Saving Grace

Chapter 18

Gabriel left the holding the following morning. He was evasive about his mission. Johanna immediately became suspicious and demanded to know if her husband planned to do any stealing. He took exception to her question, of course, and an argument resulted.

"I have given you my word I won't steal," he muttered. "You'd best learn not to insult me with such accusations, woman."

"It is only because I worry about your safety," she countered. "I would be most unhappy if anything happened to you while you were… hunting."

"You have just given me another insult," he announced, though his voice had lost its hard edge. "Have you so little faith in me? My men and I are so quiet when we take what we need, no one hears us. We are in and out of their stores before their animals even catch our scent."

She wasn't at all impressed with his boasts. She let out a rather inelegant snort. "I happen to have complete faith in you," she muttered. "I was merely curious to know where you were going. That was all there was to my question. However, if you don't want to tell me, then don't."

He didn't. When she found out he was planning to be away for at least two weeks, perhaps as many as three, she became even more curious.

She didn't nag him, though certainly not because she thought she was above such tactics. Gabriel simply didn't give her time. He told her he was leaving, argued with her for a minute or two, then kissed her soundly and left.

He didn't confide in her because he didn't want her to worry. He and a full contingent of soldiers were joining Laird MacKay in the war against the MacInnes clan, and once they'd finished with those infidels, Gabriel planned to ride to Laird Gillevrey. Yet another request had come from Baron Goode begging an audience with Johanna. The Englishman obviously didn't understand what the word no meant. Gabriel planned to personally and forcefully insist the baron give up. He wanted to make sure the ignorant baron comprehended what would happen to him if he dared to pester Johanna again. He prayed the baron hadn't sent a vassal.

His wife was kept busy with Alex, Clare MacKay, and mundane everyday household affairs. Glynis trimmed Clare's hair; and after another two weeks resting in her chamber, the MacKay woman was finally strong enough to join Johanna for supper in the great hall.

Clare was getting prettier with each new day. Once the bruises faded and her facial features were no longer distorted from swelling, she turned into a strikingly beautiful woman. She had a wonderful sense of humor and an appealing brogue that sounded musical to Johanna. She tried to copy it, much to Clare's amusement.

Johanna tried to keep her concentration on the preparations for her mother's visitation. She was anxious to see her but actually hoped she wouldn't arrive for another month or two. With a bit of prodding, Johanna was certain she could convince her mama to stay until after the baby was born.

Johanna was getting thick through her middle, but she wasn't actually showing yet. She was sleeping quite a lot now. She took an afternoon nap, then still went to bed early each night. She and Alex kept the same hours. It became a ritual for her to take him up to bed. After he'd washed and cleaned his teeth they would kneel side by side at the foot of the bed and say their nightly prayers together.

She was usually nodding off by the time they were finished. Alex wanted to delay sleep, and for that reason he liked to include everyone he'd ever met in his prayers. Gabriel was always at the top of their list, of course. They prayed for him first, then for Alex's relatives and Johanna's; and after all the acquaintances had been named, Johanna insisted on a prayer for King John's nephew, Arthur. Alex wanted to know why they were praying for him, and Johanna explained that Arthur should have been king, and since that right had been denied, they would pray he'd made it to heaven.

Gabriel came home just a few minutes after Johanna had taken Alex upstairs, but by the time he finished listening to Keith's report and had his supper, his wife and son were sound asleep.

It was as hot as hell inside the chamber. Fall had come to the Highlands and with it a cooling breeze his wife could barely tolerate. The furs covered the window, and his wife was hidden under a mound of plaids. Since Alex wasn't sleeping on his mat, Gabriel assumed he was also hidden somewhere under the covers.

He found his son at the foot of the bed and carried him over to his mat. Alex must have put in an exhausting day, for he didn't even open his eyes while he was being carried from one bed to another.

Gabriel barely made a sound as he got ready for bed. He stripped out of his clothes, washed, and then started discarding covers in his attempt to find his wife.

Johanna was sleeping in the center of the bed. He stretched out next to her and gently pulled her into his arms.

He needed her tonight. Hell, he always needed her, he thought to himself. Not an hour had passed during their separation that he hadn't thought about her. It was a shameful habit he was getting into, for he was behaving like a lovesick husband who only wanted to stay at home with

The comforts of family life had actually taken the pleasure out of warring.

Johanna was wearing a long white nightgown. He hated the thing. He wanted to feel her smooth body pressed up against him. He eased the garment up over her thighs and began to stroke her while he nuzzled the side of her neck.

She took her time waking up. He wasn't deterred, however, and when she finally realized where she was and what her husband was doing, she was very enthusiastic in her responses.

It proved to be a difficult challenge to keep her from making any of those arousing sounds he liked so much, but he didn't want Alex to wake up, and so he sealed her cries of ecstasy with long hot kisses. When she found fulfillment, she tightened all around him and let out a soft whimper.

When he found his own pleasure, however, he let out a loud shout.

"Papa?"

Johanna went rigid in her husband's arms. Her hand moved to her mouth to keep herself from laughing.

"It's all right, Alex. Go back to sleep."

"Good night, Papa."

"Good night, son."

Gabriel's head dropped to the crook of Johanna's neck. She turned so she could nibble on his earlobe. "Welcome home, husband."

His grunt in reply made her smile. She fell asleep hugging him tight. He fell asleep wishing he had enough strength to make love to her again.

It was a thoroughly satisfying homecoming.

Nicholas arrived late the following afternoon. Gabriel stood on the steps outside, waiting for his brother-in-law to dismount. Calum stood by his laird's side. He spotted the look of displeasure on Gabriel's face.

"You going to kill him this time?" he asked.

Gabriel shook his head. "I can't," he replied in a voice that sounded a bit forlorn. "My wife would be unhappy, but by God, that is the only reason her brother's still breathing."

Calum hid his grin. He knew his laird's anger was all pretense. He turned to watch their guest.

"Something's wrong, MacBain. The baron isn't wearing his usual daft smile."

Johanna's brother was all alone. He was in a hurry to get to MacBain, too, for he swung his leg over his mount and jumped to the ground before the stallion had stopped. The horse's coat was lathered, indicating he'd been pressed hard.

Something was wrong, all right. Nicholas wasn't the sort of man to abuse his mount.

"Take care of his horse," Gabriel ordered Calum. He went down the steps and walked forward to meet his brother-in-law.

Neither warrior was much on proper greetings. Nicholas was the first to speak. "It's bad, MacBain."

Gabriel didn't question Nicholas. He simply waited for him to explain.

"Where's Johanna?"

"She's upstairs, getting Alex ready for bed."

"I could use a drink."

Gabriel tried to contain his impatience. He followed Nicholas inside, dismissed Megan from finishing her task of preparing the tables for supper so that he and Nicholas would have privacy, and then waited by the buttery while his brother-in-law poured himself a drink.

"You'd better sit down to hear this news," Nicholas suggested. "It's a hell of a mess, and Johanna's in the middle of it."

Johanna had just come down the stairs when she heard her brother's voice. She didn't pick up her skirts and run to Nicholas, but came to an abrupt stop instead, for the anger in his tone, added to his worrisome words, made her wait to hear what mess he was talking about before she intruded.

She knew it wasn't polite to eavesdrop, but concern and curiosity overrode manners now, and she knew that if she interrupted, the men would change the topic. Both her husband and her brother were overly protective of her feelings. Aye. they would change the topic all right and it would take her a good amount of nagging to get any answers out of either one of them. Listening in on the conversation might not be proper, but it was certainly effective. Besides, she'd heard her name and knew the mess somehow involved her. She edged a little closer to the entrance and waited to hear her brother's next remarks.

"Just get it said, Nicholas," Gabriel commanded.

Johanna nodded. She was in full agreement with her husband's demand and feeling every bit as impatient as he'd sounded.

"Baron Raulf has returned from the dead. He wants his wife back."

Johanna didn't hear her husband's reaction to Nicholas's news. She was too stunned to hear anything more. She felt as though she'd just been struck a powerful blow. A scream gathered in the back of her throat. She backed up until the railing prevented her from going any further. She shook her head in denial. It couldn't be true. Raulf had fallen from a cliff. There was a witness. He was dead.

Demons stayed in hell, didn't they?

And then she ran. She didn't have any clear destination in mind. She simply wanted to find a place where she could be all alone until she gained control over her panic and her fear.

She went down the back corridor, but by the time she reached the door leading outside, she realized what she was doing and why. The fear had been immediate and instinctive. It was a black remnant from her past, she thought to herself, and in the past her fear had always controlled her. She wouldn't allow it to control her now.

Johanna sat down on the bench and leaned back against the wall. She took several deep, calming breaths. After a few minutes, the panic began to ease, and with it the fear.

She was a different woman now, she reminded herself. She'd found courage and strength, and no one, not even a demon, could take those things away from her.

Her hand moved to her stomach in a protective action. Tears came into her eyes, but they were tears of joy, not apprehension, as she thought about the miracle growing inside her.

She said a prayer in thanksgiving for all the blessings God had given her. She thanked Him for giving her Gabriel and Alex and the baby sleeping inside her and thanked Him, too, for giving her a safe haven where she could be free of pain and where she could learn how to love, and last of all she thanked Him because He'd made her strong and clever. And then she set about using her cleverness to find a way out of the mess.

Johanna sat on the bench in the dark for almost an hour, but when she finally stood up, she had a clear plan in mind. She was feeling peaceful now, actually serene. Most important in her mind, she was in complete control.

Yes, she had come a long way. She smiled over the compliment she'd just given herself, then had to shake her head because she was acting daft. She wasn't crazed. She believed she would be all right. If it came to a battle of wits, Raulf wouldn't stand a chance against her. In her estimation, men who beat women were ignorant. They were also weak-minded and filled with insecurities. Raulf had all of those sorry traits. Yes, she would be victorious if the battle was waged in London's court with threats and accusations. She would use her knowledge of his sins to condemn him.

But if Raulf decided to use his fists and his sword to get his way, Johanna knew she wasn't physically strong enough to withstand his attack. It didn't matter though. Raulf could summon an army to aid him, but in the end, she would still be victorious. Because of Gabriel. He was her champion, her protector, her saving grace. She had complete faith in his ability to keep his family safe. Raulf was no match against him.

A demon, after all, could easily be crushed by an archangel.

Johanna let out a sigh. She was ready to let her husband comfort her. She picked up her skirts and ran to him.

Nicholas intercepted her in the center of the hall. He lifted her into his arms and swung her off the floor.

"Oh, Nicholas, I'm so happy to see you!" she cried out.

"Put her down damn it!" Gabriel roared. "And get your hands off her. My wife isn't in any condition to be tossed about like a caber."

Both Johanna and Nicholas ignored Gabriel's commands. She kissed her brother and hugged him tight. He finally put her down and draped his arm around her shoulders.

"My sister may look delicate, MacBain, but surely you've noticed by now she's really as strong as an ox."

"I've noticed you haven't let go of her yet," Gabriel snapped. "Johanna, come here. You should stand by your husband."

He sounded surly, but the sparkle in his eyes indicated he was pleased to see her happy. She thought he might actually like Nicholas, too, but Gabriel would go to his grave before admitting it. Men, she'd learned, were a complicated lot.

She pulled away from her brother and went to her husband. He immediately put his arm around her shoulders and hauled her close into his side.

"Why didn't you bring Mama with you, Nicholas? She would have been happy for your company, and she is planning to come here for a visitation. Isn't that right, husband?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes, Nicholas," he said. "Why didn't you bring her?"

"She wasn't ready to leave England just yet," Nicholas countered. "Besides, there developed a bit of a problem, Johanna…"

Gabriel wouldn't let him finish. "Your mother will come next month."

"Explain, please, the problem you mentioned," she requested.

Both men looked wary now. She thought they didn't know how to give her the bad news. After several minutes of prodding, however, she came to the realization neither one had any intention of telling her about Raulf.

Gabriel could barely make himself let go of Johanna. When they sat down at the table to share their dinner, he kept reaching over to take hold of her hand.

Nicholas sat across from his sister and adjacent to Gabriel. Keith sat next to him. Clare joined them a few minutes later and took her seat next to Johanna.

Both Nicholas and Gabriel stood up when Clare entered the room. Johanna had to motion the other soldiers to also stand.

Nicholas kept his gaze on the lovely woman walking toward him. Gabriel kept his full attention on his brother-in-law. He waited to see a sign of recognition.

"Do you know this woman, Nicholas?" he demanded.

His brother-in-law took exception to Gabriel's tone of voice. "How the hell could I know her? I haven't met her yet."

Johanna hurried to make the introductions. Clare made a curtsy; but because Nicholas was scowling, she didn't smile.

Gabriel still wasn't willing to admit defeat. He believed he'd thought the matter through and come up with the only logical conclusion possible. The MacBain plaid had been spotted near MacInnes land. Nicholas had worn the plaid on his last return trip to England. Since none of the other soldiers had been near the holding, Nicholas had to be the man responsible for getting Clare MacKay with child.

"Are you telling me you've never met Clare MacKay before?" he asked.

"That's what I'm telling you all right," Nicholas drawled out.

"Hell."

"Gabriel, what is the matter with you?" Johanna asked. "Clare, come and sit next to me, please."

"I thought your brother was the one responsible for Clare's condition."

"How could you think that?" Johanna cried out. "He would never abandon…"

"It was a logical conclusion," Gabriel defended.

"It was a sinful conclusion," Johanna countered.

Nicholas was trying to follow the budding argument. He understood Gabriel was trying to blame him for something or other and that Johanna was valiantly trying to defend

"Exactly what is it you think I'm responsible for?" he asked Gabriel.

"Nicholas, this matter needn't concern you," Johanna said.

"How can it not concern him?" Gabriel asked. "If he is the father…"

She wouldn't let him finish. "He isn't," she blurted out.

The frown on Gabriel's face was chilling. "I see," he remarked. He sat down, motioned for Nicholas to do the same, and then turned back to his wife.

"Then you know who the man is, don't you, Johanna?"

Johanna nodded. She fully intended to explain the situation to her husband, but she wanted to wait until they were alone.

"We have company," she whispered, hoping her reminder would make Gabriel realize she didn't wish to discuss the delicate topic now.

He refused to take the hint. "You will give me the man's name," he ordered.

She let out a sigh. Clare had been diligently studying the tabletop with her head bowed and her hands fisted in her lap. She looked up when Johanna's husband demanded an answer, took a deep breath, and then said, "There isn't any man, Laird MacBain."

Gabriel wasn't prepared for that answer. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the MacKay woman for a long minute before he turned to his wife.

Johanna immediately nodded. "There isn't any," she said, repeating Clare's statement.

Johanna kept her gaze on her husband as she reached over and took hold of Clare's hand. "You'd best get ready," she whispered.

"Ready for what, m'lady?" Clare whispered back.

"Growling."

Gabriel ignored the banter. He was still reacting to the news he'd just been given. The ramifications were staggering, and try as he did, he couldn't understand why the woman would put herself in such jeopardy over a lie.

He shook his head. Johanna nodded. "It's joyful news, Gabriel" she remarked.

His face turned red. She guessed he didn't think it was joyful at all. Clare was squeezing her hand now in obvious fear. Johanna turned to her.

"You have no reason to be frightened," she announced. "My husband would never hurt you. He's just been given a surprise, that's all. In a minute of two he'll get over it."

"Will someone tell me what in thunder is going on?" Nicholas demanded.

"No!" Gabriel, Johanna, and Clare all shouted the denial together.

Johanna was the first to realize how impolite they were being to her brother.

"Gabriel, this matter can wait until later for discussion," she announced. "Please?" she added when he looked like he was going to argue with her.

Her husband finally nodded. "We should only have pleasant conversation at the supper table," she said then. "Isn't that right, Clare?"

"Yes," Clare replied. She let go of Johanna's hand and straightened on her stool. "Have you given your brother your good news?"

"My husband has," Johanna replied.

"No, I haven't," Gabriel said.

He still sounded irritated to her, but she wasn't upset. "Why haven't you told him?"

"I thought you would want to," he answered.

She smiled. Nicholas's curiosity was captured of course. "What is this news?"

"I want you to tell him," Johanna insisted.

"Tell me what?" Nicholas asked.

"Your brother's a very impatient man," Clare remarked. "But then, most Englishmen are, aren't they?"

"No, they aren't," Nicholas snapped. "Johanna, tell me your news."

Clare was startled by Nicholas's hard tone of voice. Her shoulders straightened a bit more, and she frowned at the man she now decided was a rude boor.

"She isn't barren." Gabriel made the announcement and actually smiled. His soldiers all immediately nodded their

"'Tis the truth, she isn't barren," Keith remarked.

The men all nodded again. Calum and Leila came into the hall then. Leila was holding Calum's hand. She let go of him when they started down the steps. Johanna smiled over the sight of the happy couple before turning her attention back to her brother.

He still didn't look as though he understood. "I'm going to have a baby, Nicholas."

"How is such a thing possible?"

Johanna started blushing. Gabriel laughed, for he found his wife's embarrassment amusing. He was still determined to give her hell because she hadn't told him the truth about Clare MacKay, of course, but he wouldn't raise his voice to her when he was letting her know how displeased he was, given her delicate condition.

"She is married to a Highlander," Gabriel said in answer to Nicholas's ridiculous question. "And that is how it happened."

Nicholas laughed. He pounded Gabriel on the shoulder while he congratulated him, then turned his attention to his sister.

"This is joyful news," he said. His voice shook with emotion. "Mother will be very happy."

Johanna became teary-eyed. She reached for the linen square she kept tucked in the sleeve of her blouse. "Yes, Mama will be very happy," she said while she dabbed at the corner of her eyes with her cloth. "You must be certain to tell her when you return to England, Nicholas. She'll want to begin sewing for the baby."

"Now do you understand why I don't want my wife upset by any unpleasant news?" Gabriel asked.

"I understand," Nicholas replied.

They really weren't going to tell her about Raulf. She didn't have a shred of doubt about that truth. Both men were trying to protect her from worry. She would have to be told eventually, of course, and she wondered how long they thought they would be able to keep the secret.

Their motives were good-hearted, she supposed, but Johanna wasn't going to let them treat her like a child. Besides, the matter needed to be discussed. She had a sound plan in mind to keep Raulf from making any trouble, and she wanted to talk to Gabriel about it.

Her husband became preoccupied. Nicholas also seemed to be caught up in his own thoughts. Both men were frowning now, and neither was eating.

Johanna wasn't about to bring up the topic until the men had finished their supper. She decided to turn the conversation to everyday matters.

"Have you noticed our wall is almost completed, Nicholas? The men have done a fair amount of work since your last visit."

Nicholas nodded.

"Keith, have I mentioned how fit you look wearing the MacBain plaid?" she remarked.

The soldier grinned. "Aye, m'lady, you have mentioned it at least ten times today."

"She told me my shoulders look wider and stronger with the MacBain plaid," Michael interjected.

"She told me I looked taller," Lindsay called out.

"And I meant every one of my compliments," Johanna blurted out. "Every single one of you does look better in the MacBain plaid."

The soldiers laughed. "We have accepted our laird's colors, m'lady. You don't have to fret any longer."

"I haven't been fretting," she defended,

"Then why are you suddenly complimenting us?" Keith asked.

She shrugged. The men found her reaction vastly amusing. She deliberately changed the subject to a less embarrassing one. The soldiers had all ignored Nicholas; when one mentioned the incident with the wolves, they out-shouted each other in their bid to tell the tale of their mistress's cunning.

Johanna didn't believe her brother needed to hear the story, but her protest was ignored. Gabriel reached over and took hold of her hand. The men were laughing and shouting now, and in the middle of the chaos, Gabriel leaned close to Johanna.

"You know I'll always protect you don't you?"

He whispered his question. Johanna leaned to the side of her chair and kissed her husband. "I know."

Nicholas saw the tender moment between Johanna and Gabriel. He nodded, satisfied. He'd done the right thing by insisting she marry the laird.

Calum asked Gabriel a question then. Johanna scooted back on her stool and turned to Clare.

"Are you feeling all right?" she whispered,.

"Yes, m'lady," Clare answered.

Johanna wasn't convinced. Clare had barely touched her food and had stayed remarkably silent for most of the meal.

She thought Nicholas might be the reason for Clare's timid behavior. For some reason the two of them had taken an immediate dislike to each other. If Clare wasn't sick, then Nicholas was the only other reason for her odd conduct. They both kept staring at each other; and when one caught the other looking, a quick frown resulted.

Their behavior was bizarre as well as distressing, for Johanna had grown quite fond of Clare and she wanted the young woman to like her family.

She put the matter aside when the men requested permission to leave. "Where is Father MacKechnie this evening?" she asked.

Keith stood up before answering. "Auggie wanted him to sample a drink of his new batch of brew."

"If you run into him, will you please tell him I would; like to speak to him?"

"What do you want to speak to him about?" Gabriel; asked.

"An important issue."

"You will discuss your important issue with me," he commanded.

"Yes, of course I will," she agreed. "But I would also like to hear Father MacKechnie's opinion, too."

She turned back to Clare before her husband could question her further. "What do you think of my brother? He's handsome, isn't he?"

"Handsome? M'lady, he's English," Clare whispered.

Johanna laughed. She turned to her brother. "Clare doesn't appear to like Englishmen, Nicholas."

"It's unreasonable to dislike an entire country of men," he remarked.

"I'm not an unreasonable woman," Clare defended. "If I were English, I might think your brother was handsome."

It was all she was willing to concede. Nicholas didn't appear to care what her opinion was. Yet Johanna wasn't fooled by her brother's indifferent behavior. He was interested in Clare MacKay all right and trying not to let anyone know.

Clare was acting a little too defensive. Johanna suddenly straightened on her stool. Gabriel noticed the look of surprise on her face. He demanded to know what the hell was the matter with her.

She patted his hand and gently told him she didn't care for his gruff tone of voice. She deliberately didn't answer his question.

"Nicholas?"

"Yes, Johanna?"

"When are you going to get married?"

Her brother hadn't been prepared for her blunt question. He laughed. "I'm putting it off for as long as possible," he admitted.

"Why?"

"I have other more important matters to think about," he said.

"But do you have anyone in mind when you do decide to marry?"

Nicholas shook his head. "I really haven't thought about it. When I'm ready, I'll marry. Now, enough of this talk."

She wasn't finished discussing the topic just yet. "Would a large dowry be important when making your choice?"

He let out a sigh. "No," he answered. "I don't need a large dowry."

She smiled. Then she turned to Clare. "He wouldn't want a large dowry," she repeated.

Clare frowned in puzzlement but only for a second or two. Then she realized what Johanna's plan was.

Her eyes widened, and she vehemently shook her head. "You cannot think I would ever consider an Englishman," she whispered.

Johanna tried to soothe her. "I wasn't asking you to consider anything," she said. It was a blatant lie, of course, but her motives were sincere and she didn't believe she was committing a sin. She'd achieved her goal, too, for all she wanted was to plant the idea in Clare's head.

"My father would die."

"He would recover."

"How does one recover from death?" Gabriel wanted to know.

Johanna ignored his question. "No one's going to force you to do anything you don't want to do," she told Clare.

She turned to her husband. "Isn't that right, Gabriel?"

"Isn't what right? Johanna, I don't have any idea what you're talking about."

Johanna wasn't bothered by her husband's irritation. "When is Clare's father coming back here?"

"Tomorrow or the day after."

Nicholas was staring at Clare now. The look on her face bothered the hell out of him. When she heard her father was coming, her eyes clouded up with tears, and damned if she didn't look frightened. Nicholas didn't understand his own reaction. He barely knew the woman and had already decided he didn't like her much, yet now he felt the urge to try to straighten out her problem for her.

"You do not wish to see your father?" he asked.

"Of course I want to see him," Clare replied.

"Clare won't be ready to go home tomorrow or the day after," Johanna told her husband. "She hasn't completely recovered yet."

"Johanna," Gabriel began in a warning tone of voice.

"She looks fit enough to me," Nicholas remarked, wondering what the hell they were talking about. "Have you been ill?" he asked Clare.

She shook her head. Johanna nodded. Nicholas was thoroughly exasperated.

"Clare's been very ill," Johanna said then. "She needs time to regain her strength."

"So that is why her hair is cut like a boy's," Nicholas remarked. "She had fever, didn't she?"

"She didn't have fever," Johanna said. "Gabriel, I must insist you tell Laird MacKay his daughter isn't up to a journey just yet."

"I don't think I can put him off," Gabriel replied. He turned to glare at Nicholas. "It's a pity you didn't father her child," he muttered. "It would solve all our problems."

Nicholas opened his mouth to say something but was too stunned to think of anything appropriate.

"I still cannot believe you thought my brother would be so dishonorable," Johanna said.

"It was logical, damn it," her husband countered.

"And just how would it have solved our problem?" Johanna demanded.

"He's here," Gabriel countered. "The priest would marry them. You did hear me promise MacKay there would be a marriage, didn't you?"

"I couldn't possibly marry him."

Since Clare was pointing to Nicholas when she made the emphatic statement, he had to assume she was talking about marrying him.

"Damn right, you couldn't," he snapped. "I might also mention I haven't asked you to marry me."

Clare bounded to her feet. "Please excuse me," she blurted out. "I suddenly feel the need for some fresh air."

Gabriel nodded. Clare immediately left the hall. Nicholas watched her leave, then turned back to his sister. She was frowning at him.

"Will one of you tell me what in thunder is going on?"

"You've upset Clare, Nicholas. You'd better go after her and make your apology."

"How did I upset her?"

"You refused to marry her," Johanna explained. "Didn't he, Gabriel?"

Her husband was thoroughly enjoying Nicholas's confusion. "Aye, he did refuse," he agreed, just to goad his brother-in-law's temper.

"Start explaining," Nicholas demanded.

"It would be wrong of us to talk about Clare's problem," Johanna said. "She'll tell you when she's ready. Nicholas, why did you come here?"

The switch in topics took him by surprise. He couldn't come up with a quick excuse. He turned to Gabriel for assistance.

Father MacKechnie inadvertently came to Gabriel's and Nicholas's rescue. He came rushing into the hall.

"Keith told me you wished to speak to me, m'lady," he called out. "Is it convenient now, or would you like me to come back later?"

Gabriel and Nicholas literally jumped at the opportunity to turn Johanna's attention.

"Come and join us, Father!" Gabriel shouted.

"It's good to see you again," Nicholas called out at the same time.

If the priest was surprised by the warriors' enthusiastic greetings, he didn't let it show.

"I heard you were back, Nicholas," Father MacKechnie said. "Were you checking up on your sister? You can see she's happy," he added with a nod.

"Is that why you came all this way?" Johanna asked.

It was sinful to admit, but she was really enjoying her brother's discomfort. Lying to her was difficult for him, she decided, if the look on his face was any indication. His frown was quite telling, considering the innocence behind the question.

Gabriel rescued him. "Have you had your dinner, Father? Johanna, where are your manners? You should ask the servants to feed the man."

"I've already eaten," the priest announced. He sat down next to Johanna, declined the offer of a drink, and then went into detail about Auggie's latest batch of brew.

"It's got a kick to it all right," he announced. "One drink and a body could fly across the courtyard."

Johanna laughed over the priest's exaggeration. "It will warm us come the long…" The priest was about to say the brew would warm their stomachs on the cold winter nights ahead but hastily changed his remark. "If there's any left."

"Long what?" Johanna asked.

"Long warm winter nights," the priest mumbled with a glare in Nicholas's direction. He obviously still blamed Johanna's brother because of the lie he'd told about the warm climate in the Highlands.

Nicholas was surprised everyone was still keeping the truth from his sister. He almost laughed but caught himself in time.

"Nicholas, do you know that since I came here, the weather has turned most unpredictable. Why some nights it's actually cold."

"Nay, lass, it's never cold," Gabriel argued.

"Now Johanna…" Nicholas began.

"Are you going to tell me why you came here? There is obviously a problem of some sort, or you would have waited to accompany Mother, Nicholas."

"Why are you here, son?" the priest also wanted to know.

Nicholas was hard-pressed to come up with an answer. "The weather," he announced after a moment's pause. "I couldn't live with the lie any longer, Johanna. I came here to tell you the truth."

Johanna's burst of laughter told him she didn't believe him. Yet once he'd started the fabrication, he was damned if he was going to stop.

"I lied to you. There, I've said what I came here to say."

"Do you mean you lied to me about the weather?"

Nicholas grinned. Her laughter was contagious and so was her cunning. It suddenly dawned on him that she'd always known he was lying.

He leaned forward and pointed his finger at her. "You knew… all the while, didn't you?"

She nodded. "I'm wearing a woolen plaid, Nicholas. Of course I knew."

"Then each time one of us lied and told you the weather was unusually cold, you knew the truth, lass?"

The priest sounded appalled. Johanna nodded. "It was kind of you to hold my brother's lie, for you only had my happiness in mind, Father."

"You've got a bent sense of humor, wife," Gabriel announced.

"It's as warped as a shield left out in the rain too long," Nicholas agreed.

She laughed. The men assumed she wasn't bothered by their insults.

Johanna yawned and immediately apologized. Gabriel demanded she go upstairs to bed.

"First I would like to discuss something with all of you," she said. "Then I'll go to bed."

"What is it you want to talk about?" Nicholas asked.

"I'll help if I can," the priest promised.

"I have a problem," Johanna began.

"Tell us what it is, lass," Father MacKechnie insisted.

Johanna stared at Gabriel when she gave her answer. "It seems I have two husbands."