“Nae. I’m afraid not.” Angus reluctantly released the two women. “I’m sure ye both ken that my niece, Maggie, is here. I’ve come to escort her home. Edna has need of her at the inn.”
Maggie noted that at the mention of her name, the women exchanged a troubled look. She wondered what that was all about. What had Brielle been doing while she’d been at Breaghacraig? Maggie wasn’t certain she wanted to know, but she hoped Brielle hadn’t done anything to ruin Maggie’s good name.
“You can stay for a while though, can’t you?” Jenna asked.
“Aye. I’ve much to catch up on with ye both.” Angus twirled Ashley and whistled. “Look at ye lass. When is the babe due?”
Ashley giggled at this big teddy bear of a man. “April. Thank you so much for the baby gift you sent back with Jenna. You made it, didn’t you?”
“Aye, that I did. Whether the babe be a lad or a lassie, a wee wooden sword will come in handy. They can start to practice with it almost as soon as they can walk. I made it especially fora wee little hand. Of course, they’ll outgrow it quickly, but I can always fashion another when that happens.”
“I hope you’ll come back and visit after the baby is born. Then you can give the little one the benefit of your knowledge and teach them how to use it.”
“It would be my pleasure, Ashley. I’m a lucky man to have so many wonderful women in me life. Ye ken yer both like daughters to me.”
“We’re the lucky ones,” Ashley said. She put her fingers to his lips to quiet his protest. “Cailin will be so excited to see you. Come on, let’s go find him.”
Maggie cleared her throat to remind them that there was someone else present.
“I’m sorry. We didnae mean to ignore ye lad,” Angus announced. “Ladies, let me introduce ye to Alec. He accompanied me from Glendaloch, he’s a local lad and Edna wanted to give him the experience of time travel. She thought I could use his help while I’m here.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jenna stuck out her hand and Maggie did her best to shake it with a suitably manly grip. “You look really familiar,” Jenna added, examining Alec’s face curiously.
“You’re right, Jenna. He does look familiar. Did we meet you in Glendaloch?” Ashley asked.
“I dinnae think so,” Maggie replied, averting her eyes and trying her best to sound more masculine. “Oftentimes people mistake me for someone they know. I must have one of those faces, I guess.” This was harder than she had anticipated. Remembering to speak and act like a lad was going to be a constant struggle for her. She only hoped she didn’t mess up.
Ashley shrugged and took hold of Angus’ hand. Jenna went to his other side and wrapped her arm through his.
Lagging behind, Maggie watched the easy way Angus had of speaking with these two women. They obviously both adored him and the feeling seemed genuinely mutual.
“Cailin,” Ashley called to two men, who were undoubtedly brothers, as they walked away from a larger group of men. She waved her arms frantically in the air and the two men exchanged glances and trotted towards their small group.
“Is that Angus I see?” Cailin asked. Not waiting for an answer, he pulled Angus into a bear hug that was returned in kind. Cailin then introduced Angus to the other man. “Angus, this is me brother, Cormac, husband to Jenna.” Cormac offered Angus a hearty handshake and slapped him on the back.
“I’ve heard so much about ye,” Cormac said. “I’m happy to finally meet ye, but where is yer wee wife?”
Angus explained that she hadn’t been able to come along and that he was visiting Breaghacraig to collect Maggie.
“This be my companion, Alec,” Angus explained. Both Cailin and Cormac nodded in greeting.
“’Tis good to meet ye,” Maggie responded, again deepening her voice as much as possible. She was grateful that there was no backslapping where she was concerned. She would surely have ended up on the ground in a heap if either one of these strapping men had attempted it. She was also thankful that neither of them had met the real Maggie before now. Ashley and Jenna moved to stand beside their respective spouses and Maggie suffered a twinge of jealousy when she saw how in love they appeared. She could hardly wait to see Dylan, although she would be forced to continue the pretense of being Alec for the foreseeable future. She would have to accept that fact, and that she might see some things here that she didnae want to see. As the others talked, Maggie cast her gaze towards the group of men Cormac and Cailin had just left. Her breath caught in her throat when she recognized Dylan standing amongst them. He looked even moreamazing than she remembered. Of course, here he was shirtless and wearing a kilt, which only made him more attractive. He seemed very comfortable with the other men as they all laughed and joked with one another. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of him.
“Is everything alright?” Ashley asked, seeming to notice Maggie’s keen interest in the men.
“Oh, aye, it is,” Maggie said, casting her gaze down towards the ground and scuffing at the dirt with her boots. She was going to have to be more careful. She tuned her ears back in to the conversation at hand.
“I hope ye two lads are taking good care of these precious gems.” Angus had donned his protective father face and raised a questioning eyebrow at Cailin and Cormac.
“Of course,” Cailin said, squeezing Ashley around the waist.
“Aye. We are,” Cormac agreed.
“Ladies? Any complaints?” Angus asked.
Ashley and Jenna acted as if they were giving it some serious thought and then burst into laughter. Cailin and Cormac both shook their heads at their wives antics.
“We were just heading in for the noon meal. Come, join us and we can introduce you to Robert and Irene.” Cailin took Ashley’s hand and they led the way towards the great hall. Maggie wandered along behind, scarcely able to keep her mouth from dropping open at the wonder of finding herself in a real medieval castle.
