Epilogue
It was two years since the poisonings that had caused such deep consternation among the Calvin clan and Castle.
The old laird had moved to MacNair Castle to live with his daughter, and he did not even ask his grandson to send him updates on the state of affairs at the Castle.
It was as if the old laird’s faith in the goodness of human nature had been shaken to the core by the events that had happened two years before.
He was quite content to leave the running of the Castle in his grandson’s hands.
“It’s what I always planned would happen, Calvin,” the old man had said. “Ye might have started off yer lairdship with an incorrect judgment, but at least ye got a wife out o’ it!”
Lachlan wanted to honor his wife. After their son was born, he kissed the top of her head as she nursed the bairn and said, “Ye can choose his name, Wife. But he will be known as a Calvin all the same. He is ‘of Calvin,’ after all, and goodness knows me harum-scarum brither, Asher, will hopefully marry soon an’ carry on the name MacNair. ”
Ada, who was more in love with her husband than ever before, told him she wanted to consult with her mother before naming the child.
“Because me own name comes from the northern lands an’ means ‘noble lady,’ and Calvin comes from Normandy lands, meaning ‘little calf,’ so I suppose we should take that into account.”
Lachlan laughed loudly. “Och now, give the bairn a chance! I dinnae think any grown man would be strong enough to bear a name like Noble Little Cow!”
Ada had hit him on the arm and pouted in a teasing manner. “Losh, Cal! Don’ laugh. I would nae call our bairn such heathenish names.”
After consulting with Iona, who was retired now, happy to let Ada take on all the responsibilities of healing in the clan, Ada had chosen the name Ramsey Calvin for her son.
“I will call him Ram because he makes such a noise when he wants more milk—it’s as loud as a ram battering on the gatepost!”