Page 80 of A Nameless Highland Laird
EPILOGUE
After settling the soldiers in for the evening, Cameron invited his siblings back to his castle. He offered them a meal, but in truth he wanted more time with them. He wanted Ciaran to meet Charlotte.
By the time everything had been decided, it had grown too late for any of the men to return home, save for his own warriors. He had decided that they should all stay and make camp for the night to celebrate their new alliance. Alastair was staying behind to ensure none of the men grew too rowdy. Only the other three Lairds ventured home, each claiming their need to return to their lands to rule, each offering an invitation for Cameron to come visit at his leisure. Laird Sinclair vowed to be back in two days, giving Cameron only that time to plan his wedding. He wanted to race home and tell Charlotte all about it. He wanted to tell her that it was all over. He wanted to tell her that he loved her.
Cameron rode back with Blake, Senga and Ciaran following him, racing through the field and courtyard, laughter filling the air. All of the tension he had been filled with earlier that morning had dissipated. They each rode with the freedom of knowing that their lifelong battle to see their father come to justice was over. They rode with the freedom of knowing that they had each other once more. For the first time in years, Cameron didn’t feel so alone. He went from having only Alastair, to getting his siblings back and a wife to boot.
There was no threat of war, no secret for him to hide, and no family to avenge. For the first time since becoming Laird, he didn’t feel like he was failing. He had successfully navigated calling off the battle, with the help of his siblings, of course. No one had died, there would be no mothers or wives grieving tonight. There was finally a chance to rebuild his clan, to make things right. He had a chance at a real future with Charlotte. If he was diligent, he would get to see his dream of turning the Knox clan into a prosperous one come into fruition.
Even though it had been Blake and not Laird Sinclair to agree to stand down and to honor their betrothal, Cameron knew that his words held sway. He knew that there was nothing getting in the way of him being able to marry Charlotte. The thought had him pushing to ride faster, to get to her quicker.
The rest of his siblings trailed behind him, following suit as he leapt off of his horse for the second time that day. He half expected he would have to search half of the castle to find Charlotte, but she surprised him. The doors to his castle swung open and she ran out, leaping into his arms before he had a chance to register what was happening.
“Ye’re back,” she whispered into his neck.
“One would think as yer beloved brother, I would get such a greeting. But ye have never run to me like that,” Blake joked, already moving to help Senga down from her horse.
The whole group laughed as Charlotte unwrapped herself from Cameron and moved to hug Blake.
“It is good to see ye,” she said, her tone just as playful, “but I dinnae ken that I would go so far as to call ye my ‘beloved brother.’”
They laughed again, filling the halls of the castle with the joyous sound as they each meandered into the dining room.
The group had hardly made it into the room before Charlotte turned to Cameron, her face puzzled.
“I dinnae understand. How did all of this happen? What convinced my father to withdraw?”
Cameron stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist as he turned them both to look towards the others in the room.
“Charlotte, I would like for ye to meet my brother, Ciaran, and sister, Senga.”
She gasped, her hand going to her mouth. No one could stop the smile from forming on their faces.
“B-but I thought…ye said…how could this be?” she stammered, clearly trying to make sense of it all.
She turned to Senga and her brother with a questioning look. “Father insisted ye stayed unaware. I had no idea things would end up like this,” Blake tried to clear her confusion.
“Fate stepped in and we were granted a second chance at being family. Bow nothing else matters,” Cameron answered, his own mind still struggling to keep up with reality.
“Cameron expertly talked us all out of trying to fight each other,” Blake complimented. “Once the others realized that the man they wanted to kill was already dead, they were persuaded that becoming allies would serve them better.”
“So does this mean…” Charlotte trailed off, unable to come up with more of a question than that.
“This means that today is the happiest day of my life,” he finished for her. “It means that I finally have everything I have ever wanted—my siblings back and the woman I love in my arms.”
She twisted around to face him, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Love?” she whispered.
The others quickly found something else to be interested in, though Cameron didn’t try to hide his affection for her.
“Aye, lass. I love ye. What do ye say we get married?”
* * *
The next twodays were a flurry of activity. Ciaran, Senga, and Blake all stayed to help them plan for the wedding. Cameron loved every second of getting to train with his brother and verbally spar with his sister. Ciaran also sent for his own wife, Elsie, to join in on the fun, though she hadn’t been able to make it until the morning of the wedding.
Charlotte’s father had returned, as promised, with her dowry and a chest full of new dresses for her in tow. He had gotten there the night before and had spent hours in the study with Cameron. When he first arrived, he was reluctant and clearly unsatisfied with the arrangement, but unable to do anything about it. After his talks with Cameron, he seemed much more pleased, even going so far as to inform her that one of his former stable boys had been sent away for making ludicrous claims against her and, then, compliment Charlotte a number of times for her hosting abilities. Her world was finally at peace.
