“Really? Was I perhaps asleep at the time?”
He grimaced but then said, “Ye might have been. I didnae make certain I was heard.”
“I am awake now.”
“Ah, so ye are.” He pulled her into his arms and lightly kissed her. “I love ye, Abigail Jenson. And I also seem to have fallen in love with Noah and Jeremiah, though I think my love for the bairn needs a little nursing, will perhaps get stronger when he grows past the age of screaming in the middle of the night.”
Abigail laughed then kissed him. “I love you, Matthew MacEnroy. And how can anyone not love Noah? And we can live as close to your family as you wish. I am rather fond of the whole lot. But, a warning, with Noah comes that puppy, and I am really looking fondly at a certain kitten in your barn.”
“A cat? Ye do ask a lot of a poor mon. Fine. Maybe the dog will eat it.” He laughed when she swatted his arm. “I dinnae mind cats.”
She shivered and frowned up at the slowly darkening sky. “I think we best discuss this back at home.” She wondered why he grinned. “I believe there is rain coming.”
“I think ye are right.”
He stood up and pulled her up beside him. It proved a lot easier to climb back up the hill than it was to go down, and a few minutes later he boosted her up into the saddle and then mounted his horse. They both ran fast for his home but the raindrops started to fall slowly by the time they got inside the gates, then they ran for the house.
Once inside, Matthew debated the best way to announce that he and Abigail were getting married. He had never said a word to anyone about even considering asking her today so tried to think of a way to lead into the news slowly. Then he realized he should have a ring to put on her finger. He followed her into the kitchen where everyone was already gathering for the evening meal. Taking his seat, he tugged her down to sit beside him.
“Did ye ask her then?” Iain asked calmly as he put a few slices of beef on his plate.
“Why would ye ask me that?”
“Because ye went to that place. It is where Emily caught me. Ow.” He grinned and rubbed his arm where his wife hit him.
“No need to make it sound as if I set some huge bear trap for you,” Emily grumbled then blushed when he whispered something in her ear.
“How do ye ken I went there?”
“Jones brothers stopped by and mentioned the placement of the hat.”
Matthew looked at a blushing Abigail and shook his head. “Maybe we won’t put a house real close to these people.”
“Ye want your own house?” asked Nigel.
“Weel, there are already four of us,” Matthew said.
“So ye asked and did she have the wisdom to say nay?” asked Lachlan.
Abigail started to laugh. “Sorry, I said yes.”
Emily nodded. “So we will arrange the preacher and plan a wedding.”
“Oh, I don’t need any big celebration.”
“It will be big even if we only have the family, so don’t worry. Mrs. O’Neal loves arranging such things.”
“I really do and these past few years have provided only the rare chance.”
Before everyone could start to talk about the celebration, Abigail said, “I have something to ask before we all get caught up in planning. Can anyone draw well enough to make a drawing of Jeremiah? I need to write to Robert’s parents and thought that, if I could get some likeness of the baby, it would be a good thing to send them.”
“Ye still going to do that?” asked Matthew.
“I have to. I promised Julia I would. I told you, I have papers from her naming me guardian if there is some trouble, but I just cannot feel there will be.”
“I can do it,” said Iain. “Didnae used to be able to but practiced by doing some of our bairns. It willnae be done quickly as a bairn is a difficult subject but it willnae take too long.”
“Thank you. I will work on a letter as I think it may be more difficult to write than I anticipated.”
