"An orphanage?" Hannish asked.
"Why not?" asked McKenna. "We have little to do and…"
"I think it is a wonderful idea," said Hannish.
"You do?" McKenna asked.
Hannish was positively beaming. "I most certainly do. You know how I love children."
Claymore was not yet convinced and frowned instead. "Ladies, there is much to consider, people to hire, you'll need an attorney, an adoption policy, a doctor on call, a place to house them, and…"
"Children?" Abigail asked.
Claymore finally smiled, took his wife in his arms and kissed her lips. "Do you promise not to bring them all home?"
"Indeed I do. I don't want to raise them. I only want to see they have a chance in the world."
"I may well regret this, but if it makes you happy, I am willing," said Claymore. For that, he got an even longer kiss from his happy wife.
McKenna glanced around to make sure her guests were well taken care of and noticed that Shepard, Prescot, Brookton and Egan had their heads together. "Abigail, I believe they are going to sing for us."
"How delightful," said Claymore.
The room quieted and people stopped to watch just as Shepard struck a chord on his violin and the four began to sing. This time, they sang a song familiar to both the Scots and the Americans: Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond. The applause had not yet stopped before they began to sing, Sweet Rosie O'Grady and I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen. They finished with Battle Hymn of the Republic and that song took more than one breath away.
Hannish said, "So that's where they get off to, they've been practicing."
"They wanted to surprise us, it seems," McKenna said.
"They certainly have done that."
"MacGreagor," the mayor interrupted, "We shall expect your boys to sing for us at the annual picnic next month."
Hannish shook the Mayor's hand. "I shall ask them."
"Tell them if they do not come, I'll send the sheriff to fetch them." The mayor smiled, nodded and walked away.
When the doorbell rang and Alistair opened it, the room abruptly quieted and several mouths dropped.
"Alistair," said Charlotte, nodding her greeting.
Hannish hurried into the foyer with Claymore right behind him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was invited by my brother, Mr. Wells."
Hannish narrowed his eyes. "Please leave, I do not wish to…"
"Charlotte," Claymore interrupted. "I remind you, I have influence with the Office of Education. Do not make me recommend you find a position somewhere else."
Charlotte spotted Sassy, glared at her for a moment and then glanced at the stern look on Claymore's face. "I will leave, though I find your threat terribly unfair, Mr. Whitfield. I was invited, the same as anyone."