Chapter 15

15

"Look at that!"

Skye pulled hard on his hand as she rushed to the shop window.

"Skye," Daniel ordered firmly, "stop pullin'."

The girl was appropriately chastised, and she walked calmly beside him. Her eyes were glued to the trinkets and toys displayed in the windows of the stores they passed, and he didn't miss the excited bounce she had in her step as he guided her toward the dress shop.

It was strange for Daniel to walk beside his daughter like this. He couldn't remember the last time he had taken her into town to see the storefronts.

"Come with me, Skye," Lana said, taking the girl's hand. "We're goin' to pick some fabric for yer dress."

Daniel passed Skye to her as she smiled at him. He watched them rush forward, Lana letting his daughter set the pace, and wondered how he had found himself here.

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 of The Black Stag and 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.

With a grunt, Daniel yanked his arm from his brother's grip and stormed out of the tavern, slamming the door hard against the wall as he did so.

Daniel kept pushing down the instinct to rush right back in there as he and Cameron walked around town to calm themselves. He would easily take out every single one of those men, but the image of Skye and Lana stopped him.

"Since when does Clan Cullen have a problem with us?" Cameron asked as he kicked rocks with gusto across the path.

"Since I embarrassed their laird at one of Alexander's soldiers' wedding."

Daniel thought back to the day he met Lana. She had rushed away from an old, drunk man who was getting a bit too friendly with her.

"That was Laird Cullen?" Cameron asked. "Nay wonder he hates ye."

"But I dinnae expect his whole clan to hold a grudge," Daniel said.

"If he thinks ye took Lana away from him, then I can certainly see rumors spreadin' among his clan. After all, ye werenae very quiet about it. Ye embarrassed him in front of everyone."

Daniel hadn't thought much of his actions after that day. He had been preoccupied with Lana and the wedding preparations. It was surprising to realize he had gained more than a fiancée that day. He had also gained a new enemy.

"What does it matter?" Daniel asked, dismissing the interaction. "Our clan is much stronger. Clan Cullen isnae large enough to cause us any trouble."

"Nae alone," Cameron agreed. "But perhaps ye should start focusin' on regainin' some allies. I think it's time ye stopped hidin' away in that castle and ye started rememberin' yer place as a laird."

Daniel rolled his eye at his brother. He knew Cameron had a good head for politics and that his advice was wise, but he wasn't in the mood to listen. One trip into town and he was already ready to stay at home for the rest of the year. He didn't want to think about visiting neighboring clans just to shake their lairds' hands and stroke their egos.

Daniel pushed his way into the store, ready to collect Skye and Lana and be on his way. With Clan Cullen so close, many of the shop owners were loyal to Flynn MacDonald, or Laird Cullen. He worried that someone might realize Lana and Skye's connection to him and treat them poorly. And if anyone did so, Daniel would have no choice but to kill them. Noone mistreated his daughter. Or his bride.

"What a doll," the shopkeeper cooed as Skye twirled around the room in a new blue dress.

Lana thought they would only choose fabric in the store, but she was surprised to find that the shopkeeper had ready-made dresses on display. Upon entering the store, Skye immediately gravitated toward a light blue dress—her favorite color.

"Can we get it?" Skye asked.

The little girl was nearly beside herself with joy. She had never been to town before, and Lana could see her taking in all the colors and details of the new world around her.

Lana felt a surge of joy as she saw how much fun Skye was having. She was glad she had pushed Daniel to do this.

"We'll need to ask yer faither," Lana said. Her stomach dropped a bit as she said it.

She had convinced Daniel that letting Skye pick the fabric for her dress would be a good way to involve her in the wedding preparations. But she worried he would be upset to know that the plan had changed. She could almost hear him saying he had agreed to Lana picking the fabric, not a full dress.

"And what about ye?" the shopkeeper asked, turning to Lana. "What will ye need for the weddin'? We have some lovely nightdresses over here."

Lana felt her cheeks flush as the woman held up a silky gown with lace trim. Her stomach churned as she thought about her wedding night. Last night had been filled with dreams of Daniel kissing her and those fingers finding their way beneath her skirts.

"Yes!" Skye cried as she saw the gown the woman held up. "Try it on!"

Lana looked at the shopkeeper with hesitation, but the little girl continued to bounce up and down in excitement. Lana hated to disappoint her, so she nodded, finding it hard to speak.

The shopkeeper ushered Lana behind a changing screen.

As a younger sister, Lana had spent most of her life receiving hand-me-downs from her older sister. Either that, or someone in the castle would make her gowns and nightclothes. She had never purchased something that was already made before.

She fought back her shyness as the woman helped her to remove her dress. The cool touch of the silk was heaven against her skin, and she delighted in the way the fabric flowed over her body rather than sticking to her.

"Perfect." The shopkeeper smiled. "Shall we show yer daughter?"

Lana blinked as the woman asked this, struggling to form a response. She wasn't sure if she should correct her, but the thought of trying to explain her situation made her head hurt.

"Show me," Skye squealed.

Lana used the interruption to avoid answering the woman's question. She stepped out from behind the screen, so Skye could see her in the nightdress.

"Ye look beautiful," Skye breathed, her voice filled with awe as she looked her up and down.

"I agree," the shopkeeper said, stepping out to look at the two of them in their new dresses. "Ye must buy them."

Lana heard the front door of the shop open. She was relieved they were in the back of the store, partially hidden from view. She didn't want others to see her dressed in nothing but a nightgown.

"I'll ask her faither about the dress," Lana said, nodding toward Skye. "But I think I'll leave this one here."

"Oh, but ye cannae," the shopkeeper insisted. "It's so perfect on ye."

"Thank ye." Lana smiled. She went back behind the screen. "But I daenae need it."

She had plenty of nightclothes back at the castle. She couldn't imagine telling Daniel that she had bought such a thing, especially when she had told him the trip was all for Skye. No, she would do what she could to convince him to buy the dress for his daughter. It was best to leave any additional purchases out of the conversation.

"Ye must buy it," Skye whined.

Lana suddenly noticed how tired the girl was. "It's alright, Skye. Let's get ye out of this dress."

"Nay," Skye protested, tears forming in her eyes. "I want to wear it on the way back home."

"Come now," Lana coaxed. She gave the shopkeeper an apologetic look. "We daenae ken if ye can keep it."

All at once, the events of the day caught up to the child. She scrunched her face in despair and was suddenly letting out huge, hiccupping sobs.

"But I want to keep it," Skye cried, each word loud and long.

Lana felt a sudden panic seize her chest as the child's cries echoed through the store. She had never dealt with a crying little girl before. Though her siblings had children, Lana always had the luxury of handing them to their parents when they got tired or upset.

"It's alright," Lana soothed. "Let's get changed, and we'll talk to yer faither."

She tried to guide Skye behind the screen, but the little girl wouldn't budge.

"I'm sure he would want her to have it," the shopkeeper interjected, trying to help, but Lana only felt more confused. If she gave in and told Skye they could buy it, things might get worse when Daniel came back.

"We'll take them both," a loud and imposing voice interrupted. "Please send the bill to MacCrawford Castle."