Abigail was willing to swear that the man was trying to blush, and she nearly laughed. Then she sobered and took a deep steadying breath. She knew this was her chance to take a gamble and she prayed everyone was right.
“And I cannot wed a man who has no love for me.”
The way he whipped his head back around and stared at her gave her a tiny hint of hope. He did not look shocked or horrified, but surprised. Then he frowned and she wondered if she was giving away something with a look in her eyes.
“Why would ye think he doesnae?”
“Perhaps because he has never said so.”
“He did. Several times.”
“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.”
With that settled, Abigail let them toss around ideas of how to celebrate her coming marriage to Matthew. She had not yet gotten used to the fact that he loved her let alone that he meant to marry her. That was going to take a while. There was such a bubble of happiness inside of her, she was afraid she would break into a song or dance around the room if she did not keep herself in tight control.
Noah slipped up beside her and squeezed onto the seat next to her. He looked a little fretful and she tried to see this news from his viewpoint. She knew she always had to remember that he was a boy who had lost his entire family. That had left a few scars on his heart. She brushed his hair off his face and looked at him.
“What is the matter, Noah?”
“Are you leaving this house?”
“Oh, not for a while, darling. It is just something we thought would be good because we are already a family of four. Me, Matthew, you, and Jeremiah. And your puppy. And my cat,” she added in a whisper, and heard Emily giggle.
“I will still stay with you?”
“Yes, me and Matthew.”
She could almost see the tension in his small body leech away. He smiled at Matthew who nodded back then hopped down and rejoined the other children. She heard him tell the others that he was sure the new house would have a secret passage. She glanced at Matthew and he was staring at his plate as his shoulders shook with laughter.
“I’m sorry,” she said, laughter tinting her voice. “I will have a little talk with him.”
“Nay, dinnae bother. I think we will try to put one in.” He glanced at Iain who grinned and nodded.
She jumped a little when arms surrounded her from behind then glanced up at her brother’s grinning face. “Come to wish me congratulations or to punch him in the face?”
“Just wondering how I should feel that you are marrying a blue belly.”
“Oh. I didn’t realize that you might have become a true Rebel.”
He laughed. “Not by a long shot. The men who took me weren’t either. Not to worry, although you are stealing my traveling companion.”
“You can’t go riding about with a four-year-old.”
“I am five!”
“Five-year-old.”
“With big ears. Good luck, sis. Pleased to see you settled. Da would have liked him.” He glanced around the table. “All of them.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Robbie and I will leave soon after the wedding and start setting up to see what the chance is of having a cider mill.” He sat down beside her. “We have nearly all that is needed back on the land. The orchard, and the water.”
“Is this what you truly want to do?”