Page 66 of The Icy Highlander's Bride
"Hating Clan MacCrawford," Laird MacDougal responded. He held Skye against his hip, but the girl kept squirming, trying to free herself from his grip.
"That feud ended years ago," Lana reasoned. "With Daniel's marriage to yer daughter."
"For a time," Laird MacDougal said coldly. "But then yer husband went and got me daughter killed."
Lana glanced at Skye to see if she was comprehending this conversation. She was glad to see the girl was still kicking her legs, desperate to get free.
"Stay still," Laird MacDougal yelled, and the girl blinked up at him with shock, freezing. Then, the man added in a softer tone: "Do ye nae remember me? I'm yer grandfaither."
Skye took in the man's round face and his gray hair. Lana could see the child was thinking hard, probably recognizing the man from when he crashed the wedding.
"I came to yer faither's wedding."
"Aye," Skye answered in a small voice. "I remember ye."
She looked at Lana, clearly trying to understand if she was in danger. At the wedding, Laird MacDougal had spun her around the dance floor and made her laugh. Now he was holding hertight as a stranger held hard onto Lana. It would be a lot for any child to work through.
"This is a misunderstanding," Lana insisted. "Daniel wasnae trying to harm either of ye. We should go inside and speak with him."
But both of the Lairds made sounds of disgust or derision.
"I willnae speak with the man who has disrespected me daughter's memory. He willnae even let me see me granddaughter."
"I can speak with him," Lana offered. "I can make sure ye can visit Skye whenever ye like."
"Visit?" Laird MacDougal scoffed, his voice dark and tight. "I am done asking permission to see me family. Skye's coming with me. It's time she sees the home her maither grew up in."
"Lana?" Skye asked, her voice high-pitched and nervous. She was on the edge of tears, clearly overwhelmed by this situation.
"Then we will bring her to ye," Lana reasoned. "Ye have me word, Laird MacDougal."
"Yer word?" Laird Cullen scoffed, turning his head so he could glare at her. "Yer word means nothing. If ye kept yer promises, then we would be married right now. She is only lying, MacDougal."
"Aye." Laird MacDougal nodded. "I ken exactly what type of woman she is. It's nay wonder Daniel found ye. Nay, Skye is coming with me now."
Tears began falling down Skye's face as he carried her to a horse he had tethered in the woods.
"But I like me castle!" she cried. "I daenae wish to go!"
She let out long, desperate sobs that broke Lana's heart.
Lana pushed hard against Laird Cullen, and for a moment she was free. She had surprised him with her quick movement, and she took a step forward. But then he was on her again, both arms wrapping tight around her body. She shivered in disgust as he pressed his front to her back.
"Nay, lass," he whispered in her ear, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. "Ye arenae going with them. Ye are comin' with me. It's time to make yer husband pay for disrespectin' me."
"Me Laird!"
A tall, thin boy threw himself into Daniel's study as a guard chased after him.
Daniel looked up in surprise as the boy was scooped up by the guard and held back.
"Apologies, Me Laird," the guard said. "He's a slippery one."
Daniel saw desperation in the child's eyes, and he was suddenly on edge. He stood up and walked toward him.
"What is it?" he asked. "Is something wrong?"
"It's Lady MacCrawford!" the boy cried.
