notice her. It was no more than gossip, the women were about, but Maggie found she was drawn to their foolish natter.
“Oh, aye,” her cousin Muireall sighed. “What a man that one is.” Maggie snorted. Everyone knew Muireall thought the same of all men.
“He’s even larger than The MacBede.” Another cousin brayed. Too true, Maggie glowered.
“Did you see his eyes?” Muireall trilled, “I’ve never seen anything so blue in my life. They’re as clear as the summer sky.” Summer sky? Nay, not so simple. They were more like a gem and its playful light, fire and ice all in one place. Just as likely to burn as to make you shiver.
And shiver she did, remembering his eyes when he looked at her. Thoughts of him were like a fierce undertow. A body could drown in it while scrambling for a shore that was safe and secure. Maggie released the spits handle, startled by her own thoughts. She had to get out of the room, away from the talk, talk, talk.
“Are you fancying him then, Muireall?” Alec's wife, Caitlin, lured Maggie back with her question. “For you must know when a man is that large, he’s that large allllll over.” Maggie blushed. She doubt if all she felt was bunched cloth, which meant Caitlin's words were truth.
“You’re not telling me anything I don’t know.” Muireall bragged, “My own Malcolm, God rest his soul, was no little tyke.”
“No,” the others laughed together, “no he was no small man, and a shame it was he had to go so soon. He’s missed.”
“The missing wouldn’t be so bad,” Muireall confided with a laugh, “if it could be shared with someone like the MacKay, now. And as he’s been widowed these three years, well . . .”
“Och, Muireall,” Nigel’s wife, Leitis, humphed, “he’s not looking for a widow such as yourself.”
“And why not?”
Maggie snorted. There was no need to turn around to see the glances passed from one woman to another. They’d all be looking about, wondering who would do the telling. It was Leitis who finally admitted, “He’s not going to look for a lady willing to share the warmth in any bed. A man such as the MacKay will show more discretion.”
You tell her, Leitis, Maggie thought sourly, only to feel guilty moments later when Muireall countered, “Say what you like but you can’t ken the loneliness of an evenin’ alone. You don’t know what it’s like to have your man taken in his prime, not even married a full year and no bairn to wake me in the night with cries. The loneliness, och, it’s a terrible thing.”
“Oh, aye, Muireall,” Leitis admitted, “it is a sad thing, I’m sure, but you know it’s a worrying thing as well. You have to watch yourself. Too many see, too many tell. And what that means is there’s just too many.”
The women burst into laughter, all but Muireall who looked about, her brow furrowed. “Too many what?” She asked.
Laughter descended to snorts as Leitis quipped. “Too many men in your bed.”
Both Sibeal and Caitlin offered, “That’s not being fair to cousin Muireall, now. She didn’t take on Puny Piers.”
“He had Maggie’s eye, then, didn't he?” Leitis chided.
“Well,” Muireall defended, “I’ve never warmed myself with Babbling Birk the bard.”
“For the same reason.”
“And now there’s Maggie’s Hamish the tailor,” Agnes tossed in, “Muireall hasn’t gone near him!”
Once again the room erupted with laughter as women called out, “Who else would notice those scrawny buggers but our Maggie?”
“There not fit for anyone.”
“'Tis Maggie and her love for the runts of the litter.”
“Stop it!” Maggie swirled about, anger as wild as her wind-tossed hair, “you know nothing about it. They are good men, each and every one of them. Just because they aren’t as big as a mountain and as thick in the head doesn’t mean there isn’t some goodness to them.”
“Oh, aye, Maggie, I’m certain you have the right of it.” Caitlin eased.
“Besides,” Maggie swallowed pride to loyally defend her men, “it was I who was not good enough for them.”
“Don’t be daft.” Sibeal snipped.
“Aye, it’s fact," back straight, chin up against the humiliation of reality Maggie admitted. "Not one of those men would have me now, would they?” The silence of the room told her what she already knew. It was the truth.
“Ach, lassie,” Muireall sighed, “you should be praising God that you weren’t landed with those boys.” Maggie kicked the fire's coals.
“Come on now Maggie girl,” Neili and Roz beckoned her, “Don’t be listening to them.