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name. But what was there to say?
    Unwilling to wait for the rain any longer, Duncan mounted his horse. He looked down at her with eyes that were not harsh, as she had expected, but hollow. She yearned to reach out to hold him and tell him the truth. She could not, so she looked down to hide it. “You have every reason to hate me.”
    With forced calm, he said, “Goodbye, Jenny.”
    As he rode down the road, Duncan said softly, “I wish that I could hate you, darlin’.”

 
     
     
Chapter 5
     
    Saint Michael was the patron saint of the sea and the sailors. No one had spent more time at sea than Duncan, so when Michaelmas came at the end of September, Alex made it his mission to lift Duncan’s spirits by including him in every toast. Had it not been Michaelmas, Alex would have found some other excuse, for he had watched Duncan brood long enough. With the help of friends Callum and Charlie, Alex made sure that Duncan gave due honor to St. Michael.
    With a resounding thud, Duncan set down his cup. “Lads, I’ll have some of that cake over there.”
    When Duncan’s balance failed him for a moment, Alex eyed him, amused. “Are you sure you can walk?”
    “And why can’t I?”
    Alex grinned. “No reason, really. But just for the sake of conversation, lad, how many drams have you had?”
    Duncan shrugged. “Two or three.”
    The lads did not even try to hide their amusement.
    Duncan tripped. “Maybe four.” He waved off Charlie’s offer of help, an offer that came with a laugh. Duncan recovered and stepped carefully onward, with Charlie and Alex behind at the ready to prop him upright. In truth, they were only a bit more sure-footed than he.
    They lingered beside a table of cakes, where Charlie steadied Duncan. Callum leaned over to Alex. “Do you think you might have overdone it a wee bit?”
    Alex shrugged. “Overdone what? Helping him to forget?”
    “Forget what? How to walk? Aye, you’ve done that.”
    “The trouble with you, Callum, is that your sweet wife has tamed you.” Alex shook his head with mock regret. “I can barely recall the man you once were.”
    “Och, let me help you then.” Callum reached out to box Alex’s ears.
    Alex dodged out of his way with a laugh. “See? You’ve gone soft! The old Callum wouldnae have missed.”
    “I was just showing you pity.” Callum smirked as he turned away.
    Alex laughed even harder. “Mari, come here and behold what’s become of this man of yours.”
    Mari smiled. “Oh, I ken what’s become of him, and I like it just fine. He’s a braw man, and I love him.”
    Callum scooped Mari into his arms and spun her about before burying his face in her neck. As he growled and planted a kiss there, Mari attempted to loose herself from his sturdy arms. “Callum, people are looking!” And yet, as she said it, she failed to hide a slight smile.
    “Good God, Callum, you beast.” Alex said, feigning disgust. “Mari, will you not come to your senses and leave this oaf?”
    Callum released her enough to circle his arm about her waist and gaze fondly at her.
    She met his eyes with equal measure of warmth. “My senses are just fine where they are.” Mari played with the open neckline of Callum’s leine, their gazes locked.
    Alex cleared his throat. “You two know I’m still here, do ye not?”
    They laughed and turned toward him as Charlie appeared with Duncan lagging behind. Charlie grabbed Alex’s shoulder to pull him away toward some new attraction. Knowing Charlie, Alex had no doubt that it involved women. They passed some horses and riders about to race. Alex started to watch, but Charlie pulled him along. “We’ve more important things to do. We’re going to find Duncan a woman.” Charlie clapped his hand on Duncan’s shoulder. “What color hair would you like?”
    They drew close to the music and dancing and stopped. Duncan said, “Light.”
    “Light isnae a color,” Charlie said as he flashed a dimpled grin at a pretty girl standing with