Rachel rolled her eyes. "I have a dagger in my sheath and can strap another to my leg. I can throw a lad as well as Connor and I have another advantage still."
Connor finally spoke up, "Aye, she has a way of persuading a lad to do what he should not." He was almost as surprised he said it, as Rachel looked to hear it.
"That is an advantage a lad does not have," Kevin admitted. He waited for Justin's nod, but Justin was still thinking hard about it so Kevin turned his attention back to Rachel. "Do you promise not to take any foolish chances?"
"I do. Now that I know they are aware of me, I will be very careful."
"They are not like us; they will not hesitate to hurt a woman."
"I understand."
Kevin looked again, but Justin was still thinking. "You will see only if they prepare for war and come right back. Do nothing more."
Connor held his breath. Unless Justin denied him, Kevin was actually going to let her go. Then Justin nodded, Kevin nodded to Rachel and Connor closed his eyes.
Everyone expected Rachel to run out the door. Instead, she turned to Connor and curtsied long and slow. "I do not believe you have ever complimented me before. Do not ever do it again!" She stood back up and was once more prevented from kicking him in the shin when Kevin grabbed her around the waist.
After she was gone, Kevin turned to Connor. "How long will you need me to protect you from her?"
Connor was furious. "She only does it around you and only because she knows you will stop her. Perhaps next time you should stand back ready to catch her instead." With that, Connor left the great hall.
"That lad wants to kill you," said Justin.
"Aye and I do not blame him." Kevin watched the other men leave and walked to the table for his goblet of wine. He drank until he emptied it and set it back down on the table.
Justin grabbed the pitcher and refilled both their goblets. "Do you believe our wives would really leave us?"
"I do. When I first married Anna, I told her it would please me when she makes this her home. She could rearrange the furnishings, order different food or even throw everything out the window. She changed nothing. At first, I thought it was out of respect for my sister, Katie, who ran the household after our parents died. But after Katie married Thomas and went to the Cameron hold, Anna still changed nothing. It is just the same as it was thirteen years ago. My wife has not yet made this her true home."