Chapter 46

It was Mary who found her later. Kenna sat on her bed, arms looped around her body, while she silently wept. Quickly, Mary hurried to her.

"What happened? Is something wrong with the baby?"

Kenna shook her head. "Bash..." she sobbed.

Mary sat down to her friend on the bed and took her hand. "What is with Bash?"

"I... I told him about the baby..." She could not talk further, because she was shaken by sobs again.

Mary gave her a handkerchief and waited patiently until she continued talking.

"And now he knows that I had already been pregnant when I followed you to Scotland." she said quietly. "He thinks I'm irresponsible, that in my condition, I decided to travel to Scotland and had exposed myself to the risk of attacks." She wiped her eyes with the handkerchief. "But that's not all..." She stopped again.

Mary frowned. "You can tell me." she urged.

"That's not the main reason, why he reacted so furiously." Kenna took a deep breath. "He knows, that I was jealous and just followed you to spy on him. He is convinced, that I don't trust him. And for Bash, trust belongs to a good marriage."

"Does that mean, that he wants to cancel the wedding?" Mary asked concerned.

"I don't know." Kenna shrugged her shoulders, unhappily. "He just ran away. I don't know where he is." She sighed quietly. "I guess, he took a horse and went riding to get his anger under control."

Mary smiled slightly. "You might be right. Or he is back in the barn and carves something out." She rose. "Should I go and talk to him?"

Kenna shook her head, tiredly. "No. Not this time. What do you want to say to him? I know he is right. My stupid jealousy has ruined everything!" She blinked back tears again. "I hadn't expected such a harsh reaction, though. I was hoping he would be happy about the baby."

"I'm quite sure, that he is happy about the baby." Mary said comforting. "But he is still worried about you. He was almost mad with fear, as he brought you home. You were unconscious and he was afraid you wouldn't survive this. And to that time, he did not know that he should worry about the two of you." She sat down on the bed again "Sometimes, he responds somewhat panicky and spontaneously. But I'm sure, that he soon calms down and comes back to you."

"I love him!" Kenna exclaimed desperately. "I don't know what to do, if he leaves me!"

"He won't!" Mary said calming. "He loves you just the same as you. He just can't handle it that you still think, that he would be able to cheat on you with me."

Kenna lowered her head, ashamed. "I'm sorry about that, Mary!"

"Don't bother about it." She smiled. "Give him some time. I know Bash. He probably regrets your argument already."

Kenna nodded. "I hope you're right."

Bash didn't go riding or went to the stables to carve. He went into the playroom, where Daniel was playing with his new friends, under the supervision of Emeline, Bernadette and Lola, who held her sleeping daughter in her arms. Involuntarily, he had to smile as he watched the children. Boys were in the majority, he thought to himself. It would be nice if the baby, Kenna was expecting, was a girl. He imagined what she would look like. Maybe she would have Kenna's sensual mouth, her chestnut hair, and his green eyes. And he would cherish her like life itself. And he would protect her from the attacks of the older boys. But he wanted to make her strong for life, too. She should learn horseback riding, like her brother and shooting and fencing, and...

"Bash?"

Interrupted in his thoughts, he looked up and saw in Daniel's questioning green eyes. "You want to play?"

He slowly shook his head. "Maybe another time." He patted his son's hair. "I need to do something else, before I can play with you."

Pleased with the answer, the little boy shrugged his shoulders and ran back to his friends.

"You just got here." Lola noted puzzled. "What's so urgent, that it can't wait?"

Bash smiled mysteriously and went to the door. How should he explain to her, that a warm feeling of happiness had just flooded through him, at the thought of a daughter? He had to go to Kenna and share this feeling with her.

Lola looked after him, confused, when he left the playroom in a hurry.