They spent the afternoon together. They looked over the horses first, then made their way down to the meadow to visit Auggie. The old warrior had just returned from the ridge and looked like he was in a foul mood.

"What has you scowling, Auggie?" Johanna called out.

Alex saw the soldier's glare and immediately edged behind Johanna's skirts.

"It's all right, Alex," she whispered. "Auggie likes to grumble, but he has a kind heart."

"Like Papa?"

Johanna smiled. "Yes," she answered, thinking what a clever child Alex was. He was perceptive, too.

Auggie waited until the pair reached him before giving an answer for his frown. "I'm ready to give up my game," he announced with a dramatic nod. "It's no use hitting the stones any distance. Most crumble from the force of the whack I give them. They splinter in the air. No point to it then, is there now? Who's that hiding behind you, peeking up at me with such wide blue eyes?"

"This is Alex," Johanna answered. "Do you remember Gabriel's son?"

"Of course I remember the lad," Auggie answered. "But I'm in the middle of a sour mood, Johanna. I'm not fit for company today. Go away and leave me to my pout."

Johanna tried not to laugh. "Couldn't you spare a few minutes to show Alex how to strike the stones into the holes here in the meadow?"

"No, I couldn't spare a few minutes," Auggie muttered even as he motioned the little boy over to his side. "This isn't a child's game. How old are you, boy?"

Alex had a death grip on Johanna's hand. He wasn't about to leave her side. She had to walk with him over to Auggie.

"Alex doesn't know how old he is," Johanna explained. "I'm thinking he's four or five summers."

Auggie rubbed his jaw with concentration. "Open your mouth, boy. Let me have a look at your teeth. I can tell you how old you are."

Johanna burst into laughter. "He isn't a horse," she said.

"When it comes to teeth, they could be the same, at least with the young ones."

Alex tilted his head up and opened his mouth. Auggie nodded with approval. "You've been taking good care of your teeth, haven't you now?"

"Papa showed me how to rub them with green hazel and wipe them with a woolen cloth," Alex answered. "I only forget some of the time."

Auggie squinted against the sunlight as he bent down to have a good look.

"He's close to five, I'm guessing. He couldn't be any older. His first teeth are still nice and tight," he explained after he'd reached in and tried to wiggle Alex's two top front teeth. "Too snug for six and two big for three. Aye, he's going on five. I'd wager my game on it."

Alex was finally allowed to close his mouth. He turned his gaze up to Johanna. "I'm five?"

"Almost," she answered. "We'll have to choose a day and give you a proper birthday celebration, Alex. Then you'll officially become five."

Alex had gotten over his fear of the leathery-looking warrior and now begged to play the game. Auggie spent close to two hours supervising the child. Alex didn't understand the word concentrate and he talked nonstop all the while. Auggie was extremely patient with the boy, but he did cast several glares in Johanna's direction every now and again. Alex couldn't seem to remember he was to keep quiet when Auggie was about to strike his stone.

Johanna sat on the side of the hill to watch the pair. She listened to Auggie tell stories about the past, and it soon became apparent to her that Alex was in awe of the warrior. He begged to hear more.

The sun was setting and Alex had started yawning when Johanna finally called a halt to the entertainment. She stood up, adjusted the pleats of her plaid, and started to thank Auggie.

She didn't remember what happened next. She opened her eyes and found both Auggie and Alex leaning over her. Alex was crying. Auggie was gently patting the side of her face and trying to soothe the boy at the same time.

It didn't take Johanna any time at all to realize what had happened.

"Oh, Lord, I fainted again, didn't I?"

"Again?" Auggie asked, his brow wrinkled with worry. He helped his mistress sit up. Alex immediately sat down on her lap and leaned against her chest. He obviously needed her assurance, she decided. She put her arm around the child and gave him a quick hug.

"I'm quite all right now, Alex."

"You fainted before?" Auggie persisted.

Johanna nodded. The movement made her head spin. "Last night," she answered. "Gabriel caught me. It happened so quickly that I didn't have any warning."

"It sure as certain was quick," Auggie agreed. He squatted on the ground next to Johanna and continued to brace her back with his arms. "You were standing one minute and flat on the ground looking as dead as a corpse the next."

Auggie was deliberately trying to make light of the topic for the child's sake. He hid his worry as best he could.

"I don't understand what's wrong with me," she whispered.

"You'd best go and see Glynis," Auggie advised. "She knows a few healing tricks."

"She wanted to sew Calum's arm, so she must have some experience," Johanna remarked. "Yes, I'll go and see her tomorrow."

"No," Auggie countered. "You'll go now. I'll take Alex home."

From the stubborn set of his jaw, Johanna knew it would be pointless to argue with the man. "All right then," she agreed. She turned her attention to her son.

"Alex, let's not mention this faint to your father. We don't want to worry him, do we?"

"Shame on you telling the boy not to…"

"Auggie, I'm thinking of Gabriel's feelings now," Johanna argued. "I don't want him to worry."

Auggie nodded agreement. He had every intention of telling his laird what had happened, of course; and when his mistress pitched a fit, he'd remind her she hadn't made him give her his promise not to stay a word.

Both he and Alex accompanied Johanna to Glynis's door. They left her there, but only after Auggie pounded on the door and the Maclaurin woman had answered the summons.

"Lady Johanna's got a complaint to give you," Auggie announced. "Come along, boy. It's time for your supper."

"Have I done something to displease you, m'lady?" Glynis asked.

Johanna shook her head. She motioned her over to the rock ledge away from the entrance so that Glynis's husband wouldn't chance to overhear the conversation.

"Please sit down, Glynis," she requested. "A friend of mine is ill and I would like to gain your advice on what's to be done to help her."

Glynis immediately looked relieved. She sat on the ledge, folded her hands in her lap, and waited for Johanna to continue.

"Twice now this woman has fainted for no apparent rea son," Johanna blurted out. She stood in front of the Maclaurin woman and waited for her response to that news.

Glynis simply nodded. Johanna didn't know what to make of that reaction.

"Is she dying of some dread disease?"

Johanna was wringing her hands together now and trying not to let Glynis see how upset she was.

"She could be," Glynis replied. "I'm needing more facts before I give you my suggestions for treatment, m'lady. Is your friend young or old?"

"Young."

"Is she married?"

"Yes."

Glynis nodded. "Does she have any other symptoms to speak of?"

"I… that is to say, she awakened feeling very sick and did in fact throw up. Her stomach is queasy most of the morning. Yet when she isn't feeling queasy, she's feeling quite fit."

"I'll have to ask a few personal questions before I give you my opinion, m'lady," Glynis told her mistress in a low whisper.

"I'll answer them if I know the answers," Johanna replied.

"Has your friend missed her monthly?"

Johanna nodded. "She's missed two months now but that isn't unusual, for she isn't at all consistent."

Glynis was trying not to smile. "Would you happen to know if her breasts are feeling tender?"