Page 36 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
When Lana spoke about involving Skye in the wedding preparations the previous day, he thought she meant giving the girl a role in the ceremony or letting her choose the color of the flowers. He never imagined it meant a family shopping trip.
Skye's laughter floated back to him as Lana held the door to the shop open and ushered her inside. The little girl's giggle was one of the most beautiful sounds he had ever heard. And he suddenly realized that he couldn't remember the last time he had heard it.
"Ye picked a good one," Cameron remarked.
Daniel glanced over at his brother and nodded. He was starting to realize it, too.
Lana had convinced Daniel to come along by insisting that he could use the trip to make some purchases as well. And Daniel had convinced Cameron to come along by promising him a drink at the local tavern.
"I'm just sayin' it could have gone badly," Cameron continued as he guided his brother toward the local tavern. "But it looks like this might actually work out for ye."
Daniel pushed his way through the door ofThe Black Stagand let his eye adjust to the dim lighting inside. It was a bit early in the day for a drink, but there were men scattered around the tables and the bar, half-full glasses of dark-colored liquid in front of them. One or two looked up when Daniel and Cameron arrived, but most couldn't be bothered.
"Lively place," Cameron joked, before making for the bar. He nodded at the bartender. "Two of yer best," he ordered, laying a coin on the bartop.
Daniel slowly followed, wanting to get this outing over with. He was uncomfortable around strangers, even when it was only a handful of them. After years of spending all of his time at MacCrawford Castle, he still found it strange to venture beyond the walls.
He stepped up to the bar and saw the bartender's eyes dart between the brothers. The bartender didn't make any move to take Cameron's coin or pour them drinks. Instead, he turned his head and spit on the floor.
"Sorry," he grunted, showing missing teeth. "We're closed."
Cameron looked behind him, taking in the men sitting at the tables. He forced out a laugh, as if checking whether the bartender was simply joking.
"Very funny," he said.
But the bartender still didn't move. Daniel saw a man at the end of the bar glance up at them before turning his body to stare. Another man at a table behind them loudly cleared his throat. More eyes locked onto them.
"What's the problem?" Daniel asked. He let his voice carry across the bar, hoping that anyone watching would hear him. "We just want to have drinks, like anyone else."
"Except ye arenae anyone else," the bartender snarled. "Ye're Clan MacCrawford scum."
Daniel lunged forward, enraged by the insult, but Cameron caught him around the chest.
Though Cameron was the younger brother, he was also a soldier. He was a good match for his brother when it came to strength, so he managed to keep Daniel from launching himself across the bar.
"Care to say that again?" Daniel growled.
At this point, the whole bar was looking at them. Several of the men stood up, even taking a step closer to them.
"Ye arenae on yer lands anymore,Me Laird."
The bartender said the title with such disdain that it sounded like he was spitting out rotten food.
Daniel pulled himself out of his brother's grasp, so he could lunge at the man.
"Let's go," Cameron urged, trying to pull him away. "We ken when we arenae welcome."
"That's right," another man called. "MacCrawford bastards arenae welcome on Cullen land."
Daniel lunged at him, landing a blow on his face. He heard a satisfying crunch as his fist made contact with the man's eye, knocking him backward so he collided with a chair that fell to the ground. Three men rushed at Daniel from behind and grabbed him, pulling his arms hard behind his back as he tried to break free.
"Let him go," Cameron boomed, his voice echoing through the bar. "We're leavin'."
Daniel saw the man closest to him smirk as he regarded Cameron. It was a look of derision that made him see red. With a cry of rage, he threw his body forward and broke free from two of the men. One still held on to him, gripping his upper thigh tightly, but the drunk was no match for Daniel's strength. Daniel tossed him aside with a final flick of his arm, and then he turned back to them, drawing his sword.
Cameron ran to his brother's side and took hold of his sword arm. "We're here with yer daughter," he whispered. "And Lana. It's nae the time."
Daniel's whole body was tense, eager to teach these men a lesson. But the wisdom of Cameron's words got through to him. He imagined meeting up with Skye and Lana with his face bloody and bruised. He didn't want that. This was Skye's first trip into town, and he couldn't bear to make the memory a bad one.
