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to clean it and he almost tore her arm for the trouble. He was rather feral in the early days of his
employment."
Alexander retrieved the hand and went to find the priest to dispose of it.
Lochlan ran the monogrammed corner of the plaid through his long fingers as he stared at the initials his
mother had placed there.
How had a Frenchman found Kieran's plaid?
None of the brothers had ever journeyed farther than England except for Sin, and Sin had never taken a
plaid with him.
If not for the initials, he might think that perhaps the weaver had created more of the design and sold it.
But those initials matched the one for his plaid, Braden's and Ewan's.
Nay, this was Kieran's. He knew it. There was no doubt in his mind that it was his brother's, and by the
looks of it, it was quite old.
A souvenir of Outremer.
Which meant that Kieran hadn't died that day when he'd gone out to the loch on his own.
For some unknown reason, his brother had faked his own death and then left Scotland.
But why?
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Why would Kieran not send word to them. Why would he allow them to believe he was dead all these
years?
Lochlan sat down as the news sank in.
No doubt the MacKaids had found the plaid after they killed Lysander and had sent it back to them.
They would have known exactly who this belonged to and what it meant.
Lochlan drained his ale in one gulp.
Somewhere out there, Kieran MacAllister might still be alive.
And God have mercy on his brother should he ever find him.
Epilogue
A month later
Ewan held Nora's hand as they walked through the framework that would one day soon be their new
home. It would be a fine manor home fit for his lady wife and their new babe, whose arrival was now
confirmed.
His heart light, he watched Nora tell the steward exactly what she wanted the great hall to look like
while his own thoughts drifted.
He still couldn't believe what Lochlan had told him about Kieran.
None of them could.
Kieran was alive.
If he ever got his hands on him, Ewan would kill him for it.
Damn his brother for his selfishness that had cost all of them untold years of suffering.
But it was hard to hate Kieran, for it when all he had to do was look at his wife and think of the joy she
gave him. For her, he would gladly suffer all over again.
Ewan was still wary that the MacKaids would make good their threats against them.
So far no trace of them had been found.
Not that he was worried. It would take more than them to come between him and his wife. Not to
mention that Pagan had sworn to see them dead over what they'd done to Lysander.
Ewan held little doubt the man would make good on his promise. Something about Pagan said that he
would make a formidable enemy.
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Surely the man would make them regret the very day they had been born.
"Ewan?"
Looking up at Nora's call, he went over to her side.
She stood in the center of what would one day soon be their own hall, where they would entertain and
live out a life he had never dared hope for.
"Think you this will be finished by the time the baby comes?"
Ewan nodded. "Aye, my love. I'll make sure of it."
He cast a meaningful look to the steward, who quickly assured him all would be done in plenty of time.
Nora smiled at her husband as the steward rushed away and told the workmen to hurry their labors.
These had been the happiest months of her life. She couldn't imagine anything better than the life they
had now.
Well, except that she still wanted to travel.
But Ewan had promised her that as soon as the baby was old enough, he would take them to Aquitaine
to visit her mother's family.
She took his hand and laced his fingers with hers. "You know, my lord, I am suddenly feeling very tired."
He cocked a brow at that. "Are you?"
She tried to keep her face straight as she frowned, but couldn't quite manage it.
Instead, she feigned a yawn. "Aye, you needs get me home soon or else I could fall asleep where I
stand."
Ewan laughed and scooped her up in his arms. "In that case, love, I'd best be on my way."
Nora laughed as he sprinted with her toward their horses.
Once he had her astride her own, she leaned down and whispered in his ear.
"You know, Cat sent me a package."
A deep, lustful glint came to his eyes. Every time a package arrive from Cat it always heralded
something that made her husband extremely happy.
"Did she now?" he asked.
"Aye," she said, thinking of the sheer gown that awaited them. The material was so thin that it would
scarce cover her. "This time, it's ared one."
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She saw the fire in his eyes as he leaped onto his own horse. He set his heels into the flanks and tore off
at a breakneck speed.
Nora followed along at her slower speed.
"Nora!" he called, urging her on.
How she loved this man, impatience and all.
But then when taming a bear, one could only do so much.
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