“How dare you—”
“Watch your tongue,” Cree warned. “You are addressing the Earl of Carrick.”
Roland drew back as if he had been slapped hard across the face. He quickly gathered himself together and sputtered, “The title becomes yours when you wed my daughter.”
“A mere formality since the King has already decreed me Earl of Carrick.” Cree turned and rode off not wanting to exchange another word with the man. His concern was for Dawn, though not that she would be harmed. He knew that Kirk or Torr would never hurt her. What concerned him more was getting her back. And another concern was why Kirk had chosen now to abduct her. What had forced his hand?
Sloan fell in behind Cree as he rode past and several of his warriors followed. Their pace was fast, though more heavily snow-covered areas slowed them down. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that they arrived at Dowell. With the time it had taken them, Cree judged that the Gerwan caravan wouldn’t arrive until sometime tomorrow.
Lucerne stood on the keep steps looking anxiously passed him, no doubt eager to see her parents. The smile she wore faded as she realized they did not follow.
“Where are my parents?” she demanded when Cree dismounted his horse, handing the reins to a young lad who immediately saw to the animal’s care.
“They should arrive tomorrow,” Cree informed her and turned away eager to get to Dawn’s cottage.
“You leave my parents’ safety to others so that you can return to your peasant wh—”
Cree turned back around in a flash. “Watch what you say, Lucerne, for you will not like the consequences.”
Lucerne bit her lip as if fighting to keep from speaking, and he supposed she feared losing the battle for she turned in a huff and hurried inside the keep.
Sloan approached Cree cautiously as he continued on to Dawn’s cottage.
“Go see if any of the sentries saw anything,” Cree ordered. “See that men stand ready and see if Henry can find any tracks.”
Sloan nodded and slipped away to see it done.
Cree entered the cottage and stood taking in the room in one sweeping glance. The fire had died down and he quickly added more logs. He did not want Dawn to return to a chilled cottage. He hurried into the other room and did the same to the dwindling fire. He then went to the bed and stared at the rumpled bedding.
He reached down and swiped her pillow bringing it to his face and inhaling her familiar scent, heather and pine. Damn, but he missed her and he wanted her home here in this bed where they made love, laughed, talked, and slept naked in each other’s arms.
He tossed the pillow back on the bed and examined the remainder of the room. He cursed when he saw her stockings on the chest, though was relieved when he saw that her fur-lined cloak was gone. His gloves, however, had been left behind and so more oaths spewed from his mouth.
The stillness suddenly bothered him and he cast a quick glance around the room. There were no remnants of a meal. Had no food been brought to Dawn? Had no one realized she was missing? He swore again and marched out of the cottage and straight for the kitchen. Meals had to have been delivered to her. Hadn’t anyone questioned why she hadn’t been in her cottage?
Every villager that caught sight of Cree hurried to bless themselves and move out of his way. If their suspicions of him being the devil were ever proven true it would be at this moment. His expression was pure evil, as if he had just emerged from the depths of hell and was intent on claiming souls.
He stormed into the kitchen and all movement ceased, even Turbett blanched at the sight of him.
“Was no meal taken to Dawn today?” Cree demanded.
Flanna took a cautious step forward. “All but supper. We were informed that she would tend to that herself today.”
“Who told you that?” Cree snapped and Flanna jumped.
Flanna hurried to tell him as she took a step back. “Old Mary.”
Cree was out the door so fast that it took everyone a moment to realize he was gone and mumbling amongst themselves, they returned to their work.
With heavy footfalls Cree made his way to Old Mary’s cottage. Could the old woman have helped Kirk and Torr? He stopped abruptly when he saw Lucerne arguing with Elsa outside her cottage. He didn’t want to waste time on the matter and he was sure that Elsa could handle it but he could not ignore the chaotic scene, especially with villagers lingering about in curiosity.
“What goes on here?” Cree demanded as he approached the two women.
Lucerne turned on him, her eyes framed with tears ready to fall. “My head throbs mercilessly. I need more potions for the pain.” Lucerne grabbed hold of Cree’s arm, her grip tight. “Please.”
Her plea shocked him. It wasn’t like her to plead, though she made herself heard, she had never pleaded with him; she had always demanded. The desperation in her voice was also something unfamiliar to him. He turned to Elsa to order her to give Lucerne what she needed but the healer shook her head.
“Something is not right that she suffers so with these headaches. The potions should have at least eased them if not gotten rid of them, but the pain should not have escalated. There are questions I need to ask so that I may better help her but she refuses to talk with me.”
Sloan approached then and Cree took Lucerne’s hand and placed it on the startled man’s arm. “You will stay with Lucerne while Elsa speaks with her, and then you will see her safely back to her bedchamber so that she may rest.”
“I need the potion,” Lucerne begged.
Elsa took Lucerne’s other hand. “I will give it to you and then we will talk.”
Sloan looked to Cree with pleading eyes. To sit with the nagging, demanding woman while she talked with Elsa was a harsh punishment to suffer, though he supposed it could have been worse. He almost shook his head, for nothing could be worse than what he was about to suffer.
Cree shot him a fiery look and Sloan felt its sting. He nodded, complying with the command and accompanied the two women into the cottage, Lucerne’s fingers biting into his arm.
Cree had already turned away and nearly had reached Old Mary’s cottage when the old woman stepped out of nowhere startling him.
“A good time for a walk, my lord,” Old Mary said with a wrinkled grin.
Cree held out his arm, leaned down, and whispered, “And a talk.” He directed her away from curious faces to a more secluded spot where he dusted snow off a bench for her to sit. He stood towering over her, his broad back blocking anyone from seeing her.
He didn’t hesitate in asking her, “Why did you tell Flanna that Dawn was preparing her own meals today?”
“Dawn is where she needs to be at the moment.”
“I don’t care for riddles; I want answers.”
“Then go find Dawn, for by now she has them.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Ten and nine years ago I fell in love for the second time in my life,” Kirk said. “Some men would think her plain,” — Kirk smiled— “but to me she was beautiful and she had the most generous heart. Unfortunately for us both, she was already wed. However that didn’t stop us from loving each other. Until one day she told me that she feared that her husband had grown suspicious and she feared not only for her own life but mine as well. I would have battled the devil myself to make her mine, but she felt compelled to honor her marriage agreement. And so I reluctantly let her go.”
Dawn felt a catch to her heart. She was familiar with the pain he suffered, for she could never truly be with Cree, never be his wife. At least, though, she could stay with him. She did not know if she could bear the pain of being separated from him forever. Just the thought sent a sense of loss so strong through her that she shuddered.
“I found out months later that she had given birth to a daughter and I wondered if the child was mine. When I learned that the lass could speak and had her father’s blue eyes I knew the child was not mine.” Kirk choked back tears that pooled in his dark eyes.
Torr spoke while his f
ather composed himself. “I was ten at the time and oblivious to my father’s suffering, though my sister Teressa who was barely six seemed to understand that something was wrong.”
“She tried to ease my sorrow,” Kirk said. “She was such a loving child. I didn’t know true pain until I lost my Teressa. She died two years ago from a sudden illness. There is nothing as painful as being helpless in saving your child.” This time Kirk couldn’t prevent his tears from falling.
“Not long ago,” Torr said, “an old friend of my father’s, who we hadn’t seen in years, passed through our land and stopped to visit. He had known my sister and was heartbroken to hear she had died. He then told us of a young woman who he had seen that had suffered the same affliction as Teressa. Neither Father nor I thought much of it since there were other people who could not speak, though they could make a minimal of sound. This fellow had insisted that the lass he had seen had been exactly like Teressa.”
“It was when I learned that the lass lived on the Earl of Carrick’s land that I became more curious,” Kirk said. “You see the woman I fell I love with was Ann Gerwan, the Earl of Carrick’s wife.”
Dawn stared at Kirk, her eyes wide.
“I decided it was time to see this lass for myself, so Torr and I journeyed here with the sole purpose of finding you. The snowstorm was a God-sent landing us right where we needed to be. You look much like my daughter Teressa, but then my wife and Ann had similar features.”
Dawn continued to stare at the man who could very well be her father, still too shocked to make a gesture.
“I was stunned when I first saw the similarities and upset that you had been forced to become Cree’s—”
Dawn’s hand shot up, stopping Kirk from going any further and shook her head adamantly wanting him to understand that Cree had not forced her. She had joined willingly with him. The doubtful look in his eyes troubled her and so she made it clear how she felt about Cree.
With slow, precise gestures she let the two men know that she loved Cree.
Neither men smiled and it was Torr who finally said, “But does he love you enough to let you go?”
Dawn’s brow scrunched in confusion and she shook her head.
“The reason someone wants you dead is because they have discovered your true identity,” Kirk said. “One of two people could possibly be responsible, Gerwan and Lucerne. Naturally, if Lucerne found out, she loses everything if the truth is revealed. If Gerwan knows, then he fears that he has no bargaining power to retain his lands, no daughter to wed Cree.”
Dawn felt a seed of excitement start and smiled as she gestured—
Kirk raised his hand to stop her. “I know what you’re thinking that if you are my daughter, no longer a peasant, then there is a possibility that you and Cree could wed.”
She nodded slowly desperately hoping it was possible, though a thought poked at her... would Cree want to wed her?
Kirk hesitated. “You are not my legitimate child, therefor the King could refuse to recognize you and with Cree gaining a title and power, having a bastard wife might not be to his liking.”
A pang to Dawn’s heart had her fighting the suggested rejection. Though Cree’s love was silent, she didn’t doubt that he loved her. But was that love strong enough to for him to accept a bastard as his wife?
“There is something else we must consider... your true mother,” Kirk said. “Her life could be in danger. She is the one person who could verify that you are Gerwan’s daughter, and I fear for her life.”
Dawn felt a sense of protection toward the woman who gave her birth. Perhaps it was because she carried Cree’s child and understood the motherly instinct to protect. And there was part of her who would like to meet the brave woman who had so unselfishly saved her life.
“I thought by removing you as a threat, it could save your life and Ann’s,” Kirk said sounding as if he searched for a miracle. “But to completely remove the threat,” —he paused and took a breath— “you would need to wed right away. Your marriage would eliminate you as a threat and protect Ann. I have a good man in mind for you. He will treat you well and you would have a good life with him.”
Dawn stood so fast that her chair flew back and fell to the floor. She waved her hands back and forth adamantly and shook her head just as furiously.
“It’s the only way,” Kirk said as if he wished differently.
She gestured repeatedly for him to take her home.
“You are home, Dawn,” Kirk said. “And your safe and so is Ann. It is the way things must be.”
Dawn shook her head and gestured slowly and clearly enough for Kirk to understand that to her he was not her father, for a father would not cause his daughter such pain. He obviously understood her since he recoiled, as if slapped in the face.
“I am your father and as a father who loves his child I do what is best for you whether you believe it or not. I’m offering you a chance for a good life, please think about it.”
Dawn refused to resign herself to Kirk’s plan and she let him know it. And she let him know that Cree would come for her and take her home.
Kirk stood. “By then you will be wed and there will be nothing he can do about it. Get some rest we leave in a few hours.”
Dawn wished she had a voice, for at that moment she had never wanted to scream so much in her life. How dare Kirk McClusky walk into her life claim that he is her father and force her to wed a stranger for her own good. She was exhausted and furious at being dictated to, her life decided for her.
She turned her back on the two men, not being able to look upon them without growing angrier. She wanted nothing to do with either of them. She wanted to go home to Cree and tell him all she had learned and see if they could find a solution to this ever growing dilemma together.
With the ruse Kirk had played on Cree, she feared he wouldn’t reach her until it was too late. Could she somehow delay their departure? She was relieved when she turned to see that both men were gone. She had been so engrossed in her thoughts she had not heard them leave.
The bed beckoned but she shook her fatigue away. She couldn’t waste time on sleep; she had to remain alert and ready in case she had a chance to escape. Her stomach suddenly protested and she realized that though she didn’t feel hungry, the babe thought differently and needed nourishment, and so she grabbed a chunk of bread and cheese.
She had just washed it down with hot cider when the door flew open and Torr stormed in.
“We’re leaving now,” he snapped and grabbed her cloak and tossed it to her.
The sudden departure could only mean one thing. Cree was on the way. She slipped on her cloak and hid her smile as she preceded Torr out the door.
She once again was planted in front of Torr on his horse, eliminating any chance of escape. They kept a relatively fast pace considering the snow on the ground and she worried that Cree would not be able to find them. She thought of possible ways to slow them down, feigning feeling ill the most obvious, but quickly discounted it. She doubted anyone would believe her.
Thoughts of the babe suddenly filled her head. He would be a bastard like her. Would she need to worry for his life as Kirk did for her? Would there be those who would want him dead? Lucerne would certainly feel him a threat.
More importantly what of Cree? He had told her to take the potion Elsa had given her to prevent her from getting with child. Was it because he did not want a bastard child? If that proved true, would she be better off accepting Kirk’s offer and wedding his friend? Her son would then be safe and well protected.
The thought of never seeing Cree again was like a knife to her heart and she couldn’t help but think that her mother must have felt the same when she bid a final farewell to Kirk. But could she be as strong as her mother had been?
Tears stung her eyes. She loved Cree with all her heart, but she also loved his babe that she carried. She never had a choice before. There had never been any place for her to go. Now she had another option, one where she
and her babe would be safe. She didn’t want to have to choose, but she might not have a choice.
The horse was suddenly drawn to a stop and she glanced up and couldn’t help but smile. There a few feet away in the clearing sat Cree on his stallion and spread out behind him was a sizeable troop of his warriors.
She noticed that a few of the McClusky warriors blessed themselves and she could understand why. Cree was all in black and wore the most evil look, as if he were ready to kill each and every one of them singlehandedly. His jaw was set tight, his nostrils flared, and his dark eyes appeared filled with venom. He was beyond angry.
Kirk rode up next to Torr and looked to Dawn. “Think on what your future would be with him against what I offer you.”
“It will not matter,” Torr said surprising his father, though not Dawn. She understood what he referred to. “Cree will not let her go and we do not have enough warriors to battle him.”
Cree guided his horse forward while his men waited where they were. When he got a few feet in front of Torr, he stopped and glared at the man. “You have something that belongs to me. And let me warn you that if you should decide to start a war over this, I will massacre every last one of you, and then claim your land as mine.”
“I want no war with you, Cree,” Kirk said, “though I do want what is best for my daughter.”
“Dawn has what is best for her... me.”
“Do you love Dawn?” Kirk asked.
Dawn felt her breath catch. Cree had never told her he loved her, though she never doubted he did. He showed his love in many different ways and each time he had told her that she belonged to him, it seemed as if he was saying I love you. But it would be wonderful to actually hear him say it. She almost laughed at the ironic thought, after all, he would never actually hear her say the words.
“That’s between Dawn and me,” Cree snapped.
Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2) Page 16
