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

he’d be riding one of the spare horses. Nora could tell by the look on John’s face that he was quite taken aback by how the men were treating him. She knew it wasn’t at all what he had expected.
    John had yet to ask why the Highlanders were helping and where they were heading. Nora decided to wait until he asked. Mayhap he would grow to trust these men more fully in the days ahead and thereby lessening the shock that was sure to come.
    While Daniel and David took over giving John quick instructions on riding, Wee William turned his attention on Nora. She was using the hem of her dress to clean Elise’s face. She had scooped up a small amount of snow and let it melt in her hands before using it to scrub the little girl’s face.
    “That’s cold, Nora!” Elise complained as she shivered.
    “Aye, I know it is. But we cannot allow you to have a sticky face. It’s very un-lady like.”
    When Nora was satisfied that Elise’s face was clean, she took another section of her hem to rub the little cheeks vigorously in order to warm them.
    That tingling sensation that William had first felt back at the cottage had returned. As he watched the beautiful woman care for her little sister, he couldn’t help but think what a wonderful mother she would someday make. That thought brought forth a warm sensation in his chest, and he found himself wanting to know her better.
    Aye, it had been sheer physical attraction that had helped him make the hasty decision to take her back to Scotland in the first place. He couldn’t deny it. What with those intense blue eyes, those full lips, and her long, dark hair, what man wouldn’t be drawn to such beauty?
    But as the hours had passed by, and with her absolute devotion to her family, and the way she handled herself back at Firth, he began to realize it was much more than just her beauty that was drawing him toward her. It was her resolve, her steadfast dedication to her brother and sister, and her quiet inner strength. And that round little bottom as it sat on his lap…his mind began to wander again.
    Nora had the sense that someone was watching her. Looking up, she saw Wee William standing near their horse and assumed he meant for her to hurry. She smiled at him as she gave Elise a kiss on the top of her head.
    “We’re hurrying, William,” she told him. “I thought it best to take Elise to a tree before we set off again.”
    Wee William nodded his head and turned away, embarrassed that he’d been caught watching her. He decided it best to double check the straps on his saddle and to insure the bags were securely fastened. It also afforded him more time to get his heart to stop pounding and his mind to quit racing around the lustful thoughts of Nora and her plump derrière.
     

     
    “What is heaven like, Sir Daniel?” Elise asked. Daniel had her wrapped so tightly in warm fur that only her tiny face could be seen from under it.
    Daniel had no idea what to make of her question as he’d only half heard it. The child had been chattering on about one thing or another since they’d begun riding again some three hours ago. Her chatter was much preferable than having to stop every other mile in order for her to relieve her bladder. But still, it was beginning to grow tiresome.
    David chuckled at the title the little girl had bestowed upon them. No matter how many times they informed her that none of them were knighted and therefor undeserving of such a title, she still insisted on putting the sir in front of each of their names.
    “Heaven?” Daniel asked. “I imagine ’tis quite a beautiful place, lass.”
    Elise turned her face as best she could to look up at him. “But you’re an angel, Sir Daniel, of course you know what Heaven is like. Or are you not s’posed to tell? Is it a secret?”
    David and Wee William let loose with a fit of laughter at hearing Daniel being referred to as an angel. Their laughter woke Nora who had dosed off several miles back.
    “An angel? Me?”