Page 111 of Chosen by the Wicked Highlander
“I havenae taught ye anythin’. Ye’ve learned it on yer own.”
“With yer help. With yer patience and yer refusal to let me hide behind me walls.” He stopped walking, turning her to face him. “I ken I daenae say it enough, but thank ye. For nae givin’ up on me. For seein’ past the beast everyone else sees to the man underneath. For lovin’ me despite all me flaws.”
“Ye’re welcome. Though I could say the same to ye.” She reached up, touching his face. “Thank ye for findin’ me when I ran. For standin’ up to me parents. For givin’ me a home where I’m valued instead of criticized. For lovin’ me exactly as I am.”
“Always.” He kissed her softly. “I’ll always love ye exactly as ye are.”
“Maither! Faither! Come on!” Codie was waving at them from further up the path. “Ye’re so slow! At this rate, we’ll nae get back until supper!”
“We’re comin’, ye impatient lad!” Elijah called back, but he was laughing. “Come on. Before he decides to run ahead and tell everyone without us.”
They picked up their pace, catching up to Codie, who immediately began chattering about all the people he was goingto tell first, in what order, and exactly what he was going to say. Iris listened with half an ear, content to just walk between her husband and her son, heading back toward the castle that had become home.
"Actually," Iris said, an idea forming, "why daenae we stop by the practice yard on our way back? I promised Codie I'd teach him knife throwin', and now seems like a good time."
Codie's eyes went wide. "Really? Now? Can I really learn?"
"If yer faither agrees." Iris looked at Elijah, who was watching her with amusement.
"Aye, why nae? Let's see if the lad has his stepmaither's aim."
At the practice yard, Iris pulled out her throwing knife and demonstrated the proper stance. "Feet shoulder-width apart, weight balanced. Ye want to throw with yer whole body, nae just yer arm."
The knife flew from her hand, striking the target dead center.
"Now ye try." She handed Codie a smaller practice knife. "Just like I showed ye."
Codie's first throw went wide, clattering against the stone wall. His second was better, hitting the outer edge of the target. But his third—his third embedded itself just inches from center.
"I did it!" He jumped up and down. "Did ye see, Faither? I hit it!"
"Aye, lad. Ye did." Elijah's voice was warm with pride. "Yer maither's taught ye well."
Cecilia, watching from Lydia's arms, gurgled and reached toward the knives with chubby hands.
"Oh no, wee one," Lydia laughed. "Ye'll have to wait a few more years before ye start throwin' sharp objects."
"She'll be throwin' knives before she can properly walk, at this rate," Elijah observed dryly. "Between her mother and her brother, the lass will nae have a choice."
"Good," Iris said firmly, a smile forming on her lips. "Every child of mine will ken how to defend themselves."
A year ago, she’d been miserable. Trapped in a betrothal to a man who’d never valued her, living with parents who’d spent her entire life making her feel inadequate. She’d thought that was all she deserved, that being tolerated was the best she could hope for.
Now, walking through the Highland landscape with autumn colors blazing around her, her husband’s arm around her shoulders and her son’s excited chatter filling the air, she knew better.
She deserved to be loved. To be valued. To be treated as if she mattered. And finally, wonderfully, she had all of that and more. She had a home, a family, a future worth looking forward to.
And as Castle McMurphy came into view, its gray stone towers looking warm and welcoming in the afternoon sun, Iris felt something settle deep in her chest.
Contentment. Joy. Peace. This was where she belonged, this was her happy ending, and it was only just beginning.
The End?
