Saving Grace

Joha

She was certainly a puzzle. What had she meant when she'd said in time she would be found out?

Joha

She slowly sat up so she wouldn't disturb Alex and almost burst into laughter when she spotted Dumfries sound asleep at the foot of the bed.

She couldn't order the dog down without waking Alex. She scooted out of bed, washed, and then got dressed in the MacBain plaid again. Waves of nausea made the simple task seem to take forever. Joha

Gabriel opened the door just as she was tightening her belt around her waist. He saw that his son was still sleeping and motioned with the crook of his finger for Joha

He was staring at her hair, or so she believed, and frowning with obvious displeasure.

He would eventually get over his irritation, she decided. She hurried across the chamber, a smile on her face, and went out into the corridor. Gabriel pulled the door closed and turned to her.

"You're too damned pale," he muttered.

"And that is why you're frowning, m'lord?"

He nodded. She pinched her cheeks to gain some color. "Have you perchance noticed anything else?"

"Clare's father was spotted coming up the ridge."

She forgot all about trying to gain a compliment over her haircut when Gabriel gave her his news.

"I want you and Alex to stay inside our chamber until Laird MacKay and his men have left."

"How many soldiers ride with the laird?"

He shrugged. "Enough," he answered.

Gabriel was just turning away when she shook her head at him. "I wish to speak to Clare's father," she a

"He won't be in the mood to be polite, Joha

"The laird's angry with the MacI

"Nay," he said. "His fury is fully directed on all the MacBains. He blames us for his daughter's disgrace."

Joha

She didn't ask her husband how he'd gained his information. If he said the Laird MacKay blamed them, then it must be true. Gabriel wasn't one to jump to conclusions without first gaining all the facts.

"Who is sitting with Clare now?"

"Hilda," he answered. "Go back inside," he ordered. "I don't want any of the MacKay's anger near you."

She didn't agree or disagree with her husband's command. He assumed she was going to be cooperative. She did go back inside her chamber, but only for a minute or two, until she was certain her husband had gone back downstairs to wait for Clare's father. Then she hurried down the hallway to Clare's room. She sent Hilda to sit with Alex.

"Your father's going to be here in just a few minutes, Clare. Do you want to see him alone, or do you want me to stay with you?"

Clare struggled to sit up in bed. She let out a little whimper of distress. Joha

"Please stay," she said.

Joha

"I don't know what to say to him."

"Just tell him what happened," Joha

Tears gathered in Clare's eyes. "I can't," she cried out.

The truth hit Joha

"You don't understand, Joha

"Oh, Lord, I think I do understand. You made it all up, didn't you? There wasn't any MacBain… you aren't carrying…"

Clare started crying. She shook her head, trying to deny Joha

"You're wrong," she protested.

"Am I?" Joha

Clare didn't give Joha

Joha

"You gave yourself away, you know."

"I didn't."

"You told me you felt trapped and that you did something you knew would eventually be found out. Pretending to be carrying a baby would eventually be found out, wouldn't it? Didn't you realize people would notice you weren't getting bigger?"

Clare was openly sobbing now. "I didn't think at all," she confessed.

Joha

"We? I'm the one who will suffer the consequences when my father finds out I lied."

"Why did you make up such a tale?"

"I was desperate," Clare admitted. "Can't you understand? It was so horrible living there. Each day got worse."

"I do understand," Joha

Clare interrupted. She was anxious to explain her reasons so Joha

"Father placed me in the MacI

"And his son is just like his father, isn't he?" Joha

"He's worse than his father," Clare said. Her voice reeked with disgust. "I couldn't abide the thought of being married to him. I tried to talk to my father, but he wouldn't listen to me. I had run back home, you see, but…"

Clare couldn't go on for several minutes. Her sobs were wrenching. Joha

"Your father took you back to the MacI

"Yes," she whispered. "I don't believe I've ever felt so abandoned… or… desperate. A few days later, I heard the MacI

"And that is when you came up with the lie?"

Clare shook her head. "The soldiers didn't realize I was listening to them. When they whispered your husband's name, I could hear the fear in their voices. I decided then that I would go searching for these soldiers. I don't know what I thought would happen if I found them. I didn't have a plan, Joha

"Yes," Joha

"You would?"

"Yes."

The conviction in her voice assured Clare. Joha