Page 155 of Promises to Keep

He said, “I thought I was lost tae ye as well.” And we embraced each other for all those long years of friendship, and for the loss of all these months of war, and the fear of havin’ lost each other, and the happiness of havin’ won, and longer for Fraoch survivin’.

After a moment, Lochinvar rushed over and threw his arms around us both. Fraoch said, “Och, the boy is overcome with emotion like a wee lass.”

Lochinvar said, “I am huggin’ ye so ye daena look like two staggerin’ auld men comfortin’ each other after a night of drinking.”

Fraoch laughed and yanked Lochie intae a friendly headlock, rustling his hair, until Lochinvar said, his voice higher than usual, like a lad’s, “Let me go!”

Fraoch let him go with a push, laughed, and then Fraoch and Lochinvar bear-hugged.

I heard Fraoch say tae Lochie, “Thank ye for nae killin’ me.”

“Ye’re welcome, auld man.”

Fraoch pushed Lochinvar aside and yelled, loud enough for all tae hear,“God save the king — Magnus I!”

A chant began,God save the king, God save the king...

I returned tae Lady Mairead’s side. “How are ye? Ye are verra still, are ye injured?”

She was standin’, her chin raised, her hands clasped in front of her. She said simply, “Agnie is dead, I hae killed her, I hae finally won.”

CHAPTER 74 - KAITLYN

On the third day, I was up, dressed, with Jack slung in a plaid that wrapped around my front, anxiously awaiting my husband. I had promised myself that I was not going to talk about it with my children, or the other people at the castle, because I was a grown up and I would wait, patiently, without dragging everyone else into the possible heartbreak. But as soon as the kids were awake, it erupted from me, “Guess who comes today?”

And then it was all anyone could talk about.

And the day was long, dragging, seriously slow, but then... finally... a storm darkened the sky.

James, Sean, and Liam rode to meet the newcomers in the clearing, taking additional mounts and a cart, just in case.

I had a walkie-talkie that Quentin had left and after about a half hour of staring down at it, it buzzed with static, and then my husband’s voice. “Mo reul-iuil, are ye there?”

I burst into tears. And nodded.

His voice to someone, “I canna tell if she is there.”

I pushed the button. “Yes! I’m here!” I sobbed.

“We hae won the war, mo reul-iuil, we are done, I...” Static, then he said, “Everyone is accounted for... we are all okay... a moment, we are laden with gifts...”

I clutched the radio and cried.

We were all gathered in the courtyard when they rode in through the gates, Magnus, Fraoch, Hayley, Quentin, Lochinvar, Lady Mairead, along with a horse-drawn cart full with sacks and crates, and James, Sean, and Liam alongside.

A cheer rose up.

Magnus jumped down from his horse and hugged me around wee Jack, Isla and Archie clinging to our legs.

“You really won the war?”

“Aye, and Lochinvar fought Fraoch in an arena battle too! Somehow we all came through victorious.” He peeled back the fabric on my front and leaned down to kiss the top of Jack’s head. “He is a good bairn?”

“The best.”

Magnus picked up Isla in the crook of his arm, and lifted Archie and they all hugged for a moment.

I said, “Lochinvar! You came too?”

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