Lucerne laughed and shook her head. “I feared Cree upon meeting him, but obeyed my mother and made my situation worse. I had also thought that the poisoning would stop but it didn’t, it followed me here.”
Dawn eyed her skeptically. Was the distraught woman imagining things or could her story be true? Dawn wanted to be sympathetic, especially if her story was true. To lose the man she loved was horrifying but to think that her father may have had him killed on purpose was abhorrent. It made Lucerne just as much a prisoner as Dawn, leaving neither of them choices, but rather chattel to be given away or sold at whim. But she also had to be cautious. There were so many secrets that it made Dawn wonder which ones held the truth.
“I hoped you would understand and help me, but I see in your eyes that you don’t believe me,” Lucerne said her shoulders slumping, as if the weight of her burden had just grown heavier.
Dawn reached out and took hold of her hand, her decision to throw caution aside an instinctive one. Why should she believe this woman? Perhaps it was the way tears filled her eyes, how her voice cracked, and how sorrow gripped her face when she spoke of losing the man she loved.
Dawn squeezed her hand, nodded her head, and then patted her chest and pointed to the woman.
“You do believe me and will help me?” Lucerne asked hopefully.
Dawn smiled and nodded vigorously.
Lucerne gripped Dawn’s hand tightly. “I thought the stories about you were idle-tongue gossip, but the more I learned, the more I realized the truth behind them. You are a brave woman to not only defy Cree, but to help and protect others, and you have the strength to love and tame the devil.”
The terrifying roar rattled the door and had both women jumping out of their seats and clinging to each other.
“My God, if that is Cree’s battle cry no wonder he is so feared,” Lucerne said trembling beside Dawn.
“DAWN!” The shout hit the walls of the cottage like a battling ram. “OPEN THE DOOR OR I’LL BREAK IT DOWN!”
Dawn trembled a bit herself worrying that perhaps this time she had pushed him too far. She left Lucerne, who reluctantly released the grip she had on Dawn, and went to open the door, though jumped back as she did to take a protective stance in front of Lucerne.
Cree stormed in the cottage, pushing the door open the remainder of the way so hard that Dawn thought she heard the wood crack. Sloan entered behind him and hurried to shut the door on the curious faces that had gathered outside.
Cree went to say something when he suddenly stopped, his dark eyes roaming over Dawn and she could have sworn that she saw a spark of pleasure and appreciation in them, and she realized it was the red velvet gown that had caused his unexpected reaction. She almost smiled, though stopped herself. Now was not the time for grins.
“Explain yourself,” Cree demanded though not quite as forcefully as Dawn had expected. The dress had worked magic and she would have to remember that.
She was more than happy to have the chance to do just that. She pointed over her shoulder at Lucerne, then tapped her chest, then her lips and rolled her finger over and over in front of her mouth.
“Lucerne wanted to talk with you?” he asked.
She nodded.
“About what?”
She puckered her lips and tapped her finger to them.
“A secret?”
Lucerne gasped.
Dawn turned to Lucerne and took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before releasing it and stepping close to Cree. His arm instinctively circled her waist and her heart, as usual, melted to his touch. How she could have ever thought what they shared was sinful, she didn’t know, and it mattered not to her now. Cree loved her and they trusted each other and that was the only thing that mattered.
She looked to Lucerne, pressed her hand to her chest, then to Cree’s, and then back to her chest.
“Dawn is telling you that we trust each other explicitly and share all things with each other. What you shared with her, you can safely share with me.”
Lucerne burst into tears and lowered her face into her cupped hands.
Cree shot Sloan a sharp nod and Sloan rolled his eyes, but before he could go to Lucerne, Dawn slipped away from Cree, to his annoyance, and went to Lucerne and wrapped her arms around her. The woman melted against Dawn and wept. When it didn’t seem as if she would ever stop, Dawn eased her down to sit on a chair by the table. She then hunched down in front of her and tapped her finger at Lucerne’s lips and pointed to Cree.
“He won’t believe me.”
“Do you believe her, Dawn?” Cree asked.
Dawn nodded without hesitation.
“I trust Dawn’s judgment. If she believes you than so do I.”
“But I’ve been such a shrew,” Lucerne said.
“There you go,” Cree said. “You have finally spoken the truth, so I now have reason to believe you.” Dawn sent a scolding look his way and he ignored it. “Now tell me this secret that has obviously caused a problem so that I may see to resolving it.”
Her wound giving her a bit of an ache, Dawn took the chair closest to Lucerne, the young woman refusing to let go of her hand.
Cree was quick to ask, “Are you all right?”
Dawn nodded and waved his concern off.
“You will not dismiss my concern that easily,” he snapped.
Dawn felt Lucerne quiver and not wanting to make the situation any more difficult, she tapped her chest and bowed her head as if apologizing. Then tapped her chest again though slowly this time and gave him a gentle smile to let him know she was fine.
“That’s better,” he said with a wicked grin and Dawn narrowed her eyes at him. “That’s even better, now I know for sure that you’re all right.” Cree turned to Lucerne and ordered, “Tell me.”
With a voice that quivered now and then, Lucerne related the same story to Cree that she had to Dawn. When she finished and Cree had remained silent, Dawn wondered if perhaps he didn’t believe her after all. But she dismissed the thought as soon as it entered her mind. Cree had said that he trusted her judgment and he was a man of his word.
Cree finally spoke. “It wasn’t you who tainted my food that night?”
Lucerne shook her head.
“Why did you beat Bree?” Cree asked.
Lucerne’s eyes turned wide. “I never touched her. I thought perhaps she displeased you somehow and you took a hand to her or ordered another to do so.”
“Have you always been so mean-spirited?”
Lucerne displayed no shock at his query, though her shoulders slumped, her burden weighing on her once more. She rubbed at her temple. “I do not believe I have been, but then lately it is as if I don’t know myself, my headaches have worsened since my arrival here.”
Cree looked to Sloan. “Find out what Bree has been up to.” He turned back to Lucerne. “You’re coming with me to see Elsa.” He then settled a glare on Dawn. “And you’re staying put here.”
Dawn stood much too fast sending a sharp twinge to her side and caused her to involuntarily cringe.
Cree mumbled an oath and was beside her in an instant, his arm curling gently around her waist. “You will rest and I will not hear another word about it.”
Dawn jabbed at her chest and then at his.
“You most certainly are not going with me.”
Dawn did not want to argue with him, but she also did not want to be left in the cottage to pace and wonder what she was missing. She rested her head to his chest and patted it and then her own repeating the gesture several times.
“Pleading will do you no good,” Cree said gently.
She thought of something that might do her some good. She held her wrists together as if shackled.
“I have told you time and again that you are not a prisoner”
“But she is... as am I,” Lucerne said.
Dawn wasn’t surprised to know Lucerne felt the same as she did, though she was surprised to hear her voice her opinion without sounding shrewis
h.
Cree looked from one woman to the other, though the only one that truly mattered to him was Dawn, he suddenly had a better understanding of Lucerne. And it surprised him to realize that her situation paralleled Dawn’s. They each had been forced into circumstances that had allowed no choices.
He was growing more and more annoyed that this whole situation was taking twists and turns that outmaneuvered him too many times. Now he felt more than a sense of responsibility to Lucerne. The two women both were pawns in a deadly game... a game Cree intended to win. Until then he needed to keep them both safe.
Cree found an easy solution to his current problem, wishing everything else was so easily solved. He took hold of Dawn’s chin. “You may come with us so that Elsa can have a look at your wound and assure me that all is well.”
Dawn smiled and nodded happily.
He gave her a quick kiss before releasing her chin and turning to Lucerne. “And you will tell no one what was discussed here. You will let everyone think that you came here to confront Dawn as your mother had advised.”
“What shall I say was Dawn’s response?” Lucerne asked.
“Tell her that I intervened before you had time to speak with her.”
Lucerne looked relieved and nodded.
“Sloan, take Lucerne outside and wait for us,” Cree ordered.
Sloan nodded and the pair left, though not before Lucerne turned to Dawn and said, “Thank you.”
As soon as the door closed, Cree eased her close against him, burying his face in her damp hair and inhaling gently, then he brought his lips to her ear and whispered, “You smell... inviting... and that dress... entices.”
Dawn shivered, his warm breath tickling her ear and she instinctively turned her head to capture his lips in a much needed kiss. He was tender, she was hungry, and it didn’t take long for him to feel the same. And before either of them lost control, Cree stepped away, his breath heavy and his groin throbbing.
“We need to go now,” he demanded and she nodded agreeing.
He grabbed her cloak off the peg and draped it over her shoulders, though avoided touching her, and before he opened the door he turned to her and said, “Tonight I intend to feast on you.”
Dawn nearly stumbled out the door, his words creating an image in her head that tingled her entire body senseless. He had done it on purpose, for he knew full well what his words would do to her. All she could think about was him licking and nipping every inch of her naked flesh.
Dawn stumbled again as they walked the snow-covered path.
His hand was quick to catch her arm and right her steps and the wicked look in his eyes told her that he knew exactly what he had done to her. She tried to yank her arm away from him, but he wouldn’t have it.
“I’ll keep a hold of you; I don’t want you to fall.”
Dawn had no choice but to comply, though she did turn her glance away. It was then she realized that it was snowing lightly and that more than the usual amount of villagers were out and about, and staring at the three of them.
Gossip was probably already spreading and why not? Cree was walking through the village with two women in tow, his intended and his mistress. And no doubt they believed that only a devil of a man would have the audacity to do such a thing. Or perhaps he was doing more than she realized, perhaps he was letting everyone know that he had the matter well in hand.
Elwin and two guards followed behind and to the sides of them, taking up sentry duties when they reached Elsa’s cottage. Cree opened the door and held it for the two women to enter and then he followed them in.
Elsa bobbed her head. “My lord.”
“Elsa, we have need of your help. Lucerne is being poisoned.”
Lucerne’s eyes filled with tears again, only this time a smile filled her face. “Thank you, my lord, for believing me.”
“Dawn trusts you, so I trust you. Don’t make me regret it.”
“You have my word,” Lucerne said.
“As for Dawn,” Cree said turning to see her smiling at him. “Her wound pains her.”
“I will have a look at Dawn first. Lucerne’s problem will not have an easy or hasty solution.”
Dawn was fine; there was nothing wrong with her. She was more interested in what was happening to Lucerne and what would need to be done to help her than a twinge to her small wound that was healing nicely. But Cree’s concern had to be alleviated or they would never move on to Lucerne.
“Will you wait outside while I see to Dawn?” Elsa asked of Cree.
He looked ready to protest, then saw Dawn place a hand to her chest and gave a gentle nod and he knew she was saying please.
“Do not take long,” he ordered and turned and walked out.
Elsa did not need much time to ascertain that all was fine with Dawn, and Dawn herself went to the door to let Cree know they were finished. She smiled and patted her chest.
“I’ll let Elsa be the judge of how you are,” Cree said, though looked relieved.
After Elsa reaffirmed what Dawn had told him, the healer asked them all to take a seat at the table. She filled tankards with hot cider, and then sat herself.
“Healing plants are wonderful but they can also be deadly if not used properly,” Elsa explained. “And it takes a knowledgeable healer to know the difference. With the few questions I had asked you once before I began to suspect that you were ingesting something that was disrupting your nature and causing confused and erratic behavior. The headaches could be an effect of such ingestion.”
“Are you saying that someone wants Lucerne confused and unstable?” Cree asked.
“It is a possibility,” Elsa confirmed. “Depending on the poison used and the amount, it either can be deadly quite fast or make a person very ill until finally he is confined to bed and dies. That is not so with Lucerne.”
“When did your problem start, Lucerne?” Cree asked.
Lucerne rubbed at her temple. “I think about three or four months ago, though the headaches are more constant since my arrival here.”
“Was there any change in your servants or who prepared your food or drinks at that time?” Elsa asked.
Lucerne gave it thought and shook her head. “None that I recall.”
“My suggestion to you is to make certain you know who handles your food and drink and see how you feel over the next few days. I would prefer not to give you anything, not even for the headaches since I do not know what you are already being given. My potion could make it worse rather than help it, so it is best you take nothing until we see what happens.”
“You will eat only food that Flanna brings to you,” Cree ordered
Lucerne shook her head. “I forgot about something. I have a small pouch that contains a mixture that I use to make a nightly brew.”
“Have it brought to me,” Elsa said.
“Where did you get the mixture?” Cree asked.
Dawn listened to the exchange wishing she could join in. She almost did once or twice, when Cree asked the questions she was about to ask.
“It’s a mixture my mother’s family has brewed for years. The servants keep it available to us.”
“That means many were aware of it and anyone could have tainted it,” Cree said.
A knock sounded at the door and Cree called out for the person to enter knowing it was someone Elwin knew that Cree would wish to see.
Sloan entered. “I found Bree; she’s dead and it appears that someone has murdered her.”
Chapter Thirty
Cree had Lucerne escorted back to the keep and a guard assigned to her until Sloan could resume his duty and watch over her. Elwin was to take Dawn back to her cottage, but there was a problem, she refused to go. She wanted to go with Cree and find out what had happened to Bree.
“You are not coming with me,” Cree said adamantly, draping Dawn’s cloak over her shoulders. “You will return to the cottage and wait there for me.”
Dawn shook her head vehemently.
“Do you
truly believe you will win this argument?”
“She might,” Sloan said and Cree turned a murderous scowl on him. “Bree’s body was found in the woods behind Dawn’s cottage.”
Cree fisted his hands at his sides, furious that the young woman had been murdered so close to Dawn’s home.
“It’s also not far from where those tracks came to a dead stop,” Sloan said. “Yet no one has been spotted there.”
“Let’s have a look,” Cree relented and took hold of Dawn’s hand. “You will not leave my side.”
She nodded and gripped his hand.
Cree looked to Elsa who had stood silently by the hearth during the exchange. “Get Lucerne’s pouch of herbs and see what you can find out. I’ll have Neil sent to accompany you.”
She nodded. “Aye, my lord.”
They left the cottage and Dawn had to keep a swift pace to keep up with Cree’s angry strides. With such a venomous scowl villagers were quick to move away from him, though she heard their whispers. And so did he.
Once they rounded her cottage Cree came to an abrupt stop and turned to Sloan. “The people are already questioning my ability to keep them safe. First with the attempts on Dawn’s life that are yet to be solved and now with this murder of a young woman they had befriended. I will not have my leadership questioned, and I certainly will not have my clan at risk. No one rests until the murderer is found.”
“I already have Henry seeing if there are any tracks to be found and I have men scouring the surrounding area to see if they can find anything,” Sloan said.
“Good,” Cree said and looked to Dawn. “Are you certain you wish to see this?”
She nodded without hesitation.
“If you should change your mind—”
She shook her head, this involved her, and Cree needed help. There was no way she was going to be left out of it.
“You’re a stubborn one,” Cree said, though with a hint of admiration.
Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2) Page 25
