"Aye, mum, I have need of fortification. Angus..." She curled her lip, "is tryin' ta get our Jacob." The baby gladly went into his grandmother's arms and nuzzled her lovingly. "But Mister Blackwood is hirin' me a lawyer. Oh, mum, I am sorry I brought shame to ye. Could ye ever forgive me fer runnin' off with that no-good rat?" It was clear that she learned her lesson about looking before leaping. She'd grown into a responsible young woman and taken accountability for her part in this mishap, but it was also clear that she had a hell of a fight ahead of her.

She moved to pour tea, one cup for her mother and one cup for herself. "He sent me some letters. He said he wanted ta take me back, and then when I said no, he sent me a letter tellin' me what I did was kidnappin'! Ye and I both know it's not true and Mister Blackwood knows it ta be a falsehood, he saw me when I first got here, I was pregnant. How could I give birth to a bairn and it be kidnappin'?"