"What?" Hannish studied his sister's eyes for a moment and then lowered his gaze. "I see." He set his fork down and then rubbed the back of his neck.
"She brought but six with her," McKenna pointed out. "Donnel and Blanka came with me."
Seated at the other end of the table, Alistair studied the pain in his employer's face. "It dinna mean she'll not be stayin'."
Hannish couldn't help raising his voice a little, "Why else would she leave servants in Scotland?"
"Perhaps she arranged for them to come later," McKenna tried.
He took his sister's hand to comfort her. "McKenna, I love you fiercely, but all of you must say the truth, even if it concerns my wife." He let go of her hand and picked his fork back up. "Ronan, were you forced to draw sticks as well?"
Ronan cleared his throat. "I would have come no matter the short stick, Sir, but the duchess said I was chosen to come."
"I see," Hannish took a deep breath to calm himself. He noticed Donnel watching him and tried to smile. "I need not ask why Blanka and Donnel have come. They have been with the family for years and are like cherished aunts to my sister and I." He nodded to each and then turned his attention to the one he knew least about. "Sassy, where are you from?"
"I am Scottish born and English raised, if you can call it that in an orphanage." She looked at McKenna and then at Hannish. "Must I be completely honest?"
"I insist upon it," Hannish answered.
"Well, I dinna…exactly pay the fare when I got aboard that ship."
Keith's jaw dropped. "You are a stowaway?"
She glared at Keith. "Never you mind about that. Lady…I mean, Miss McKenna found me. She asked if I would pretend to be her lady's maid. She promised to feed me real good if I would do her the honor, so I agreed and here I be."
"And pleased we are to have you," Hannish said. "Now let us hear a bit from the Americans."
Shepard spoke next. "Keith and I are cousins. We come from Pennsylvania and we tried the mines a time or two, but when you said you needed help here, Mr. MacGreagor, we came straight away. We are happy in Colorado, am I right, Keith?"
Keith nodded. "We are indeed. We have never been more content than we are this day." For cousins, Keith and Shepard didn't look much alike except for matching brown eyes. Keith had a round face and curly dark brown hair. Shepard's face was oval, his hair was straight and it was a lighter shade of brown.