Page 79 of Highland Strength
“Auld? I wouldnae let Da or Grandda hear ye calling me that. What does that make them? They’ll be in the lists in the morning proving ye wrong.”
Ten years into their marriage and into his seventh decade, Liam retired the lairdship entirely. While he still held the title of Earl of Caithness, Callum had officially become Laird Sinclair. He’d spent five decades as laird, but he’d already handed over all his duties to Callum shortly after Thor and Greer married. It had elevated Thor to tánaiste.
Now fifteen years after the day Callum became laird in his own right, he was retiring his title. Everyone knew he and Siùsan looked forward to more time together without the constant demands pulling them apart. Liam’s voice remained strong, but he struggled to get around now that he was in his nineties.
“Can I trust ye to finish tying this?” Greer turned her back to Thor and pointed. “Since ye still willna let me have a lady’s maid.”
“Ye dinna need one. Ye have me.” With an aggrieved sigh, Thor stepped behind her, kissing her nape before he finished where Greer left off. He slid his arms around her waist when he was done. “Are ye ready, wee one? I ken ye’ve been helping Mama since ye arrived, but it’ll be different once ye hold the title Lady Sinclair.”
“I’m ready. Mama and our aunts have been the best teachers, and I ken they will all continue to help, but they’ve earned the right to quieter days.”
“Aye, quieter days,” Thor snorted. “As though ma uncles dinna already chase their wives around this keep enough. They shall just be underfoot now that they and Da dinna go to the lists every day.”
“As though they’ll be under yer feet while ye and yer cousins hide in the lists.” Greer rolled her eyes as she turned to face Thor. It was more likely they would only see the older couples at meals. They would disappear into their chambers, or off to the loch and beach. She smoothed her hands over Thor’s new saffron leine. She’d sewn it for this occasion. Her gaze swept over her husband, still in awe of the braw man she’d married.
“Dinna keep looking at me like that, wee one. It willna be ma fault that we’re late.” Thor pressed a quick kiss to Greer’s lips before moving to open the door. “Nay lass has ever been bonnier in our clan’s plaid. I’ll never tire of kenning ye’re a Sinclair and ma bride.”
“Bride? We’ve been wed five-and-twenty years.”
“It doesnae feel like it’s been that long. It’s gone so fast.” Thor wrapped his arm around Greer’s waist. It wasn’t as trim as it had been when they were a newlywed couple. Within months of living at Dunbeath, she’d gained the weight she’d lost after Edgar’s attack. Now, her body reflected the four children she’d birthed.
“I ken. How are our weans so auld when we’re still so young?” Greer leaned against Thor as they entered the Great Hall. It still amazed her how large their family had grown. At times, she was certain there were more members of the laird’s family than the rest of the clan. All of Thor’s cousins had married and become parents. That day, everyone gathered at Dunbeath. The female cousins who’d married into other clans had returned with their husbands and children, and the male cousins who remained at Dunbeath were there with their wives and weans. There were over five score people there, including all their Mackay and Sutherland relatives.
“I canna believe Uncle Hamish and Auntie Amelia came too. It’s nae an easy journey for them these days.” Thor pointed to where the older couple sat with Liam on the dais. All of his father’s cousins were there with their families. He swept his gaze across the crowd and spied his mother’s half-brothers. His uncle was still Laird Mackenzie, but he suspected the lairdship would soon pass to Thor’s oldest cousin.
“Are ye ready, lad?”
Thor and Greer turned toward Callum as he came to stand beside them. Greer let go of Thor as she turned to embrace Siùsan while Callum embraced Thor. The older warrior’s hair was now mostly gray, and Siùsan’s hair was nearly perfectly white, but nothing else spoke of their age.
“Aye, Da. Are ye ready?”
“Vera. Yer mama and I are so proud of ye both. The clan trusts ye, and I ken this is the right choice.” Callum released Thor and moved to embrace Greer while Siùsan embraced her son. The two couples took their places on the dais along with Thor and Greer’s four children. Not only would Thor become Laird Sinclair and Greer would become Lady Sinclair, their oldest son assumed the role of tánaiste, taking over Tate’s position. As Thor’s next oldest male relative, Tate received the official title, but all the cousins now filled the roles that once belonged to the older generation.
Greer stood beside Thor as he swore his oath to lead the Clan Sinclair, rededicating his life to his people. They beamed with pride as their son recited a similar pledge before Thor sat in the laird’s chair and Greer took her place in the lady’s seat as the entire clan processed forward to promise their fealty to the newest Laird Sinclair. At the end of the ceremony, four generations mingled, passing around jugs of whisky.
“Wee one, I couldnae do this without ye. Thank ye for being ma wife.” Thor whispered.
“I canna imagine a better life than the one we’ve made together. Ye gave me a family and a home when I never thought I’d have either. Thank ye for being ma husband.”
“I love ye,” they said together as a cheer and well wishes passed through the crowd.
