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A month had passed since she had arrived, but Crystal had found that she felt the time passing quickly. She and Jamie had married in the courtyard, surrounded by all his friends and family, as well as her new friends. She had never felt so blessed than she did the day she became Crystal Grant.

Now she rode with Jamie down to the village.

She had become used to riding with him, leaning into his hard chest and feeling his arms wrap around her, holding her in place upon the horse.

It felt natural to her to be with him like this.

He had started to teach her how to ride on her own, but she much preferred riding with him and she was pretty sure he enjoyed it as well.

As they rode toward the village and they passed Maggie's cottage, she recalled the words that Maggie had said to her. "And Crystal, I think you will soon find your forever with our Jamie here. Enjoy yourself."

It suddenly dawned on her what Maggie had foreseen.

"That's what it meant…" Crystal whispered.

"What who meant, love?" Jamie asked.

"Maggie. What she said to me that day we visited her. You are my forever. She knew."

It was what Maggie had prophesied and now she understood it.

She smiled a big smile knowing that it had been her fate all along and that she didn't need to worry about anything when it came to her new husband.

They were destined for each other and if Maggie knew it then there was nothing that could contest it.

This made her heart swell with joy and relief.

She wanted nothing more than to share the rest of her life with this man who made her heart melt and her body tremble with desire.

Starting a family with him, living in the castle, and making this their reality was all that she wanted and never wanted to live without him.

She looked around the fields as they got closer to the village. The villagers moved here and there going about their business. Sounds of the market reached her ears and vendors haggled their prices. Children ran out of the village and into fields chasing butterflies. Spring had arrived.

She loved being in the village. There was a special energy around it and it reminded her in a way of her old life.

The hustle and bustle of everyday living.

She missed out on it being at the castle, but she wouldn't trade living there for her.

Being there she had Jamie, but that didn't mean they couldn't visit from time to time.

"It feels like a lifetime since we were last here together," Jamie said.

"Not to me, the time has gone by so quickly, but maybe I've lost track of how time passes considering that I traveled through it," Crystal said with a quiet giggle.

Jamie chuckled. "I suppose that makes sense." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "The last time you were here, you were an unmarried Miss. Any regrets?"

Crystal shook her head. "Not a one, dear husband." She smiled and leaned into him, pressing her back to his front.

They passed through the center of the village and turned down the lane to Courteney's cottage. It had been weeks since Crystal had seen her and she worried about her as if she were her own sister. "Thank you for bringing me to see Courteney." She snuggled into him.

"You're welcome, love. By all accounts she is doing well and Brian has even kept to his promise. He comes to the castle three days a week to tend to the horses, and he's not had a drink either," Jamie said.

"I'm glad for it," she said.

Jamie reined in the horse as they reached Courteney's cottage. Jamie dismounted and helped Crystal down. He opened the saddle bag and handed Crystal the bundle. It was a gift for Courteney.

She knocked on the door and waited impatiently for Courteney to answer.

"Crystal, so good to see you. Please come in, you too, Jamie."

"Thank you very much."

Jamie and Crystal entered the cottage. It looked nearly the same to her only there was a certain brightness to it.

The shutters were opened and the sunlight streamed in, for some reason it just seemed a happier space than before.

She also noticed that a second bed had been added to the small cottage on the far side of the room.

"Brian is at his workshop if you came to check on him," she said to Jamie.

"No, this is a social call," he said.

"So he has given up his old house?" Crystal asked.

"Aye, I finally convinced him to move in here. I am hoping he will tear down the old house and simply use the fields for growing food. I do not want the memory of what happened to my sister," Courteney said.

"I can understand. But you look very well and I have a gift for you," Crystal said. She handed her a package wrapped in cloth.

"For me? Oh you should not have," Courteney said.

"I insist. It is long overdue." Crystal smiled.

Courteney opened it to find a new night dress and a new wool blanket. "Oh these are very fine items."

"Since I ruined the night dress you lent me and the blanket is for your kindness," Crystal said.

"Thank you, Crystal." Courteney hugged her.

"You're welcome," Crystal replied.

"Can I get you a drink?" Courteney said.

The door opened and Brian stepped in. He paused when he saw Jamie.

"Brian, hello. We're just here for a social call," Jamie said.

"Aye, welcome both of you," Brian said. Then he went quiet as he entered. He put his work items away, then sat down in front of the fire.

Crystal gestured her head at Jamie to go sit with him. Jamie obeyed of course.

"Courteney let me help you with the tea," Crystal said and moved to the kitchen area of the small cottage, though the space was so small she could still hear Jamie chatting with Brian.

"How are you gettin' on?" Jamie said as he pulled a chair over to join Brian.

"Fine. I take it one day at a time now. Keeping busy helps a lot," Brian said.

"Aye, time and hard work is the cure for everything," Jamie said.

It was obvious to Crystal that Brian was still in mourning, which was to be expected as it had not been that long.

"The stable master has been quite happy with your work, by the way," Jamie shared.

"Is he?" Brian said. He perked up and it was the first time Crystal had seen a glimmer of a sparkle in his eyes. It made her heart swell.

"Aye, says the horses have never been so well shoed."

"Is that so? Aye I can but assume that your stable master was relying on the blacksmith to shoe them," Brian said, fully engaged in the conversation.

"Aye, we did have to rely on him for quick repairs. Having your skills put to use for us on a regular basis has been a blessing."

Brian smile. It was clear that he took pride in his work.

When the social call was done, they said their goodbyes and promised to call upon them again.

"Are you staying in the village? Or heading back the castle?" Courteney asked.

"We are getting a room at the inn tonight," Crystal said. The castle was nice, but she had wanted to visit the village and Jamie had agreed saying he wanted to please her.

"Brian and I are expected there for supper, shall we head over there with you then?"

"Expected there?" Crystal asked. It seemed a strange turn of phrase.

A blush came over Courteney and she pulled Crystal aside. "Aye, Wallace is expecting me. He and I have taken a fancy to each other of late. We have started to take supper there as it helps everyone get used to Brian again, to see him acting good and calm. They whisper less around him now."

"That is a good idea, and you and Wallace? I'm so happy for you. He seems a good and kind man. He takes care of everyone just like you do. I think he is a good match for you," Crystal said.

"I think so too," she said. "Brian, lets walk with them to the inn and we should all take supper together, unless you have other plans?"

"Aye, I'm famished," Brian said.

"That would be nice," Crystal replied. She and Jamie didn't have any particular plans for dinner, so this worked well.

Together the group walked through the village and toward the inn.

Jamie led his horse and tied it up on the hitching post in the inn's courtyard.

When they entered all eyes turned to them, but only briefly and Crystal didn't know if it was because of Brian or because of herself.

She had also been involved in the crime as well and she was glad that the looks didn't last long.

Wallace greeted them, then turned to Courteney and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She embraced him with a smile on her face.

Crystal was very glad to finally see Courteney happy.

She had been through way too much; more than anyone should have to go through with losing her sister and then dealing with her brother-in-law.

Now she seemed on the path to her own marriage.

She would probably move into the inn with Wallace and work with him to take care of the villagers and guests the way that Wallace did.

That would leave Brian with Courteney's cottage and a space of his own.

Maybe in time he would find love again, or so she hoped.

The group sat together at the large table by the fire in the back of the tavern.

Wallace brought them a bottle of whisky and cups.

This was followed by platters of food that had fresh fish, roasted vegetables, and loaves of bread.

They ate and drank to their hearts' delight and Crystal grew happier the more that Brian engaged in general conversation with Jamie about normal everyday things.

Everything seemed like it was on the right track, at least for now and she wanted nothing more than to enjoy the calm.

Speaking to the other women from her own time, it seemed that there would be phases of chaos and drama that came upon them from time to time, so she was going to enjoy the time between as best as she could.

Crystal silently watched and listened to the chatter around her as she realized she loved this place and the people.

She was itching to get back into writing and had considered creating a story around what had happened here when she arrived.

She loved writing so much and was happy that it was something she could continue to do here, even if she wasn't published.

The thoughts about what Mason had done to her in the bar that night still made her angry, but she knew that if it hadn't happened, then she wouldn't have the life she had now.

She wouldn't have Jamie Grant, the love of her life.

The thought that it must have all been her fate was what kept her going, and with Jamie at her side she could endure anything, even living in a different time in a different land.

"Are you happy, love?" Jamie whispered in her ear.

"I am. I truly am. I can't believe it. I'm sitting in the same spot that I was when I was damp and trying to dry off from the loch, when you walked in looking as handsome as ever," she said.

"Aye, I remember. You had black streaks on your cheeks," he said. "You were an adorable, frightful mess." He chuckled.

She playfully slapped his shoulder. "That was mascara. How dare you."

He laughed. "You still looked beautiful to me. I love you, lass."

"I love you, Jamie Grant, my Scottish protector." She kissed him and he embraced her.