Page 47 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
His soldiers stopped and turned to him, waiting as he strolled casually toward the group. Lana watched him cautiously, still holding Skye close to her.
"Look at yer little family," Laird MacDougal said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "How quaint."
"Go home, MacDougal," Daniel snapped. He took a step forward, shielding Lana and Skye with his body.
Lana felt Laird MacDougal's eyes on her, sizing her up.
"So this is the woman who has replaced me daughter."
Daniel took another step forward, raising his sword, but Lana rushed forward to stand beside him, giving him the smallest of nods. She turned to Laird MacDougal's wrinkled face and his thinning gray hair, and told herself to be brave.
"I daenae wish to replace yer daughter, Laird MacDougal." She swallowed past the lump in her throat. "I only wish to care for yer granddaughter however I can."
Laird MacDougal glared at her with hatred. "The only person who should care for her is her maither," he shot back before turning to Daniel. "It isyerfault her maither isnae here to do so. And now ye have quickly replaced her with another woman. What sort of example is this for yer daughter?"
Lana felt Daniel itching to lunge at the man, but she interrupted, desperate to deescalate the situation and avoid any bloodshed in front of the child.
"Laird MacDougal, I think we have started this conversation poorly. I must welcome ye to this celebration. It is an honor to have ye grace our wedding."
"An honor?" Laird MacDougal turned from her and spit directly onto the polished floor. "Some honor when ye dinnae invite me."
"Ye willnae speak like that to me wife," Daniel growled, finally bursting forward.
He raised his sword toward Laird MacDougal, but a soldier suddenly burst forward, blocking him. They pushed against each other, their swords locked as Daniel and Laird MacDougal glared at each other.
"It was a mistake, Laird MacDougal," Lana cried out, the panic stark in her voice. "Please, join us for the celebration. Ye do wish this to be a happy memory for yer granddaughter, do ye nae?"
Laird MacDougal narrowed his eyes at her as Daniel and the soldier pushed against one another, their blades locked. Lana sent up a silent prayer, as the room held its breath. Finally, Laird MacDougal turned away with a snort and waved his hand in the soldier's direction, telling him to stand down.
"She isnae worth it," he said. Lana couldn't help the flush of embarrassment she felt, though she knew she would never please him. "Ye have replaced me daughter without permission, and ye have chosen poorly."
He gestured for his soldiers to follow him, and they crossed toward the door.
But Daniel chased after him. "Ye have nay say over who I marry," he growled. "Nay one questions me choices."
"Let him go, Daniel," Cameron cried as he appeared next to Lana.
Laird MacDougal whipped around. "Ye took me daughter from me," he hissed. "And ye have kept me granddaughter from me all this time. There is only so much loss one man can take."
Lana saw his hand drift toward his sword, and she instinctually stepped forward, pressing Skye into Cameron's arms. She did not think as the words flew out of her mouth.
"Laird MacDougal," she cried, drawing the attention of every person in the room. "I want to apologize to ye. It wasnae right that we dinnae invite ye to the wedding."
The man looked at her carefully, and she wondered if he was trying to gauge her sincerity. She took it as a win that he held his tongue, and she pressed on.
"Of course ye should attend, since ye have a granddaughter in this castle. It is only right that ye should meet the woman who will have a hand in raising her."
Lana saw the smallest falter in Laird MacDougal's stance, and he dropped his hand from the sword at his hip. She regarded him carefully and then made her move.
"We would like ye to stay," she said. "It would mean a lot to yer granddaughter if ye would join the celebration."
She kept her eyes trained on him, knowing she couldn't look at Daniel for fear he would shoot her a glare of hatred or betrayal.
"It's time for ye to get to ken yer granddaughter," Lana continued. "Please, join the party. Ye and yer men are welcome here."
Laird MacDougal's gaze flicked to Skye, who was in Cameron's arms. He took in the room for a moment, as if finally recognizing the chaos he had caused. He seemed to weigh his options, and then, just as Lana thought she couldn't hold her breath any longer, he gave a single nod.
"Very well," he said. "We will stay."
