“Is this true?” he asked in disbelief. “You have been a widower for years, but I cannot believe that the day we come to see you, you are suddenly betrothed! Is this an excuse?”
Fraser was becoming angry now. “Why would I need an excuse?” he asked sharply. “Any man would be glad to be Seonid’s husband, but I have fallen in love with someone else, that is all.”
“Really?” Hector McKechnie’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. He was furious that any man would refuse his beautiful daughter, and embarrassed that he had been there to see it. “So would you like to introduce your betrothed to me?”
“I would love to.” Fraser folded his arms over his chest and stood up straight. “Alas, she is not here at the moment.”
“Then perhaps you will visit us when she is,” Laird McKechnie said, standing up to his full height, which was still three inches below Fraser’s. “Good day, M’Laird.”
Just then there was a feminine squeal outside the door, and it shuddered on its hinges as Abi and Leanna staggered in through the door.
* ‘Seonid’ is pronounced ‘Shona’
“You cannot be a laird’s wife and not be able to ride!” Abi was scandalized. “I am going to teach you! Rory will help us.”
“Can I ever win an argument wi’ you, wee sister?” Leana asked, pretending to be furious.
Abi laughed. “No one who has ever tried has won,” she replied. “Except Father, and cannot, since he never gets angry anymore, all because of you.”
“I widnae say that,” Leana said doubtfully. “He jist needed somebody to bring him oot his shell, that’s a’.”
“And you love him?” Abi persisted.
Leana beamed at her. “I didnae knaw whit love wis until I met him,” she sighed.
“Now,” Abi said, “enough of this daydreaming. Let us show you how to get started!”
“This looks gey fiddly,” Leana complained as she wrestled with the straps of the bridle.
“Yes, but wait till Father sees you on your horse,” Abi pointed out, “looking as if you were born in the saddle! He will be even more proud of you than he is already, if that is possible!”
Rory, smiling from ear to ear, came up to them shaking his head in wonder. “Never seen a man change sae much sae fast, mistress,” he observed. “Change for the better, I might add.”
Leana was embarrassed. “Shut up yous two!” she laughed.
The first day she got into the saddle all they did was ride around the paddock, but both Abi and Rory were lost in admiration for the way Leana sat straight in the saddle with a natural grace that suggested a more experienced rider.
As she climbed down, Abi hugged her. “We will be riding for miles together soon!”
When they went to change, both were in high spirits—Abi because she was about to have a new sister and Leana because she was about to have a new husband. They went along the corridor past the parlor where Fraser often sat reading if times on the farms were quiet, as they were at this time of the year.
“Wine?” Abi suggested, looking at Leana expectantly.
Leana nodded, then gave Abi a playful push which turned out to be a little harder than she had intended. Abi stumbled through the door and they both began to giggle before they realized that Fraser had company.
“Oh, forgive us, Father,” Abi said hastily. She knew Seonid McKechnie and her father slightly, but sensed that this was not the time to become reacquainted.
“Ah, come in, both of you.” Fraser crooked his finger in a beckoning gesture.
Abi entered confidently and Leana much more hesitantly.
“You know my daughter Abigail of course,” Fraser introduced her, and Abi curtseyed to both of them, smiling.
Then he reached out and took Leana’s hand. She was blushing furiously, and, like Seonid, looked as though she wished the floor would open up and swallow her.
“And this,” he said proudly, “is my love, Leana.”
She curtsied, hoping that no one would ask her to speak.
