To Steal a Highlander's Heart(51)

Dougall nodded slowly. “Alana tells me ye saved her from Margot. I’ll always be grateful for that, but ye cannae expect me to give her to the man who kidnapped her surely?”

“I’ve made mistakes, just as ye have, Dougall.”

The old man sighed. “Aye, mistakes were made. Alas, that woman’s plotting got the better of all of us and I’ll no’ forgive myself for that. But my daughter is precious to me. I cannae hand her over to just anyone.”

“Alana is precious to me too, Dougall. I’d die before I let anything happen to her. I swear it. And the MacRaes will forgive any wrongdoing on yer behalf, if ye let us be joined by marriage.”

Dougall rubbed his chin as he studied him. Morgann resisted the desire to glance at Alana. He needed to stay focused on the task at hand. Lord knows the lass was a distraction.

“Da—” Alana prompted.

“Aye, aye,” he said as he waved a hand at her. “I have need of a strong man to take care of Alana and I think it might be ye. I’ve got my reservations about this alliance but it seems… it seems I’m overruled.”

Morgann would have laughed at the thought of such a man being overruled by a mere lass but knew well how persuasive Alana could be. And he didn’t want to risk Dougall changing his mind.

“Then I have yer permission to marry her?”

“Aye, ye can marry my daughter and I’ll negotiate a truce with yer clan. We are but old men and the fighting cannae continue. ‘Tis time to forget the past, I think.”

Grinning, Morgann nodded and allowed his gaze to drift to Alana. “I thank ye, laird. Ye’ll no’ regret it.”

Alana beamed back at him, making his heart flip. “I know,” she mouthed at him.

Dougall held out a palm and Alana slid her hand into his. He passed her hand over to Morgann with a look that told him he’d better look after his daughter. Morgann grasped her fingers, the slim softness of her hand somehow sending a thrill through him.

“There ye go, MacRae, she’s yours. Lord help ye…”