Darach nodded. “Aye, he has given his word to support our cause. For it, I am grateful. I do not foresee needing it.”
“Why?” Ewan asked. intrigued.
“Because, as ye know, our numbers are almost the same as the three of them.”
“They can be strong if they combine,” Stuart said. “Ye should plan to ask Malcolm for support.”
***
When Ewan walked into the bedchamber, he was exhausted. The days his family would remain there would fly by and he wasn’t sure he’d be ready for them to leave. However, he had a new life, people’s needs to see after and a wife and household to maintain.
Catriona stood and greeted him with a tight hug. It seemed his wife was in need of reassurance.
“Does something bother ye?” he asked after pressing a kiss to her lips. They remained standing, arms around each other’s waist. “Tell me.”
She frowned. “I love yer mother and yer brothers. They are nice as well.”
“Why, then, does a frown mar that beautiful face of yers?” Ewan asked and kissed the crease that formed on her brow.
“It could be that we should have gone to Uist upon marrying instead of remaining here. We are both so far from our homes here.”
Ewan chuckled. “I am glad ye care for my mother and brothers. However, I have given my word to Malcolm to take over this lairdship. I plan to fulfill my vow and so should ye.”
She lifted her chin and gave him a challenging look. “Ruari and Esme would do well here. Perhaps better. She is much more suited to be a laird’s wife than I am.”
Ewan thought about what Catriona said. A part of him discounted each word. However, as a dutiful husband, he considered what life would be like if he were to return to Uist.
“We would live in a humble home on the isle. I would return to archery and ye would have only Maisie to help ye. Our meals would be taken at the keep and ye would fall under whoever Darach marries.”
She kissed him, her hands sliding down the sides of his neck. “Sounds divine.”
Epilogue
A newborn’s angry wails filled the air and Ewan could not stand it any longer. Why hadn’t the midwife come for him as yet? Was something wrong?
Unable to stand it any longer, he stormed into the room and all the women surrounding the bed turned to him startled. Breath left his body and he struggled not to fall sideways and crumple to the floor.
“What is happening?” he asked in a whisper.
The bairn cried again and everyone parted to allow him forward.
In the bed, Catriona beamed up at him. In her arms was a red-faced, quite angry babe. “He seems none too pleased to be taken from his warm place,” she said.
“Why was I not called in?” he snapped at a wide-eyed Maisie. “I thought something was wrong.”
“I asked them to wait until I was a bit more...presentable,” Catriona said, looking to the midwife. “I should have known better.”
Rounding the bed, he kneeled beside it and peered at his wife and newborn child. “Next time, I am staying in the room,” he said, unable to take his eyes from the bairn.
“Is he?”
“He’s perfect,” Catriona replied. “Exceptional.”
His mother smiled at him. “Ye will have to give him a good name, befitting of a strong man.”
Catriona’s mother nodded and added. “A name befitting a leader.”
“I agree,” Darach said from the doorway. “The first grandchild to be born. He will always have a place of honor in our family.” Their gazes met. “Congratulations, Brother.”
When Ewan placed his hand on the child’s chest, the babe quieted, and he smiled. “He knows me, ye think?”
“Of course, he does,” Catriona replied. “He has heard yer voice all these months.”
The room emptied to give the new family privacy. He could tell Catriona was exhausted and would soon fall asleep.
“Once our home is complete, we shall move. For now, I want ye to rest. Maisie and our mothers will ensure ye do not leave this bed. They were already arguing over who will mind the bairn first.”
Her sleepy gaze moved from the child to him. “I will rest. Ye must do the same. I can tell ye were up all night as well.”
Indeed, all night, he’d paced the corridor, praying for both his wife and child. A part of him wished to demand they not have more. However, Catriona had insisted she wished for a large family. Besides, it would be impossible to keep away from her. Ewan found her completely irresistible.
“Sleep, Wife. I will get rest as well.”
“Not in here,” Catriona said. “Ye must sleep elsewhere.”
Although he’d not planned on sleeping there, he asked. “Why?”
“I wish it,” she replied with a haughty smirk. “I do not want to worry about ye flopping about.”
“Flopping?” He pretended to be insulted. “I assure ye, that I do not flop.”
She giggled. “Go.”
“Very well.” He leaned forward, placed a kiss on the slumbering child’s head and then kissed Catriona on the lips. “I love ye, Catriona, and thank God for ye daily.”
Her eyes misted. “I feel the same about ye.”
Ewan could barely make it out the door as their mothers hurried in to take the babe. He walked out past the great room and up the stairs. Then he went out to the balcony of the bedchamber he would be sleeping in.
The sun had fully risen, its rays casting bright streaks atop the sea’s surface. The fresh scent of the ocean blew across his face, salty and cool.
He’d come home to Uist and, this time, he’d remain.
