Wee William chewed on his tongue for a moment before answering. “Well, he convinced Angus and Laiden that the other was dead. He told Angus that highwaymen had set upon Laiden and he told Laiden that Angus had been killed in the war. She was but seven and ten at the time, alone, her mum long dead, and her stepfather was no’ happy that she was with child and unmarried, ye see. So Brock offered his own hand to Laiden so that her child wouldna be born a bastard.”
“That’s terrible!” Nora exclaimed. “How could anyone do such a thing? Why did they believe Brock?”
“Well, ye see, lass, Brock was Angus’ brother. His brother by half, but if ye ask me, no two people were ever more different. They shared the same da, but different mums. Aye, Angus knew of Brock’s jealousy and that he wanted Laiden fer his own, but Angus could no’ believe that Brock was as evil and full of such hatred as to tell such lies.” Wee William however, held no such doubts as to the amount of evil any man was capable of. Kin or no.
Nora wasn’t sure how much of Wee William’s story was true and how much may have been exaggerated to make the story more dramatic. “Did Laiden agree to marry Brock?”
Wee William nodded his head. “Aye, she did, lass. She married Brock and had her babe, Aishlinn. They stayed in England on Brock’s farm. Brock is Horace’s da, ye ken, from another woman.”
“Nay!” She hadn’t made the connection until Wee William pointed it out. “So Horace is only Aishlinn’s step-brother,” she chewed on that fact for a time. Horace apparently inherited his father’s devious ways.
“Poor Aishlinn! And poor Laiden!” Though she could not fathom why she was surprised by what Wee William had just shared with her. She’d been married to Brock Crawford’s eldest son for a year. Evidently Horace had inherited his black heart from his father.
“Aye. So Angus fell into the bottle for quite some time after learning his love and his babe were savagely murdered. But Isobel, that be Laiden’s sister, she came to help him find his way out of it. And eventually, they married and made a good life together.”
“But what of Laiden? How was her life with Brock? Was he good to her?”
“That, I dunna ken fer certain, lass. But I can tell ye how he treated Aishlinn. I think she served as a daily reminder of how much Laiden loved Angus. Aishlinn was just a wee thing when her mum died and Brock refused to let her go to the care of anyone else. I think he feared what would happen if anyone learned the truth, so he kept her hidden away. And the brothers? They were worse than Brock in their treatment of Aishlinn. No lass should ever be treated so harshly.”
If anyone understood the kind of poor treatment Horace and his brothers were capable of, it was Nora. Her jaw clenched when she thought back to the last time Horace had beaten her for running away. Aye, her eye might be black and blue, but there were other bruises far worse than those, hidden under her clothes. It wasn’t the worst beating he’d ever given her, but it was close.
“I’m glad he’s dead.”
“What’s that lass?” Wee William asked. She had spoken so softly that he wasn’t sure he had heard her correctly.
Nora sat a bit taller and turned to look at Wee William directly. “I said I’m glad that Horace is dead. He was a despicable man, William. He was no husband, not by any stretch of the imagination. He acted more a gaoller and I his prisoner, or his possession. I can well imagine the trials he put Aishlinn through.” The tears she had fought so hard to keep at bay finally escaped.
“He was no good to anyone, especially women. I will regret until the day I die the day that I agreed to marry him.”
Wee William’s stomach tightened upon seeing the tears that fell down her cheeks. Guilt assaulted his senses as he battled with his conscience. Should he tell her that there was a chance that Horace still lived, or allow her the peace that came with believing him dead?
He was willing to do anything he could to help her forget Horace and the life she was leaving behind, including lying to her. He couldn’t know for certain what Rowan and Black Richard had done with Horace or the brothers. Wee William decided it best to wait until he learned the truth of the matter from them.
“Why did ye marry him, lass, if ye don’t mind me askin’.”
Nora took a deep breath and wiped the tears away. “’Twas either marry Horace or the old baker.” Her choices had not been abundant.
“I’ve taken care of my family since mum died more than six years ago. Father never remarried and he was in no rush to find me a good husband. After he died, I was able, for a time, to care for John and Elise on my own. But I had to sell his blacksmithing business to do it. I knew the money would not last forever, but I held on as long as I could. Finally, I was left with very few choices. Horace had promised to build a bigger home so that John and Elise could stay with us. He promised we’d be a family.”
Nora wiped away more tears using the sleeve of her cloak. The guilt she felt for not being able to protect John and Elise had returned.
“I didn’t realize until our wedding night that he had lied to me. By then, it was too late. I tried many times to run away, to get to John and Elise. I was fully determined to walk to the end of the earth if I had to, to get away from Horace. But he found me every time.”
Horace had been unapologetic. It wasn’t as if they’d had a newly wed quarrel and Nora had run home to the loving bosom of her family. Nay, Horace had hunted her down and literally dragged her back to their cottage. She still bore the scars from that day.
Wee William gently pressed the palm of his hand to her head and brought her to his chest. “Wheesht lass,” he whispered as he rested his chin on the top of her head.
Nora buried her face in the warmth of his chest and realized she was feeling better. She was also surprised to find that his beard wasn’t scratchy or coarse, but soft and smooth.
Crying helped to purge the guilt and resentment she’d been holding on to. Wee William’s kindness was overwhelming yet comforting. As he wrapped his arms around her and patted her back with his hand, she was quite surprised to find her fingers and toes were tingling with a warm sensation that began to spread throughout her body. She didn’t quite know what to make of it and assumed it was a combination of gratitude and exhaustion.
“I pledge to ye now, that ye’ll never be treated so poorly in the future. I’ll no’ allow it,” Wee William told her as he continued to rub her back.
There was something in the tone of his voice that gave Nora a sense of reassurance. It also told her that he meant to keep his word.
Seven
Just before noontime, Daniel and David returned to the rest of their group, out of breath and smiling.
“Wee William!” Daniel called out, charging toward their leader.
Wee William pulled rein and turned his horse to face his men.
“Rowan, Black Richard and the others be no’ far behind us!” Daniel exclaimed as he pulled his horse to an abrupt stop. “They be less than an hour away.”
Whatever news Rowan and Black Richard had, Wee William wanted to receive it away from Nora. He reasoned it made no sense to upset her further. He ordered Daniel and David to make camp while he went to meet with the men he hoped would bear good news.
Rowan and Black Richard smiled when they saw Wee William approaching. The six men picked up speed and raced to meet him.
“Wee William!” Rowan called out. “How be you this fine day?”
“Well, Rowan,” he answered before going straight to the matter at hand. “Be they dead?”
Rowan and Black Richard pulled rein, with the others following suit. “I dunna ken fer certain, Wee William. But ’tis a strong possibility.” Rowan offered.
“What do ya mean you dunna ken?” Wee William asked, his hope rapidly fading. “What happened?”
“We took them several miles south of their home and left them to their own devices,” Black Richard said. He sounded amused with what they had done.
Wee William’s brow creased with confusion. He had a sneaky su
spicion he was not going to like the outcome of Black Richard's tale.
“They either killed each other or froze to death," Black Richard said.
“Angus’ orders were no’ to kill anyone, unless absolutely necessary,” Rowan interjected. “But he said nothin’ about leavin’ their naked arses to the wolves.”
The six men broke out into raucous laughter while Wee William remained puzzled and unable to find any humor in the situation. “Tell me what happened.”
Black Richard wiped a tear from his eye, but the rakish smile never left his face. “Well, ye see, Wee William, ’twas like this. We took the bloody bastards several miles from their home, back trackin', goin’ in circles fer a time, so that they might not recognize where they be.” He was rather proud of what they’d done.
“Aye,” Rowan broke in, with his own devilish smile. “All the while the oldest be a rantin’ and ravin’ that we’d soon regret our transgressions. ‘I’m friends with the king!’ he kept sayin’, ‘I’ll have yer heads for treatin’ an earl in such a manner!’ On and on he went, as if he were a member of the aristocracy!”
The men started laughing again, but Wee William did not join in the laughter.
“Get to the point,” he said calmly, though his insides were anything but.
“The younger two, they were near to tears! They kept tellin’ him to be quiet and to quit his belly achin’, but he would no’ listen to the good advice his brothers were givin’ him,” Rowan continued.
“Aye,” Tall Thomas broke in. “And all the while, Rowan is tellin’ them to be quiet for he’s certain he hears wolves and mayhap the devil himself roamin’ in the woods. They were a quakin’ in their boots! I canna be certain, but I think the youngest may have lost control of his bladder!”
More laughter ensued and it began to wear on Wee William’s patience. “Lads, we have no’ got all day! Tell me what happened to the bloody heathens!”
The men quieted their laughter at the sound of Wee William’s booming voice. Rowan wondered why it mattered so much what had happened to the brothers. He cleared throat before answering. “Well, the short story of it is that we took them deep into some woods, made them strip down to their bare arses and left them there.”
Wee William blinked. “That’s it? Ye just left them there?” he asked.
Rowan and Black Richard casts puzzled looks to one another. “Aye,” Rowan answered as he eyed Wee William suspiciously.
“They were miles from home, Wee William,” Black Richard said. “I doubt they could have made it back to their cottage, at least not before their ballocks froze off. At the very least, they’ve a sore case of frostbite in places no man would want it!” He tried to sound hopeful and was very curious as to why it mattered what happened to the bloody fools.
“Wee William,” Rowan said as he fiddled with the reins. “Might I ask why it be so important to ken what happened to them? If yer worried that Angus will be angry with our treatment of them—”
“I do no’ worry over Angus!” Wee William said impatiently. “The lass thinks she’s a widow and I do no’ want to have her hope dispelled.”
“Och! Ye worry the bastards will return and take their anger out on the poor lass,” Rowan said. “I should have thought of that. No' once did Horace ask after his wife. No' once did he plead us to show her or his brothers any mercy. He be a whoreson, let there be no doubt. I am sorry, Wee William, I didna think about what would happen to the lass if they made it back alive.” Rowan was suddenly concerned for the young woman’s welfare.
“I do no’ worry for the lass’s safety, for if they do make it back alive, they will no’ find her there.” Wee William told him.
Black Richard and Rowan cast cautious looks to each other again. “What do ye mean?” Black Richard asked.
Wee William shifted in his saddle a bit and scanned the horizon. “The lass be with us.”
They eyes of the six men opened wide as they stared at Wee William in disbelief.
“What do ya mean with us?” Black Richard asked.
“Exactly what I said. We’ve brought the lass with us. And her young brother and sister as well.”
Wee William saw the glances being exchanged among his men and felt certain he knew what they were thinking.
“’Tis no’ what yer thinkin’,” he told them firmly.
A smile that said he did not believe what Wee William was attempting to declare came to Rowan’s lips. “And what exactly do ye believe we’re thinkin’?”
Wee William let out a quick breath of air. They hadn’t brought back the news he had hoped for and now, he was certain he was in for a good amount of needling.
“The lass had nowhere else to go. Her parents are long dead and she hasn’t a coin to her name. I was merely doin’ what any good man would do.” Wee William’s voice was firm and he hoped that would be the end of the discussion.
He wasn’t that lucky.
“I see,” Rowan said as he nodded his head and looked around at his men. “So ’twas only yer kind heart that made such an offer.”
Wee William ignored Rowan’s comment. “We’re camped not far from here. I suspect Daniel and David have a fire goin’. We’ll no’ tarry long for the children are hungry and growin’ weary of the travelin’.”
“Is yer blade sharp, Wee William?” Rowan asked as he sauntered up beside his friend.
“Of course me blade is sharp, ’tis always sharp.” Wee William answered.
“And will ye be needin’ some help?” Rowan asked with as serious an expression as he could muster.
“Help with what?” Wee William asked as he tapped the flanks of his horse. The men were closing in and he felt suddenly ill at ease.
“With shavin’ yer beard, of course.”
“What the bloody hell are ye goin’ on about?” Wee William was in no mood for teasing and pretended he did not know what Rowan was talking about.
“I reckon if the lass be bonny enough fer ye to want her husband dead, then she be bonny enough fer you to shave that long, ugly beard of yers.” It was getting more difficult for Rowan to keep a straight face.
Wee William cast a sideways glance at Rowan, one that warned him to hold his tongue. But Rowan was not ready yet to give up pestering his friend. There was far too much joy in it.
Rowan turned to the rest of the men. “I wager ten groats now that Wee William shaves his beard within the next fortnight!”
“I give it a sennight!” one of the other men called out.
“I say he shaves it before we arrive home!” called another.
“What happens if she’s wooed by another? He’ll have shaved his beard for naught.”
“I say the lass won’t have him!” Tall Thomas yelled from the back of the pack.
All forward motion stopped when Wee William yanked the reins and spun his horse around. There was no mistaking his anger.
“What do ye mean she won’t have me?” He sent a piercing glare at Tall Thomas. The words stung and the memories of another bonny lass from long ago came to the forefront of his mind.
Tall Thomas swallowed hard before answering. “’Twas meant in jest, Wee William.”
Wee William glared furiously at each man before speaking. “Hear me, and hear me now, lads. I have no intentions of shavin’ me beard.”
He was not ready yet to admit to anyone that his feelings for Nora were far more than friendly in nature. ’Twas none of their business how he felt or what he thought about her.
Wanting to lighten the mood a bit, Black Richard spoke up. “So ye’ve no problem if any of us takes a fancy toward the lass?”
Wee William’s jaw clenched as he ground his teeth back and forth. Hell would freeze over before he gave these men any further ammunition with which to taunt him with. “The lass is a woman full grown. ’Tisn’t up to me who she keeps company with.”
A few of the unmarried men, Black Richard included, began to smile hopefully. “So ye dunna care if we court the lass?” Black Richard asked.
Wee William let out an exasperated sigh. “I said, ’tisn’t up to me. Just keep in mind the lass has been through much this past year. And we dunna ken if she be a widow or no’. And remember who the poor lass was married to! The last thing she needs is ye eejits confusin’ her and acting like stags in rut!” He continued to glare at them.
“But I warn ye now, ye dogs. If ye so much as lay an improper hand on the lass, I’ll cut yer throats without givin’ it a second thought!”
With that, Wee William spun his horse around and left them to ponder his warning. Nora was his responsibility now. He’d do whatever he must to insure her safety. It had nothing to do with any feelings he had for her. He was simply doing what any good man would do.
Before he was out of earshot, the men were making wagers again on not only how soon before Wee William would shave his beard, but what the lass’ response to that would be. Depending upon one’s point of view, the odds were sorely against Wee William.
They made camp that night with in a small cave. Nora had slept fitfully, fighting nightmares that she refused divulging the details with anyone, including Wee William. The dreams were always the same -- Horace still lived. He had found her, dragged her back to Penrith and tossed her into the cellar. She would die there, in the dark, damp cellar and her body consumed by wolves and monsters.
The dreams left her feeling afraid and out of sorts. She wondered if she would ever sleep peacefully or dream of happier things.
The further north they rode, the colder the air became. Nora had lost the feeling in her toes and fingers days ago leaving her to wonder if she would ever regain any feeling in them.
Thankfully, at night she was able to curl up under several thick furs and cling to Elise for warmth. It seemed no matter how many furs she wrapped around herself, the cold from the hard ground still seeped in and chilled her to her bones. Nora prayed that it wasn’t always this abominably cold and damp. She also prayed that neither Elise nor John would catch their deaths from all their exposure to the biting night air.
Wee William's Woman, Book Three of the Clan MacDougall Series Page 9