A short time after Cree and Torr left, Flanna hurried into the hall and over to Dawn. She stopped a moment before speaking when she caught sight of two warriors guarding the entrance to the hall.
Dawn grabbed hold of her hand to get her attention. Flanna wore a concerned look and Dawn worried that something was wrong.
Flanna kept her voice low when she said, “I heard that Lila was injured, though I do not know how badly.”
That was all Dawn needed to hear. With her cloak in hand, she was off the bench in an instant. She gave a quick glance to the guards at the door and saw that they had begun to approach her. Knowing she would never get passed them, and that they would also prevent her from leaving the hall, she turned and ran to the passageway that connected the hall to the kitchen.
Wintra quickly followed her.
Dawn’s heart pounded in her chest with worry. She prayed that Lila was all right. She did not know what she would do if something happened to her. She was more than a best friend. She was like a sister to Dawn.
“Lila is here, Dawn,” Old Mary called out to her when she was a few feet from the old woman’s cottage.
Wintra had to hasten her steps to keep up with Dawn. She was through the open door before Wintra made it up the snow-covered path. When she entered, Dawn was hugging a young woman and the woman, her one hand bandaged, was hugging Dawn with just as much fervor.
“You’re squeezing the life out of each other,” Old Mary said with a chuckle. “And some tears at that. Now sit and have a nice hot brew that will calm you both.”
The women did as Old Mary said and Wintra joined them at the table.
Dawn gestured so quickly that Wintra could not understand what she was saying, though Lila’s responses helped her follow their conversation.
“A blister is all from lugging the buckets of water. Elsa put some of her special herbal cream on it and has assured me it will be fine. The fire has finally been extinguished, but clean up cannot begin until the last of the embers fade and the debris safely handled.”
Old Mary placed a gentle hand on Dawn’s shoulder. “Lila will do good.”
Lila smiled. “Now tell me. Is it true? Did the King truly wed you and Cree by proxy?”
Dawn wasn’t surprised that the news had spread so fast, and she smiled and nodded.
Lila reached out and squeezed Dawn’s hand. “I am so very happy for you.”
Dawn made several gestures that Wintra did not understand, though Dawn pointed to her, so she assumed that she was being discussed.
Lila stood and bobbed her head at Wintra. It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
Stunned at being addressed so formerly and particularly as one of higher birth, Wintra stared at Lila for a moment before shaking her head. “I am Wintra and would much prefer to be called a friend.”
“Like Dawn and me, though we have been best friends forever,” Lila said with a smile to Dawn.
Dawn gestured something and tears gathered in Lila’s eyes as she interpreted. “Dawn says we are more like sisters.”
Wintra found herself envying Dawn. She had never had such a friendship. Her brother had been the closest to a friend that she ever had. The nuns at the abbey had been no more than companions and not very good one at that. Her thoughts suddenly turned vocal and she found herself admitting, “I have always wished for a sister, but with my da having died before I was born that was never a possibility. You are lucky to have each other.”
Dawn reached out and took hold of Wintra’s hand, squeezing it tight. Then she let go and gestured.
Wintra glanced helplessly at Lila.
“Dawn say she is so very happy to have you as a sister and not only a sister, but a best friend and that you two will share as sisters and friends do, as Dawn and I have done these many years.”
Wintra did not know what to say. Not only had she been reunited with her brother, but she now had a sister. And least she forget, she also had a husband as well. Again her thoughts rushed to her lips. “I have a family once again.” Tears sprung to her eyes.
Lila spoke as Dawn gestured. “Yes, we are family, and we will always be there for one another.”
The women talked and laughed and Wintra found herself enjoying their company. This was what she had missed in the abbey—family and friends. And being the women talked so freely and openly, she decided to ask a question that had been on her tongue for some time.
“Why did the King decide that Torr and I must wed?”
Dawn looked to Old Mary who had stood to rub her gnarled hands near the hearth’s flames and gave a nod. She understood the situation better than anyone, besides seeing and understanding beyond what others could.
“It is a convoluted tale, so I will explain as best as possible. Dawn is the daughter of Kirk McClusky and Ann Gerwan, wife of Roland Gerwan previous Earl of Carrick. She used Kirk to get with child, having been childless in her years married to Gerwan. When Lady Ann gave birth to Dawn and learned she had no voice, she knew Roland would suspect an affair with McClusky, since it was known that he had a daughter with the same affliction. She traded Dawn for a normal and beautiful baby—Lucerne. The King promised Cree land, title, and marriage to a noble woman in exchange for Cree’s conquering skills. He was to wed Lucerne. Cree, however, fell in love with Dawn and wanted to wed her. Dawn’s life was threatened, people started dying, and Lucerne acted wildly due to herbs Lady Ann had given her. In the end, many people had been affected by Lady Ann’s desire for power and wealth.
“The King had no choice but to right the wrongs. He had no problem wedding Cree to Dawn since Dawn was now considered of noble blood. But what was he to do for McClusky and the loss of his daughter Dawn all these years? To compensate, he gave Cree’s sister,” —Old Mary pointed a gnarled finger at Wintra— “you, to Torr, giving McClusky a new daughter and uniting two powerful clans that would no doubt serve the King well.”
Wintra did not know what to think and did it really matter? What was done was done and could not be undone. And did she truly want it any other way? Torr and she may have been forced to wed, but they had not been forced to love.
“She was going to remain here, but it proved more difficult than she had thought, and so Cree permitted her to return to the only place she knew as home, the keep of the previous Earl of Carrick. Lucerne will oversee the care and running of the place for Cree until he appoints a liegeman to take residence there.”
“My brother is a good man,” Wintra said with pride and the other three women agreed.
“I must be going,” Lila said. “I left Thomas safe with the women who watch the children when an incident like this happens, and he needs to be fed. And no doubt Paul will be hungry after such a laborious chore.”
Dawn realized then that the two guards probably searched for her and Wintra and gestured that they should leave as well.
“You might as well wait,” Old Mary said to Dawn. “Cree is almost here.”
That had Lila hurrying to the door, but it flew open before she reached it. Cree stepped in, filling the small space with his potent presence.
Dawn started gesturing and Cree held up his hand to stop her. He then turned to Lila. “You have suffered a wound helping with the fire?”
“A mere blister, nothing more, my lord,” Lila said.
“Elsa advises me that you cannot work the wool until the wound properly heals. Find a woman who can help in the meantime.”
Lila bobbed her head. “Thank you, my lord.” With that she scurried past Cree and out the door.
Cree walked over to his wife and captured her chin between his fingers. “What do you not understand about being told to remain at the keep?”
Dawn ignored his question and thanked him for being so kind to Lila, though it had the affect she had hoped it would.
He let go of her chin, slipped his arm around her waist, and eased her close. “I knew as soon as I found out that Lila had been injured that there would be no stopping you from going to her. And now that you know she is well, we need to return to the keep.”
Dawn knew by the tone of his voice that he had more to say, but not here and now.
Wintra knew that tone as well and she worried that what he was not saying might concern Torr. “Where is Torr?”
“He is seeing to another matter and will join us as soon as he can,” Cree said.
Wintra went along with her brother and Dawn to the keep, but her thoughts strayed to Torr. Where was he? What was he doing? Was he in danger? Once in the Great Hall, she reluctantly took a seat and waited—much too long.
Warriors came and went, food was continuously being served and the gray skies darkened along with the day and rain began to fall.
Dawn had wisely seen how sitting doing nothing was causing Wintra to worry and she soon had her tearing strips of clean linen for bandages. It wasn’t until the table was cleaned and prepared for the evening meal that Wintra’s worry returned with a vengeance. Torr had yet to return and she was not just concerned, but fearful that something had happened to him.
When he finally entered the Great Hall, she could not stop herself from running to him.
He caught her in his strong arms and hugged her tight. “Miss me, did you?” He regretted his teasing remark when she turned tear-filled eyes on him. “What’s wrong?”
She sniffled back her tears. “I thought something had happened to you and that you would never return to me.”
“Princess,” he said and kissed her lips lightly, “the devil himself could not keep you from me.”
She sniffled again. “That is good to know since if the devil ever tried to get you, he would know what real hell is when I come after him to get you back.”
“Love me that much, do you?” he said, though this time he didn’t tease.
“More than you will ever know,” she whispered.
“Now that you have assuaged my sister’s concern, it is time we talk,” Cree said as he approached them. “What have you found out about Owen?”
“His troop grows, though he will be beyond Carrick borders in a day or so, which makes one wonder his intentions.”
Wintra sighed for the third time. Torr had gone with Cree to his solar to discuss the situation and she had remained at the table with Dawn. That had been two hours ago and Wintra now sat alone. Dawn had grown tired and, with apologies to Wintra for leaving her alone, had retired for the evening. She was feeling the effects of the long day herself and decided that perhaps she would do better waiting for her husband at the cottage.
Her cheeks stained red when the idea of waiting in bed for him—naked—stirred in her mind. Could she do such a thing? Dare she?
Wintra stood, deciding to ponder the idea as she made her way to the cottage. The rain had stopped and the air was cold, and she would not be surprised if snow fell before morning. She hurried along, eager to seek the warmth of the cottage and to determine if she could actually strip and wait naked in bed for her husband.
When she was a few short steps from the front door, her arm was suddenly grabbed and she was yanked back, almost losing her footing. The stench of her assailant stung her nostrils so badly that she thought she would retch. Unlike her earlier attack, this time she was unfettered and nothing prevented her from launching her own attack. She did so without hesitation.
Wintra jabbed him hard in the eye and stomped as viciously as she could on his foot. While he grabbed for his eye and hopped on one foot, she kicked him in the groin with all the force she could muster. He groaned, grabbed his groin, and went down on his knees.
She grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head back. “Who sent you after me?”
He did not respond. She let go of his hand, stepped behind him, and stomped repeatedly on his ankle. He screamed out in pain and fell over on his side. She kicked him in the ribs. “Who?” she demanded, wanting answers.
A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder, and she turned with a tightly clenched fist ready to strike.
Torr caught her fist in his hand before it could connect with his face. “Easy, Princess, it’s me.”
“I thought you were still with my brother in his solar,” she said.
He released her hand and his arm went around her. “I entered the hall as you left, stopping only for a moment to ask Flanna to send supper to the cottage for us. I must admit, I am impressed that you were able to subdue the culprit on your own.”
“Supper. The two of us. Alone. How wonderful.”
Torr smiled that she was more pleased that he had arranged for supper for just the two of them rather than his compliment over her handling of the situation. But then he was looking forward to their time alone as well.
He called out to three warriors about to enter the keep. “I need two of you to guard this man and the other to fetch Cree. He has retired to his bedchamber.”
Two warriors hurried over to him while the third rushed into the keep.
“Let’s get you inside. The night grows cold,” Torr said.
Wintra refused to budge. “Then you will have to keep me warm, since I will not move from this spot. I will not be left out of the discussion this time.”
Torr would not argue with her. She had a right to know what was going on.
“What goes on here?’ Cree demanded as he approached.
“I would like to know the very same thing,” Wintra said. “Twice in one day I am almost abducted. What is happening, Cree?”
It was not a grown woman he heard ask her, but his little sister who he had failed to protect a few times. And that did not set at all well with him.
Sloan appeared and Cree ordered him to secure the culprit in the shed. The warriors carted the man off moaning and groaning.
Dawn rushed out of the darkness, a fur-lined cloak draped haphazardly over her night dress.
“You were to stay in bed,” Cree scolded as he caught her around the waist and settled her against him.
She gestured frantically while looking at Wintra.
“As you can see, my sister is fine. Torr saved her.”
“Wintra saved herself,” Torr said with a degree of pride.
“Actually,” Wintra said looking to her brother. “Cree saved me.”
Dawn shivered and Cree ordered everyone into the cottage just as Flanna arrived with food and a pitcher of hot cider. She was quickly dispatched to bring a pitcher of ale.
Once they were seated at the table, the fire stoked and a blanket wrapped around Dawn due to Cree’s insistence, he turned to his sister and said, “As far as what is happening, I do not know, but I intend to find out and put an end to it. But right now—how did I save you when I was not even there?”
For a moment Wintra appeared as if lost in her thoughts, and then she spoke. “Someone grabbed me just as that man did near our farm that day. Only this time, I did what you taught me to do to—I attacked him.”
Cree remembered that day all too well. He had been hunting and upon his return home he had come upon a scene that had struck him with gut-wrenching fear. He had spotted a man dragging Wintra away by the arm. She was trying desperately to free herself, but she was no match for his size. Cree had taken off in a run, though did not scream at the man to stop, fearful that he would run off with Wintra into the woods and be lost to him. He had watched as the man knocked her to the ground and was about to rape her. He had never run so fast in his life.
He had thrown his body full force at the man, knocking him off Wintra, then he and the man had fought. Cree had been so furious that he snapped the man’s neck. Wintra had run to him afterward and had flung her scrawny little arms around his neck and wouldn’t let go of him. Her body had trembled against his as he held her tight, and he had wanted to kill her attacker all over again. She had been his shadow for days on end after that, and he realized then that he had to teach her how to protect herself against someone bigger and stronger, and he had done just that. He also had never left her alone again, and it had been another reason why he had placed her in the abbey.
Wintra shook her head. “I had locked that memory away, not wanting to remember it. But I instinctively remembered what you taught me and I did not hesitate to attack him. But then—” She shook her head again. “I wanted answers. I am so tired of not having answers. I yanked him by the hair and demanded to know who sent him and when he did not respond, I stomped repeatedly on his ankle. He fell over and I kicked him in the ribs and was about to do more. Then Torr was there and I almost punched him, though he was quick to stop me.” She shook her head again. “I do not know what happened to me.”
“You are angry and rightfully so, and I am so proud to see what a strong and brave woman you have become,” Cree said.
Her heart swelled with joy that her brother would speak with such pride of her, but then he had helped make her strong. And she was just beginning to realize that.
“We need to talk with the man who attacked, Wintra,” Cree said to Torr.
Torr pressed his finger to Wintra’s lips before she could open them. “This will not be pleasant to see. Rest assured, I will tell you everything upon my return. I am sure Dawn would not mind staying with you while you wait.” He turned pleading eyes on Dawn.
Dawn nodded and smiled, agreeing.
Torr leaned close to Wintra, pressing his cheek to hers and whispered, “You are not going to win this one, Princess. You are staying put. Besides, I have a promise to keep to you tonight.”
Passion rushed in to nip at every bit of her flesh before settling in the most intimate places. She kissed his cheek and smiled sweetly. “Do not be long.”
As soon as the door closed on Torr and Cree, Dawn begged Wintra to tell her about Cree and their life on the farm. Wintra, not having had anyone to relive memories with, was only too eager to oblige her.
~~~
“His name is George and he is more than willing to talk,” Sloan said when Cree and Torr entered the shack that Wintra’s attacker had been taken to.
Cree stepped forward and George, more skin and bones than muscle, cringed and shuffled back on his butt where he sat on the cold ground, wincing as he did.
“I will tell you whatever you want to know,” George pleaded.
“I have no doubt of that,” Cree said, towering over the frightened man. “Who sent you?”
“Owen McBride of the clan McBride.”
Cree didn’t have to ask another question. George kept right on talking.
“He ordered me to get Wintra and bring her to him and to do whatever was necessary to see it done. I do not take to hurting women and had no intentions of hitting her. I never expected her to attack me the way she did. She was ruthless, but then she is your sister.”
Cree scowled, though inwardly he swelled with pride that Wintra had become such a courageous woman.
George apologized quickly. “I do not mean that in a bad way. I just mean that you are both skilled fighters. And from what I am hearing around camp from the warriors that have been here, is that you are more of a fair man than Owen would have us believe. I do not trust Owen McBride. He is a cruel man. It was a sad day when he married our chieftain’s daughter and even sadder day when she died, though talk was that he had her murdered, the poor soul. He treated her so badly, but there was nothing we could do to stop him. His small contingent of men was enough to keep everyone in line. He has brought nothing but grief and poverty to our clan.” George bowed his head. “I ask for mercy, my lord. I have a wife and daughter and another child on the way. They will starve, not that we aren’t already, but they will not last long if I do not return home to them. Besides, wives who no longer have husbands are used by Owen’s men, and I do not want that for my Patricia.”
“You have no idea why Owen wants my sister?”
“Everyone knows he wanted her for himself, and we thought it was over once it was learned that your sister was wed. But it is as if he hasn’t changed his plans. And then there is his connection to the Earl of Kellmara. For some reason the man seems to support Owen’s madness in acquiring your sister as his wife. Kellmara troops are expected any day now.” George shivered. “It is whispered that Kellmara is almost as powerful as the King.”
“And I am more ruthless than both,” Cree said.
George paled and his eyes turned wide.
Cree turned to Sloan. “Take him to Elsa and have her see to his care and see that he stays there the night. Two guards at his door.”
“I do not want to go back to Owen McBride. I will pledge my fealty to you and serve you well. I just want to return home and get my wife and daughter and bring them here. We both will serve you well. I am only a farmer, but I know the land and can make anything grow.”
“We will see,” Cree said and turned walking out the door, Torr following.
The two men went only a few steps when Cree stopped. “What do you think?” he said.
“He speaks the truth,” Torr said and told him the same tale he had told Wintra.
Cree scowled. “Why is it that I have not come across this man?”
“He preys on the small, weak and isolated clans, so he will not be noticed.”
“Then why would he go after Wintra?”
“Perhaps he now has bigger aspirations.”
“George is a farmer,” Cree said. “Why would Owen send a farmer instead of one of his warriors to abduct Wintra?”
“Good question. Why would he?” Torr said.
“And why does the Earl of Kellmara support this devil’s madness? And why does he send troops to help Owen?” Cree asked more to himself than Torr.
Torr responded anyway. “I care not how strong Kellmara is. Wintra belongs to me and I am not giving her up. She is mine and will remain so forever.”
“You love her that much?” Cree asked happy to hear it.
“Even more than that.”
“That is good to know,” Cree said as they continued walking. “Now options and plans must be discussed, though not tonight. Tomorrow is soon enough.”
“What happened to Wintra that day on the farm when a man grabbed her?” Torr asked. He had thought about asking Wintra, but he did not want her to have to relive such a painful event in her life. However, he had to know.
Cree detailed the whole incident and Torr was delighted to learn that Cree had done what he would have, snapped the man’s neck.