She handed him a different bunch. "These are the edible ones. See the difference in the leaf shape?"
"Aye, I see it now." He set them in the appropriate pile. "Remind me never tae forage without ye. I'd probably poison half the village."
"Ye'd be fine. Ye just need someone tae teach ye."
"I have someone," he said, his voice warm. "Right here."
They continued working together.
By the time they finished, the square had been transformed.
Neat rows of sacks containing grain and root vegetables lined one wall. Clay pots filled with berries sat in the shade. Herbs hung drying from makeshift racks. The deer meat had been butchered and distributed, with portions set aside for smoking to preserve through winter.
"Well done," Alpin said, surveying their work. "The village has enough food fer at least two weeks now. Combined with what we can bring from the castle stores, they should survive until harvest."
"It's nae enough." Mhairi looked around at the damaged buildings, the haunted faces of survivors. "Food will keep them alive, but it willnae replace what they lost. Their homes, their safety, their—" Her voice caught. "The women who were taken."
Alpin's hand found the small of her back, a now-familiar gesture of comfort and support. "We'll get them back. Tomorrow, we start trackin’."
"And if we're too late?"
"We willnae be." His voice was firm with certainty she wished she could share. "Come on. The villagers are gatherin’ fer the evening meal. We should join them."
As darkness fell, fires were lit throughout the square. Someone had salvaged benches and logs to create makeshift seating, and villagers gathered in clusters, sharing what food they had.
Mhairi found herself seated on a log near the largest fire, with Alpin beside her and Kenina and Peadar nearby. The warmth was welcome after the chill of the forest, and the flickering firelight created an almost peaceful atmosphere despite the devastation surrounding them.
Children played at the edges of the gathering, their laughter a reminder that life continued even after tragedy. Elders told stories to distract. Young couples huddled close for comfort.
And through it all, Mhairi felt eyes on her. Watching. Assessing.
"They're lookin’ at ye," Kenina murmured beside her.
"I ken."
"They're seein’ their future lady. Whether ye realize it or nae." Kenina's smile was gentle. "Ye've earned their respect today. Both of ye have."
Mhairi wanted to protest that she wasn't their future anything, but the words stuck in her throat. Because the truth was, she'd been thinking about it. About what it would mean to stay there permanently. To build a life in MacDougal lands not as a guest or a refugee, but as something more.
"Mhairi?" Alpin's voice was quiet. "Where did ye go?"
"Just thinkin’." She looked up at him. "About today. About everything."
Before he could respond, an elderly man stood near the fire, the same one who'd thanked her earlier for saving his wife.
"Me lord," he called out, his voice carrying across the square. "Might I have a word?"
Alpin nodded, and the man continued.
"We ken what happened today was nae yer fault.
These raiders, this violence, it comes from men who think they can take what they want without consequence.
" His eyes were fierce despite his age. "But ye came.
Ye brought help, brought supplies, brought hope.
And yer lady—" he gestured to Mhairi, "—she tended our wounded like they were her own kin. "
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd.
"We just wanted ye tae ken," the man finished, "that we stand by ye. Whatever comes next, whatever fight ye're plannin’ against these bastards, MacDougal stands taegether."
Cheers erupted, people raising their cups in solidarity. Mhairi felt tears prick her eyes at the show of loyalty despite their suffering.
Alpin stood, and the crowd quieted immediately.
"Thank ye," he said, his voice carrying authority and warmth. "Yer courage today, yer resilience, that's what makes this clan strong. Nae the size of our army or the height of our walls, but the character of our people."
More cheers. Alpin waited for them to quiet before continuing.
"I want ye tae ken that we will nae rest until the women who were taken are returned. We will nae stop until the men responsible face justice. And we will rebuild what was destroyed, stronger than before."
He paused, and his eyes found Mhairi's.
"But I also want tae address something that's been whispered about since we arrived." His hand extended toward her. "Mhairi, would ye stand with me?"
Her heart hammering, Mhairi rose.
Alpin took her hand, pulling her close enough that they stood side by side facing the gathered villagers.
"I've been asked," Alpin said, "about me intentions toward this woman. About whether she's just a guest under me protection or something more."
The square had gone completely silent. Even the children had stopped playing.
Mhairi's pulse raced. What was he doing?
"The truth is," Alpin continued, his hand tightening on hers, "Mhairi has become far more than a guest tae me. She is essential. Tae me, tae this clan, tae our future."
He turned to face her fully, still holding her hand.
"I ken this isnae how these things are traditionally done.
I should ask yer faither's permission, follow proper courtship protocols, wait a respectable amount of time.
" His voice dropped lower, meant for her alone despite their audience.
"But after today, after seeing what can be taken in an instant, I dinnae want to wait anymore. "
"Alpin." Her voice came out strangled.
He knelt.
Right there in the village square, in front of everyone, Alpin MacDougal—laird, warrior, the man who'd saved her life—knelt in the dirt and looked up at her with an expression that stole her breath.
"Mhairi Munro," he said, and his voice carried across the silent square. "Would ye consider becomin’ the lady of this clan? Would ye stand beside me, nae just as the woman I'm protectin’, but as me partner? Me wife?"
The world seemed to stop.
Mhairi stared down at him, her mind reeling. This was too fast. Too public.
Too everything.
But also... it felt right.
Righter than anything she had felt in months.
"Ye're serious," she whispered.
"Completely."
"We've only known each other a few weeks."
"I've learned enough in these weeks tae be certain." His thumb stroked across her knuckles. "But if ye need more time, if this is too soon, I'll wait. I'll court ye properly, follow every tradition, give ye however long ye need tae be sure."
Mhairi looked around the square. At the villagers watching with bated breath. At Kenina and Peadar smiling encouragement. At the children who'd stopped playing to see what would happen.
Then she looked back at Alpin.
At that man who'd fought for her, protected her, given her space to heal and grow. Who'd offered her a future instead of a cage. Who'd knelt in the dirt in front of his entire village and offered her everything.
"Aye," she heard herself say. "I'll marry ye."
The square erupted.
Cheers, applause, whistles of approval. Someone started beating a drum in celebration. Children began dancing.
But Mhairi only had eyes for Alpin as he rose to his feet, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her soundly in front of everyone.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, the villagers were on their feet, surrounding them with congratulations and well-wishes.
"About time," Callum said, appearing from somewhere with a grin. "I was startin’ tae think ye'd never actually ask her."
"Ye kent he was plannin’ this?" Mhairi asked.
"We all did." Peadar clapped Alpin on the shoulder. "He's been workin’ up the courage fer days."
"I wasnae workin’ up courage," Alpin protested. "I was waitin’ fer the right moment."
"And ye chose tae dae it in a destroyed village square after a day of foragin’?" Kenina raised an eyebrow. "Very romantic."
"It felt right." Alpin's arm tightened around Mhairi's waist. "After everything that happened today, after seein’ how close we came tae losin’ more people, I didnae want to wait any longer."
"Well, congratulations tae ye both." Kenina hugged Mhairi. "Welcome tae the insanity of being married tae a Highland laird."
More villagers pressed forward with congratulations. Someone brought blankets to wrap around them against the evening chill. Torches were lit throughout the square, turning the destroyed village into something almost festive.
"Tae the laird and his lady!" someone shouted, raising a cup.
"Tae the laird and his lady!" others echoed.
Cups were raised, toasts made, and Mhairi found herself swept up in celebration despite the surreal nature of it all. She'd gone from orphaned and sold to engaged to a laird in the space of a few weeks.
It should have terrified her. Instead, it felt like coming home.
"Are ye all right?" Alpin murmured in her ear during a brief lull in the congratulations. "I ken that was sudden. If ye want tae take it back, it’s yer choice."
"I dinnae want tae take it back." She turned in his arms to face him properly. "I'm terrified and overwhelmed and nae entirely sure this is real, but I dinnae want tae take it back."
"Good." He pressed his forehead to hers. "Because I meant every word. Ye're nae just someone I'm protectin’ anymore, Mhairi. I love ye."
Her breath caught. "Ye dae?"
"Aye. I think I have since ye punched me in the forest and called me terrible." His smile was warm and tender. "Though it took me a while tae realize it."
"I love ye too," she whispered. "Even when ye're being insufferable."
"Especially when I'm being insufferable."
They stood there in the firelight, wrapped in each other's arms, while around them the celebration continued.
The village had lost so much that day—homes, security, loved ones. But for that moment, they had hope.
Hope that their women would be found. Hope that justice would prevail. Hope that from the ashes of that day's tragedy, something stronger would emerge.
And Mhairi, standing in the arms of the man who'd saved her and was promising her a future, felt that hope take root in her chest.
The next day, they would track Graham's men. They would plan their assault on the auction network. The fight would continue.
But for that night, they had community, celebration, and the promise of a future built together.
It was enough. More than enough.
It was everything.