Epilogue
Epilogue
Every Kilgorran who could travel from home came to the village to celebrate the marriage of their new laird to his lady—Anna MacIver—or Annbj?rg of Kearvaig. Only Bruce MacDuffie stayed home in the wee cottage where his father had lived long ago at Langabhat Point, overlooking the southern tip of the island.
He’d chosen to retreat there ... to die, once it had become clear that his health would not return. Alex MacRae went with him, to care for him until the end.
Catrìona and Mungo Ramsay were gone, and some of Lachann’s men thought he had gone too easy on her. He’d given the Camerons a purse with adequate funds to set up a trust that would keep Catrìona in modest circumstances. Comfortable, but she was never to have enough to pay for travel expenses back to Kilgorra. He trusted they’d seen the last of her.
After the marriage ceremony, while the Kilgorrans danced and drank and celebrated, Lachann rowed Anna to Spirit Isle, where they intended to stay for a few days.
They wasted little time putting away the provisions they’d brought, before Lachann took his wife into his arms. He kissed her deeply and thoroughly, loving her as he would love no other.
“You know that my heart is yours, my sweet Anna.”
“And mine is yours.” She slid her hands up his chest and back to his nape, releasing his hair from the queue that held it.
He felt humbled as he looked at her. She was so very bonny, and she’d endured a world of hurt at the hands of her own family. He would see to it that she never suffered again. Kilgorra was their home, and they would watch it grow and prosper.
Standing in her cozy cave, Anna pushed away Lachann’s plaid and shoved his shirt down his arms, quickly baring his chest while he worked the laces of her gown. She licked his pebbled nipples, making him a desperate man. A man who could barely wait to take possession of his wife.
He laid her down on one of the beds in her cave and kissed her deeply, passionately, showing her his heart and soul. For she was everything to him.
He made love to her slowly, relishing every kiss, every taste, every caress they shared. He held her close, adoring her with every fiber of his being as they moved together.
And when it was over, he pulled her against him and brushed kisses across her lips, touching his lips to her cheeks and chin.
They lay quietly together while their breath slowed and their hearts’ rhythm returned to normal.
“Did I tell you that the sluagh dubh of Spirit Isle makes men go mad?”
“Aye.” He smiled against her forehead.
“But you are not afraid of losing your mind, Lachann?”
“I’ve already lost it, Anna love.”
“Oh?”
He nodded. “I lost it the first day I saw you, and the madness I feel for you will never end.”
She laughed softly, and Lachann knew that truer words had never been spoken.