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

little girl’s mouth.
    “Ssshh, Elise!” Nora warned her softly. “We’re taking you away this night. John awaits next door. I’m here to take you home, child. Ye mustn’t utter a sound or a word until we are far from here, Elise. Do you understand?”
    Elise nodded her head vigorously. When Nora removed her hand, Elise held her arms up and beamed a very bright smile. Nora smiled in return before scooping the little girl up into her arms. Nora looked around for the little girl’s shoes before realizing she was wearing them, more likely than not to keep her little feet warm. Shaking her head, Nora made a solemn vow that she’d never allow her brother or sister to live in such poor conditions again. Silently they made their way across the room and back to the man’s solar where David and John waited.
    Together the four of them wound their way back to the window where Wee William and Daniel waited below. Nora whispered into John’s ear that two fine gentlemen waited below and to do exactly as they said. John nodded once before he climbed out the window. He cast a glance to the dark figures below before looking back to his sister for some reassurance.
    David clasped his arm around John’s before lowering him as far as he was able. John squeezed his eyes shut before letting loose and falling. Thankfully, Wee William broke his fall with a grunt. He righted the boy, turned him around and pushed him off toward Daniel.
    “Ye go next, lass,” David said as he took Elise from Nora’s arms. Nora quickly explained to Elise that no matter how frightened she might be, she needed to remain quiet and let the nice man below catch her.
    Reluctantly, Elise agreed and allowed David to set her on the ledge before dropping her to Wee William’s waiting arms.
    ’Twas Nora’s turn next. Without a word, she grabbed David’s arm, swung over the ledge and fell. She hadn’t warned Wee William that she was coming, and knocked him backward and onto the ground. His breath was momentarily taken away when he fell onto his back with her knee pressed firmly into his groin.
    Without bothering to check if he was still alive, Nora apologized quickly. “My apologies, William!” she said as she scurried to her feet and grabbed her sister’s hand. Wee William remained prone as David fell away from the window. He landed on his feet before falling forward and landing on Wee William in a heap of grunts and curses.
    As his eyes watered from the pain shooting through his loins, Wee William began to doubt his ability to live through this night, or at the least make it out with his manly parts safely in tact.
    They left Wee William where he lay as they hurried across the lawn toward the wall. It wasn’t until Wee William heard the angry barking of dogs that he found both the strength and the wind to move. He rolled to his feet as three mean, growling, snarling dogs rounded the corner at a full run.
    The dogs were fast on his heals by the time he made his way through the hidden door and slammed it shut. A moment later, the warning bells sounded and much shouting could be heard coming from within the castle walls.
    Nora was handing Elise up to David as John was scrambling up to sit behind Daniel. Wee William threw himself up onto his own horse and raced toward Nora. He leaned over, grabbed her around her waist and lifted her onto his lap before she could even make sense of what was happening.
    Bare branches scratched and clawed at them as they raced through the dense forest. Nora clung to Wee William’s waist, all the while praying she’d not be jostled off the horse, and that no one in the castle would realize exactly what had happened until they were safely across the border.
    No one spoke a word as they tore across the countryside. Nora was amazed that Elise had remained as quiet as she had for the child usually talked incessantly. Mayhap it was the fear that hung over them like a heavy cloak that made the child remain silent.
    For now, Nora