"Tar would do it," Prescot teased. He offered one arm to Donnel and the other to Blanka.
"Or flower and water paste, if I had the time to make it," Halen suggested, taking the arm Ronan offered her.
"Oh, who cares?" Sassy said, tossing her hat away.
"I care," McKenna said, quickly picking it up. "'Tis not proper for a lady to be without a hat. Sit beside me in the wagon and I shall fix it."
"In that case," said Hannish, "Prescot, put Donnel and Blanka in the carriage." Just then, he thought of something. "Miss Leesil and Miss Cathleen, should anyone ask, what last name have you chosen?"
"Covington," both answered at once.
Hannish smiled. "Good. Sometime soon, we shall see a judge about making it legal."
"Oh sister," Blanka said to Donnel, "They are girls. When they marry the name will be lost forever."
Donnel nodded. "True sister, we need a boy to carry it on."
"We can give it to one of our orphans," McKenna suggested.
"Oh yes, do," said Donnel, "Give it to all the little boys without last names."
McKenna leaned close to Hannish and whispered, "I believe we have a name for our orphanage now. We shall call it, 'The Covington Home for Children.'"
*
The men sat on the fold-down bench on one side of the wagon and the women, complete with box lunches in their laps, sat on the other. As soon as they were all seated and the wagon began to move, McKenna started to pin Sassy's hat on while they all sang, Wait for the wagon. She finished, settled back in her seat just as the song ended and loudly said, "Brother, I am not fond of this box lunch idea. I do not wish to eat my lunch with a stranger. Therefore, I am counting on you to buy it."
"I cannae," he said, leaning forward a little.
"And why not?"
"Because I'd not like to keep you from meeting the man of your dreams."
McKenna frowned. "Alistair, I shall give you twenty pounds if you buy mine."
Alistair winked at Sarah. "Do you see that box lunch in Sarah's lap? I had Jessie put a big slice of cake in it just for me."
McKenna glared at Alistair for a moment, and then turned her attention to the next man she thought would be more willing. "Prescot?"
Just as Prescot began to answer, Millie spoke up, "I believe Prescot might buy mine…if he is wise, Miss McKenna."
Everyone laughed when Prescot clutched his chest. "Help, Mr. Hannish, I think cupid just shot me in the heart."