Page 128 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

Finally, her footsteps walked away, leaving her father glaring at her wildly.

"Dinnae ye be getting any ideas, wee lassie," he warned her. Then he paused. Nora watched his face. Just briefly, she thought he had calmed a little.

Sorcha had overheard them, but how much? Then, her father's face changed. A strange twitch passed through him. Definitely, her father blamed her for Sorcha's intervention.

Shaking his head, he said sadly, "Nora."

The edge to his voice scared her more than his blade did. Nora had a lot of practice with her father and his moods, but even so, this was a new one.

"Nora, I am disappointed in ye, lass. I thought ye wanted to avenge yer mother," he said.

That got her. Nora felt her stomach plummet.

"Father," she began. A huge rise of bile took the words from her throat. This was low.

"But if ye dinnae, then I will. I'll make it look as if ye slayed him anyway, lass, before taking yer own life. Either way, I promise ye, I will get it done."

When Nora looked at him, she believed it. No question. She had seen that look on her father before. She also knew how he dealt with his enemies.

This time, her father did not lay a finger on her. In fact, he retreated, but the look he sent her did it all.

"Either ye kill him, or I do. Yer choice, lass."

Before she even had a chance to breathe out, he was gone, leaving Nora crouched against the wall, shaking.

She knew he meant it. The question was, what was she going to do about it?

Picking herself up slowly, Nora came to a decision. She had to find him and warn him.

She had to find William.

13

"Well, this is unexpected!"

William opened the door to his cabinet quickly. The noise Nora had been making was enough to wake half the castle. As soon as the door was opened, Nora almost fell on top of him.

"William!"

Her arms grasped him, hugging him securely around the midriff. Then, she repositioned, squeezing him around the neck. Before he had a chance to express his surprise, she had kissed him. The breath almost came out of his lungs, it was so tight.

A strange burn singed him, but it was not as strange as the sight of her then. Nora was wild. Her bright red curls strewn madly around her head, she was more animal than woman.

Clearly affected, she held him tight for what felt like an age. Eventually, William was forced to cough.

"Come in," he said, for she was still standing at the entrance to the door. "We do a lot o' this, dinnae we?" he said, trying to make a jest, but Nora did not hear.

In fact, she seemed in a strange sort of mood altogether. Finally, William succeeded in closing the cabinet door behind them. Hopefully, no one was watching, but right then, he had bigger problems.

Like an almost hysterical Nora braying him with her fists. Taking her wrists, he held her tight.

"Are ye alright hen?" he asked. She was actually tearful. Wondering what the matter was, Nora buried her head in his chest. Giving a deep sob, she held him again.

Women are curious creatures, but even so, this is odd, thought William.

"Lass?"

Nora looked up. Slowly, she composed herself. "Och," she said, straightening herself. Quickly, she wiped her face with her hand. Now, she looked slightly sheepish.