Epilogue
Nora and Callan were walking through a meadow.
Callan had cut Nora’s dress in a way that was still wearable and infinitely more bearable.
The air was temperate and the grass was long, brushing against their legs.
There was a sweet scent in the air. Callan was moving more freely, although it would take some time for his wounds to heal.
They walked hand in hand, Nora acutely aware of the sore marks circling his wrists and neck.
She squeezed his hand, entwining their fingers together.
Removed from MacPherson, hidden from her brother, Nora felt a rare sense of liberation.
The world seemed open to them, with all the possibilities stretching out like a dozen trailing paths.
“Sae, hae ye given any more thought tae Lucas’ offer?” Nora asked.
Callan pressed his lips together. “In truth, lass, I hae nae been able tae think about it at all. I only think of ye.”
“Well, ye are sweet, Callan,” Nora said, wondering if he was saying this to be nice or if it was actually true. She decided to believe the latter.
“Before we make any decisions in that regard, there is something else we should think about. I meant what I said last night about wanting tae make the most of our lives. And I want tae prove tae ye that I can be worthy of yer love, nae matter what we dae. Whatever choice we make, I want us tae dae it together, and I want us tae begin with this one.”
“I think we hae made plenty of decisions taegether already,” she said wryly.
Callan slowed his pace and turned towards her, taking her other hand. “Dinnae ruin the romance of the moment, lass. I’m trying tae ask ye tae be my wife.”
“Yer wife… och, well, I will hae tae think about that. I dinnae ken if I want tae belong tae a man.”
“Och aye, perhaps I can convince ye,” he said, wrapping a strong arm around her waist and pulling her close to him.
Their lips were a breath apart and she smiled, her hands rising up to rest upon his shoulders.
“We must find a church,” she said.
“What dae we need a church for? We hae the sky, each other, and the heavens looking down on us. Let us get married here. We can stop at a church when we’re in the village. I just want tae ken that ye will be my wife forevermore.”
Nora gazed into his eyes.
“I will,” she said. “Will ye be my husband?”
“I will,” he replied.
They sealed their marriage with a kiss. Their hands may not have been bound by ropes, but at this time both of them had had enough of ropes. They clasped each other’s hands tightly and sank to the ground, their bodies enveloped by the long grass.
Their promises gave way to breathless moans. Clothes were stripped away. Bare skin was exposed to the air. It tingled and tickled in response to kisses, caresses, and the furtive lick of tongues.
Nora reached down and felt the hardness of his arousal, murmuring with delight as she curled her fingers around him. It throbbed against her palm, scorching her skin. Beads of sweat glistened at the small of her back and in between her breasts.
Callan kissed along her collarbone and rolled her onto her back. His hands slid down her body, fingers rushing against her thighs, heeding the aching cry of her inner desire.
Shuddering breaths rolled through her as he started stroking her, his fingers curling back and forth. She squeezed him. He buried his head in the crook of her neck. The breaths washed over her like a summer wind, hot and fervent, but this wind swept her heart away and made her tingle all over.
Callan’s other hand ran around the back of her head, his fingers tangling with her hair. Nora felt herself seized by a passionate impulse and rolled on top of him, the weight of her pressed against him, her curves held tightly against his slick, hard, angled body.
His hands ran down the shape of her back, resting against her waist. His fingers squeezed.
She felt his arousal pressing against her thighs.
It was like fire. She was burning too. Her breaths became fervent as their lips crashed against each other.
He put pressure on her waist, urging her to shift across.
Her eyes fluttered shut as she parted her legs, feeling him shifting.
Their sensitive, exquisite areas found each other.
Her mouth formed an ‘o’ as their bodies became one.
He grunted at the feeling of being wrapped inside her.
His hand rose, resting against the damp small of her back. He started to thrust.
One roll sent ribbons of pleasure rushing through her, making her toes curl and her hair stand on end.
She broke away from the kiss, needing to inhale.
They soon fell into a rhythm and it felt as though the world was rocking back and forth, that by the very strength of their passion they were able to shift the skies.
Nora rose, placing her hands on Callan’s broad chest. Her fingers danced among his coarse chest hair, while her pert breasts were squeezed together by her arms. She bent down, strands of hair falling along her cheeks as she looked into the depths of their bodies.
He had disappeared inside her, but she could feel him, every thick, bulging inch, filling her up, touching every febrile nerve.
She was on the cusp of shattering into a thousand tiny pieces.
Callan’s rough hands rose and ran across her breasts, grunting as his fingers disappeared into her skin.
She rocked back and forth, her hips shifting.
She caught his arm and brought his fingers to her lips.
They plunged into her mouth as she sucked them, groaning as they consummated their marriage in the glorious sun, making solemn vows with their bodies and with their pleasure.
Nora and Callan slipped off their horse when they reached the western pass.
The inn was a solitary building with horses tied to hitching posts on three sides of it.
The murmur of chatter poured out of the open door, which offered respite to weary travelers.
Nora and Callan clung close to each other and giggled, sharing intimate memories of what they shared.
Somehow the fact that only they knew about their marriage made it all the sweeter.
They looked for Lucas but didn’t see him, so they ordered drinks and food, then made their way to a table. Almost as soon as they sat down Lucas peeled himself away from the shadows and joined them. His gloved hands were clasped and rested upon the table.
“I’m glad you decided to come,” Lucas said.
“I’m sure ye were following us all the way,” Callan replied.
“Nae at all. I am nae in the habit of spying on lovers.”
“Then what about before?” Nora asked.
Lucas smirked. “That was when ye were possible recruits. Sae, are ye ready tae join us?”
Callan leaned forward, but Nora put her hand on his arm.
“Before we dae, what exactly will ye hae us dae? We dinnae want tae be killers for hire. We want tae make a difference in the world, a real difference. Something that will make life better for those who suffer the unkindness of lofty men and women.”
“Then ye will fit right in, because that is the purpose of the Black Ledger Society. Although I would nae gae around sharing that name with people. We dae pride ourselves on our secrecy, and it’s something that ye will come tae value too,” Lucas said.
“We simply try tae make the world a wee bit fairer than what it currently is.”
Callan and Nora glanced at each other. “That sounds good tae us, but if there’s anything we disagree with, then we’re out, nae questions asked.”
Lucas inclined his head and held up his palms. “I would never ask that of ye. I’m just glad ye are willing tae help.”
He then reached into his cloak and pulled out a folded piece of paper. It was sealed with black ink, although there was no identifying mark. Lucas rose without saying anything more and melted into the shadows again.
“I’d love tae ken how he does that,” Callan said, frantically looking around.
“Well, let’s see what this means,” Nora said, intending to break the seal.
Now it was Callan who put his hand on her arm, giving her pause.
“Ye ken if we dae this then we’ll be criminals, aye?” he said, gazing into her eyes.
Nora stared right back, undaunted about the life upon which they were about to embark.
“Ye once told me that one man’s bandit is another man’s opportunist. Well, I think one man’s criminal is another man’s hero. Let us be heroes, Callan.”
“Heroes,” he nodded firmly.
The seal was broken.
Nora and Callan were officially members of the Black Ledger Society.
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