“Perhaps he already left,” Cain said, frowning as his gaze slid across the crowd of Sutherlands and Sinclairs that had gathered. Hannah and Merida waited near the flower-covered archway at the end of the small dock they had built into the loch, but there was no sign of his second brother.

Joshua had requested to journey north into the islands where the people warred without distinct clans. His frustration with Cain’s decision to let Sutherlands rule themselves had made Joshua even more hostile. Cain had given Gideon the task of bringing the Mackays at Varrich to heel, because Joshua seemed to spur more conflict with their conquered neighbors. So Cain had granted his request to leave. Had he done so without farewells or seeing his brother wed?

Pastor John stepped with confidence along a path that Bàs had helped Cain clear earlier. Cain’s breath caught in his throat as Ella walked out from the summer trees behind the pastor, Kenneth at her side. Her hair was a cascade of soft brown curls down her back with part of it pulled up high to encircle her head like a crown. She wore a blue dress, simple and crisp. He smiled broadly, for in her hands she held a bouquet of Scottish thistle.

He remembered the girl from long ago who’d caught his eye. Lasses had been a shallow game then. But love had changed his life into something much more than a game. He had risked everything, and in so doing, he and Ella were winning the greatest prize of all.

Kenneth bowed to Cain, presenting his daughter, and stepped back next to her brother, Jamie. Cain met Ella’s eyes. “Beautiful and prickly,” he said, glancing at her flowers.

Her lush lips turned up with happiness. “A true Scottish lass.”

They turned toward the pastor, who had positioned himself at the end of the dock, and walked together to stand before him.

In the forest on the other side of the water, a large bay-colored warhorse emerged from the thick foliage. Joshua looked across to Cain, catching his gaze, and nodded to him. A grin played along Joshua’s mouth, and he raised his sword high in the air. His voice rang out, traveling across the water. “All hail, Cain Sinclair, chief of the Sinclair Clan, fifth Earl of Caithness.” The warriors around the pond raised their swords and repeated his declaration.

Joshua kept his sword high. “All hail, Arabella Macleod Sutherland Sinclair, lady of Girnigoe Castle.” The rumble of voices shook the woods as everyone again repeated his words.

Joshua sheathed his sword and bowed his head to Cain from on top of his horse. With a press of his legs, Cain’s brother turned around, riding away.

“He leaves?” Ella asked.

“Aye,” Cain answered, taking a full breath. “He yearns for war, and I rule for peace.”