The Cowboy Wore A Kilt Read online

  A wonderful picnic spot it was too.

  Declan planned to take Claudia and Kara to Scotland in August, when the heat would slow progress on any exterior construction efforts, and festival in Edinburgh was in full swing.

  "I wasn't thinking of renaming the ranch, Declan," Claudia said. "A Gaelic name might do just fine, though."

  For an instant, Declan considered that Claudia might be asking him to name the foal due in a couple of weeks, but something about Claudia's smile—shy, sweet, tender—pointed him in another direction.

  "What sort of name should I be thinking of?" Declan asked as the horses ambled into the shade by the creek.

  "Let's give the horses a drink, and pay our respects to Mama and Daddy's tree."

  That was already a euphemism for kissing by the riverbank. On picnic blankets beneath that tree, Declan and Claudia had done a whole lot more than kiss.

  Declan swung down—thank God he was well past the saddle-sore phase—and led Abner to the stream. This spot was beautiful, and he'd sketched plans for a small home here, away from the noise and bustle of the ranch house, the stable, and the bunkhouse.

  Claudia led Strawberry to the creek, and horsey slurping and pawing followed. When the horses had had their fill, Declan wrapped Claudia in his arms.

  "I love you, Claudia MacLeod, owner of the Bar J and my heart."

  "I love you, Declan MacLeod, partner in the Bar J joint venture, and sole proprietor of my heart. A Gaelic name would be nice."

  "For the property?" Declan knew better, but he was Scottish, and not one to push his luck.

  "For the baby."

  With the breeze soughing through the new leaves, and the Canyon reaching for spring's glory all around them, Declan held his wife and silently rejoiced. Of all the joint ventures he and Claudia might be involved in, this was the one that mattered.

  Building a family, building a dream.

  "Kara can help create the child's name sign," Declan said. "We have time to come up with a name." Though he'd accelerate his plans for a house among the cottonwoods.

  "You're happy?" Claudia asked.

  "I could not be any happier, nor more grateful to you for the love and joy you've given me."

  Declan felt her relief at his answer. They were always honest with each other, and that was a joy too. "Are you worried, Claudia?"

  She slipped from his arms, but kept hold of his hand. "We haven't let any grass grow under our feet, Declan, and a baby is…a baby is a big change."

  Another big change, she meant.

  "We will face all manner of challenges, Claudia, bad years and good, trials and triumphs. As long as I have you at my side, I'll meet every problem and setback with the certain knowledge that it won't stop us. When I hold you, I have everything I need, right in my arms."

  "For a Scottish engineer, you sure can turn up mushy at the nicest times."

  "If I behave myself, I'll eventually be a Texas rancher, but I'm the practical sort too, Claudia."

  She smiled at him as if he'd brought her all the rainbows in the Highlands. "You have a blanket in your saddlebags?"

  "Aye."

  And as their family grew, and the Bar J became a model for many other similar facilities, Declan and Claudia often stole down to the creek, to talk, to plan, to reminisce, sometimes to argue, often to dream, and always, always to love.

  THE END

  To my dear Readers,

  I hope you enjoyed this tale of a Scotsman in paradise (Can I get a heck yeah!), and there really is a strong connection between Aberdeen and Texas because of North Sea oil. I was never so surprised as when I sat down to a fine Scottish dinner one night in Aberdeen, and in walked four guys in cowboy hats and jeans…sporting the thickest Scottish burrs you'd ever want to eavesdrop on. Delightful!

  If you'd like to stay up to date on further releases (I have plans for Miranda and Brewster the Rooster), please follow my Amazon author page, which you can find here. I always have more stories in the pipeline, and I love to hear from my readers.

  Happy reading!

  Grace Burrowes