Page 113 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Seoras nodded beside her. "They are braw, an' the villagers are soon to be moving in."

Taking her arm, William walked her around. Each cottage had a small plot, just the size for growing vegetables. Looking around one of them, William explained.

"There isnae any crops at the moment, but the land is fertile. It will be better than what they had afore," he said.

Nora gazed at the new cottages, impressed. Already, one or two were occupied, with smoke blowing out from the thatched roofs. Then, she noticed something else. A little further down from the crofts was something familiar. Giving a start, she was sure she recognized that patch of woodland from before.

Smiling at her face, William accompanied her. Bidding good day to Seoras, she followed him down along a well-trodden route she was sure she remembered.

"William?" she asked, glancing back at the crofts. A little of the black smoke furled overhead, leading them into the woodlands once more. Then, she stopped.

There, in the woodlands, was a horse. Two horses. In fact, her horse and William's. Surprised, she turned.

"What?" William just laughed at her face. "Aye!" he said, nudging her gently. Softly, he propelled her to their place.

Stunned, Nora followed on, numbly aware she had been had.

"The horses...they...we...?"

"Were here all the time," confessed William ruefully, as Nora just stared.

Inside, she felt her heart pound. Looking up at the clear blue sky, she laughed. She had been had.

"Ye mean we walked all that way, into the heart o' the woods, when—" She gasped. She could not believe it! William had led her on a wild goose chase.

"Aye, the crofts were just there, a wee while from where we were."

A cheeky smirk wrapped its way around William's face. Nora stood there, disbelieving. Blinking, she stared.

"Ye made me walk all that way an' rip my dress for nothing!"

Her eyes flashed with rage, but inside, she was feeling the teeniest bit amused. How could she not have noticed it? Then, she remembered the way William had pressed her forward, almost stopping her from looking around. Thinking, she sighed.

"Ye wee scunner!" she hissed, as William openly laughed. She glared at him. She should have been mad. But she was not. In fact, she was anything but.

Smiling, he lent her a hand. Sweetly, he pulled her along the well-trodden path to the horses. On the way, he glanced at her.

"Och, I am sorry. Will ye forgive me?"

His bright blue eyes made it impossible not to. Watching them, Nora melted. But she could not show it. Now, standing beside their horses, she petted her mare, waiting patiently for her.

"I may will," she said with steely determination she did not feel. "But my arisaid does nae. 'Tis entirely ruined." Her eyes accused him as harshly as they could, but inside, she was vague. However hard she tried, she could not be angry. For a start, the scene was all too perfect.

Birdsong in the trees and a warmness spreading, the early spring skies blue and gay.

Then, unprompted, William came to her side. His body heat seeped out at her tantalizingly.

"Dinnae fash about that," he said, his eyes gazing plaintively. "It looks better noo than then."

Nora almost gasped. His eyes went to the wide slash in her robe, exposing the top of her leg. Quickly, Nora sought to cover it. Finally, William looked away.

Deeply, Nora blushed. But also, part of her wanted to confront him.

Her eyes just glanced at him wonderingly. Really, he should not have said this, but instead of feeling ill at ease, Nora was satisfied. It was clear now that he had feelings for her. But in knowing this, her heart yelped.

William was well-loved by his family and clan. Taking him away from them would be hard. Worse than that, she had feelings for him too.

Desperately trying to bury them down, Nora mounted her horse. She did not look his way or give William any chance to talk her out of it; she just went.