Stefan's heart leapt for joy at her words. Finally he was assured he had a family again and he refused to give this one up. He was not even willing to give up the pesky wee bairn though he would never tell Kannak that.
*
When William and Andrina arrived the next morning, Jirvel was ready to play matchmaker. She handed Andrina two empty pails. "Can ye manage? Will the water be too heavy? Perhaps ye should just fill each half…"
"I will help her," William offered. If he suspected being set up, he did not let on and the two of them walked happily down the path toward the river. Jirvel smiled, Kannak smiled and Stefan grinned. Macoran would not have a hand in this match if the three of them had anything to say about it.
Jirvel mixed the clay, water and heather together in the small pit. Kannak and Andrina went to gather more rocks while the men stacked the stones in two parallel rows and filled the space between them with the mortar to make the third and final wall. It was hard work and Jirvel encouraged the girls to fetch plenty of drinking water. Each time Andrina offered her flask to William, she couldn't help but smile. Nor could William manage to keep his eyes off of her.
When Stefan went off for his comfort and the girls were gathering more rocks, Jirvel became a bit more emboldened. "'Tis it me or 'tis there love in the air?"
With hopeful eyes, William stopped his work and looked at her. "Do ye think so? I mean do ye think Andrina prefers me?"
Jirvel rolled her eyes. "If ye dinna see it in her eyes, yer brain has addled. Ye best ask Macoran for her and quickly afore someone else gets to him."
"I am not worried."
"Why not?"
"I asked for her six months ago, only it has taken this long for her to notice me. I dinna want a wife who does not prefer me."
"If that be the case, I will send her to fetch more water and if yer wise, ye will follow and ask her if she will agree to marry ye."
"But if she says nay…"
"She will not disappoint ye. She preferred ye long afore now."
His eyes instantly lit up and he turned his attention back to laying the rocks. The wall was only three feet high and nearly finished with a wide enough gap in the side for a gate. It might not keep a hungry wolf or red fox out completely, but it would keep the chickens in.