“What of the Earl of Kellmara?” Wintra asked.
“The only thing I have heard is that Kellmara warriors are expected at Owen’s campsite any day now.”
Flanna hurried to stand as soon as she caught sight of Cree entering the Great Hall with Torr and Sloan following behind him.
Cree laid his hands flat on the end of the table between where Dawn and Wintra sat. “What are you two up to?”
Dawn smiled broadly and gestured.
Cree’s face lit with a smile. “You are planning the wedding celebration?”
Dawn nodded joyously.
Cree summoned Flanna to him with a shout, and she hurried over to the table. “Whatever Dawn wants see that it is done.”
“Yes, my lord, and may I say this is going to be the best wedding celebration ever.”
“I am sure you will see that it is,” he said with a curt nod.
Torr reached down and took his wife’s hand, tugging her gently off the bench to wrap his arm around her. “I have missed you,” he whispered in her ear as he settled her close against him.
Before she could respond and let him know she felt the same and was wishing for time alone with him, Cree spoke.
“I have had enough waiting. I am taking a contingent of men and going to speak with Owen. Torr will accompany me and Sloan will remain behind. I hope to be back tonight, but we may not return until tomorrow. You two,” — Cree pointed to his wife and sister— “are not to go off alone while we are gone. Do I make myself clear?”
Dawn gestured to her husband.
Cree yanked her off the bench and into his arms. “I will miss you too, but do not think you are going to ignore my orders. Understand?”
Torr walked a few feet away with Wintra as Cree continued talking with Dawn.
“Cree is right about this. He cannot wait to see what Kellmara intends, or Owen for that matter. He must see to this, and I must go with him since it concerns my wife.”
“You could be in danger as well,” she reminded and the thought that she could lose him overwhelmed her with grief. “I do not want to lose you. I love you.”
“You sound and look as if you have just realized that,” he said resting a gentle hand to her cheek.
“It is not that I have only realized that I love you since love struck me so hard and fast, and it is not going away—ever. But until this very moment, I did not realize what tremendous heartache I would suffer if I lost you.” She tried to laugh, though it sounded more like a croak. “No one would love me as unconditionally as you do. Besides, I could never love anyone as much as I love you.”
“Good, for I feel the same about you,” Torr said and slipped his hand around the back of her neck and with a gentle yank had her mouth against his in an instant. They tasted of each other like two hungry children receiving a long awaited treat and when he reluctantly brought the kiss to an end, he rested his brow to hers, and said, “I will never grow tired of the taste of you.”
“Time to go,” Cree shouted.
With another quick kiss to Wintra, Torr turned and joined Cree as he headed out of the Great Hall.
Wintra did not like how empty she felt with each step Torr took away from her and when the door closed behind him, she felt her legs grow weak. She had not known that love could be so wonderful, yet so painful at the same time. And she silently prayed for his safe return, for she knew she would not want to live life without him.
Chapter Twenty-four
Cree despised Owen and he wanted nothing more than to snap the irritating man’s neck and be done with him. But until he could determine what Owen was up to, he would have to wait. Eventually though, Owen would suffer a fate of his own making.
“Why would the Earl of Kellmara send so many of his warriors ahead of his arrival if it was only a friendly visit?” Torr asked as he and Cree were escorted into camp by several Kellmara warriors.
As soon as Cree and his contingent of twenty warriors rode off Carrick land, Kellmara’s warriors swooped around them. The leader cordially, though firmly, offered to escort them to camp.
Cree kept his temper in firm control. He was furious that Kellmara could think that he could camp just a step beyond Cree’s borders and that he would sit there and do nothing about it. But Kellmara had expressed no interest in doing Cree harm, so Cree could do nothing but wait on the man’s arrival. He could, however, question Owen.
Cree and Torr both took note of how well organized the campsite appeared, but then Kellmara was known for his warrior skills. And as Cree had learned, being a good warrior was not only about the battle. It was also about keeping your men organized and well trained, and from what Cree could see, Kellmara did just that.
That was why it was easy to see that Owen hadn’t exactly blended well with the Kellmara troops. His campsite was shoddy in comparison as were his men.
Torr voiced Cree’s thoughts. “It seems that Owen sits on the outskirts of the Kellmara camp. Not exactly welcomed or accepted.”
“What then is Owen doing with them?” Cree asked.
Torr wondered the same himself. “Owen seems tolerated by the Kellmara warriors, but why?”
“There can be only one answer to that—need,” Cree said. “Owen knows or has something they need. And it has to do with my sister.”
“You have no idea of what it could be?”
“None,” Cree said frustration evident in his curt reply.
“I dislike going into a fight blind,” Torr said. “It leaves one too vulnerable.”
“That is why I sent some of my warriors to gather what information they can. And why we are here to talk with Owen.”
“No one is taking my wife from me,” Torr reminded adamantly.
“So you have said often.”
“And I will continue to say it, shout it if I must, do whatever it takes to make anyone and everyone realize it,” Torr said with resolve.
“Let us see if Owen is going to need reminding of that,” Cree said as the Kellmara warriors drifted off, after reaching Owen’s campsite.
Cree and Torr dismounted and approached Owen who stood by a campfire that looked as if it was in dire need of tending. Two of Owen’s warriors stood guard directly behind him, though neither looked intimidating.
“What do you want of me?” Owen demanded.
Cree thought the man foolish before, but even more so now for being under the assumption that he was well protected with the impressive presence of Kellmara warriors. The fool did not realize that the Kellmara men cared naught what happened to him. And they had proved that to Cree when they had drifted off once they neared Owen’s camp. It was almost as if they announced aloud to do as you will, we will not stop you.
Torr answered. “What we want you are not capable of giving—the truth.”
“The truth?” Owen laughed. “You do not know the truth, but you will soon enough, and I shall be rewarded.”
“For being a fool?” Torr asked.
Owen’s nostril’s flared and his eyes glared with anger at Torr. “We will see who the fool is.”
“Why did you send two of your men to abduct my sister?” Cree said as he took a quick step toward Owen.
Not only did Owen jump back, but the two men did as well.
“I did no such thing,” Owen claimed. “If any of my men did that, then they did so of their own accord. Return them to me and I shall punish them.”
“Why would they do such a thing on their own?” Torr challenged.
“The McBride Clan is mostly comprised of farmers and a few craftsmen. They require nothing more than a simple, boring life. The poor simpletons probably thought that if they brought Wintra here that all would be ended and we then could return home.”
“So you deny any part in the attempted abductions?” Torr asked.
“Of course, I do,” he snapped. “I would not be so foolish as to send a farmer to do a warrior’s job.”
“You were foolish enough to think you could take my wife from me,” Torr spat. �
�Are you still foolish enough to think that?”
“It will not be me who takes Wintra from you, though it will be me who is there to claim her when she is taken from you.”
He sounded much too confident to Torr’s liking. “What game do you play?”
“A game in which I will be the victor,” Owen sneered.
Cree had his hand around Owen’s neck before he realized what had happened. “Leave us,” Cree ordered with such force at the two guards that they fell over each other as they hurried to obey.
Owen clawed at Cree’s hands to no avail.
“Fight me and I’ll tighten my hold,” Cree snapped and squeezed tighter.
Owen immediately stilled.
“I have had enough of your foolish games. You will tell me what I want to know or suffer the consequences.” Cree squeezed at his neck tighter in warning.
Owen nodded as he struggled to breathe.
Cree loosened his hold just enough so that Owen could answer him. “You sent for Kellmara?”
“No, he was already on his way.”
“Why?”
“I cannot say. He has sworn me to secrecy. It is for him to tell, not me.”
“It has to do with Wintra?”
Owen nodded.
“What is your connection to Kellmara?” Cree demanded.
“I provided information he had been searching for.”
“How did you come by this information?”
“Through the previous laird of the Clan McBride,” Owen said coughing to take another labored breath.
Cree released Owen, giving him a shove away from him that sent him stumbling as he walked over to Torr.
“Why not just beat the information out of him?” Torr asked annoyed. This was about his wife and he wanted all the information right now at this moment. He did not want to wait another minute.
“Look around you,” Cree whispered. “Kellmara’s men stand close and listen. They would stop him from saying anything their chieftain does not want known.”
Torr turned away, running a hand through his hair as if frustrated and gave a quick glance around. Cree was right. The warriors had moved closer and made no attempt to hide their presence or that they listened most curiously.
Cree turned back to Owen who had put more distance between them and with a calm that belied his words said, “When this is done, your lands will be mine.”
Owen blanched, though squared his shoulders. “When this is done I will not only hold more land, I will hold a title just like you.”
Cree took a quick step forward once more and Owen scrambled back out of reach.
“When this is done,” Cree said in a harsh whisper, “I will see you dead. You have my word on it.” Cree turned and mounted his stallion.
“And I will be the one who kills him,” Torr said with a look in his eye that dared Cree to argue with him after mounting his horse.
The two turned and rode off without another word. This time the Kellmara warriors did not escort them out of camp, though they kept steady eyes on them.
Cree’s men waited for him on the edge of the camp, alert and ready for anything. The twenty men were not enough to battle the large contingent of Kellmara warriors, but add the fifty that surrounded the camp and the fact that one of Cree’s warriors were worth two of any other warrior and that meant the Kellmara warriors were outnumbered.
“Do you think Owen has been promised land and a title or is it his own foolishness that has him believing such nonsense?” Torr said.
“I think that depends on the information he has and how badly someone wants it. And it would seem that the Earl of Kellmara wants it badly.”
Torr did not like the feeling that caught at his gut. The King had decreed his marriage to Wintra and only the King could see it undone. So there was nothing for him to worry about, or was there?
Chapter Twenty-five
Wintra and Dawn stood on the keep steps looking out over the village. It was late afternoon, the sky was gray, the air crisp, and light flurries fell. Villagers scurried about busy with their chores and daily routines. All seemed well except that Cree and Torr were two days late in returning home. No message had been received concerning their delay, and the two women were worried.
Sloan did not seem concerned, though he had told them that if Cree had not returned by tomorrow, he would send men to see what had caused their delay.
Wintra tried to convince herself that Torr and her brother were fine that they would return home soon and all would be well, yet nagging doubt would not let go of her. What if the Earl of Kellmara had attacked Cree and his troop and left them for dead? What if at this very moment Torr lay bleeding and helpless somewhere? Endless worries had filled her head and upset her stomach to the point where she could not eat.
Wintra turned her head to look at Dawn when she felt her hand grasp her arm. Dawn was pointing down the length of the village and up toward the rise. Wintra’s stomach tightened so badly that she thought she would double over. Was that Torr and Cree coming over the rise? She prayed to the heavens and all who would listen to please let it be so.
Dawn held her arm firm, stopping her from rushing off the steps and through the village to greet them. She shook her head at Wintra when she tried to yank her arm away and gestured with her one hand.
Try as she might, Wintra could not understand what Dawn was saying. She was grateful when Old Mary suddenly appeared and quickly interpreted.
“It would not be proper for either of you to run and greet the men you love. You must not let others see that you worried over them, for it would cause others in the village to do the same. You must stay strong and remain here on the steps to demonstrate the confidence you have in your men.”
Wintra nodded, though wished she could join the village women who ran to greet their men without hesitation. She grew impatient as Cree and Torr rode at a leisurely pace through the village, the villagers crying out hardy welcomes that they had returned home safely. She understood then, watching the scene unfold in front of her, how important their entrance to the village was. The obvious joy and pride on the villagers’ faces for the returning warriors left them feeling safe and protected.
Dawn finally let go of Wintra’s hand and walked down the steps, Wintra hurrying alongside her. They reached the bottom as Cree and Torr brought their horses to a halt a short distance from them.
Cree dismounted and went straight to his wife, grabbed her around the waist and yanked her up against him and kissed her as if he had not seen her in forever.
Wintra launched herself at Torr, who braced for the impact, catching her petite body in his strong arms and hauling her up against him and kissed her to show her just how much he had truly missed her.
He’s home. He’s safe. He’s mine. I love him. The litany rang repeatedly in her head and she was forever grateful, for it renewed, over and over, what she needed to hear, know, feel.
“Inside,” Cree ordered, “the weather grows colder and I grow hungry.” He pressed his mouth close to Dawn’s ear. “For more than food.”
She smiled, patted her chest, and nodded.
Torr held Wintra back for a moment as Cree and Dawn hurried into the keep.
“I have missed you more than I can express,” Torr said, “though I intend to show you how much, later.”
“And I shall do the same,” she said, “but first for nourishment to sustain us for the long night ahead.”
Torr laughed and ran up the steps and into the keep with Wintra close at his side.
Food aplenty was placed on the table as well as drink. Tankards were filled and plates piled high, and the two women sat close to their husbands as if by doing so they could keep them there.
Sloan joined them after seeing to the returning men and raised a tankard to their safe return. The servants even joined in with a cheer.
Cree finally spoke. “We were delayed because one of the warriors sent to see what he could find out about Kellmara met up with us on the way home. He
insisted that I see for myself what he had seen, for he did not quite believe his own eyes.”
Wintra hooked her arm through Torr’s and snuggled closer to him. She worried over what she was about to hear, since in some way it would probably affect her.
“An emissary of the King waits at a campsite for Kellmara to arrive.”
“Why would an emissary from the King be with Kellmara?” Sloan asked.
“I do not know,” Cree said, “but we will find out soon. Kellmara is not far off. He should arrive by nightfall or morning.”
Before anyone could comment, the bell tolled announcing an approaching troop.
Sloan stood. “It appears Douglas Hawthorne, Earl of Kellmara was anxious to get here as soon as possible. I will ride out with the warriors to greet them and escort them to the village.”
Torr stood. “And enough time to refresh before meeting Kellmara.” He reached his hand out to Wintra to join him.
Cree nodded as he watched his sister hurry out of the keep with her husband. And a thought struck him. “It is a good hour or more before the troop reaches the rise. I should freshen myself and change into clean garments as well.”
Dawn smiled and gestured.
Cree grinned. “I was hoping you would want to help me.” He helped her off the bench, his hand suddenly going to her stomach. “You have rounded more in the short time since I’ve been gone. You and the babe are well?”
She nodded and tugged his hand to hurry him along.
He stubbornly refused to move when they reached the bottom of the steps. “You should wait down here.”
She planted her hands on her hips and narrowed her eyes at him.
“Do not look at me like that. I have an aching need and damn if I do not want to pound the hell out of you. And that will not do now that you grow round with my child.”
Highlander's Captive (Highlander Trilogy) Page 20
