"You're far more clever than I am," he said.

She tried to tell him thank you for his compliment but couldn't. She burst into tears.

Everyone started shouting at the same time. Keith blamed Calum's rude reaction to their mistress's clothing as the reason for her distressed state. Calum was just as emphatic in his opinion that Keith's constant browbeating tactics were the true reason Lady Johanna was weeping.

Gabriel seemed to be the only one not affected by his wife's tears. He ordered her to sit down, then moved to stand behind her. He put one hand on her shoulder and turned his full attention to his soldiers.

"Seeing my wife dressed in both plaids has opened my eyes. I have only just realized the great lengths Johanna has gone to in order to accommodate all of you. She has been told which plaid to wear, which chair to sit in, who to walk with, and so on, and she has never been anything but gracious in her bid to please you. From the day she arrived here, she has accepted all of you, Maclaurins and MacBains alike. She has treated Calum and Keith with equal affection. She has given all of you her devotion and her loyalty. Her repayment has been your criticism and your disdain. She has even been called coward by some, yet she didn't come to me with a single complaint. She suffered the humiliation in silence, proving without a doubt she is far more understanding and forgiving than I could ever be."

Silence followed the laird's speech. Gabriel squeezed his wife's shoulder before continuing. "Aye, she's been damned accommodating," he repeated. "And so have I." His voice was hard now and angry. "I've tried to be patient with you, but I find it's one hell of a strain, for I'm really not a patient man at all. I have had enough of this conflict and, obviously, so has my wife. From this moment on, we are united as one clan. You have accepted me as your laird. Now you will accept each other. Those of you who cannot do this have my permission to leave at first light."

Another minute or two of silence followed the laird's command. Then Lindsay took a step forward. "Laird MacBain, which plaid will we wear?"

Gabriel turned his attention to the Maclaurin soldier. "You have given me your loyalty, and I am a MacBain. You will wear my colors."

"But your father was a Maclaurin," Keith reminded his laird.

Gabriel turned his frown on his first-in-command. "He neither claimed me nor gave me his name," he replied. "And I do not claim him. I'm a MacBain. If you follow me, you wear my colors."

Keith nodded. "I follow you, Laird."

"I, too, Laird," Lindsay blurted out. "But I'm wondering now what we will do with the Maclaurin plaids."

Gabriel was going to suggest they burn the things, then changed his mind. "The plaid belongs to your past," he announced. "You will hand it down to your children with the tales of your history. The MacBain plaid you put on tomorrow is the beginning of your future. United, we will become invincible."

The tension in the hall was broken by their laird's last remark. A resounding cheer went up.

"'Tis cause for a celebration," Father MacKechnie announced.

"A toast it is," Gabriel agreed.

"Without spilling," Johanna blurted out.

For some reason, her instruction was found to be vastly amusing by the men. She couldn't imagine why they were carrying on so, then thought that perhaps they were simply laughing with relief. There had been a few worrisome minutes during Gabriel's speech. At least she'd been worried.

She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her linen square, embarrassed now because she couldn't seem to quit crying.

Dear God, she was thankful she'd married Gabriel. Her life had been so bleak and desolate. She'd never known what joy was until he came into her life.

Such thoughts only made her weep all the more. The men didn't pay her any attention now. She heard Keith whisper it was her delicate condition causing the undignified display of emotions. Calum nodded agreement.

Johanna looked up and spotted Leila standing by the entrance. She immediately stood and motioned for the woman to come to her.

Leila seemed hesitant. The men all stood with their goblets. The jug was being passed down the line so that each soldier would pour his own. Johanna walked around the group and met Leila in the center of the hall.

"Did you hear…"

"Oh, yes, m'lady, I heard," Leila interrupted. "Your husband gave a powerful speech."

"Come and sit down next to me, Leila, at the table."

"But I'm a Maclaurin," she whispered. "At least I was until a few minutes ago."

She blushed after making the comment. Johanna smiled. "You are still a Maclaurin, but you are now also a MacBain. Calum won't have any excuse not to court you now," she added in a low whisper.

Leila's blush intensified. Johanna took hold of her hand and pulled her along.

The soldiers had just finished a toast to their laird and their future. They were about to take their places at the tables when Johanna gained their attention.

"I would like to make a few changes in the seating," she began.

"We like where we sit, m'lady," Michael told her.

She ignored the protest. "It is only fitting that both commanders sit with their laird. Keith will sit on his laird's left, and Calum will sit on his right."

Gabriel shook his head at her. "Why not?" she demanded.

"You will sit next to me."

He didn't sound like he was going to bend on the issue. "All right then," she agreed. "Calum, you'll sit next to me. Leila, come along. You may sit next to Calum."

Johanna wasn't quite finished making changes. When she was finished, a Maclaurin sat next to a MacBain at each table.

Father MacKechnie sat at the head of the second table where Keith used to sit. He was thrilled with the honor bestowed upon him. Keith was just as pleased with the new arrangement, if his smile was an indicator, because he now sat next to his laird.

"Why does it matter where the rest of us sit?" Lindsay asked his mistress.

She wasn't about to tell him the truth that she wanted to completely eliminate the division by the clans. She never again wanted to see the Maclaurins all clumped together at one table and the MacBains seated at the other.

The soldier repeated his question when Johanna didn't immediately answer him. She couldn't think of a logical reason to give the inquisitive man. And so she gave him an illogical one. "Because my mama's coming. That is why."

Lindsay nodded, then turned to repeat her explanation to the MacBain soldier seated next to him. "Her mama's coming. M'lady wants everything to be just so."

The MacBain soldier nodded. "Aye, she does," he agreed.

Johanna turned her attention to the table so the men wouldn't see her smile. She wanted to laugh over Lindsay's naivete but didn't dare.

Dinner was a wonderful success by her measure. Calum and Leila started out as stiff as boards, but by the time the meal was finished they were talking to each other in low whispers. She was straining to hear what they were talking about when Gabriel realized what she was doing and pulled her closer to him.

"There will be a wedding soon," Gabriel remarked with a nod in Calum's direction.

Johanna smiled. "Yes," she whispered.

The mention of marriage turned her thoughts to Clare. The MacKay woman needed a husband, and in Johanna's estimation, there were several fine possibilities sitting at the table.

"Keith? Have you-" Johanna began, thinking to ask him if he'd considered his future.

Keith wouldn't let her finish her question.

"I've been waiting for you to bring that up," he said.

Her eyes widened in surprise. "You have?"

"It was my duty to tell your husband, m'lady. I tried to keep your promise, even felt a bit relieved because I felt responsible for the Maclaurin women and their offense was mine, but I didn't get through the full day without realizing my first loyalty belonged to the MacBain."