"I see, forgive me ladies, but I wish to make their acquaintance." Prescot was having trouble stealing Millie away and Hannish was glad to help by distracting the Sheriff. Once accomplished, Millie's smile, which she meant only for Prescot, was not lost on Hannish. Perhaps her happiness lived right under his roof -- he could not think of a finer man for her.

"How long have you known?" McKenna asked. Lunch was over, the servants were beginning to load up the baskets, the visitors had drifted away and still, the two sets of sisters were deep in conversation.

"Known what?" Hannish asked.

"How old Sassy is?"

He slipped his arm around his sister. "Since the night she told me about Cathleen. She knows she is immature and was afraid the others would laugh at her. I wonder if she knows how quickly she is growing up."

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"I doubt she does. In some ways, Cathleen is the more mature of the two, and it is hard to tell who mothered whom, all those years in the orphanage. Sassy does exactly what Cathleen tells her to do and Cathleen is not shy about telling her either."

"Yet, it makes perfect sense. Everyone at the orphanage thought Cathleen was the eldest."

"I see," McKenna said. "Then it does make sense. What do you suppose the four of them have been talking about all this time?"

"They are trying to choose a last name. Sassy's certificate of birth says parents unknown."

"She will need her birth certificate when she decides to marry. They both will."

"You are right, I had not thought of that."

*

Now that he was back in society somewhat, Hannish mounted his horse and went to town to see Amos Wells. The carpenter had recently moved from Denver and was temporarily housing his shop in a barn. He seemed to be a hardworking, honorable man and the furniture he had to show was of good quality. Hannish bought several pieces, with a promise to place more orders later.

"My sister is holding a garden party soon. Would you like to come, Mr. Wells? You can have a look around the place and get an idea of what we need."

"Will Leesil be there?"

Hannish was not certain he liked that question, but he answered it anyway, "Aye."

"I am surprised she is not yet married."

"You fancy her?"

"Indeed I do. She is…well, I cannot seem to get her off my mind."

"I see." He did not know what else to say, so he simply tipped his hat and went back to his horse.

"I'll bring the furniture around tomorrow, Mr. MacGreagor."




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