logical reason to give the inquisitive man. And so she gave him an illogical one. 'Because my mama's coming. That is why.'
Lindsay nodded, then turned to repeat her explanation to the MacBain soldier seated next to him. 'Her mama's coming. M'lady wants everything to be just so.'
The MacBain soldier nodded. 'Aye, she does,' he agreed.
Johanna turned her attention to the table so the men wouldn't see her smile. She wanted to laugh over Lindsay's naivete but didn't dare.
Dinner was a wonderful success by her measure. Calum and Leila started out as stiff as boards, but by the time the meal was finished they were talking to each other in low whispers. She was straining to hear what they were talking about when Gabriel realized what she was doing and pulled her closer to him.
'There will be a wedding soon,' Gabriel remarked with a nod in Calum's direction.
Johanna smiled. 'Yes,' she whispered.
The mention of marriage turned her thoughts to Clare. The MacKay woman needed a husband, and in Johanna's estimation, there were several fine possibilities sitting at the table.
'Keith? Have you-' Johanna began, thinking to ask him if he'd considered his future.
Keith wouldn't let her finish her question.
'I've been waiting for you to bring that up,' he said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. 'You have?'
'It was my duty to tell your husband, m'lady. I tried to keep your promise, even felt a bit relieved because I felt responsible for the Maclaurin women and their offense was mine, but I didn't get through the full day without realizing my first loyalty belonged to the MacBain.'
'What are you talking about?'
Johanna had never seen a grown man blush until now.
Keith was turning red with embarrassment.
'Never mind, m'lady.'
She wasn't about to let the matter drop. 'Exactly what did you tell my husband?'
Gabriel answered her. 'He explained about the names, Johanna, and how Glynis came up with…'
She wouldn't let him finish. 'She was most contrite, husband. You mustn't take issue with her. Promise me you won't talk to her about this.'
Since Gabriel had already had a talk with Glynis, he felt it safe to give his wife his promise.
She nodded, satisfied. 'I wondered where you'd heard I was being called a coward,' she said then. She turned her frown to Keith. 'It never entered my mind, however, that you would tell my husband. I believed someone else had overheard Glynis and then went to his laird with the tale.'
'It was his duty to tell me,' Gabriel announced. 'You will thank him, wife, not sanction him.'
'It all came out in the wash,' Johanna announced.
'What in thunder does that mean?' Gabriel asked.
'She's giving us another lesson, Laird,' Keith explained with a grin.
'I see,' Gabriel replied.
'Nay, Laird, you won't see. None of your wife's lessons make any sense.'
Johanna would have explained what she'd meant by her remark, but Alex drew her full attention when he came running into the hall. She saw the frightened look on his face and immediately stood up.
Alex circled the table and hurled himself into her arms. He buried his face in her plaid.
'What happened, Alex?' she asked, her concern apparent in her voice. 'Did you have a bad dream?'
'There's something under the bed. I heard it.'
Gabriel rolled his eyes in exasperation. He reached over to pull his son away from Johanna. Alex wouldn't let go until his father ordered him to.
'You're sleeping on a mat on the floor, Alex,' Gabriel said. 'It isn't possible for anything to get underneath.'
'No, Papa,' Alex argued. 'I got in your bed. It's under there. It might get me if I close my eyes.'
'Alex…' his father began.
'You'd better go up with him and look under the bed, husband. It's the only way he'll be convinced. Besides, there might really be something under there.'
'There is,' Alex insisted.
Gabriel let out a loud sigh before complying with his family's wishes. He stood up, lifted his son into his arms, and walked out of the hall.
Johanna took her seat again. She smiled at Keith. She was thrilled to have his attention without Gabriel. Her husband would certainly interfere in the discussion.
'Children,' Johanna drawled out. 'They're such a joy. When you get married and have a family of your own, you'll understand what I'm saying. You are going to get married someday, aren't you, Keith?'
'Aye, m'lady,' he answered. 'Next summer as a matter of fact. Bridgid MacCoy has agreed to become my wife.'
'Oh.'
She couldn't quite hide her disappointment. She turned her gaze down the table and settled on Michael as a possibility.
He caught her staring at him. He smiled. She nodded. 'Children,' she began again. 'They're wonderful, aren't they, Michael?'
'If you say so, m'lady.'
'Oh, I do say,' she replied. 'When you get married, you'll understand. You do plan to marry someday, don't you, Michael?'
'Eventually,' he answered with a shrug.
'Have you anyone in mind?'
'Are you matchmaking, m'lady?' Keith asked.
'Why would you think that?'
'I'll marry Helen when I'm ready,' Michael interjected. 'I've told her I will, and she agreed to wait.'
Johanna frowned. The possibilities were becoming a bit limited. She turned to Niall.
'Children…' she began.
'She is matchmaking,' Keith announced.
It was as though he'd just shouted the alarm that they were under siege. The soldiers literally jumped from their stools. They bowed to Johanna and left the room in the space of a single minute. She didn't even have enough time to order them back into their seats.
Only the soldiers already spoken for remained. And Father MacKechnie, of course, but then he wasn't a viable possibility either, for priests couldn't marry.
Gabriel came back to an almost empty hall. He looked around him in puzzlement, shrugged, and then sat down again to finish his supper.
He smiled at his wife.
'Well?' she demanded.
He looked sheepish. 'There was something under the bed.'
She laughed, for she believed he was jesting with her. Then he explained, 'Dumfries crawled underneath.'
Leila and Calum both stood up. Leila bowed to her laird. 'Thank you for giving me the honor of dining with you,' she said.
Gabriel nodded. Leila blushed. 'Thank you, too, m'lady.'
'It's dark,' Calum announced.
He didn't have anything more to add. Johanna tried not to smile. 'Perhaps you should escort Leila home,' she suggested, 'if it's dark, Calum.'
The soldier nodded. 'As you wish, m'lady.'
Calum motioned for Leila to walk ahead of him. Johanna turned back to her husband. Keith caught her attention then. The look of surprise on his face indicated he'd only just realized a romance was budding between Leila and Calum.
