The merging of the two clans was taking longer than he'd anticipated. He had wanted to give each clansman time to adjust to all the changes, but he now realized he had been too damned accommodating. All that was going to stop. His followers would either put their differences aside or suffer his displeasure.
Work on the wall was going at a snail's pace. On a usual day, one MacBain soldier could do the work of three Maclaurins. Today didn't qualify as usual, however. The Maclaurins were muttering like old men. Their concentration certainly wasn't on their work, and nothing significant was getting done.
Gabriel's patience was at an end. He was about to challenge a few of the blatant offenders when Calum chased him down with the report that yet another messenger had arrived.
Gabriel wasn't in the mood for another interruption. He much preferred the idea of bashing a few Maclaurin heads together. He didn't particularly care for the news he was given either. The news was sure to please his wife, however, he supposed.
He wanted Johanna to be happy. He wasn't certain why it mattered to him, but he was honest enough to admit her happiness was important.
Hell, he was getting soft. The messenger was shaking in his boots by the time Gabriel gave him permission to leave. He made him repeat the message he wanted taken back to England, for the man's attention was interrupted when Dumfries came running into the hall. The dog growled; the man bolted, and Gabriel found his first smile since early morning.
Johanna's reaction to the news wasn't what he expected. He was going to wait until dinner to tell her, but she came down the stairs just as the messenger was trying to run through the closed doors and wanted to know what the stranger wanted.
Dumfries was snapping at the man's heels. Johanna was appalled by the treatment their visitor was receiving. She pushed the dog out of the way, then opened the doors for the man. She bid him good day, but she didn't think he heard her. He was halfway across the courtyard, running like a madman, and Gabriel's laughter surely drowned out her words.
She shut the doors and walked over to the steps. Her husband stood by the hearth, grinning like a well-gifted man on Christmas morn. She shook her head at him.
'It isn't polite to frighten our guests, m'lord.'
'He's English, Johanna,' he explained. He believed he had just given her an adequate excuse for his conduct.
She looked worried. She hurried down the steps and walked over to her husband. 'He was a messenger, wasn't he? Who did he bring news from? Was it King John? Or did Baron Goode send another request?'
She'd gone from worry to terror in less than a minute's time. Gabriel shook his head. 'He didn't bring bad news, wife. The message came from your mother.'
She grabbed hold of Gabriel's hand. 'Is she ill?'
Gabriel hurried to soothe her. He hated seeing her frightened. 'She isn't ill,' he said. 'At least I don't believe she is,' he added. 'She wouldn't be coming here if she was sick, would she?'
'Mama's coming here?'
She'd shouted the question. He was astonished. Johanna looked ready to swoon. Her reaction wasn't at all what he expected.
'This news does not please you?'
'I have to sit down.'
She collapsed into one of the chairs. Gabriel walked over to stand in front of her. 'Answer me, wife. If the news doesn't make you happy, I'll have Calum catch the messenger and tell him to deny the request.'
She bounded to her feet. 'You'll do no such thing. I want to see my mother.'
'Then what in God's name is the matter with you? Why are you acting as though you've just received foul news?'
She wasn't paying any attention to her husband. Her mind raced from one thought to another. She was going to have to get her house organized. Aye, that duty came first. Dumfries would have to have a bath. Was there time to teach the hound some manners? Johanna wasn't about to let the dog growl at her mama.
Gabriel grabbed hold of his wife by her shoulders and demanded she answer him. She asked him to repeat his question.
'Why isn't this good news, wife?'
'It's wonderful news,' she countered. She added a look that suggested she thought he'd lost his mind. 'I haven't seen Mama in over four years, Gabriel. It will be a joyful reunion.'
'Then why in God's name do you look so ill?'
She shrugged his hands away from her shoulders and started pacing in front of the hearth. 'There's so much to do before she gets here,' she explained. 'Dumfries will need to be bathed. The keep must be cleaned from top to bottom. I won't have your pet growling at my mama, Gabriel. I'll have to teach him some manners. Oh God, manners.' She whirled around to look at her husband. 'The Maclaurins don't have any.'
She'd wailed out her last remark. Gabriel didn't know whether to laugh or frown over her rattled behavior.
He ended up smiling. She frowned in reaction. 'I won't have my mama insulted,' she snapped.
'No one's going to insult her, wife.'
She snorted with disbelief. 'I won't have her disappointed either. She trained me to be a good wife.' She put her hands on her hips and waited. Her husband didn't have anything to say. 'Well?' she demanded when he stubbornly remained silent.
He let out a sigh. 'Well, what?'
'You're supposed to tell me I'm a good wife,' she cried out, her frustration evident.
'All right,' he soothed. 'You're a good wife.'
She shook her head. 'No, I'm not,' she admitted.
He rolled his eyes heavenward. He didn't know what she expected from him. He guessed she'd tell him when she got herself under control, and he patiently waited.
'I've been remiss in my duties. All that's in the past, however. I shall start teaching your men proper manners at dinner tonight.'
'Now, Johanna,' he began, a warning in his voice. 'The men are…'
'Don't you interfere, Gabriel. You needn't worry. Your soldiers will listen to my instructions. Do you think you'll be home by dinner?' she asked.
He was confused by the question. He was home now, damn it all, and dinner would be served in just a few minutes. Still, she was rattled now, he reminded himself. Perhaps she didn't realize what time it was.
'I'm home now,' he reminded her. 'And dinner…'
She didn't let him finish. 'You have to leave.'
'What?'
'Go and get Alex, husband. I've been very patient with you,' she added when he started frowning. 'Your son should be home when Mama gets here. Alex will probably need a bath, too. I'll put him in the creek with Dumfries. God only knows what manners your son's been taught. Probably none.' She paused to sigh. 'Go and fetch him.'
She tried to leave the hall after giving him that order. He caught hold of her and forced her to turn around to look at him.
'You do not give me commands, wife.'
'I cannot believe you take this opportunity to become surly, husband. I don't have time to placate you today. I have important duties to see to,' she added. 'I want Alex home. Do you want to shame me in front of my mama?' She seemed appalled by that possibility. Gabriel let out a loud sigh. He barely remembered his own mother and therefore couldn't imagine why Johanna would become so agitated over a visitation. It was obviously important that all go well, however.
And he did want his wife to be happy. He decided to tell her the true reason.
'Alex stays with his relatives until…'
'The wall's taking forever,' she interrupted. 'There is another reason, wife.'
'What is it?'
'I don't want him here until the Maclaurins and the MacBains have put their differences aside. I don't want
