She smiled softly. “You forget stubborn and pragmatic.”

“There are those as well,” he said with a chuckle, “and I love those parts of you just as much as all the others.”

“You are a lucky man to have found me,” she teased, then her tone turned serious. “And I am a lucky woman to have found you, a man whose good heart far outweighs his faults.”

“Keep that thought strong, mo ghaol, you may need it someday.”

“All I need is you,” she whispered and kissed him as if she’d never get a chance to kiss him again.

It left them both breathless and he whispered once again, “Later.”

They entered the room to find Sara sitting up in bed, looking much improved, though there was a worry in her alert eyes.

“What goes on, Slatter?” his grandmother asked anxiously and stretched her hand out to him. “I heard someone arrived here who resembles you. What is this all about?”

“I wish I knew, Seanmhair,” he said, taking her hand and sitting on the bed beside her. “You told me that you know little about my father, but I need you to tell me all you do know.”

His grandmother obliged. “It was at the gathering of several clans that your mum met your da. She came home excited and told me she was in love and going off with a man. She never told me his name and never said anything about marrying him, not even a handfasting. She left and I didn’t see her until she returned with you,” —she smiled— “a small bairn that walked far too fast for being barely one year. I could hardly keep up with you. When I asked what happened, she told me it was better I didn’t know.” She shook her head slowly. “I wondered if she had gotten herself with a powerful man and a married one at that, and that she feared him.”

“Did she ever mention the Isle of Wakelin to you?”

“It sounds familiar.” His grandmother scrunched her brow, searching her memory, her eyes suddenly turning wide. “I do recall it, the memory giving me pause through the years. Though it wasn’t your mum who mentioned the Isle of Wakelin, but a traveler who stopped for some water. He mentioned he was headed there. I remember your mum, hurrying over to where you were trying to climb a tree, snatching you up and keeping your face pressed against her chest as she hurried into the cottage. She didn’t come out until I told her the man had left. I asked her what was wrong and she told me never to speak of the isle, not ever. After that she made sure to keep you away from any strangers that stopped by. I knew my daughter well and I knew she was not only trying to protect you, but me as well.” She sighed. “I was so pleased and relieved when your mum met Lander. He was a good man and I knew he’d make a good da.”