"I would prefer you wear my plaid."
"I know, but I worry the plaid will come undone when I ride. If it did and Threcher stepped on it..."
"I see your meaning." A shiver ran down his spine just thinking about what could happen. He kissed her hard and then headed for the loch to bathe.
She watched him take the clean clothing one of the women handed him and sighed. "I believe I like kissing very much -- but that is all."
*
Kevin invited his twenty most trusted men and their wives to join them for the evening meal. Half his men were unmarried and he wondered just how much competition Justin would have. Two hours before, the cooks began to prepare the meal, men carried water up for his wife's bath and women brought bouquets of flowers to adorn the great hall. Anna hadn't changed a thing, but no matter, he was convinced she would once she felt it was her home. He wanted everything to be perfect for his surprise and so far, it was.
All they had to do was wait for her and he couldn't keep from glancing toward her door every thirty seconds or so. He reminded Thomas one more time to tell everyone not to notice when her mother and sister came in. Then he saw the annoyed look on Thomas' face.
At last, her door opened and she walked out. She couldn't have been more becoming. She wore his plaid and moved along the balcony with such grace it took his breath away. On her head, she wore a blue scarf the same color as her eyes that hung down her back to her waist.
When she started down the stairs, she noticed how quiet it had gotten, so she stopped and wrinkled her brow. She tilted her head to one side and asked, "Is something amiss?"
"Nothing could be amiss tonight, I would not let it be," her husband answered, heading to the bottom of the stairs to meet her.
Thomas leaned closer to Katie, "I did not even guess how bonnie she would be."
"That's right; you have been away while she was healing. She does not know how beautiful she is either. She keeps asking why the men stare at her. She thinks it is her lack of hair, but Kevin will soon notice and have a few heads." Katie watched her brother kiss his wife and cheered with the rest of the gathering.
"Does that mean you did not miss me, Lass?" Thomas asked.
Katie looked at the gleam in his eye and blushed. Too soon, Kevin and Anna were standing in front of her and it was her duty to keep talking until the surprise arrived. So she talked…and talked...until blessedly, Kevin interrupted.