Saving Grace

"I do remember," she answered. "Go along now. You don't want to keep Auggie waiting."

Alex forgot to shut the door. Joha

Megan was just starting up the steps to fetch her mistress. She almost toppled over the banister when she noticed what Joha

"You can't be so cold that you need two plaids, m'lady. Why, it's sweltering in here."

"I'm not wearing two plaids," Joha

Megan climbed a few more steps so she could get a closer look. "Good God, you made a new plaid. Does our laird know what you've done?"

"Not yet," Joha

Megan made the sign of the cross. Joha

Megan made another sign of the cross. She obviously wasn't convinced.

Joha

"No one's seen you yet," Megan blurted out. "There's still time to change into a proper plaid."

"Nonsense," Joha

"Where are you going?" Joha

"I'm going to fetch a few extra bowls, m'lady. I've a feeling you'll be needing at least five before you gain the men's cooperation."

Megan disappeared around the corner before Joha

Joha

"Well now," he whispered. "Well now."

"Good evening, Father."

He didn't respond to her greeting. He seemed to be in a bit of a stupor. His reaction was making her apprehensive.

"Do you think my husband and his soldiers will be overly upset with me?"

The priest broke into a wide grin. "I'll stand by your side when we find out," he said. "I would be honored to escort you to your husband."

The priest took hold of Joha

"Yes," he agreed. "Tell me, lass. When was your last confession?"

"Why do you ask?"

"It's preferred to receive absolution before you meet your Maker."

Joha

"I wasn't thinking about the men," he replied. "I was considering your husband's reaction. Come along, lass. I'm anxious to witness the battle you're about to wage."

"They'll all get past their anger."

"Eventually," the priest speculated. "The Highlanders consider their plaids sacred, Joha

"Oh, Lord, I shouldn't have…"

"Of course you should have," the priest countered. He was in the process of prying her hand away from the railing.

"Father, are you for or against this change in our plaids?"

"I'm for it," the priest answered. He burst into laughter then. "I almost fasted today for penance. Now I'm glad I didn't. I would have missed…"

He didn't finish his explanation. She let out a groan. "You're making me terribly nervous," she confessed.

"Forgive me, lass. I don't mean to tease you. You know you're going to have to let go of that railing eventually."

"I'll act as though nothing is out of the ordinary," she blurted out. "What think you of that plan?"

"It's plain ignorant, lass," he told her.

"Yes, that's what I'll do." She let go of the railing and took hold of Father MacKechnie's arm. "I'll plead ignorance. Thank you. You've given me a wonderful suggestion."

"If I were you, I'd plead insanity."

Father MacKechnie was sorry he'd made the jest the minute the words were out of his mouth. He was paying for his rash comment, too, for he was now having to drag his mistress over to the steps.

"I'll stand by your side," he promised. "Don't you worry. It will all wash out."

The soldiers were all standing around the tables. Gabriel stood near the buttery. He was talking to Calum and Keith. He spotted her before anyone else did.

He squinted at her, then closed his eyes and looked again. She smiled as she continued toward her seat at the table.

Keith and Calum both turned at the same time.

"My God, what's she done to our plaid?" Calum bellowed his question.

"Am I seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Keith asked in a shout of his own at the very same time.

Everyone turned to look at Joha

Joha

"I told you it would be all right," she boasted in a whisper to the priest.

Gabriel leaned back against the wall and continued to stare at his wife.

"MacBain, you'd best do something before all hell breaks loose," Calum said.

Gabriel shook his head. "It's too late," he remarked. "And high time one of us did something," he added.

Keith's face had turned bright red. "Lady Joha

"I'm trying to please you, Keith," she replied.

He did a double take. "You think to please me by joining the MacBain plaid to mine? How could you think… how could you believe I would…"

He was actually sputtering. She prayed it was due to his surprise and not indignation. "You know I can't seem to keep my days straight. You have noticed that flaw, haven't you?"

"Flaw?"

"My faulty memory," she explained. "Come and sit beside me, Keith, and I shall give you a proper explanation for my bold action. Calum, you take Keith's place at the other table."

Joha

"Gabriel, are you ready to sit down?" she called out.

She had a death grip on Father MacKechnie's arm. He patted her hand in a bid to get her to let go of him.

"Where would you like me to sit, lass?"

"On Gabriel's left," she answered, "and across from me. It will be easier for you to give me the last rites if it becomes necessary," she added in a whisper.

"Did you forget which day it was and that was your reason for wearing both plaids?" Lindsay wanted to know.

"It is only one plaid," Joha

Joha

His silence made her even more nervous. "Gabriel?"

He didn't answer her. She couldn't stand waiting to hear what he thought of her boldness. "Please tell me how you feel about this change," she asked.

He suddenly pulled away from the wall. His voice was hard and angry when he spoke.

"I'm most displeased."

She turned her attention to the table. She tried to hide her hurt and her disappointment. She'd hoped for his support, of course. 'Tis the truth, she'd expected it. His disappointment fairly overwhelmed her.

She heard several loud grunts of approval. She didn't look up to see who the offenders were.

Gabriel walked over to the table. He nudged her chin up, then put his hands on her shoulders.

"I should have thought of this myself, Joha

It took her a full minute to realize he was giving her his approval.