"Nay, this one has refused me as well."
She hooked her arm through Bridget's and walked her into the cottage. "Will you not reconsider? He will make a fine husband, I will see to it."
"Aye, but I will not make a fine wife."
*
As soon as word spread that Kevin would allow the MacGreagors to visit with their Ferguson relatives, Kenna's mother grew almost too overcome with joy to make preparations. She had not seen her brother in two years and didn't even know if he survived the war.
Kenna was even happier than her mother. She hoped...even prayed Laird Ferguson would be there.
It took more than an hour to walk through the forest to the meeting place and it occurred to Kenna that this could be a happy day, or if they learned her uncle had not survived, one of the worst days of her life. She loved her uncle and wasn't sure how she would feel about the Fergusons if he died in a stupid war -- a war the Fergusons started.
At last, they reached the clearing. Ferguson plaids were yellow, MacGreagors wore blue and it was easy to tell who belonged to which clan. Her mother boldly walked into the middle of the clearing, but Kenna held back. She began to scan the faces of the Ferguson men and when she spotted Laird Ferguson, she quickly passed over him. She noticed her mother still standing alone and her heart was about to break.
Finally she saw him. Kenna rushed out, grabbed her mother's hand and quickly guided her into the arms of a Ferguson on the other side of the clearing. She was thrilled to see her uncle and not at all willing to wait long for his hug.
Shaw Ferguson spotted Kenna the moment she neared the clearing and he too was relieved her loved one was not dead. He hoped to win her heart, but the death of a family member would postpone that considerably. What happened next greatly surprised him. The man he saw earlier with Kevin MacGreagor walked his horse into the clearing and softly whistled. Every MacGreagor turned to look at him, but he was looking at Kenna. As soon as Kenna saw him, she ran to the man on the horse, stretched out her hand and was hauled up behind him. Then Connor turned and carried her off.
Kenna was not pleased, but waited until they were out of hearing. "How old is this one?"
"He is younger than I, holds land much farther north and insists you leave with him immediately." Connor was not smiling. He was afraid Rachel was going into labor and wanted to be with his wife. But he, Kevin and Kenna were the only ones who knew what was going on and Kevin had his hands full with Laird Sinclair and his contingent of twenty guards.