Page 5 of McKenna’s Honor (The Clan MacDougall #4)

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I t was difficult for Wee William to maintain any semblance of composure. The looks of disdain and reproach he had received from the people at Castle Stirling were, he supposed, to be expected considering the condition he and Black Richard were in when they presented themselves. Covered with mud and muck -- and God only knew what else -- they looked more like beggars than warriors and probably smelled far worse.

It also did not help matters that Wee William stood nearly seven feet tall. Life had taught him early on that people took one look at his size and stature and assumed him to be an uneducated dullard of a man. Those assumptions usually worked to Wee William’s advantage and to the detriment of the fools who made them.

Wee William and Black Richard, along with fifty other MacDougall warriors, had ridden nearly nonstop for days to reach Castle Stirling. To be dismissed so easily by the people there was beyond the pale. They had made it past the guards at the gate, only to be met by an arrogant, thin man who informed them that Robert Stewart was not in residence. He refused to tell Wee William or Black Richard where the High Steward of Scotland might be.

Robert Stewart was the only man in Scotland at the moment that could help. With King David held prisoner by the English, Robert Stewart had been made the High Steward of Scotland. He was the only man who could nullify the death sentences issued for Angus and Duncan.

What set Wee William’s teeth to grinding was the thin man’s indifference and lack of concern. No matter how they presented the facts he would not budge from his determination not to disclose the whereabouts of the High Steward. He sniffed condescendingly before having guards escort Wee William and Black Richard off the premises.

Selfishly, Wee William wished his beautiful wife, Nora, were here with him. She was one of the few people who could temper his anger, calm his wrath and sooth away his worries. She was, however, back at their cottage on MacDougall lands tending to their children -- twins, William John and Suisan Elise, and his young brother- and sister-in-law, John and Elise.

God willing, he would be home within a few weeks. He wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around Nora’s wee frame, kiss her soundly and, mayhap, continue to work on producing a few more bairns .

He missed his home, his wife, and their family.

Forcing himself back to the here and now, Wee William stood in disbelief just outside the gates of Stirling Castle. He had to remind himself that laying siege to the castle would serve no benefit to anyone, least of all Angus and Duncan.

But something niggled at him, made the hairs on his neck and arms stand at full attention. Something was amiss. His gut told him that he had been lied to and that Robert Stewart was somewhere within the castle walls, though why the man refused to see him was perplexing. Angus had always considered Robert an ally as well as a friend. Wee William could not understand why Robert would turn his back on his friend in his time of need.

“Wee William.” It was Black Richard’s voice that broke his train of thought. “Do ye believe them when they say the Stewart is no’ here?”

Wee William shook his head as he continued to stare up at the castle. “Nay,” he answered. “He’s there. I can feel it in me bones.”

“Why do ye suppose he refused to see us?”

While Wee William’s family needed him to return, Angus and their clan needed him to succeed in meeting with Robert Stewart. If he failed at the latter, he stood the risk of losing more than his home. If Angus and Duncan died, there would be nothing to stop the Stewart from taking control of Clan MacDougall. He could install anyone he wished as chief and there was no guarantee that Angus’ replacement would come from within the clan. The thought of a complete stranger as chief of his clan chilled Wee William to the marrow.

A plan suddenly emerged in Wee William’s mind. Aye, it would be risky and could very well mean he would hang alongside Angus and Duncan. But it was a chance he was willing to take.

“Well, Black Richard,” Wee William began as he finally turned toward his friend. “What say we go and ask the man himself?”

“And how do ye plan on askin’ him that question?” Black Richard’s brow furrowed over his deep blue eyes.

Wee William gave him a smile and a slap on the back as they turned to walk away from the castle. Black Richard looked like a wee lad as he walked next to his friend. There were times, such as now, when the twinkle of something sinister and devious alight in Wee William’s eyes made Black Richard very glad to have the man on his side.

“To his face, me friend.”

Black Richard studied Wee William from the corner of his eye, waiting patiently for his friend to explain. Wee William was smiling and did not look nearly as deflated or angry as he had just moments ago. Oh, this will no’ bode well for any of us, least of all for the people inside the castle.

As Black Richard figured out what Wee William meant to do, he could not help but smile.

“Ye be a devious bastard, Wee William,” he said.

“So I’ve been told.”