“I yield,” McKechnie squeaked. “I yield!”
Fraser etched a small scratch on his opponent’s neck just to show everyone that he had been there, then he strode off the field.
Seonid was there waiting for her father, but she caught Fraser's arm as he left the field. “Why did you not kill him, M’Laird?” she asked curiously.
Fraser frowned. “There was no need,” he replied. “Honor was satisfied, at least from my side. The matter is settled and there is no need for bloodshed. Did you want me to kill him?”
Seonid sighed and shook her head. “I do not know,” she replied, then her face brightened up. “But when you are married, I hope you will invite me—not him—to your house for dinner some time. I have no problem that Leana is a farm worker. She is a sweet-natured lovely woman and I know we can be good friends. Ah, here she is now!”
She looked behind Fraser to where Leana was bearing down on them with a face like a thundercloud.
“Sweet-natured, you said?” Fraser asked her with a distinctly terrified look on his face. He stepped forward to greet his betrothed. “My love?” he said, smiling.
Leana launched straight into the attack. “So I hear there was a duel here that neither Abi nor me knew onythin’ aboot!” Leana snapped. “For why did ye no’ tell me?”
Seonid tactfully melted away at that moment as Abi walked up to them. They smiled at each other.
“Because I knew you would be worried,” he said, gathering her into his arms and kissing her soft lips lightly.
“Aye, but I’m no’ worried noo!” she snapped. “I’m beelin’!”
He laughed. “And you are adorable when you’re beelin’!”
Despite herself, Leana joined in, then Abi, and Fraser had his arms around both of them.
“You two are the lights of my life,” he said, smiling from ear to ear.
“We understand!” Abi laughed. She looked at Seonid, who was glaring disdainfully at her father.
Hector was stumbling away from his resting place on the field, but Seonid made no move to follow him. She looked past him disdainfully then turned to leave, but Leana walked over to her and caught her arm. Seonid smiled at her warmly.
“Will ye come tae oor wedding, Seonid?” Leana asked, taking her hand. Seonid’s dark eyes reminded her of Fraser’s as she gazed back at her, and for a moment Leana thought she was going to cry.
“I have no partner,” she replied sadly. “But thank you so much for inviting me, Leana. It really means a lot to me.”
“This will no’ be the usual kind o’ weddin’, hen. Come as my guest. Naw, come as my friend. It will be a totie wee affair because a lot o’ folks think like yer faither an’ willnae be seen wi’ me. But ye’re very welcome.”
Seonid embraced her and kissed her cheek. “I will be there, and you will be radiant. I know it.”
“Why dae ye hate yer faither sae much, Seonid?” Leana asked, frowning.
“Because he took the man I loved away from me!” she said angrily. Then she shook her head. “It is a long story and best told another time, Leana. Send me an invitation and I will be there!” Then she smiled and walked away, twinkling a wave over her shoulder as she went.
I hope ye find yer ain Fraser some day, hen,Leana thought sadly.
That evening Fraser and Leana were curled up in a big cushioned chair looking into the fire and talking lazily about the wedding.
“I cannot wait for it to be over,” Fraser said huskily, “so that I can make you mine, and we can lie in bed at night with our arms around each other and warm each other up, and laugh. I want to be silly with you, tickle you, and kiss all those bits of you that I have not reached yet.”
“I dinnae think there are too many left!” she said dryly. “Fraser, can I ask ye somethin’?”
“Of course, Leana,” he answered. “Anything you like.”
“Ye never talk aboot Ishbel,” she said carefully. “Does her memory pain ye?”
Fraser laughed softly. “Quite the opposite,” he replied. “I remember her with great fondness, and I thought she was the love of my life, and now I know I am luckier than most men because I have loved two women with all my heart. It is just that you are here and Ishbel is in heaven. She was lovely, and Abi looks just like her, but she was nothing like you. She was small, quiet, demure, and could not say a bad word about anyone—just like you!” he added hastily, then laughed. “Sometimes she became annoyed at me for something I had done wrong, but we ended up laughing, just like you and I do. I thought my world had ended when she died, but now I know it is just beginning again, only this time it is with my Leana.”
Leana turned his face to hers. “Ye can aye talk tae me aboot her,” she murmured. “Or onythin’ else my lovie.”
