Page 34 of Highland Heroine (Brides of the Highlands #3)

B rodie leaned against the cool stone frame of the doorway, breathing in the scent of peat and heather that wafted from the open window. His feet felt grounded on the wooden floorboards, mirroring the stability of his return to life.

The door creaked behind him as Moira McAfee entered. Her gaze connected with Brodie’s as she observed him standing unaided by the hearth. Shadows danced across her face, revealing her emotions.

Relief ignited in her eyes, followed by a joy that colored her cheeks. Brodie watched silently as her posture softened. He recognized this tender side of her, despite the fierceness she usually wielded.

“Ye’re on yer feet,” Moira stated, wonder woven into her voice.

“Aye,” Brodie replied firmly, “I am.”

In their shared room, once filled with worry and healing, a new promising beginning emerged—one where they’d face any storm together.

Brodie extended his arms, and Moira stepped into his embrace, her head resting against his chest.

“Moira,” he whispered, “we’ve outlasted the storm.”

“Aye, we have,” she replied, tightening her grip around him.

They parted reluctantly and Brodie glanced toward the open window where the forest called to him. It was time to reacquaint himself with the world beyond these walls.

“Shall we?” he asked, offering his hand.

Her fingers interlaced with his as they walked outside. Each step Brodie took was measured, a testament to his determination to regain not just his strength but his role beside Moira. The forest floor whispered tales of renewal beneath their boots.

Together, they ventured deeper, Moira matching Brodie’s cautious pace. The canopy above dappled their path with light and shadow, dancing to the tune of Highland winds.

“Feels good to be walking again,” Brodie remarked, growing more assured with each moment.

“Ye look like yerself again, Brodie McClain,” Moira said proudly. “The forest has missed ye.”

Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting patterns on the forest floor where Brodie and Moira walked. The air hummed with the sounds of nature: rustling leaves, distant bird calls, and the quiet chatter of woodland creatures.

“I’ve missed this tranquility,” Moira said, her gaze following the beams of light across the ground.

“Tranquility and freedom,” Brodie replied, inhaling the scent of pine. “This is vibrant…alive.”

As they continued, Brodie’s steps grew firmer, his body remembering the rhythm of the wild. Suddenly, he stopped. A grayish-brown rabbit ventured into a clearing nearby.

“Look there,” he whispered to Moira.

She watched as he picked up his bow and nocked an arrow. “Take your time,” she encouraged softly.

Brodie released the arrow, cutting through the dappled sunlight. The rabbit bolted but couldn’t escape his aim. He turned to Moira, sharing in their silent victory.

“Ye’ve not lost yer touch, Brodie,” she said with admiration and affection.

“Thanks to ye, Moira,” he replied warmly.

Brodie approached the felled rabbit, its fur still warm. He crouched beside it, offering a silent gesture of gratitude. Unsheathing his knife, he began to work with skilled hands.

“Ye always had a way with the blade,” Moira observed, her gaze fixed on the horizon where their home awaited.

“Ye’ve kept me sharp,” Brodie replied, glancing up at her through focused eyes.

“Let us make haste,” she suggested. “The hearth calls.” Though he’d been walking more freely for the past week, she was a little concerned about him being on his feet as long as he had.

Together, they gathered what they needed and made their way back through the trees. By the time they emerged from the woods, twilight painted the sky in beautiful pinks and oranges.

As night descended upon McAfee Keep, anticipation hung in the air. In their chamber, Brodie and Moira moved around each other with the ease born of intimacy. The soft clink of Brodie’s belt buckle, the rustle of bedcovers—all blended into the symphony of the evening.

Brodie watched as Moira braided her fiery hair in the reflection of a small looking glass. She caught his eye and offered him a heartwarming smile.

“Come,” she said softly. “The warmth of the bed awaits.”

They joined beneath the covers, their bodies pressed close and legs entwined. Here, in their room bathed in amber firelight, they found solace in each other’s presence—the past hardships fading away, leaving them wrapped in promises yet to come.

In the stillness, Brodie felt Moira’s heart synchronize with his. As sleep approached, they nestled together, knowing each trial faced solidified their united future.

Fingers traced the landscape of scars, mapping a history on skin. Brodie’s calloused hand softly explored Moira’s arm. She inhaled deeply as his touch ventured across her collarbone.

“Ye ken,” Brodie whispered, his voice barely audible over the hearth, “I’ve dreamt of this… touching ye, feeling yer strength.”

“And I, of ye,” Moira replied, her hands grazing along his jawline. They moved deliberately, relearning each other’s bodies, finding comfort and solace.

As they faded off to sleep after making love, Moira knew she was where she belonged—beside the man she loved.

*

As dawn’s light spilled into the room, Moira carefully slipped out of bed without waking Brodie. Her feet met the cool stone floor, and she stretched. She grabbed her sword, its hilt fitting perfectly in her palm.

The blade caught the morning light as she stepped into the crisp courtyard air. Each swing was a vow to protect what was hers. The sword sliced through the chill, and Moira’s mind sharpened alongside it, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

Sunlight crested McAfee Keep’s stone walls, casting shadows across the dewy courtyard where Moira practiced her swordplay. Her breath visible in the crisp air, she lunged and pivoted with a warrior’s grace, her blade sweeping through the cool air.

Beneath a gnarled oak, Brodie observed Moira’s fiery hair shimmering like copper as she executed precise strikes. He admired not only her technique but also the spirited determination behind each motion, recognizing their shared independence.

Moira’s disciplined training was evident in the strength of her arms and certainty of her stance. Brodie felt pride in both her abilities and their partnership.

As Moira thrust her sword skyward, concluding her routine against the backdrop of the awakening Highlands, Brodie acknowledged they would face any future trials side by side.

Finally, Moira lowered her sword, turning to find Brodie approaching. His confident stride matched her own resolve. His limp was barely discernible, and she watched him walk to her.

“Ye’ve not lost a step,” he remarked, sitting beside her on the weathered bench.

Moira chuckled. “And ye seem to be finding yers again.”

They talked about the battles that had been fought in the short months they’d known one another. It had been one battle after another, ever since the McAfees had held the Highland Games.

“I thought ye were the most infuriating man I had ever met,” Moira admitted with a laugh. “But I learned quickly ye were so much more than that.”

“Yet, ’twas yer fire that guided us through that dark time,” Brodie countered, his arm resting protectively around her shoulders.

“Fire and shadow, we were,” Moira said affectionately. “Each of us strong alone, but together… unstoppable.”

“Unstoppable,” he agreed, his thumb brushing lightly against her sleeve.

As late afternoon light played upon Moira’s hair and Brodie’s contemplative eyes, he said with certainty, “Whatever may come, we will face it as we have since we first met.”

“Together,” Moira whispered, meeting his gaze.

Their hands interlocked as evening approached—a silent vow passed between them in the growing peace.

As the sun dipped, casting pink and orange strokes across the sky, the world hushed around Brodie and Moira in the courtyard of the ancient McAfee keep.

They found sanctuary in each other’s steadfast presence.

As stars emerged in the twilight sky, possibilities and enduring hope for the Highlands filled the unfolding future.