Tangled (Handfasting) (17 page)

"I'll
be staying with you tonight, Maggie.  We all know how you don't like the
darkness."  Sibeal offered.

"Did
you tell him about that?" Fiona asked.  "Did he know you don't like
to be alone in the night?"

"He
knew." Maggie reassured her ma.  "But I'm too old to be fretting
about such things, now."

"Tsk,"
Fiona disapproved.  "He left you alone.  These warring men just canna'
understand we all have our fears."

"And
we need to learn how to face them."

Sibeal
pulled a chair near the tub, broke off a bit of haggis and put it to Maggie's
mouth, to feed her as if she were a babe.  "Was it that bad?  That you had
to face fears like that?"

"No,"
Maggie pulled away from Sibeal's offer, and reached up to take it herself.

"Well,"
Fiona shot out, "Your father and brothers would not let you be harmed in
battle!  And that's the truth of it!" 

Reparations
could not wait until she had her wits about her.  She had deliberately
distorted the truth, had exaggerated the distortions, but who would have
thought her family would take it as gospel?  She was known to be dramatic. 
There was no choice among a family of boisterous older brothers, and a clan
that was no different.  She knew to come in loud and grand or be ignored.  Of
all the times for them to take her on her word, they would have to start now. 

There
was naught she could do, but defend those she had slandered.  "It wasna'
the MacKay's fault.  I broke through the protection when a man was felled.  You
know how I can be."

"He
should have known."

Maggie
forgot how stubborn her people could be, once they took a side.

"We
all thought the Gunns had gone, turn tailed and fled.  They had been gone that
long.  But you know the Gunns are a sneaky lot.  I'm just that grateful that
I'm free of them.  Talorc thought they were set on capture and against that he
did a fine job."

Fiona
fussed over Maggie's forehead.  "There's still a lump, lass.  He should
have taken the blow."

"I'm
fairing well, ma."

"You'll
fair better, now that you're home."

"Aye,
ma, I'll fair better."