She took his hand with reluctance and was surprised when he issued orders to his men in French. At that very moment she was grateful to her mum for having taught her to understand French and Latin as well.
Cree ordered his men not to disturb him unless necessary, which had Dawn wondering his intentions, though the grins on the warriors’ faces had them assuming the obvious and she blushed with embarrassment. But didn’t everyone know by now that she was Cree’s woman?
They entered the woods that bordered the north side of the bluff and Cree walked with such confidence that it was obvious he was familiar with the land. If that was so then he had to have come here often or could he have lived his younger years in this area?
There was so much she didn’t know about Cree. And what she did know she had learned through gossiping tongues. Some of the tales were proving true while others had proved false. Who truly was this man that she had willingly surrendered to and who was stealing her heart a little bit at a time?
He stopped abruptly a few feet into the woods and turned to her. “What’s wrong?”
She scrunched her brow, not quite understanding.
“You had been thrilled about talking with William and looking over the plans for the castle and suddenly you sulk off to sit on a rock and draw a portrait of me. So what is wrong?”
Her eyes widened startled that he had noticed and that it had disturbed him enough to ask her about it.
“You are surprised that I noticed.” He reached up and stroked her cheek with his finger, then ran it faintly across her lips. “I notice everything about you.”
The tingles emerged in a gentle throb between her legs.
“Your dark eyes glow with lust every time I touch you and it makes me want to touch you even more, but first... what upset you?”
That he cared enough to pursue an answer warmed her heart but she could never tell him that it hurt her to know that another would share his new home with him and that she would be left on her own, alone.
He slipped his finger under her chin and forced her head up. She hadn’t even realized that her head had drooped or that her shoulders had sagged with the weight of her problem.
“Tell me,” he whispered and leaned down and brushed a soft kiss across her lips.
She couldn’t tell him; he would think her a fool. She was his mistress, nothing more and only for however long he desired her. And right now he desired her, his lust potent in his eyes. Instead of answering his question; she responded to his passion.
She changed the gentle kiss from soft to eager, as she moved closer, her arms going around his neck and her body pressing intimately against his.
He tore his mouth off hers. “You will not distract me; I’ll have an answer.”
He left her lips pulsing for his and instinctively her tongue slipped out of her mouth to slowly stroke her aching lips.
His groin tightened like never before and he thought he’d come right there and then as he watched her slim tongue play across her already moist lips. His hands shot out grabbing her face. “Damn it, Dawn,” he said though it sounded more like a feral growl, and then his mouth clamped down on hers.
They were both eager and hungry for each other and his hands were soon at her backside urging her against him.
“I want you; here, now, hard and fast,” he said having released her mouth with more reluctance than he had ever known. And he wished, oh how he wished she could tell him that she wanted him.
She smiled and her hand slipped down and under his tunic to squeeze the hard length of him.
He gave a brief, rough laugh and rested his brow to hers. “I love when you speak to me so clearly.” And he titled his head to kiss her again when an arrow sped past just missing the top of Dawn’s head.
Chapter Twenty-six
It took all but a second for Cree’s arm to go around her waist, shove her to the ground and shield her body with his. A second arrow grazed his leather tunic at the shoulder and he let out a blood-curdling roar.
His men arrived in a flash and before they could surround him he yelled, “Two stay and the others go find the bastard!”
Cree was furious. His heart pounded in his chest and every muscle in his body turned rigid with anger. He silently berated himself for not having a larger contingent of warriors with him and he was even more of a fool for walking off with Dawn alone when danger still existed. Until the culprit could be found he intended to see her well-guarded and that damn window boarded.
He moved off her and asked, “Are you all right?” he didn’t need an answer, she had lost all color in her face and she shivered slightly. He was about to take her in his arms when an all clear signal sounded from one of his men.
He reached out and with his hands around her waist eased her to stand along with him. He kept his arm firmly around her, not trusting her to stand on her own. All but two men returned and the news did not please him.
One of the warriors informed him that they had picked up a trail and that two of the men were following it, though it did appear as if the archer was headed back toward Dowell.
“We return now,” Cree ordered and with his arm remaining firm around Dawn, he hurried her to his horse.
In minutes they were on their way, Dawn once again sitting across the front of his lap as he sped through the countryside. He wanted back to the village where he could keep her safe and then...
The person responsible for this would live only long enough to tell him what he needed to know, and then he’d beg to die. And Cree would be the one to deliver the final blow.
Dawn kept her head tucked in the crook of his arm and her face pressed firmly against his chest. She couldn’t stop shivering. It wasn’t that she was cold, it was more from fear. Had someone truly targeted her for death? And if so why?
She didn’t have time to ponder. They were entering the village at a good speed and villagers were rushing out of their way, their eyes wide with curiosity and fear. She had expected Cree to deposit her at her cottage, but instead he scooped her off the stallion after dismounting and with a firm grip on her arm hurried her into the keep and to the Great Hall.
He shouted for Sloan and a couple of servants rushed off no doubt to find him. He all but shoved her to take a seat on a bench at a table close to the large hearth. He then yelled for hot cider and a flush of servants appeared not only with pitchers of hot cider but platters of food.
William wandered in appearing as pale as Dawn along with several warriors while more warriors followed behind. William took a seat across from Dawn and with shaking hands accepted a tankard from one of the servants.
Dawn cupped a tankard in her hands but she had yet to drink.
Cree leaned down in her face and ordered, “You’re chilled, drink.”
His dark eyes flamed with such fury that she immediately obeyed as did William, though Cree’s edict had not been directed at him.
When she finished taking a swallow Cree leaned down in her face again. “You will stay here. You will not move until I come for you. Understand?”
Dawn nodded, his eyes so feral with fury that he actually frightened her. And at that moment she wondered if perhaps he didn’t have a heart after all. She was relieved when he walked away to talk with his men. It was as if she could finally breathe again.
“That was a frightening ordeal,” William said in a near whisper.
She nodded, the hot cider finally chasing away her chill or perhaps it was her fear dissipating. Whatever the reason she was feeling comfortably warm and let her cloak fall off her shoulders, though she kept it tucked around her waist and over her legs that still trembled a bit.
“Have you always liked to draw?” William asked.
Dawn’s face lit with a smile and she nodded.
William smiled as well. “It is a God-given talent you have.”
She placed her hand on her chest and bowed her head briefly, thanking him.
“You are most welcome,” he said understanding her and then lowered
his voice. “I will make certain that I bring you some drawing tools. Your talent is too amazing to waste.”
It was thoughtful of him, and so few people were thoughtful of her, that she wished to show her appreciation. So she reached out and gave his arm a squeeze.
Cree appeared out of nowhere. “Does William not understand you that you need to touch him?”
Dawn froze, his face only inches from hers and that feral look in his eyes worse than she remembered. She blessed William a hundred times over when he offered a reasonable explanation.
“Forgive me, my lord, Dawn was gracious enough to offer me comfort after this most upsetting ordeal.”
“Busy yourself with your designs and you will have no time to dwell on it,” Cree ordered. He planted his hands on the table blocking Dawn from William’s view and whispered harshly in her ear, “You will touch no one but me.”
He walked away leaving Dawn to stare after him.
“Would you like to look at the drawings?” William offered. “Perhaps my lord is right and we would be better off with our minds occupied on other things.”
Dawn nodded. Her eyes remained locked on Cree’s back until her shivers returned and distracted her. She reached for her tankard and drank in hopes of chasing them away once again.
She was grateful for William’s endless chatter and she soon became engrossed with the drawings and the plans he so graciously detailed.
Cree kept a watch on Dawn out of the corner of his eye. He had had to restrain himself when he had seen her touch William. It had been a simple gesture more than a definitive touch and yet it had infuriated him. And he was even more infuriated that the archer had yet to be found.
“He eludes us at every turn,” Sloan said.
“Have you and the men become so complacent that you allow one, solitary man to evade you?” Cree accused, his temper still much too close to erupting.
Sloan wisely refrained from debating the issue and said, “No, my lord.”
“And you have yet to find him,” Cree said, though didn’t allow for a reply. “I’m going to take twenty men and see to this myself. You will make certain that Dawn is kept safe while I am gone.”
Sloan gave a nod and Cree could see that he was not pleased with his decision but he would not dare challenge him. He would obey.
Cree looked over at Dawn. She was engrossed with the drawings. He thought of going over to her, warning her to obey Sloan but decided against it. His obsession with her had to stop. He turned and without another word to Sloan, he stormed out of the Great Hall his anger growing ever darker.
Sloan walked over to Dawn intending to make certain she understood that she was not to go anywhere without a guard. But when he approached the table and caught sight of a change she was making to William’s drawing, he stared in awe at her remarkable talent.
“A double battlement, I would have never imagined and yet it makes sense,” William said staring in just as much awe as Sloan.
The three were soon discussing other changes that Dawn had made and it was an hour later that William nodded and said, “These changes are good. I will present them to Cree.”
“He’ll approve,” Sloan said with a nod.
William rolled the parchments and stood. “I have more work to do.” He gave a nod to Dawn. “It has been a pleasure working with you and I hope to do so again.”
Dawn smiled, patted her chest and pointed to him to let him know that she had enjoyed working with him as well.
William smiled and gave another brief nod and left the Great Hall.
Sloan turned to Dawn and delivered Cree’s edict. “You are to go nowhere without a guard and until Cree returns it would be best for you to stay to the keep or your cottage.”
Dawn knew without being told that Cree had gone with his men to find the culprit who had attacked them. And she did not want to think about what he would do to him once he found him. She also did not want her movement limited to two places. She wanted to visit with Lila, see how baby Thomas was doing, get to hold him, and get to talk with her friend. She also wanted to see how Flanna was doing, though she felt odd going to the kitchen and taking what food she wanted, though it would give her a reason for being there.
She gave Sloan a nod and let him know that she understood. He hadn’t ordered only suggested it would be best that she limit herself to the keep and her cottage. Therefore, she was free to go other places if she wished as long as a guard accompanied her. She suddenly looked forward to the rest of the day.
Sloan rubbed his jaw and stared intently at Dawn and she could see that he debated about asking her a question. She wondered if he didn’t because he worried about understanding her gestures. She had found it to be a common reaction in people and the reason many ignored or made fun of her, flaying their hands and arms in mock facsimile of her gestures.
Whatever the reason for his hesitation did not matter to Dawn, she was more curious to know his question. And so she pointed to him and shrugged.
Her gesture had him smiling and responding. “You make yourself understood remarkably well for one without a voice.”
She smiled and gave a nod of thanks, then pointed to him again and shrugged.
“And you’re persistent to boot, but then most women are.”
She was pleased that he included her with other women. It made her feel less different from them.
“I have a problem and I was wondering if you might be able to help me, since you probably see more than most as to what goes on around here.”
That was true. People constantly assumed her deaf since she was voiceless and often spoke freely around her even about her, as if she wasn’t present. She was delighted that Sloan should ask her for help and she nodded eagerly.
“I need to find a woman who can handle the daily running of the keep. It would require someone who could be firm with the servants and see that all chores got done to specifications, someone who could give orders as well as take them. Would you know anyone capable of handling such an important chore?”
Dawn nodded, having known instantly who would be perfect for the important task.
“Can you bring her here to me?” Sloan asked his face lighting with a smile. “Let me get a guard to accompany you.”
Dawn shook her head as she swung her legs over the bench and stood. Then she pointed around the room.
“She is here in the keep?”
Dawn nodded.
“I’ll go with you. Where in the keep is she?”
Dawn hooked her arm out and made a motion as if stirring in a bowl.
“The kitchen?” Sloan’s smile faded. “I’ll wait here while you go get her. Go straight to the kitchen and return here right away. If Turbett should give you any trouble, tell him that Cree has ordered the woman’s presence.”
Dawn nodded, though doubted Turbett would understand her gestures. Flanna, on the other hand, would. She entered the kitchen a bit apprehensively and was surprised to see Dorrie, her eyes teary, chopping wild onions. As soon as Dorrie saw her she smiled and bobbed her head. Dorrie had never acknowledged Dawn so pleasantly. Usually it had been a disparaging remark that Dorrie had greeted her with but it would appear that she had had a change of heart.
“Can I get you something, Dawn?” Turbett asked as he approached her.
Turbett’s girth could intimidate, especially when one realized that his thickness was mostly muscle. His direct manner could also be disconcerting, but she had to remember that she was allowed to be here and allowed to have what she wanted from the kitchen.
Dawn pointed to Flanna.
“Cree ordered that you can have whatever food you want from the kitchen, but I will not allow you to disrupt my staff at your leisure.”
His words were clipped and stern and for a moment she thought of turning away and getting Sloan. But she dismissed the idea and stood her ground, though on trembling legs.
She waved Flanna over.
“I have not given her permission—”
D
awn’s hands started moving before he could finish and Flanna was by her side then and interpreted. “Dawn asks that I explain what she says.”
Turbett gave a reluctant nod.
Dawn kept her expression concise, Flanna not understanding her as well as Lila but then few understood her so well. Cree was beginning to. The thought startled her, though she didn’t allow it to show.
“My presence is requested in the Great Hall,” Flanna said, her eyes turning wide with fright.
“Go and return here as soon as you are done,” Turbett ordered and shooed them away as if they were annoying flies.
The two women didn’t hesitate, they hurried off, though Flanna grabbed Dawn’s arm once they were a few feet through the stone passageway and stopped.
“Am I in trouble?”
Dawn realized that every single villager had feared being summoned to the Great hall when Colum had ruled and for good reason. The person always suffered harsh punishment, leaving everyone fearful of receiving such a summons.
Dawn shook her head and smiled wide.
“Something good?” Flanna asked hopefully.
Dawn nodded.
Flanna ran her fingers through her hair and took her apron off turning it to the other side that was less stained and retied it around her waist. Then she grabbed Dawn’s hand. “I’m ready.”
Dawn patted her hand and nodded vigorously.
Flanna smiled and hurried to the Great Hall.
Flanna answered every question Sloan asked her and then stood speechless when he told her that she would be in charge of the keep’s servants. And that she would be answerable to him and of course Cree.
Sloan cleared his throat and added, “You would need to deal with Turbett as well, making certain all flows well between the servants and the kitchen.”
Flanna grinned. “I can do that.”
“You can?” Sloan asked shocked and then caught himself. “Good, that’s good.”
Dawn bit back a smile. It was obvious that Sloan feared Turbett and was relieved that Flanna would be dealing with the daunting man. And she had no doubt that Flanna was looking forward to every minute of it.
Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy 1) Page 21
