They made love that night for the first time since Tristan’s birth. It couldn’t have been a more appropriate way to celebrate their anniversary, but when Greylen first entered her, she cried out in pain. He withdrew instantly, holding her tightly in his arms. “I’m sorry, love.”

“Please, don’t stop.”

“I won’t cause you pain, Gwen.”

“It’s just this first time,” she promised. “Make love to me, Greylen.”

He entered her again, slowly this time, and must have felt her wince. He lay motionless on top of her, his arms around her head as he looked to her. She could tell he wanted to stop and took his face in her hands. Then she whispered to him, words she knew would make him understand.

They were the words he always whispered to her, the words inscribed on her wedding band and medallion. She understood them now and gave them back to him. The look he gave her was indescribable and one she would cherish for the rest of her life. Then he whispered back, “Tha thusa gu bràth mo ghràdh.” You are forever my love.

Her husband made love to her so tenderly that night, loving her with his body as he never had before.

Isabelle gave birth to two healthy babies before summer’s end. Her delivery was long, but she came through it easily. Gavin was, indeed, present, and Greylen insisted that he wear the jersey. He did begrudgingly, though Gwen was the one to deliver Gavin’s sons. Gavin sat by Isabelle, helping her through her labor, clearly wishing to be anywhere but at his wife’s side. Her pain was just too much it seemed for him to bear. Greylen knew exactly how he felt.

Gwen had demanded that Gavin hold the first baby when he was born, and he did, watching in pure awe as the second was born. He cut their cords as Gwen instructed, crying like a babe as Greylen taunted. Gavin damned him for being right. But in the end, he admitted he was glad to have been there.

His nephews, Ethan and Collin, kept their mother busy. In fact, they kept everyone busy. Three babies now occupied the women during the day and the men gladly helped, too, when they could.

Greylen began to steal his wife away in the early afternoons so he could teach her to ride. He was so proud of her skills, he gifted her with a mare, prouder still when she insisted on caring for the animal herself. They rode together in the afternoons, and on the occasions that he couldn’t accompany her, she was allowed to ride alone, though one of his men always followed her from a distance.