“ ’Tis too cold a morn for a lass to be outdoors as long as you have,” Gannon said gently.
She 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.