Throwing Caution To The Wind

" Y e've agreed to marry Halstead?" Tavish demanded.

"I have," Makenna replied, not surprised by her employer's angry disbelief. "Can ye nay be happy for me?"

"We could," Payton replied. "If we didna see 'tis a ploy for him to return to England."

She shook her head. "Nay, he plans for us to stay in the highlands."

"And how long do ye think that will last?" Tavish asked.

Makenna had always respected the King brothers, but their sarcasm was annoying. "Credit me wi' a wee bit o' common sense," she hissed. "I ken there will be difficulties, but I love him, and he loves me."

"He told ye that, did he?" Payton retorted.

"Aye," she lied.

"Weel," Tavish said with a sigh of resignation. "I'll nay be the one to stand in the way o' true love. When's the big day?"

Ash was busy transferring the grains from the malting floor to the kilns for drying. Thankful he wasn't privy to this hurtful conversation, Makenna struggled to keep calm. It was, after all, to be expected that Tavish and Payton didn't yet see the good side of Ash. Her own trust in him was fragile at best. "Ye ken I consider ye my family," she replied. "I'd hoped to discuss plans for a wedding with ye, but if…"

"Och, dinna cry, lass," Payton said. "O' course we'll help plan yer nuptials. At least, Piper and Alba will. Women are better at these things."

When Tavish and Payton returned to the malting floor, their scowls left Ash in no doubt they'd spoken with Makenna. It was nothing short of insulting they questioned his right to marry whomever he chose. He was the son of a duke. However, given his recent behavior, he perhaps couldn't blame the Scots for doubting him. "I won't hurt her," he told them. "I truly care for her."

"Ye've kent her two days, laddie," Tavish retorted.

"Actually four," Ash replied with a chuckle. "I admit the first two days on the road from Dundee weren't exactly amicable."

"'Tisna a matter for jest," Payton retorted. "Why not admit ye intend to use Makenna as an excuse to return to England? "

"I told her we can live here in the highlands if that's what she wishes."

Tavish scoffed. "And ye expect us to believe ye can adapt to living here?"

Ash had heard enough. "I understand both your wives came from other countries. I suspect they've adapted because their husbands helped them fit in. Yet, you won't offer me the same consideration."

Judging by the grunts, Ash assumed the brothers didn't know what to make of his accusation. "My motives are honorable. My heart tells me Makenna is the right woman for me."

"That remains to be seen," Tavish growled as the brothers grabbed shovels and stalked off to the kilns.

It was mid morning when Makenna received a surprise visit from Lady Maureen Graham. "Yer Grace," she stammered, nigh on tumbling off her tall chair.

"Nay," her visitor replied. "In the highlands, I'm just Auntie Maureen."

Makenna might have pointed out the noblewoman wasn't a relative, but her own parents were elderly and lost in a world of their own most of the time. An aunt sounded like just what she needed and it seemed Auntie Maureen hadn't come to censure. "I take it Ash told ye about his proposal?"

"Aye. The lad couldna wait to tell us when he got home. Ye've made him a happy man."

"Ye think I've done the right thing, then? "

"Do ye love him?"

"Aye," she replied without hesitation. "But I dinna ken if he loves me."

"Oh, he loves ye. But he's a man full of doubts about the future and about himself. Ye'll set him on the right path and he realizes that."

"Do ye think he'll adapt to life here in Glengeárr?"

"I suppose only time will tell. He seems committed to it. But dinna forget, yer cousin is happy in London livin' wi' the man she loves. Cat realized Kenneth's commitments to the dukedom meant he could never live in the highlands. Years ago, I left here wi' my Freddie because life without him wasn't an option. Love will guide yer decisions about where ye live."

Makenna went willingly into Lady Maureen's outstretched arms. It felt good to have the affection and guidance of a woman she respected.

"Now, I've spoken to Piper and Alba. Things are well in hand for the ceremony so ye needna worry about that."

Makenna's life was slipping from her control. She'd agreed to marry a duke's son and a Dowager Duchess was organizing the wedding. Strangely, she was at peace with it all. Control had got her nowhere in the past—only the lonely life of a spinster. Perhaps it was time to throw caution to the wind.

At the end of along, backbreaking day spent shoveling malted barley into the kilns, Ash stopped by Makenna's office. He'd looked forward to holding her in his arms again, but worried about her having second thoughts. Tavish and Payton certainly hadn't changed their negative opinions. He'd endured their glowering for hours. Makenna respected her employers. She might be influenced by them.

His doubts flew away like chaff on the wind when Makenna rushed into his embrace. "Auntie Maureen came to see me," she told him, her violet eyes bright. "She's organizing the wedding."

"Fine," he replied. "I don't think Tavish and Payton will attend."

"Och, they will if their wives have aught to do wi' it. Piper and Alba are in on the plannin' as well. Tavish and Payton will come round. They just dinna understand what I see in ye."

That statement gave him pause. "What is it you see in me?"

She stood on tiptoe to touch her lips to his. "I see an honorable man who'll cherish me," she whispered.

In that moment, he knew without a shadow of a doubt this woman was his destiny. "I love you," he replied.