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The old priest stepped forward, his face rosy from the whiskey and the co ride “Lady Meg, this is a wee bit unusual!” He tried to look stern, but there was a gleam in his eyes

“The circueneral retorted sternly,here, Father I hope you do not mean to disappoint us?”

Receiving this stern interrogation, the priest replied in the only manner he could “No, no, I do not mean to disappoint you, General Mackintosh I am here and ready to do God’s work”

The general nodded, pleased with his answer “Then let us begin!”

It was a dreaht The faht s as if he was deter could not look at any of theor Gran

t, her groom

He took her hand as they stood before the old priest, his fingers hard and war to them—[ ]perhaps he expected her to—but she resisted He was a stranger, and she did not want to lean on hi had only ever leaned on one man, and that was her father—and even he had let her down

She did not know Gregor—she had thought she did Visions of hilen with dreams of him in her head The man at her side was not the boy she had drealior Grant had built a stout wall about himself but occasionally, very occasionally, a brick calimpse of the boy

“Meg? Come, come, what is your answer?” Her father sounded impatient

Meg realized with a start that they were all waiting for her response, their expressions a her face color yet again Gregor spoke then, sounding more like a soldier than ever No hesitation from him, and probably no doubts And then it was done They were joined as man and wife

A cheer went up fro in joyous echoes to the roof above Glen Dhui had given its approval

Malcolhting “I am the Laird of Glen Dhui,” one of theht ye for the right!” “Nay, I will fight ye!”

“Ye are neither of ye the laird, ye wee devils,” Malcol them apart “Now off with ye both”

The two boys took to their heels, weaving around startled guests and groaning tables Malcolm smiled after them, hands on his hips

He sensed her before he turned—a war into Alison Forbes’s dark eyes