Wee William's Woman, Book Three of the Clan MacDougall Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

castle.”
    Nora shook her head. “I’m well aware of the fact that I’ve no shoes. I’m also well aware of the time of year.”
    Daniel and David came to stand nearer Wee William and Nora. With arms crossed over their broad chests and the smiles on their faces, they seemed to be enjoying the conversation that was taking place before them.
    “Then ye’ll agree, lass, that ye canna go,” Wee William smiled.
    “I agree to no such thing, William. I must go. I told you, I have a promise to keep.”
    “Yer feet will fall off before yer out of sight of this cottage.” He shook his head, bewildered by her obstinacy.
    Nora rolled her eyes. “Nay, I plan on taking Benny. I’m sure I’ll be quite fine.” She started to leave the cottage again, only to have Wee William pull her back in.
    He realized she was not going to change her mind. “At least let me saddle yer horse fer ye.”
    “There isn’t a saddle.”
    His eyes opened wide with surprise. “No saddle?”
    Nora shook her head. “Nay. Benny isn’t actually a horse . ”
    Daniel and David looked at one another. The young woman was quite perplexing. “Then what is he?” David asked.
    Nora cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. “Benny is the ox Horace uses to plow the fields.” It didn’t really matter to Nora what kind of transportation she had, as long as she could get to Firth before dawn broke. It didn’t matter there was no saddle; a blanket would suffice.
    “Ye intend to ride an ox?” Daniel asked for clarity’s sake.
    “Aye, I do.” Nora answered tersely.
    Wee William took a deep breath in and let it out slowly.   “So ye plan to go out in winter’s night, with no shoes, no weapons, no provisions, and atop an ox to sneak yer way into a castle to retrieve yer wee brother and sister?”
    When he put it that way, it did sound a bit imperfect. Nonetheless, she had to get to her brother and sister. She was a widow now, thanks to these fierce Highlanders. She was now free to go wherever she wished and not worry about a husband whose favorite hobby of late seemed to be making her life miserable.
    Free though she was, she wasn’t about to go anywhere without her family. Nora thrust her chin upward. “Aye, I do.”
    Broad smiles came to Daniel and David’s faces as Wee William looked at them. Nora noticed an exchange of some sort taking place between the three men. ’Twas as if they could read one another’s minds.
    “I do no’ think the lass be a Sassenach, Wee William,” Daniel said in English, his eyes sparkling in the candlelight. Nora thought he looked quite mischievous.
    Nora knew the term Sassenach was not a compliment but a derogatory term the Scots used in reference to the English. She supposed he meant to compliment her and decided to take it as such. “Why thank you,” she paused. “What is your name, sir?”
    “I be Daniel,” he said with a slight bow at his waist. “This be me brother, David,” he said, nodding toward his brother.
    Nora could see the family resemblance. Both men were quite tall, though not nearly as tall as Wee William. They looked very imposing in their dark furs. They were quite similar in appearance. Both men had blonde hair that fell past their shoulders. But where David’s eyes were green, Daniel’s were a very dark blue.
    “’Tis my pleasure,” Nora said with a curtsey.
    Wee William grumbled. He didn’t like the way she smiled at his men. For some inexplicable reason he felt jealous. He let out a frustrated grunt.   “If yer quite done with the social niceties, may we get back to the issue at hand?”
    Nora smiled at Wee William. “Yes, m’lord,” she said with a short curtsey. “Again, I thank you for your concern. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I must hurry.”
    Wee William grabbed her arm again and let loose with a frustrated sigh. “Again, I be no laird, lass, just a man. And, I canna let ye do this alone.” He stopped her before she could begin another round of