Page 116 of A Bride for the Icy Highlander
The crowd erupted in cheers and stomps of joy as they echoed, “To Clan McEwan and Reid!”
Abigail slipped her hand in his. “I cannae believe they did that,” she whispered.
He leaned in close and kissed her cheek. “We’re surrounded by good men and good people.”
He clinked goblets with Arthur again, then turned to Michael with a grin.
Michael chuckled, slapping his back. “We wanted to keep it secret. And seein’ yer face nearly fall off when that messenger ran in was worth every mile.”
“Aye, well,” Kian drawled, “ye’ve gone and made yerselves heroes now. Prepare to be honored as such.”
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he turned to see Leighton standing there, looking a bit awkward.
“D’ye have a moment, Me Laird?” Leighton asked, his voice low, nearly drowned out by the music. “Now’s as good a time as any.”
Kian followed him to the door, just out of earshot.
Leighton shifted his weight from one foot to another, clearly uncomfortable. “I’ve been with ye for a long time, Kian. Since we were boys chasin’ chickens through the glen. And I’ve followed ye into battle, through famine, and into more messes than I care to count.”
Kian chuckled. “Aye, and ye dragged me out of half of ‘em.”
“But today,” Leighton continued, “I wanted to say it plainly. I’m proud of ye. Ye’ve done right by this clan. And by her.” He tilted his chin toward where Abigail stood, now laughing with Arthur.
Kian felt the words sink deep. “Truth is, I wasnae sure I could be the man she deserved. Still dinnae ken, some days.”
“Ye are,” Leighton affirmed. “Ye’re rough as they come, but yer heart’s clean. Ye’ve kept us together, fed us when there was nothin’, and now, look. Look what ye’ve built. I thought yer plan to abduct the girl was pure madness at first, but it worked.”
Kian crossed his arms and leaned back against the door. “I thought I’d lose everything this winter. The land, the men, the people. But she… she made me want to fight for more than survival. She made me want to live.”
Leighton grinned. “Aye. Love does that. Makes fools of us all, but strong fools.”
They both laughed, the sound drifting up to the rafters.
Leighton handed Kian a folded cloth. “I had this made for ye as a wedding gift.”
Kian unfolded the cloth to reveal a fine leather eyepatch. “’Tis a fine gift. I shall wear it proudly.”
The two men clapped each other on the back before they walked back into the fray, where the music played on and a brighter future awaited.
I have everything I asked for and more.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
“Och, I’m nae a feather.” Abigail giggled.
“Ye are to me, me bonnie wife,” Kian said.
Abigail clung to his shoulders, breathless with laughter, as he swept her up into his arms and carried her over the threshold of his bedchamber.
Her heart thudded against his chest, her cheeks warm with delight and something deeper.
“Ye’ll spoil me, carryin’ me like some dainty lass,” she teased, her fingers curling at the nape of his neck. “Is this how ye treat yer new bride, then?”
Kian’s grin turned roguish as he nudged the door shut behind them with his boot.
“Aye, I mean to worship ye properly,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.
He lowered her slowly, letting her feet brush the floor before pulling her tight again.
