Seven years had passed since the battle for McCaslin Castle, and all the horrors that had occurred within had been scrubbed away by the dutiful hands of the McCaslin people, quite literally. After the feast, when all the men from the other clans had left, the people of the village had all gotten to work on the castle. Even Kiethen joined in, saying that he wanted to clean every trace of Wardlow with his own hands.

It was the first bonding experience of the people. Buckets upon buckets of water were fetched all the way from the river, and the people used it to scrub the castle with soap until it was squeaky clean. They had especially cleaned out the chambers were Wardlow had stayed in. Kiethen had every item in the room taken out and sold for gold. As Wardlow loved unnecessary luxury, a lot of those things sold quite well.

Kiethen had then given a speech to the people about their success and what it meant for them and said he was serious about returning their families to their former positions.

“We may nae have much now, and even only estoring’ yer families to yer former positions might feel like nothin’ since it does nae immediately fill yer hungry stomachs or add coin to yer pockets. However, with some perseverance, we can raise the McCaslin clan back to its former glory and more, together!” he had said.

The people were understanding of just how much damage had been done to their clan, so they did not expect immediate prosperity. Kiethen indeed returned the lands that belonged to each family with Callum’s direction and reinstated the families of the elders.

He made Graham his general, and the previous Findley men were satisfied, especially as Magda helped give information about their properties in the Findley clan, which they got back. He appointed those who were farmers and miners but still joined the war as soldiers and made them promise not to become lousy even in good times and keep training. The old veterans were kept as trainers, and in this way, the McCaslin clan began to rebuild itself.

The lands were still rich, so it was not a difficult endeavor. More young men were taught to hunt and the women to gather, and everything that was gotten was shared together in the first year. With the system Wardlow had in place of collections and distribution days, the people were used to communal living and did it happily as they knew that cooperating meant things would get better quicker.

Kiethen paid for two healers to stay in the village and treat all those who were ill as well. “There are nay words to express how grateful I am to ye. It is nae too much to say that the survival of the people for this long was due to yer efforts, even though it must have been harder as the years went on for ye. Please name anything, and I will give it to ye,” Kiethen had said while bowing at the waist to Lizzy Walsh, the only healer left in the village, but she waved it off, saying she was just glad to see the town free again.

It took a whole year for the McCaslin clan to completely get rid of the influence of the English and begin to wear their tartan kilts again, and it was just in time for Catriona’s first child with Kiethen. She was glad that their six-year-old Arya only knew the way of life they had now and not the one they had before.

When Arya was born, they had a celebration in the castle, just their family and the castle staff. Her mother, who had apologized several times to Kiethen and did not agree to live in the castle as she felt as though she did not deserve to, came to live with them for three months after Catriona gave birth. In that time, Kiethen and her mother’s relationship got a lot better, and it seemed like her mother was finally forgiving herself.

“Is it nae funny how it used to seem like we could nae get along?” they could now joke.

It was a time of healing, and their wounds both as a family and as a clan were closing. Every night when she and Kiethen lay awake nursing their baby, Catriona could feel all the injuries on her heart that she had ignored healing, and she knew the same was the case for Kiethen as he had told her that too.

By the time their son Finn was born three years later, everyone had healed and were now solidifying themselves as who they truly were. With Callum’s excellent work as Kiethen’s advisor, the clan was flourishing again. They still lacked personnel, as the war had killed quite a lot of their people, and some families like the McCain house even ceased to exist. However, his uncle had taken care of that by having the young men go out to look for brides and return home.

Kiethen was a laird loved by his people, and not just because he had one great feat under his belt. As he took up the lairdship, he did not get lazy and instead began to work harder to make their clan successful again. That man was now lying on the grass across from Catriona with his children piled on top of him. Catriona chuckled at the sight as she nonchalantly continued to eat her pie.

“Oh, nay! Ye two are too strong; faither is nay match for yer combined attack! Please have mercy!” Kiethen yelled dramatically. Finn threw back his head, laughing in delight. Even though that was the fifth time Kiethen had said that exact line word-for-word, his reaction was always the same.

Their beautiful children were the sweetest existence in Catriona’s opinion. Arya had come out with Kiethen’s dark hair but Catriona’s green eyes. She was a fierce young lady, and Catriona just knew that she was going to spin some poor youngster around her finger one day. Finn, their son, was a happy boy who loved his family unconditionally and was happiest when they were all together like this. He had Kiethen’s gray eyes, but while she thought he might have her hair, his shade was instead closer to her brother’s, something that Graham did not let go of, teasing her for it all the time.

As though her thoughts of him had summoned him, Graham appeared at the bottom of the hill, grinning from ear to ear. Her brother had undergone quite a few changes in seven years. Gone was the tall, lanky boy, and in his place was a huge, muscular man with loud, boisterous laughter and one of the strongest swings of the sword in the Highlands.

Her children’s heads shot in the direction of their approaching uncle, even though he had not even said anything to announce his presence yet. Catriona shook her head; it was like sixth sense at this point. Both their faces lit up, and they were off their father in an instant, running towards their uncle who scooped them up easily.

“Oh! Me sweet children! Such adorable wee ones. Are ye two havin’ a good time today?” he asked, beginning to talk animatedly with the children.

Kiethen got up with a chuckle and settled in beside her, leaning down to take a bite out of the pie in her hand. She ran her hand through his hair lovingly as he did this and pressed a kiss to the side of his head as he sat up straight again. It was only when she looked back up that she noticed Graham looking at them with narrowed eyes.

“There ye two go again! Rubbin’ yer love in me face!” he spluttered playfully. He had become hungry for a love of his own after spending too much time with the couple who were so in love. However, he could not find a lover easily, as everyone was already paired up in their small village after the war.

Catriona and Kiethen laughed, him putting his arm around her and her leaning against him, immediately acting even more lovey-dovey to irritate Graham more. Her brother put the children down and sat on the grass with them.

“Ha! Good try, ye two, but it will nae work today. Why? Go on, ask me why!” her brother said.

“Alright, why?” Kiethen asked, still holding Catriona. Graham gave them a huge grin.

“I have finally fallen in love! And I am sure I will be wed soon as well,” Graham said, although it seemed he was only half serious. Catriona’s eyes widened with genuine interest, and Kiethen reached out to grab her brother by the shoulders.

“Are ye serious?! That is amazin’ news, brother,” Kiethen said.

“Really? Tell me all about her,” Catriona said at the same time. Graham clasped his hands beside his head with a dreamy look.

“Ah, she is simply an angel. Blonde tresses that blow behind her in the wind and scathin’ dark eyes that attempt to melt me very soul…” her brother said dramatically. Both Catriona and Kiethen raised their brows.

“Er… where did ye meet her?” Kiethen asked.

“Scathin’? Graham, ye are sure this woman likes ye as well, right?” Catriona questioned doubtfully at the same time.

Graham looked at them with twinkling eyes.

“Ah, she is nae from our clan. I met her at the market, and her family is only here to trade. They will be gone in a month or so. And, nay, she does nae quite like me yet… actually, she thinks me a blitherin’ idiot. But me heart continues to yearn for her! Surely, she will see me pure intentions in time. After all, ye two did nae exactly get along at first either,” Graham said, looking completely smitten.

Catriona exchanged a worried glance with Kiethen. They seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Oh, nay… this does nae look good.

As she held on to Kiethen’s arm watching her brother all but floating on the wings of his first love, she hoped with all her might that things turned out the way he was expecting.

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