Alex to suffer any… slights.'
She'd been struggling to get away from his grasp until he gave her that explanation. Then she went completely still. Her expression was incredulous.
'Why would anyone slight Alex? He's your son, isn't he?'
'Probably.'
'You claim him. You can't change your mind now. Alex believes you're his father, Gabriel-'
He put his hand over her mouth to get her to cease her instructions to him. His smile was filled with tenderness, for it occurred to him that his gentle wife had never once considered denying Alex's rightful place in their household. Hell, she was demanding fair treatment.
She deserved to understand his motives for keeping the boy away. Gabriel dragged her over to a chair. He sat down, then pulled her onto his lap.
She immediately turned timid. She wasn't used to sitting on her husband's lap. Anyone could walk in and see them together. She worried over that possibility for a moment or two, then pushed the concern aside. What did she care what others thought? Gabriel was her husband, after all. It was his right. Besides, she liked being held by him.
'Twas the truth she was beginning to like him more than she'd ever thought was possible.
'Quit daydreaming,' Gabriel ordered when he saw the look on her face. She did look as though she was dreaming as she stared off into space. 'I want to explain something to you.'
'Yes, husband?'
She put her arm around his neck and began to stroke his skin. He told her to stop, but she ignored his command. He frowned in reaction.
'When the Maclaurins were in such desperate need of a leader to battle the English, they sent a contingent to me.'
She nodded, frowning now for she couldn't imagine why Gabriel wanted to tell her what she already knew. She didn't interrupt him, however. He looked intense, and it would have been rude for her to interrupt him with the news that she already knew the reason why he was now laird. Nicholas had explained the situation to her, and Father MacKechnie had been happy to give her more details.
There was also the fact that this was the first time Gabriel was taking the time to share his concerns with her. Whether he realized it or not, he was making her feel involved in his life and important.
'Please continue,' she requested.
'After the battle was finished and the English were no longer a threat, the Maclaurins were content to have me for their leader. Of course, they weren't given the option,' he added with a nod. 'They weren't as receptive to my followers.'
'Didn't the MacBain soldiers fight with the Maclaurins against the English?'
'They did.'
'Then why aren't the Maclaurins thankful now? Have they forgotten?'
Gabriel shook his head. 'Not all of the MacBains could fight. Auggie is one example. He's too old for battle now. I thought, given time, the Maclaurins and the MacBains would learn to adjust, but now I realize that isn't going to happen. My patience is at an end, wife. The men will either get along and work together or suffer my displeasure.'
He was growling just like Dumfries by the time he finished his explanation. She stroked the side of his neck. 'What happens when you're displeased?'
He shrugged. 'I usually kill someone.'
She was certain he was jesting with her. She smiled. 'I won't allow fights in my house, husband. You'll have to do your killing somewhere else.'
He was too stunned by what she'd just said to take exception to her command. Johanna had just called the keep her house. It was a first, for until this moment, she'd always referred to everything as his. Gabriel hadn't realized how much her separation, deliberate or not, had bothered him.
'Is this your home?'
'Yes,' she answered. 'Isn't it?'
'Yes,' he agreed. 'Johanna, I want you to be happy here.'
He sounded puzzled by his own admission. She couldn't help but become a little disgruntled over that notice.
'You sound surprised,' she said. Lord, he had beautiful eyes. She thought she could be content to look at her husband all day long and not grow bored. He really was a handsome devil.
'I am surprised,' he admitted.
He suddenly wanted to kiss her. Her mouth was so damned appealing to him. So were her eyes. They were the clearest color of blue he'd ever seen. Hell, he even liked the way she frowned at him. He had to shake his head over that foolish realization. Wives should never let their husbands see their displeasure… should they?
'Some husbands want their wives to be happy,' Johanna decided aloud. 'My father certainly wanted Mama to be happy.'
'And what did your mother want?'
'To love my father,' she answered.
'And what do you want?'
She shook her head. She wasn't about to tell him she wanted to love him. Such a declaration would make her vulnerable… wouldn't it?
'I know what you want,' she blurted out in an attempt to take the attention away from her feelings. 'You want me to sit by the fire and sew at night and rest my days away. That's what you want.'
She'd become almost rigid in his arms. She wasn't stroking his neck now either. She was pulling his hair. He reached up, took hold of her hand, and put it in her lap.
'Oh, I forgot one last thing,' she blurted out. 'You'd like me to stay where you put me, isn't that right?'
'Don't jest with me, wife. I'm not in the mood.'
She wasn't jesting with him, but she didn't think it would be a good idea to tell him so. She didn't want to goad his temper. She wanted him to stay in a good mood so he would let her have her way.
'There's more than one way to skin a fish,' she announced.
He didn't know what the hell she was talking about. He didn't think she did either. For that reason he didn't ask her to explain.
'I believed, given time, that we would get used to each other,' he told her.
'You make us sound like the Maclaurins and the MacBains,' she countered. 'Are you getting used to me?'
'It's taking longer than I expected,' he told her.
He was deliberately getting her riled. Johanna was trying not to let him see how upset she was becoming. The proof was in her eyes, however. They were now the color of blue fire. Aye, she was irritated all right.
'I haven't had much experience with marriage,' he reminded her.
'I have,' she blurted out.
He shook his head. 'You weren't married. You were in bondage. There's a difference.'
She couldn't fault his reasoning. She had been in bondage. However, she didn't want to dwell on her past. 'And just what does my first marriage have to do with the topic under discussion?'
'What exactly is the topic?'
'Alex,' she stammered out. 'I was explaining to you that there is always more than one way to skin a fish. Don't you understand?'
'How in God's name would I understand? No one skins fish here.'
She thought he was being deliberately obtuse. He certainly didn't appreciate clever sayings. 'I meant that there is always more than one way to attain a goal,' she explained. 'I won't have to use force to get the Maclaurins to behave. I'll use other methods.'
She could tell he was finally considering the matter. She pressed her advantage. 'You told me I should trust you. 'Tis the truth you ordered me to,' she reminded him. 'Now I will give you the same command. Trust me to take care of Alex. Please bring him home.'
He couldn't deny her. 'Very well,' he agreed with a sigh. 'I'll get him tomorrow, but he'll only come here for a
