Olivia stomped up the steps, yanked the door open and disappeared inside.
*
Everyone was excited to greet Alistair and Dugan. They could not wait to hear how much trouble was had getting the duchess on the ship, plus they were eager to greet the rest of the Scottish servants. Hannish insisted on taking the carriage to the station, claiming Alistair deserved an easy ride after so much time spent traveling in the last month. That left everyone except the carriage and the wagon driver at home to wait.
The train was apparently late again, for it was midafternoon before Keith saw the carriage through the trees and alerted everyone. Just as they had before, the servants lined up outside, only this time they were grinning with wild anticipation.
Something was amiss.
Alistair was seated in the wagon instead of being inside the carriage and everyone's heart stopped. Could it be…was it possible the duchess was back? Hannish did not look pleased when he climbed out of the carriage, and there was definitely someone else inside. He held out his hand, a woman put her hand in his, and then began to step down. First, her black skirt appeared, then her apron…and then her face.
For days, Hannish waited to see it, and when Sassy caught her breath and grabbed McKenna's arm, her happiness was a sight well worth waiting for. A cry of joy escaped her lips and with tears in her eyes, Sassy ran to Cathleen and threw her arms around her little sister.
They both cried and clung to each other for a long moment before Cathleen finally wiped her tears and complained, "Leesil, you are about to knock me over."
Sassy giggled, let go and watched as Cathleen got a good look at the imposing mansion.
"You put up here?" Cathleen asked.
"And so shall you," said Hannish, 'if you'll have us, that is."
Cathleen smiled at the tall stranger. "I'll have you and be glad of it."
With tears of joy in her own eyes, McKenna finally turned to greet Dugan's cousin. "Am I ever glad to see you again, Egan."
"Not as glad as I am to see you," he said. The youngest of the men, Egan was also the shortest, with a stocky build and blond hair. "Mr. Cameron MacGreagor pleased me to see to Cathleen and keep her safe all the way to Colorado. She's a mite fearful of most things and cried when the train crossed the mighty Mississippi River, but I held her hand. I hope 'twas allowed."
"Of course it was. I am in your debt, Egan. Are you hungry? Jessie baked cookies this morning."