Tears threatened her again, but she didn’t allow them to fall. She wanted Cameron’s forgiveness, not his pity. “What I did had nothing to do with last night.” At the look of disbelief Cameron gave her, she added, “Okay, maybe it did, a little. I had every intention of giving it back, but then . . . well, things happened between us, and I guess I forgot.”
“You forgot.” His voice was dull and quiet.
She cast about for the words to make this whole situation right, and she couldn’t find any. “I know this sounds bad. I meant to give it back. I wish I had.”
He opened his mouth, and she held up her hand again to keep his words at bay. “No, I’m almost finished. I was going to give it back when I saw you tonight. I was. But then, I went to my hotel room, and Seamus was there. He accused me of spending the night with you. He’d even spent the night in my hotel room, so he knew I hadn’t been there. He hit me. I dinna give it to him. I gave him everything else, and it wasn’t enough. I had the ring in my pocket. When he searched me, he found it.”
Fury wreathed Cameron’s features, and she knew she deserved his hatred, the loathing she saw in his eyes. He slowly released his breath. “Did he . . . did he touch you?”
She flinched as if he’d struck her. “N-no.”
“You’re not lying to me?” The anger in his voice unnerved her.
“No. I am so sorry, Cameron.” Desperation leeched into her tone, despite her best efforts. “It made me sick to see him hold it. I wanted to do something, anything, to get it back for you. Because I know how much your family legacy means to you.” She reached for him desperately, aching to touch him, to give him comfort.
He caught her hands in his and held them tight. Not bringing her in closer, but not pushing her away, either. “Fiona, I wish you understood just how much—”
“I know,” she interrupted, and the pain in her chest intensified. “When Seamus took the ring, I hated myself for letting him have it. I couldn’t think of anything but getting it back. It killed me he even touched it.”
He took a step away from her.
“You still don’t understand,” he muttered.
“I should have given it back when I had the chance.” She moved toward him. “But I didn’t, because I’m a coward. And the moment I lost it, I wanted to get it back.”
Cameron rubbed his forehead as if exhausted. “This isn’t about the ring, Fiona. In the beginning, maybe, but not anymore.” Taking her by the shoulders, he said, “Don’t you understand? I knew you had it.”
“I—”
“Now it’s my turn to finish,” he interrupted, his tone harsh. “You stole my ring, but after that, I let you have it. Because, from the moment you first kissed me, that ring was yours.” The air in Fiona’s lungs escaped in a whoosh, and her vision went hazy as she tried wrap her mind around his words. “Yours, Fiona. I don’t care that Seamus has it. If the ring is the price I pay for your freedom, it’s worth every penny.”
Hot tears escaped from beneath her lashes. She didn’t deserve his forgiveness. Yet to hear she meant so much to him was worth more to her than all the silver in the world. Her heart swelled and caught on fire. She could think of nothing else save this one, perfect man, who offered her his forgiveness without demanding payment.
He took her hands in his. “When you read my cards the other day, you told me I had a choice to make. You told me I would find something I would need from the first moment I saw it, and that, if I took it, everything in my life would change. It’s you, Fiona. So I don’t care about the ring as long as I have you. Because I choose you, if you’ll have me.”
Her breath caught in her throat and with a strangled yelp, she launched herself at him. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him with all the passion she possessed. Words failed her.
For the first time in her life, she felt well and truly loved.
After several moments, she backed away. “There’s more, Cameron.”
“More? Christ, can’t you just tell me you’ll marry me and we’ll work this out later?”
Several heartbeats passed as she gaped at him. “Did you just propose?”
Cameron glanced at her briefly before he turned his gaze to the wooden walkway beneath his feet. “I suppose I did.” Several heartbeats passed. Fiona stared at him, and when he finally brought his gaze to hers, his expression was both hopeful and cautious.
“I thought you said you didn’t believe in love.”
His eyes darkened and he lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I may have lied.” He swallowed hard. “So, will you? Marry me, I mean.”
Fiona tried to speak, but her voice broke, so she threw herself into his arms. “Aye,” she whispered against his neck. “A thousand times, aye.”
He kissed her gently, taking care of her split lip. “I love you, Fiona.”
It was the first time in her life she’d heard those words and believed them.
“I love you, too.” Her words came out strangled.
He put his arms around her shoulders and guided her toward the hotel. “Let me take you inside, sweet. It’s getting cold, and I think you need some warming up.”
Fiona laughed and allowed him to guide her toward the door. Just before they entered, she said, “So, now that we’re getting married, I suppose you’ll have to get me a ring.”
Laughter danced in his eyes, and he opened the door and held it for her. “I suppose I will. Why?” He offered her his arm.
She took his hand, and he gave her a startled look before extracting his hand to stare at what she had placed in his palm. As he turned his family’s ring over, she said, “Because, Cameron Mackay, I got you one.”
Chapter 10
One year later
Fiona bounced little Samuel on her knee. The boy squealed in delight, and his mother, Cameron’s sister-in-law, Mary, glanced over at the two of them and grinned. Behind her, Cameron roared, proclaimed himself a “great beastie,” and chased the older ones, throwing young John onto his shoulders, while the boy screeched in child-like delight.
Mary collapsed into the chair beside her. “Look at this chaos.” She gestured to the room filled to bursting with happily screaming children, but her words were fond.
“I love this chaos,” Fiona replied, releasing little Samuel to join his other siblings.
“All right, time for bed everyone,” Duncan’s deep voice rang out. When his eyes met Fiona’s, he winked, merriment dancing as he and Cameron wrangled the wee ones to send them to bed.
She loved Duncan’s eyes, so like Cameron’s. It stunned her how alike Cameron and his brother were, even after all the time they’d spent apart. She loved looking at Duncan’s children and seeing a pale reflection of Cameron in their faces. Though she loved all of the children, little Samuel, who looked so much like Cameron, held a special place in her heart.
“When are you and Cameron going to add to this?” Mary’s voice broke her out of her reverie.
Fiona touched her stomach. “Soon, I hope. We’ve been working on it.”
“Well, you know what they say. Practice makes perfect,” Mary responded, and then she laughed. She put a hand on Fiona’s shoulder and her expression turned serious. “I don’t think I’ve ever told you this, but I’m so glad you and Cameron came back.” She paused. “I’m really glad you brought him back.”
“I’m glad we came back, too. Cameron wanted to be near his brother.”
The corners of Mary’s mouth ticked up. “Maybe so, but he wouldn’t have come back if it hadn’t been for you. For years, all he talked about in his letters to Duncan was going back to Virginia and getting the farm back. And now we have you less than a mile away. Duncan and I have you to thank for that.” She paused for a moment. “Duncan was happy before, but now that Cameron’s back, I think he’s complete.”
B
right love spilled through Fiona’s heart. She’d always thought she only had a finite amount of love to give, but once she’d met Mary and Duncan and their children, she’d fallen in love with them, too. Her love had grown and expanded to encompass them all and she found she had more to give.
“I think he would have come back, eventually. It just took him a while to figure things out.”
With a smile, Mary handed her a dishtowel and gestured to the kitchen. Fiona followed her sister-in-law to the sink and the two of them worked in silence for a few minutes. “Duncan missed Cameron more than he ever admitted to me,” Mary said, handing her a dish to dry. “I’ve never my husband happier. And that makes me happy.”
Fiona smiled. “It makes me happy, too.” Ever since those first awkward days when she and Cameron had first arrived in Ohio, her husband had a new lightness about him. The haunted shadows lurking behind his eyes had lifted.
He had his brother and his family, and he’d discovered what was important.
Unexpected hands encircled her from behind, and she yelped in surprise. Twisting her head, she found Cameron grinning down at her. “You gave me such a fright!” she said. “You shouldn’t sneak up on a gypsy like that. We’re unpredictable, or haven’t you heard?”
“What are you going to steal this time? You’ve already stolen my ring and my heart. What’s next?” Cameron’s voice was low and suggestive.
Fiona hit him playfully with the dishtowel. “Och, wouldn’t you like to know?”
Against her neck, he whispered, “I would, actually.”
Duncan snatched the dishtowel from her hands and winked. “I think we should send these two lovebirds back home.” He glanced at Mary and a smile, Cameron’s smile, lit his features. “I’ll help with the dishes.”
Fiona shoved Cameron away and the mock hurt on his face sent her into a fit of laughter. “Oh, no. I should help.”
Mary smiled up at Duncan, who put an arm around his wife’s slim waist. “No, I think we'll do just fine. You two head on home.”
Duncan looked down at his wife and heat flared behind his eyes. Fiona recognized that look—it was similar to a look Cameron often gave her. He leaned down and whispered something into Mary’s ear and color scorched the other woman’s cheeks.
“C’mon.” Cameron tugged her toward the door. “Looks like they’ve got more on their minds than dishes.” He grinned at his brother over his shoulder.
“He always was one to shirk kitchen duty,” Duncan called after them, and Cameron laughed as the door slammed shut behind them.
The still night surrounded them, the heat of the day easing into a muggy, moonless night. Fireflies danced around them, as bright as the stars lighting the sky. Cameron put his arm around her as they strolled down the lane toward their own house. Fiona leaned into him, content in the warmth of his body.
Her husband.
They walked together in silence. They’d traveled this route every Sunday evening for the last year. When it was cold, they’d take the wagon, but nothing made them miss Sunday dinner with family.
And in a few more months, there would be one more place setting at the table.
“Cameron.” When he turned, she took his hands in hers. “I have something to tell you.”
His expression turned serious. “Well, whatever it is, we’ll work it out. We always do.”
She nodded solemnly. “Remember the crib Mary and Duncan gave to us months ago?”
Cameron groaned. “Did she start in on the baby thing again? She’s just excited. Don’t worry about it—it will happen. If you want, I’ll talk to Duncan.”
Unexpected tears pricked the backs of her eyelids. “No, no. She’s fine. Actually, we might have a need for it sooner rather than later.”
Cameron stilled. “What?”
“We’re going to have a baby.”
His eyes widened. “Are you sure?” At her tentative nod, he whooped. “A baby! We’re going to have a baby!”
He kissed her and her whole world was right. She had everything she needed right here, for in the end, her father had been right. Home and heart and band were all one and the same.
Her wandering heart had finally found a home.
Highland Sons: The Mackay Saga Page 17