"After I add thesepotatoes."
"I'll finish here. You goand ready three more chambers."
"Three?"
"Three," Margaretrepeated firmly. "And no grumbling. The Lord will provide."
"It's usually you whodoes the providing," Mary muttered as she handed Margaret her bowl ofpotatoes and knife and rose to her feet. "I've noticed he leaves youpretty much on your own." She moved toward the door. "Since I'll benearby, I'll look in on your father too."
"You needn'tbother." A sudden smile lit Margaret's face. "But thank you,Mary." Her smile faded as she turned back to Jane. "Dear God, Ianlooked ill," she whispered. "Ruel wrote me, but I didn't expect… "She sat down in the chair Mary had vacated and quickly started peeling potatoes."Is there no hope he will walk again?"
"The doctor thoughtnot," Jane said gently.
"A doctor can be as mucha fool as any other man. We will ignore him and do our best." She shiftedher shoulders as if throwing off a burden, her gaze raking over Jane. "Whydo you wear trousers? You look most strange."
Jane stiffened warily. No softhands or fashionable bustle, but perhaps Margaret was not as different fromthose other women as Jane had thought. "These are the only clothes Ipossess. I'm sorry you don't find them appropriate."
Margaret scowled. "Awoman should look like a woman. Men think too well of themselves as it iswithout our flattering them by trying to imitate them."
Jane gazed at her, stunned,then started to laugh. "I had no thought of imitating them. I workedbeside men on the railroad and I found it practical to wear theseclothes."
"Indeed? Perhaps you dohave reason for those outlandish garments, but you should have sought a compromise."Sudden interest flared in Margaret's expression. "Railroad? I approve ofwomen whodothings. How did you come to work on a rail—" Shestopped and shook her head. "You can tell me later. I must concentrate onwhat is important now. How long do you plan on staying here?"
"I promised Ruel I'd stayas long as Ian needs me."
Margaret's expression clouded."And God knows how long that will be. He seems to need a great deal ofhelp, and Glenclaren can use all the hands it can muster."
"That's what Ruelsaid."
"Really? I find thatsurprising. Glenclaren could crumble into dust for all Ruel cares."
"I understand most peoplecare something for the place where they grew up."
Margaret looked at her inastonishment. "But he didn't grow up here. Annie had a small cottage onthe other side of the glen."
"Annie?"
"Annie Cameron, Ruel'smother. Didn't you know Ruel was born on the wrong side of the blanket?"
Jane's eyes widened. "Buthis name is MacClaren."
"Ruel refused to go byany other name even though his father refused to acknowledge him. He wantednothing to do with Glenclaren, but he ever loved to stir up trouble and knew itannoyed the laird."
"But Ian always spoke asif… " Jane shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Ian never tells anyoneabout Annie. I've tried to tell him he bears no guilt for the way the lairdtreated Ruel, but he won't listen to me. Ruel was his brother and he feels itwas partly his fault his father refused to marry the woman and denied Ruel washis son."
"Why did he dothat?"
"Glenclaren. The lairdalready had a son and didn't need another and Annie was not a virtuouswoman." She added dryly, "Though that fact didn't seem to make adifference to him until he grew tired of her. At first he was quite mad abouther. From what I've heard she was as comely then as Ruel is now. Everyonethought she had cast a spell over the laird."
A mandarin casting spells…
"Is she stillalive?"
Margaret shook her head."She went away to Edinburgh when Ruel was about twelve. We heard laterthat she died of influenza."
"She just left him?"
