Page 55 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
"I am thinking of her!" Daniel yelled, slamming his hand on the table.
He hit his fist so hard that pain radiated up his arm and through his elbow. There was something satisfying about it, and Daniel felt his body hum with the rush.
"Then let the man see his grandchild," Cameron said. "Isnae that the simple answer here?"
"And have the man take her away from me?" Daniel shot back. "I cannae risk that."
"And yet ye will risk war?" Cameron asked.
Daniel sensed his brother's rage bubbling beneath the surface.
Cameron took a deep breath before continuing. "We can protect her," he said. "If we let him see the child, we will stay with her. Ye can even let him come here."
"Never," Daniel growled.
The thought of inviting Laird MacDougal into his castle made him see red. Not after the stunt he had pulled at his wedding.
"Ye are being irrational!" Cameron cried, pacing in frustration.
"Ye cannae ask me to risk me daughter's life," Daniel said, turning to the council. "Nor that of me wife. It is too much to ask of me."
Images of Skye and Lana flashed in his mind, and he could think of nothing except his angry glares as he watched them leave the great hall earlier today. If only he could go back to that moment when he played with Skye. If he had another chance, he wouldsmile at her and tell her he wanted to join them to see the baby cows.
"She's gone!"
Daniel looked up as Lana burst through the door, her eyes filled with fear. She scanned the large room to find him.
"It's Skye!" she cried. "She's missing."
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They split up, determined to search every inch of the castle. Lana had tearfully explained how she lost track of Skye as the hard-faced councilmen stared at her. Every time she told the story, she heard all the things she had done wrong.
Ye let her out of yer sight. Ye let her play with Genevieve's child. Ye let her outside.
She had expected Daniel's wrath, but Cameron's worried look was even more disheartening. She had taken such pride in how quickly she had bonded with Skye. She was proud of the relationship she was forming with the girl. But now all of that felt miniscule compared to this huge mistake.
"Ye search the gardens," Daniel ordered as he split his councilmen and his guards into groups. "We'll take the road and look for hoofprints."
"Hoofprints?" Lana asked. She was off to the side, nearly forgotten now that the men had the information they wanted from her. "Do ye really think someone could have taken her?"
"I must consider it," Daniel snapped. "After soldiers showed up at our wedding, I cannae afford to discount any possibility."
"I'm sorry," Lana mumbled, nodding as her eyes filled with tears.
But Daniel had already moved on to continue organizing the search party.
"And where shall I go?" she asked, but she instantly regretted it.
Daniel's glare made her wither, and she dropped her gaze to her feet.
"Nowhere," he replied. "Ye have done enough. Stay here."
Lana watched him storm out of the room, leaving her alone. But she couldn't stay put. There was no way she could sit around while everyone else searched for Skye.
She rushed out of the room and took a hard turn, following the narrow staircase down to the kitchens.
"Anything?" she asked as she burst into the heat of the room.
