Page 69 of The Highland Heir

“No, Kieran. You were a babe. Even if Idoubted your blood, you were still my son. The bloody Campbellstreated Brody—a stranger—better than I treated my own child. I amashamed. For all I have missed Muriel, she would be appalled forthe way I treated an innocent boy.”

Kieran didn’t know what to say. He searcheddesperately for words but found none existed for this situation. Hemight have thought it a dream, but he had never imagined such athing even in sleep.

“I am sorry for it, Kieran. It was only as Ithought of all the time I’d lost with Brody that I realized I hadlost as much time with you, and there was no reason for me to havemissed out on being your father. I would like to do better. If youwill allow me another chance.”

Kieran nodded and managed to get enough wordsout to answer.

“Yes. Of course.”

“Good. Then let us start this minute. Youspoke to your brother about a woman you are in love with. Tellme.”

Kieran blinked. It seemed like years sincehe’d mentioned Ella.

“It’s Ellisay.”

“Teague’s daughter? The two of you have beenfriends since you were babes. And you love her?”

“Yes. Though I didn’t realize it untilrecently.”

His father’s brows came together. “I didn’tknow. Why did you not want to marry her?”

“I—I knew I would have to marry for analliance. It was my duty to marry who you chose for me. I knew youwouldn’t approve.”

Rolfe nodded.

“I am a fraud. I speak of loving Muriel, andyet I forced you to marry someone you didn’t love. Do you know Iwas betrothed to marry another when I met her and begged my fatherto allow it? He paid a hefty price to get us out of the contract.And even after that, I forced you to turn your back on the verything I cherished all my days. I want you to be with the woman whofills your days with happiness.”

Kieran took a step closer to look his fatherin the eye. To find out this was but a cruel jest after he’dallowed himself to hope would bring him to his knees.

“You would give your permission for me tomarry Ella?”

“Yes. Obviously, you also need to getpermission from Teague, as he’s her father, but I will bless themarriage so long as he does.”

It was all Kieran could do to stay in place.He so much wanted to run from this spot and find the war chief toshake the blessing from him as well. And then Kieran would jump onhis horse and ride for Girnigoe immediately.

Rolfe smiled. Something he’d never done withsuch happiness in Kieran’s direction before.

“You want to go to her now?”

“Yes. I never thought it possible. I canhardly stay still.” Kieran laughed in his father’s presence for thefirst time in many years. It felt strange not to worry or expect arebuke.

Rolfe clapped him on the shoulder and noddedtoward the path they’d used to get to the loch.

“Then let us go and speak to Teague, and youwill leave at dawn. The sooner to see your love.”

*

Ella lay in her aunt’s cottage, looking up atthe thatched roof above her, and wondered how her life had changedso quickly. It did not seem so long ago she’d been looking up atthe thatching of the roof in the cottage she’d shared with herfather after waking from heated dreams about Kieran.

Even more recently, she had lain in thehayloft looking up at the thatched roof of the stables after havingjust made love to Kieran.

And now she was here at Kildary, betrothed toa man who was kind and witty and handsome. But she did not lovehim.

She would come to love him. Shewouldn’t stop trying until her heart gave up and ceded to herwishes.

“I fear if you flop around any more, you’llthrow yourself from the bed,” Jenny warned.

“Sorry, auntie.”