Epilogue
Jessie held their newborn babe, wee Liam, in her arms. He'd just finished eating and was snoozing peacefully, his tiny hand clasped around her finger.
"He's such a strong and fine-looking lad, Jessie," Torrin whispered, sitting beside her on the padded settle near the fireplace in their bedchamber, while a spring snowstorm raged outside. Torrin slid his arm around her and kissed her cheek.
She nodded. "He is. He favors his father, you ken.
" 'Twas true; the babe had Torrin's dark hair and green eyes and most of his features.
Jessie was thankful that Torrin had healed from all of his injuries and was now as strong as he had been before.
He trained with the other men most every day, when the weather permitted.
"Our next one will look exactly like you, with beautiful flaming red hair and sky blue eyes," he said.
"Mayhap." She smiled, imagining a wee lad or lass who resembled her, but if they all looked like Torrin, she would be just as thrilled and grateful.
Dirk and Isobel had sent a missive a few weeks before, saying that their babe had been born and 'twas a healthy lad. Keegan's and Seona's bairn had been born four days afterward, a beautiful lass. Jessie couldn't wait until the summer when she could see them all again.
Greum got up from where he'd been sleeping by the hearth and padded closer. The pup had grown by leaps and bounds since last summer and was now near up to Jessie's waist. Greum sniffed the babe's head, then gave Jessie a look filled with doggie love.
"I know you love him, too, Greum. Don't you?"
He sat back on his haunches, panting, his long pink tongue lolling and a grin on his furry lips.
"He can't wait to play with the lad," Torrin said.
"'Twill be a while. He's ten times bigger than Liam."
Torrin chuckled. "In a year or two, he'll be trying to ride Greum like a horse."
Jessie laughed at that image, though not too loudly, for she didn't want to wake the babe.
After their laughter had quieted into a comfortable silence, Torrin asked, "Do you ken how happy you make me?"
Taking in his delighted and proud expression, she realized once again that her dreams had come true. Tears filled her eyes. "Not as happy as you make me," she said.
"Och. Far happier." He leaned close and kissed her. "I love you."
"And I love you."
∞∞∞
Thank you for reading My Notorious Highlander!