Wee William's Woman, Book Three of the Clan MacDougall Series
Read Wee William's Woman, Book Three of the Clan MacDougall Series Online
Authors: Suzan Tisdale
Copyright © 2013 Suzan Tisdale
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10:
0985544368
ISBN-13:
978-0-9855443-6-2
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing: March 2013
DEDICATION
I am dedicating this book to my uncle,
Fred Dixon,
who passed away on March 5, 2013.
Fred was one of the most remarkable,
amazing men that I have ever known.
He loved to introduce me as “my niece Suzie, the author,” …
Words cannot begin to express what Fred meant to me
and to those who knew him.
This book is for him.
Don’t be sad, we had fun.
For my children because you are amazing and
I love you beyond all measure
For my cousins…never let go of your dreams
For all my aunts and uncles…thanks for being awesome
And for all of my nieces and nephews.
Acknowledgements
A very special thank you to the following individuals who helped make this book possible:
Cover Artist -- Seductive Musings
Photographer -- Chricket Munson
Costumes -- The Costume Trunk, Peoria, IL
Glossary
Bairn -- baby
Wean -- toddler-a child just weaned from mamma’s breast
Pallet -- mattress placed on floor
Fash -- to worry
Sporan
-- pouch
Hogmany -- Scottish New Years
Chemise or shift -- an underdress or slip
Arisaid -- long panel of plaid that women wore draped around the waist, over a skirt or dress.
Trews -- pants
Tunic -- shirt
Pallet -- a thin mattress placed on the floor
Rushes -- Dried grass that was spread on floors to help keep things clean and warm
Och! -- means Oh!
Wheesht -- Ssshh, hush, be quiet
Haud yer wheesht -- hold your tongue
Sinnight -- week, seven nights
Fortnight -- two weeks
CONTENTS
Prologue
...........................................
7
One
..................................................
9
Two
...............................................
13
Three
..............................................
24
Four
...............................................
32
Five
................................................
38
Six
..................................................
44
Seven
..............................................
53
Eight
...............................................
65
Nine
...............................................
68
Ten
.................................................
81
Eleven
............................................
90
Twelve
...........................................
97
Thirteen
.......................................
100
Fourteen
.......................................
106
Fifteen
..........................................
120
Sixteen
..........................................
130
Seventeen
.....................................
145
Eighteen
.......................................
157
Nineteen
.......................................
163
Twenty
........................................
165
Twenty-One
................................
172
Twenty-Two
...............................
180
Twenty-Three
.............................
184
Twenty-Four
...............................
190
Twenty-Five
................................
194
Twenty-Six
..................................
198
Twenty-Seven
.............................
204
Twenty-Eight
..............................
211
Twenty-Nine
...............................
215
Thirty
..........................................
221
Thirty-One
..................................
223
Epilogue
.......................................
235
Prologue to Rowan’s Lady
..........
238
Prologue Laiden’s Daughter
.........
240
Prologue to Findley’s Lass
..........
245
Chapter One Findley’s Lass
........
248
About The Author
.......................
250
Wee William’s Woman
Late Winter 1345
W
inter was unrelenting. It held on to the land as fiercely as a Highland warrior grasped his sword, refusing to let loose its grip and allow spring its turn.
The cold night air bit at the men who sat silently atop their steeds. Watching, waiting, looking for any movement, any sign of life that might stir in the cottage that lay below them. Gray smoke rising slowly from the chimney before disappearing into the moonlit night was the only sign of life coming from within the cottage.
Puffs of white mist blew from the horses’ nostrils like steam from a boiling kettle. The nine were draped in heavy furs, broadswords strapped to their backs, swords at their sides, and daggers hidden in various places across their bodies. If by chance anyone was awake at this ungodly hour, the sight of these fierce men would bring a chill of fear to even the bravest man.
Each man had been handpicked by his chief for the special qualities he held, whether it was his fealty, his fierceness, or his ability to enter a place unheard and unseen. ’Twas a simple task they’d been given: sneak in under the cloak of darkness and retrieve hidden treasures so they could be returned to their rightful owner.
The first inkling that things might not go as planned came from the fact that the night was not bathed in darkness as had been hoped. A full moon shone brilliantly, casting the earth in shades of blues, whites, and grays. Had they not been delayed two days by a snowstorm of near biblical proportions, they would have arrived two nights ago when it was certain to have been pitch black.
No worries, the leader of the nine had assured his men. The inhabitants of the cottage were more likely than not fast asleep at this hour. They would proceed with their mission, moon or no.
After studying the land and the cottage a while longer, the leader gave a nod of his head. He and his men proceeded toward the little farm, taking their positions around the perimeter. Two of his stealthiest men headed towards the barn where they dismounted and with the grace and silence of a cat, they entered.