Wee William's Woman, Book Three of the Clan MacDougall Series

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wee William’s Woman

 

 

 

Book Three

 

Clan MacDougall Series

 

 

 

By

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

 

 

Prologue

 

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.

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