The bairn seemed to be healthy. Mrs. MacCabe was grateful for her help, and had hinted that Katie might be ready to take over the job as clan healer. That sounded wonderful, but managing the estate, castle, and healing duties right now did seem overwhelming—just as Evan had said. Everything seemed overwhelming.
She took a quick bath; dressed in a warm, clean nightgown; and crawled into bed. “Wake me by noon,” she said to Meggie, yawning at the same time.
Katie rolled over onto her back and glared at Meggie. “Surely it’s not noon yet?”
“Aye, mistress. It is a few minutes past.” She bustled around the room, pulling out clean clothes and laying them on the bed. “The laird only just awoke himself. Seemed rather grumpy, though.”
A smile broke out on Katie’s face. Perhaps he was grumpy because he hadn’t gotten his way the night before. Now in the soberness of daytime, she realized she’d made the right decision. Had she continued with what they’d both wanted, she’d be worrying about losing her heart to the big oaf and then having it broken when he rode off to Argyll.
Or worse, wondering if she was carrying his child and living the rest of her life in disgrace. She threw off the covers and quickly washed her face, dressed, and had Meggie fasten her hair in a braid hanging down her back.
She would have a quick breakfast and then ride to Mrs. MacDuff’s house and check on the new mother and babe. Then she would see about finding cottages for her clan members who’d already arrived and those who were still on the way.
Feeling energetic with the sun shining brightly through the window in her bedchamber, she left the room and made her way down the stairs. Evan was sitting at the table eating breakfast when she arrived. He pushed his chair back and stood. “Good morning, Katie.” He rounded the table and pulled out her chair.
She nodded and felt the heat rise from her middle to her face as she sat. ’Twas daunting how he affected her. His curly dark-red hair was still damp from his bath and held back in a queue with a piece of leather. His linen shirt did not conceal the rock-hard muscles in his arms as he moved. His trews hugged his sinewy thighs, tucked into boots. “Good morning,” she mumbled.
“Did ye sleep well?” Evan took his seat and picked up his fork.
“Aye.” She reached for the platter of food, placed cheese and an apple on her plate, then added a scoop of porridge to her bowl before drizzling a bit of honey on it. The teapot was still warm, so she poured herself a cup. “I see ye like coffee in the morning?”
“Aye.”
Silence grew as they ate. An awkward silence, to be sure. She tried her best to ignore the man, but he was definitely affecting her appetite.
Evan wiped his mouth with a napkin and tossed it alongside his plate. “I want to finish up the tenant visits this week, so we need to get started as soon as ye are through.” He leaned back in his chair and regarded her. “Alasdair told me more of yer clansmen arrived while we were with the young MacDuffs yesterday.”
“Was Mrs. Brody able to find rooms for them?”
“Aye, but this cannot continue, lass. I checked the castle’s food supply, and while it’s quite hearty, these people need to get into their own houses and start producing for themselves.”
“I ken. Many of them will have brought what they need to hold them over until they can grow their own food. Once they’re settled, I’m assuming they’ll head to the market in the village, where they can sell their wares.”
“When yer finished, meet me in the library.” Evan walked toward the door but stopped. “God’s toes!” he roared. “What the devil is this?”
…
Evan stared at his feet as what seemed like a dozen brown and white puppies ran in circles, barking and yelping like a bunch of Scottish warriors. Two nipped at his boots, and one tried to climb up his body but kept slipping off.
Katie joined him, the joy on her face a stark contrast to his annoyance. “Oh, look at the wee sweet puppies!”
He turned to her and scowled. “What are all these animals doing in the castle?”
“I dinnae ken.” She bent and took one of them in her arms. “But aren’t they wonderful?” She looked up and smiled at him, and all his anger melted…until one of them gripped the top of his boot with its teeth and pulled. He shook his foot, and the animal rolled over and over, sat up, and shook its head.
“I told ye, no animals in the castle.”
“These aren’t animals. A goat is an animal, and that is now in the stable. Puppies are pets.”
Evan leaned forward, coming face to face with Katie. “Puppies grow into dogs. Dogs are animals and dinnae belong in the castle.” He waved at the group, who were still barking frantically. “Move them to the stables.”
Just then, Gavin came racing toward them and laughingly picked up one of the puppies. “Can I keep one?”
“Nay.”
“Aye.”
Katie and Evan stared at each other. “At least one can stay,” Katie countered.