Maggie’s eyes fluttered open the next morning as she lay inside the blankets curled up in Reed’s arms. It was already late in the season, so when Reed told her they’d be sleeping on the ground, she’d been concerned. But inside the blankets and with her naked body pressed up against Reed’s, she was very warm.
Naked body? She’d almost forgotten that Reed told her they’d be warmer without the clothes and sharing body heat instead. He’d placed the blankets atop a bed of dried pine needles and they’d used their clothes for a pillow.
The birds chirped happily and the sun streamed down through the forest, hitting her right in the face. There was no wind this morning and it felt warm . . . and happy. The air was fresh and smelled like home. She wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but she thought she could smell the cook fires and the scent of heather floating in the air.
Her heart cried out for her mother, but she knew she would never see the woman again. She tried not to think about her dead sisters or father. Instead, she pushed the thoughts away and tried to remember the first time Reed had held her in his arms. They were young and inexperienced, and he’d been showing off to his brothers. He’d put his arms around her and the brooch on his plaid got hooked to hers, and they’d had to call to his brothers to help them get apart.
She laughed. When she did, Reed stirred, turning on his side, staring into her eyes and making her remember all the things she loved about him. Only now, it was even better. They weren’t children anymore. They were adults – and married.
“Did my ears deceive me or did I hear ye laughin’?” he asked.
“I did laugh,” she admitted.
Thor squawked from a tree branch, watching them. Then the bird took off to the sky.
Snuggled up in his arms, their faces were close together. “I remember the first time ye held me. We were stuck together and we had to ask yer brathairs to get us apart.”
“If that happens again, I’ll no’ ask anyone to help us. Because I want to stay stuck to ye forever.” He traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his finger and it tickled. She giggled again. “I like it when ye smile. And I like it when ye remember who ye are,” Reed told her.
She’d been talking like a Scot again and it felt right. However, she wanted to bring up the fact, again, that he thought he was Scottish when he was really English, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment. There was no changing Reed’s mind once he decided on something. So no matter what she said, he’d always think he was a Scot. And why should she want to change that?
“Ye were right about us bein’ warmer if we slept naked,” she said, sliding her hand playfully down his chest. The crisp curls of hair led to more hair below his waist.
“I’d say it’s hotter than blazes right now,” he answered.
“I ken how to make it even hotter.” Her hand dipped below his waist and he jerked backward a little.
“We never had our weddin’ night,” he told her. His fingers skimmed down her chest and his hand closed over one breast. “Are ye ready and willin’ to consummate our marriage?”
“I wasna sure before, but it was only because everythin’ happened so quickly,” she told him. “I ken this is right now. And aye, I am ready, Reed. I want to make love to ye as my husband. I love ye.”
They kissed and fondled each other. He was so gentle with her that she wondered how he ever earned the name Reckless. With the sun on their bodies and the elements of nature all around them, Maggie felt a part of her heart that had died come back to life.
Entwined in each other’s arms, they made love as husband and wife. It felt like the right thing to do. She’d always known Reed was the man for her. He told her he would die to protect her and she didn’t doubt it. She also saw how much Duff admired him. Yes, this was her home, just like Reed said, and now she felt ashamed that she had denied it all for so long and kept her brother from knowing about his true family. And never again would she question Reed’s choices because she knew he had only her best interest in mind.
* * *
An hour later they rode into Lothian. Reed held Maggie tightly in his arms, not sure how she’d react. It had been ten years since the burning of the coast. While he’d seen some of the changes and the new building and growth of the clans, she hadn’t. Things looked quite different than they did when they were children. But life continued on no matter what trauma they had all endured.
Cook fires trailed up into the sky and huts of wattle and daub dotted the land as they rode into the Gordon Clan’s camp. The Gordons were mainly a Highland clan, but this was a sept that lived in the Lowlands. They were greeted by five men in dark green plaids holding swords and axes in front of their bodies.
“We come in peace,” Reed called out, not recognizing the men. He had mainly visited the Douglas camp and his uncle, never having a reason to come here since he’d been told Maggie had disappeared years ago and the clan thought her to be dead. So had he until recently.
“Who are ye?” asked one of the men, cocking his head, perusing them.
“Uncle Albert?” Maggie stiffened in Reed’s arms. Could this really be her father’s brother? The last she saw him, he was lying on the ground with a gash in his chest and with his eyes closed. She was sure he’d been killed by the English.
“Who are ye, lassie?” The man cautiously lowered his weapon and walked forward. Reed stopped the horse.
“It’s me – Maggie Gordon,” she said, feeling emotion swell in her chest.
“God’s eyes, it canna be.” The man’s fingers opened and he dropped his sword. “Maggie, is that ye?”
Maggie slipped off the horse before Reed could help her, running and throwing herself into her uncle’s arms. “I thought ye were dead,” she whispered against his chest.
“I thought ye were, too,” he said, tears streaming from his eyes. He took hold of her shoulders and held her at arm’s length to look at her. “Ye have grown into a bonnie woman. Ye look so much like yer late mathair.”
“I have so much to tell ye,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. She heard Reed clear his throat from behind her. “First, I want ye to meet my husband – Reed of Clan Douglas.”
“Reed?” The man bent down and picked up his sword. “Is this one of Edward’s bastard triplets?” he asked. His jaw tightened.
“He is, but he pays no allegiance to Edward,” she explained. “He’s not English – not really. He’s a Scot like us.”
“I’m happy to meet ye,” said Reed, holding out his hand.
“It’s all right, Uncle.” Maggie gently pushed her uncle toward Reed. “He was my childhood sweetheart and now he’s my husband. Ye dinna need to fear him. It was his idea to bring me home. I was afraid to come.”
“Thank ye,” said Albert, clasping Reed’s hand in his. “Ye’ve brought our little Maggie home where she belongs.”
“I’m no’ little,” said Maggie with a giggle. “And wait until ye see Duff. Da would have been proud of him. Reed is teachin’ him how to handle a sword.”
“The baby? He lived?” asked her uncle, as the rest of the clan rushed over to greet him.
“We escaped to England the night of Burnt Candlemas with Reed’s mathair and sisters. We’ve been livin’ in England ever since. How did ye survive yer wound?”
“When one has the will to live, anythin’ is possible. Yer family is buried at the base of the woods if ye want to visit their graves,” said Albert.
Maggie turned her head to look at the spot in the distance where she’d last seen her mother’s lifeless body. Her body tensed and sweat beaded on her brow. “Mayhap later. I’d like to greet the rest of the clan first if ye dinna mind.”
“I’ll show ye around camp. Both of ye,” said Albert with a nod of his head. “And we’ll have a feast in yer honor.”
“Haggis by any chance?” asked Reed, making Maggie smile. Reed loved to eat. Now that she was his wife, she would make certain he never went hungry.
“We have haggis and so much more,” said Albert, putting his arm around Maggie’s shoulder. “Welcome home, Maggie Gordon. Welcome home.”
* * *
Reed stood with his arm around Maggie’s waist the next morning as they stared down at the graves of her family. He knew this was going to be hard for her, but seeing her uncle and spending the night with the rest of the clan had done wonders for her disposition. The clan had welcomed her home and even dressed her in the Gordon plaid. Maggie had been more than happy to take the clothes and said she never wanted to pretend to be English again.
“Are ye all right, Love?” he asked, watching as she stood transfixed with her eyes to the ground. She didn’t answer, just nodded slightly.
She wiped tears from her eyes and, finally, she spoke. “It was right over there that I lost my mathair and sisters.” She pointed to the trees in the distance. He took her hand and brought it to his mouth and kissed it.
“It’s over now,” he told her. “Ye can release it. Let it go.”
“I dinna ken if I can ever let it go.”
“Then make peace with it,” he told her. “I’m sure that is what yer family would have wanted. Now say goodbye to yer family, Maggie, because we need to go.”
“Go?” Her head snapped up. She looked horrified. “I dinna want to leave. This is my family. My home! I am never leavin’.”
It did Reed’s heart good to hear Maggie say those words. He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do. But mayhap, he’d done too good of a job after all.
“Duff will wonder what’s happened to ye,” he told her. Those must have been the magic words because she wiped her eyes once more, bit her lip and nodded.
“Mathair. Da,” she said, looking down at the graves. “Fia, Gordinna,” she addressed her sisters. “Ye are all goin’ to love Duff. He turned out wonderful and will carry on in Da’s footsteps. I’ll make certain of it. I canna wait to bring him back home. I promise ye; I’ll never try to stop him from bein’ a Scot again.”
She turned and walked back to Reed, standing on her tiptoes and giving him a kiss on the mouth.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“Thank ye for carin’ for me and for no’ listenin’ to me when I told ye I never wanted to return to my homeland.”
“I’m glad ye are reunited with yer clan. And I’m even happier to see ye smile again. I promise ye; I’ll never let ye frown again.”