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The inn, decorated for Christmas, had never looked so beautiful. With Kieran’s aid, they’d made so many improvements already. Maisie could not wait until spring when the weather improved and they could make even more of them.

“They’ve arrived,” she said, spying his father first. She fairly ran to the door as Duncraig’s clan chief embraced her.

Maisie could not explain their connection, but from the moment the two of them met, she’d felt an affinity to him that she’d never felt with her own father.

Perhaps, she’d mused to Kieran, it was knowing what he had done for Kieran when he’d gone missing, juxtaposed with her own father giving her to a man such as Baldwin.

“Greetings, daughter,” he said, a moniker he’d used from the day they’d held their wedding in this very hall.

“I am a MacKinlay,” Lina said to her father-in-law, “but she is married to one. There must be another reason I do not receive as many hugs as Maisie.”

Laughing, the chief pulled Lina into him, kissing the top of her head.

Both Niall and Kieran stared at the three of them, mouths agape.

“Has he ever once hugged you?” Niall asked, loud enough for all of them to hear.

“He did,” Kieran responded. “But I had to run away like a wayward child first to receive it.”

“Ahh, well, I do not wish to run away. But these two are given them freely when I remember very few as a boy and less as a man.”

“I’ve no reason to hug you,” the chief said to Niall. “You love yourself enough for both of us.”

Everyone but Niall laughed at that.

Greeting her mother-in-law, Maisie welcomed the newcomers into their hall.

Alice took their cloaks and they all sat at a large table Maisie had set aside.

Though they would celebrate Christmas at Duncraig Castle in a fortnight, Kieran had the idea to invite his family here to share their news.

Though Maisie thought it could wait to see them at the holiday, she loved the thought of hosting them as well.

And so they’d prepared, the inn transforming in a way Maisie had never seen before. Already more than one patron had commented that they would be sure to come each year at this time if the Red Stag planned to decorate this way again.

Once a round of ale was served, she and Kieran stood.

Lost in the way her husband looked at her, Maisie nearly forgot they’d agreed she would give them the news. So often Kieran had deferred tasks typically reserved for a man, or husband, to her. She knew the reason for it and was grateful.

Control her?

Nay. Never.

Well, except perhaps in the bedroom. But there she not only welcomed it, Maisie willed it to be so. She found she enjoyed his demands, there and there only.

“We asked for you to come here,” she began. “Not only because we enjoy being with you, but for another very special reason.” Maisie laid her hand over her stomach. “We will be welcoming your second grandson or daughter,” she said to her father and mother-in-law.

“Truly?” Lina exclaimed. Since she was also with child, it did not surprise Maisie that she seemed particularly excited.

“Truly,” she said as, one by one, her family members rose to come to her. As they congratulated first her and then Kieran, the mood was as exuberant and celebratory as had ever been seen in this hall.

“A toast,” Kieran raised his mug as everyone finally sat.

While other patrons looked on, clearly curious, those who visited the inn regularly knew this was Maisie’s new family.

“To my wife and our unborn child and his or her cousin,” he addressed Lina, “and his mother. May our love for these women be the foundation for our family’s extension.”

“Slainte,” each of them toasted.

Niall raised his mug as well. “To my brother and his wife, also our hosts. Thank you for welcoming us into your inn.”

It was the second of many toasts. To family.

To the clan. Maisie, who never seemed to be without an urge to eat, was glad when the meal was finally served.

As she looked around the table, Maisie could not be more thankful for the family she’d always wanted.

One that wanted her in return, and not for the coin she could bring with a horrible marriage.

They loved her, adopting Maisie as readily as they had Kieran into their family and clan.

Below the table, she took Kieran’s hand. He squeezed it, leaning into her.

“I love you, sweet Maisie.”

“And I you,” she said, knowing their love story was just beginning.