he turned, startled by the warrior’s presence. She hadn’t heard him approach, but she’d been too absorbed with other matters.

She smiled faintly. “ ’Tis the truth I’ve no awareness of the cold.”

“ ’Tis even worse then for you’ll not know when you’ve grown too cold.”

She wanted to ask him if Alaric had sent him, but she refused to speak his name. She had vowed to remain stoic, even if it killed her.

“ ’Tis a beautiful morn,” she said conversationally. “The snows are nearly gone. ’Tis not usually so warm this time of year.”

“Aye, but it’s still too cold for a lass such as yourself to be out alone without proper clothing.”

Keeley sighed and cast another stare over the water. The calmness soothed her. Gave her peace when her insides were in turmoil. If only she could pull it around her like a cloak. Steel armor that no one could breech.

“You know the McDonalds were my clan.”

The words were baldly spoken, laid out in brash fashion. She had no idea why she said them. Gannon was hardly a person to confide in. The warrior would likely rather have his arm cut off than to listen to womanly blether.

“Aye, I know it,” he returned.

There was an odd note to his voice that she couldn’t quite define.

“They are no more.”

Gannon nodded. “Nay. You’re a McCabe now.”

She smiled at that. She couldn’t help it. It filled her with such warmth that it was all she could do not to throw her arms around him and squeeze for all she was worth.

Her eyes went watery and he gave her such a look of horror that she had to laugh.

“Thank you for saying that. ’Tis a fact I needed to hear that this morn. I was … I was unprepared for their arrival as of yet.”

“No reason to cry,” he said gruffly. “A McCabe doesn’t cry. They hold their heads up and don’t allow others to trod on them.”

This time the temptation was simply too strong. She flung her arms around him, making him stagger back as she hit him right in the chest.

“What the …?”

He grasped her so they didn’t both go down and stood as stiff as a boulder as she squeezed him. Then he sighed. “Between you and Lady McCabe, I swear the McCabe clan is becoming an emotional watering pot.”

Keeley grinned against him. There was gruffness in his voice but there was also true affection. She drew away and smiled through her tears. “You like me.”

He scowled. “I said nothing of the sort.”

“Admit it. You like me.”

“I don’t like you very much right now.”

“Ah, but you did before.”

His scowl deepened. “You should come back inside the keep now.”

“Thank you, Gannon. ’Tis a fact I was not feeling very well today.” She glanced up again and was tempted to hug him once more, but he seemed to realize her intent and hastily stepped back. She grinned again. “I find I like my new clan very much. The McCabes recognize the importance of loyalty and family.”

He looked offended. “Of course we do. There’s no more loyal a clan than the McCabes and no better a laird than ours.”

“I’m very glad I’m here,” she said softly as they turned to walk back toward the keep.

Gannon hesitated a brief moment and then glanced sideways at her. “I’m glad you’re here, too, Keeley McCabe.”

CHAPTER 31

Bolstered by Gannon’s escort, Keeley walked into the hall but was careful not to look at either Rionna or her father. Gannon led her to a seat next to Mairin and then took the place on the other side of Keeley.

She sent him a grateful smile at the same moment Mairin squeezed her hand under the table.

She refused to look at Alaric, who sat several places down between Rionna and Laird McDonald. Instead she focused on Mairin and Christina, who sat across the table next to Cormac.

The nervousness was making her ill. Her stomach was in knots. Surely Rionna would have told her father of her presence by now. Would he cry her whore in front of the McCabe clan? Would he try to ruin her position here? And what could Rionna possibly have need to say to her?

She ate in silence, nodding when Mairin spoke. At one point, Gannon leaned over and said, “You just nodded aye when Lady McCabe asked if you thought she’d be pregnant for months still.”

Keeley closed her eyes and subdued the urge to smack her forehead with her fist. Then she turned to Mairin, apology in her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

Mairin grinned and shook her head. “I was just jesting with you. I knew you weren’t paying attention because you nodded aye to everything.” Then she leaned closer. “ ’Tis almost done with. No one would ever guess you’re so ill at ease.”

Keeley smiled gratefully at her but when she turned back, she saw Laird McDonald staring at her. His brows were drawn together and she could tell the moment recognition dawned. His eyes widened and he glanced down to where Rionna sat, a frown on his face. Then he looked back up at Keeley, but it wasn’t anger or even shock that burned in his gaze.

It was lust, and that frightened Keeley more than if he’d stood up and shouted whore.

She couldn’t look at him without remembering the utter helplessness she felt years earlier when she was sure he’d rape her.

The urge to bolt from the table and flee was so strong that she was nearly to her feet before she realized she was allowing something that had happened long ago to affect her.

As quickly as panic and fear rushed through her system leaving her weak and shaky, rage pushed its way through her veins. She relaxed into her chair and unclenched her fists.

She wasn’t the young girl she’d been then. She was a woman full grown and she had the means to defend herself. The laird would find no helpless target now.

“You aren’t alone,” Gannon murmured.

She wouldn’t embarrass either of them by shedding tears, but still she found her gaze a little watery when she glanced up at him.

“Nay, I’m not alone. Not anymore.”

He smiled. “If you are done, I’ll escort you above stairs to your chamber.”

Keeley sighed in relief. It wasn’t as if the laird or even Rionna could run after her to her room without causing a scene, but still, she’d been afraid to draw notice to herself by excusing herself.

“Thank you. ’Twould be nice to retire early to my chamber.”

Mairin, who’d been listening in, leaned forward and touched Keeley on the arm. “Aye, Keeley, why don’t you go on up.”

Keeley pushed herself up as quietly as possible, but despite her effort not to gain notice, the table quieted just then and all eyes cast in her direction.

Rionna, Alaric, and Laird McDonald all stared at her but with varying emotion. Concern brimmed in Alaric’s gaze and it narrowed sharply when Gannon put his arm out to Keeley. Rionna looked at her with something that resembled sorrow, and the laird stared at her with avid interest, his gaze crawling over her until she shuddered visibly.

“Come,” Gannon said in a low voice.

Keeley turned away and Gannon guided her toward the stair. They climbed in silence and when they reached her chamber, Gannon waited politely as she opened her door.

“I’ll be outside should you have need,” he said when she entered.

She turned, a frown on her face, and studied the warrior. “Your duty ’tis to the laird and his brothers.”

“Aye, ’tis true. However, ’tis you who have most need of me at the moment.”

It took a second for Keeley to realize that Gannon must have known of Laird McDonald’s attack. Heat suffused her cheeks and she looked down, no longer able to meet the warrior’s gaze.

“Thank you,” she said in a low voice.

Before he could respond, she closed the door and leaned heavily against it.

’Twas an awful conundrum. She wanted Rionna and the laird gone from McCabe land as soon as possible, but when they’d leave, Alaric would travel with them as Rionna’s new husband.

With a sigh she set about undressing and climbed into her bed. She lay there for a long time, staring into the dying flames in her hearth. Was Alaric thinking of her even now, or was he getting acquainted with his bride to be?

Keeley came awake and bolted upward, her heart pounding so hard ’Twas painful. Her door was open and for a moment her nightmare took over and all she could see was Laird McDonald standing there and leering at her.

“Keeley, ’tis me, Ewan. I need you to hasten. ’Tis Mairin’s time.”

She blinked away the horror and gradually the laird came into view. He stood, framed in her doorway, awaiting her response.

“Aye, of course. I’ll come right away,” she babbled.

She scrambled from the bed and reached for her clothing then clutched them to her bosom while she waited for the laird to withdraw from her room.

She hurriedly dressed, nearly tripping on the hem of her gown in her haste. She was about to run from her chamber when she halted and clapped her hands to her head.

“Think, Keeley, think.”

“Can I help?” Gannon asked as he pushed off the wall outside her room.

She massaged her aching temple, still battling the effects of her dreams. ’Twas ridiculous to have been so afraid when Laird McCabe burst into her chamber. Gannon was outside. He wouldn’t have allowed anyone else to enter.

The reminder soothed her, and she closed her eyes to take a deep breath. “Aye, summon Maddie. And Christina. Have them bring water and fresh linens. I must gather my supplies and then I’ll be to the laird’s chamber.”

Gannon nodded and strode down the hall while Keeley returned to her chamber to collect her forgotten supplies.

A few moments later, she approached the laird’s chamber and knocked. The door swung open and Ewan stood in front of her, his expression fierce.

“Who is it, Ewan?” Mairin called. “Is it Keeley?”

Keeley pushed by Ewan and into Mairin’s view. She smiled encouragingly. “Aye, ’tis me. Are you ready to have this babe?”

Mairin sat up on the bed, her hand clutched over her protruding belly. Her gown was bunched around her knees and her hair was askew. Some of the stress eased from her eyes and her lips turned upward into a smile.

“Aye, ’tis the truth I’m weary of carrying this child. I’m ready to hold him in my arms and not my belly.”

Keeley laughed. “I hear that a lot when a woman’s time comes.”

She carefully set up her skirt full of supplies on the laird’s dressing table and then returned to the bed and sat on the edge in front of Mairin.

“When did your pains start? And are they regular?”

Mairin frowned and glanced up at Ewan, her expression guilty. “They started this morn, but they came and went.”

Ewan scowled and let out a breath. “You should have told me the moment your pains began.”

“I had no desire to spend the entire day abed,” Mairin muttered.

“When did they start to become more forceful and constant?” Keeley asked. She stroked Mairin’s hand as she spoke in an effort to soothe her.

“ ’Twas before the evening meal and they’ve gotten closer together since.”

“ ’Tis hard to say how long you’ll labor with the child,” Keeley said as she rose. “Sometimes ’tis not overlong at all, but other times ’tis as if the child is determined to make the world wait.”

Mairin laughed. “I’ll hope for the former.”

Her laughter died and a groan escaped her lips. She bent forward and gripped her middle as her face creased with pain.

Ewan bent over her immediately, his hands flying over her body. “Mairin, are you all right? Is it overly painful?” Then he yanked his gaze to Keeley. “What can I do? How can I help her?”

’Twas obvious to Keeley that the laird was going to drive them all daft if he remained. She laid a hand on Mairin’s arm as she rose and said, “I’ll return in just a moment.”

She hurried out to the hall where she met with Gannon. “I need you to fetch Caelen or Alaric. Tell them to come for the laird and take him belowstairs. Give him some ale or something to soothe his nerves.”

Gannon chuckled. “In other words, get him out of your and Lady McCabe’s hair.”

Keeley smiled. “Exactly. I’ll summon him when ’tis time for the babe to be born.”

As Gannon disappeared, Keeley returned to Mairin and had barely sat down when Maddie and Christina bustled in with the items Keeley had requested. Mairin looked extremely relieved to see the other women, and some of the tension fled from her face.

“By the looks of things, you have a while yet, lass,” Maddie said to Mairin.

Mairin scowled.

Ewan had a faint lost look as he gazed around at all the women. It was obvious he was torn between fleeing for his life and remaining as a support to his wife. He was saved from making a decision when Caelen and Alaric arrived.