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Was it simply worry over the Proclaiven that none of our folk had been involved in the Hillsborough riots

"a Presbyterian," he was saying He glanced over at er"

The led at me earlier dropped suddenly into place

"You knew that," I said "You knew Roger wasn’t a Catholic You saw him baptize that child in Snaketoetook him from the Indians" Too late, I saw the shadow cross his face, and bit er--and left in his place Jamie’s dearly loved nephew Ian

A shadow crossed his face ht of Ian

"Aye, I did," he said

"But Bree--"

"She’d marry the lad if he were a Hottentot," Jamie interrupted "Anyone can see that And I canna say I’d object overer if he were a Hottentot," he added, rather to ed, and stepped over the tiny creek towet hands on the end of his plaid

"He’s a braw lad, and he’s kind He’s taken the wean as his own and said no word to the lass about it It’s no lanced down involuntarily at Jemmy, curled up cozily in my arms I tried not to think of ithis bluntly aht reveal his true paternity

Brianna had been handfast with Roger, lain with hiht--and then been raped two days later, by Stephen Bonnet There was no way to tell for sure who the father had been, and so far Jehtest He was gnawing his fist at the moment, with a ferocious scowl of concentration, and with his soft fuzz of red-gold plush, he looked like no one so much as Jaer vetted by a priest?"

"Well, they’ll be ically "I want the wee lad baptized a Catholic, though" He laid a large hand gently on Je the tiny red brows "So if I ht they’d be pleased to agree about an gille ruaidh here, aye?"

I laughed, and pulled a fold of blanket up around Jeured out!"

"So does she," he said, with a grin He bent suddenly and kissed me

His mouth was soft and very warly of fresh leaves and unwashed male, with just the faintest trace of effluvium of diaper

"Oh, that’s nice," I said with approval "Do it again"

The wood around us was still, in the way of woods No bird, no beast, just the sough of leaves above and the rush of water underfoot Constant movement, constant sound--and at the center of it all, a perfect peace There were a good many people on the mountain, and most of theht have been alone on Jupiter

I openedhoney Jamie smiled at me, and brushed a fallen yellow leaf froht, the center of the universe

Neither of us spoke, not wishing to disturb the stillness It was like being at the tip of a spinning top, I thought--a whirl of events and people going on all round, and a step in one direction or another would plunge us back into that spinning frenzy, but here at the very center--there was peace