“There is no time to waste arguing,” Wintra insisted. “There is no other way.” She did not wait for Dawn to agree or disagree. She got busy searching for a hiding spot. She found a small cropping of rocks not far away that seemed the only possible choice. By adding fallen pine branches along one side, it just might work.
Dawn tried to protest again, but Wintra would not have it. Wintra made certain that Dawn could not be seen behind the large formation of rocks by scattering fallen pine branches on the sides in just the right places.
“You must promise me that no matter what you hear, you must stay put,” Wintra said worried that Dawn would try to help her.
Dawn shook her head and with her finger crossed her chest, letting Wintra know that she could make no such promise.
Wintra took Dawn’s hand. “Please, Dawn, let me do this for you and the babe and for my brother. Cree has protected and kept me safe all my life. Now it is my turn.”
Dawn understood her need to be courageous. She had experienced it herself and gave no thought to doing what had to be done. But she did not know if she could sit by and not help Wintra if it should prove necessary. There was the babe to consider, but he was safe inside her. And how could she ever face Cree and tell him she had sat by and done nothing to help his sister.
Dawn could make no promises and she was about to let Wintra know that when they both suddenly heard the pounding of hooves not far off.
“Please stay put,” Wintra said and hurried off to meet her fate.
“Blood,” Cree’s tracker said as he examined the area.
Cree and Torr were off their horses in an instant. Kellmara followed, staring at the rock smeared with blood as the tracker drifted off.
Torr’s gut clenched with fear for his wife and his sister. He raged inwardly at feeling so helpless. He wanted his wife and sister back and he wanted Owen dead. And he would not rest until he saw that both were done.
Cree stepped away from the others and looked in the distance. He balled his hands into fists, needing to control his anger. Right now he had to focus on Owen and his men, not his wife and sister. He would lose all perspective if he allowed his fear for his wife and sister’s safety to interfere. He was a warrior and this was a battle. And this battle was not going to end well for the enemy. He intended to slaughter every one of them.
The tracker returned smiling. “The two women escaped and from their footprints neither appears injured.”
“Get us to my wife and sister, Henry, and you will live like a king,” Cree said.
“I live better than a king, my lord, thanks to you. I would have never met my wife Greta if you had not freed her people from invaders, and now she and I will welcome our first child in two months. I have a good life and I am grateful. I will get you to your wife and sister,” Henry said, “but we must hurry. Horses follow the tracks.”
They all mounted their horses and followed the tracker.
~~~
Wintra waited until the riders came into view. Owen rode in the lead and after staring at him for a moment, she turned and ran. If she could put enough distance between her and Dawn before Owen caught her, there would be no way the stubborn woman could help her.
She had no doubt that Owen would catch her. What he would do when he did, she wasn’t sure, but she did not think he would kill her—not yet at least. And, hopefully, that would give Torr and Cree time to find her.
The pounding of the horse’s hooves grew louder and closer, no matter how fast she ran, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the riders caught up with her. She spied a clumping of trees and headed for them, knowing that it would be hard for the horses to maneuver around them.
She heard Owen spew a string of oaths as he drew near and a chill raced through her, knowing he was not far behind her. She had left the dagger with Dawn in case she needed to protect herself. As for herself, she would do whatever was necessary to stay alive until Torr or Cree found her.
The brutal shove to her back came suddenly and sent her sprawling to the ground face first. Her face no soon as smacked the patch of snow, then she was yanked up by the back of her hair and turned to face a furious Owen.
Wintra could not help it, she could not stop from smiling. The lump on his forehead protruded like a horn from his head.
“You bitch,” he screamed and slapped her across the face so hard that the sting reverberated through her head. “Before I get done with you, you will beg for death.”
“I would not be so quick to harm me,” she warned. “Not only will my husband want to see that I am unharmed, but so will my brother and father before any ransom is handed over to you.”
Owen grinned. “What I intend to do to you no one will be able to see, and do you truly believe I intend to return you to your husband?”
“No, never did I believe that.”
“So you attempted a foolish escape.” Owen suddenly gave a quick look around. “Where is the pregnant one?”
“Do you actually think I would tell you,” she said mockingly.
Another hard slap sent blood running down the corner of her mouth.
“You do know that Cree will stop Torr from killing you fast. My brother will want to see you suffer for every injury you inflicted upon me, and I want to see you suffer for what you have done to those women.”
“We will see who suffers,” Owen sneered and hit her again. “Now tell me where the pregnant one is.”
“You are wasting your time,” Wintra said and felt the breath whoosh from her body as he landed a solid blow to her stomach.
“Go find the other woman,” Owen yelled to one of his warriors.
“Now let’s see how brave you truly are?” Owen said and turned his fist on her again.
~~~
Dawn had waited until all the horses had passed and the ground trembled no more. Then she got up and followed the horses’ tracks. She did not care how tired she was, there was no way she was not going to help Wintra. She would not be foolish about it. She would stay hidden and wait for just the right moment.
She saw the warrior in the near distance at the same time he saw her, and she knew there was no point in running. She would tire herself out and he would catch her, and then she would have no strength left to fight him. She blessed Wintra ten times over for having left the dagger with her. She gripped it tightly in her hand, her cloak concealing it, and waited.
~~~
The tracker spotted the two bodies crumpled on the ground, a few feet from each other and yelled out.
Cree flew past him as did Torr and Kellmara. Cree was off his horse in a flash when he saw that it was Dawn lying face down in the snow, blood pooling at her side. He threw his head back and released such a roar that the birds and animals in the woods hurried off in fear to bury themselves from the terrifying howl. And Cree’s men kept their distance, knowing all too well that Cree was about to release hell.
Cree stared down at Dawn, afraid to touch her, afraid to find out that his wife was dead.
Torr was not. She was his sister, and he dropped to the ground beside her.
“Don’t touch her,” Cree shouted when Torr reached out.
“Then see to her,” Torr said angrily. “She may be able to tell us where Wintra is.” He refused to believe Dawn dead. She couldn’t be and neither could Wintra.
Cree went down on his knees beside her and as he gently turned her over, her eyes fluttered open, and she struggled to smile at him. Relief punched him in the gut, rendering him as speechless as Dawn.
“Where are you wounded? Who did this to you? Where is Wintra?” Torr asked anxiously since Cree had been struck silent, not that he could blame him. Seeing Dawn sprawled so lifeless on the ground had given the impression she was dead. He was grateful she wasn’t and he hoped she could tell him where Wintra was.
Dawn raised her hand, though winced as she did.
Cree quickly and gently rested her hand in his and winced himself when he saw how her palm had been sliced across. He was also relieved to see that the wound was the reason for the blood that had been spilled.
“I found tracks,” Henry called out.
Torr jumped to his feet, though gave a last look to Dawn. “I must go.”
Dawn pointed and wagged her hand for him to hurry.
“I will leave you and Kellmara to return my sister safely to me,” Cree said, knowing both men were more than capable of the task and also knowing there was no way he was going to leave his wife.
Torr was on his horse and gone before Kellmara reached his horse.
Cree looked down at his wife, snug in his arms. “I am going to shackle you to me so that you never leave my side again.”
Dawn grinned and shook her head.
“I am serious. I never want to feel again what I did a few moments ago when I thought you dead. It was as if all life had suddenly been drained from me, and there was no point in living without you or the babe in my life. Damn it, Dawn, I love you so much more than I ever thought possible.”
She smiled at his loving declaration, and then with slow gestures, assured him that she and the babe were fine, with the exception of her hand.
“The fool I am,” he scolded himself, “to talk with you when your hand needs tending.” He got to his feet while keeping her snug in his arms and looked around to see that half his warriors had gone with Torr and the other half had remained behind. They were busy scouting the area, posting guards, while two saw to removing the dead man’s body from sight, and two others had just finished preparing a pallet made of pine branches and were placing blankets on top.
His men knew well their jobs and he would see them rewarded for a task more than well done. He placed Dawn on the pallet and with relief saw to her care.
~~~
Wintra had managed to avoid the blow, though it cost her since her hair had been pulled when she yanked away from him, and she thought for sure that a portion of her scalp had been torn away with it. She was surprised, and relieved, to see only a few strands of her hair hanging in his hand.
Owen grew even more furious and lunged at her, and she came up with her hand just as he did and caught him hard in the nose.
Owen stumbled back as blood poured from his nostrils. He looked dazed and it took him a moment to regain his focus. He wiped the blood away from his mouth with the back of his hand, but it did not stop blood spittle from flying as he spoke. “You will pay for that, bitch.”
He lunged at her again, catching her shoulder.
She swerved and released the ties at her neck, and her cloak slipped off along with his hand.
He cursed and rushed at her, but she was quick to step out of his reach. He grew more furious with each unsuccessful attempt. Until, in a blinding rage, he threw himself at her, knocking her down. He scrambled over her, her hands and arms flailing as she tried to deflect the blows he haphazardly threw at her.
Suddenly Owen was gone, and she turned her head to see Torr and him rolling around on the ground a few feet from her. She scrambled to her feet just as mayhem rained down upon them. Her father came charging in with Cree’s warriors and attacked Owen’s men. She hurried out of the way, though remained near, never taking her eyes off her husband as he and Owen got to their feet and exchanged vicious blows.
“I’m going to kill you, and then take your wife with your blood on my hands,” Owen screamed at Torr.
“You do not have the courage. You sniveling coward,” Torr challenged.
Owen lunged at him like a madman and in only minutes Wintra realized that he did not stand a chance against Torr. His punches staggered while Owen’s appeared to glance off Torr. He sent Owen reeling time and again until the man could barely stand. Torr stood firm on his feet, his breathing steady, and his nostrils flaring in anger.
One of Owen’s men tried to help him and Torr took him down with one quick jab in the face. At that one moment, Owen attempted to run. Torr was on him, grabbing his arm, and swinging him around, his fist connecting with Owen’s jaw.
He went down on his knees and Torr circled him like a hunter closing in on his prey. “I really should let Cree have you. Your death would be slow and painful, but I want this done here and now.”
He lashed out at Owen so fast that all Wintra could see was a blur, though she heard Owen scream and saw a bone protruding from his arm.
“That’s for daring to abduct my wife and sister,” Torr said circling him again.
Wintra heard it then—silence. She glanced around to see that Cree’s warriors had won and they now stood watching Torr with respect. She also saw that her father stood looking upon Torr with admiration and pride.
Owen was on his knees, his face deathly pale, his head turned away from his broken arm unable to look upon it.
Torr struck him again, this time breaking his other arm. “That is for causing my sister harm.”
Wintra gasped. Dawn had been hurt? How badly? That was why Cree wasn’t here. He was with Dawn. She prayed for Dawn’s well-being.
Owen cried out, “Enough, mercy, please mercy.”
“You showed no mercy to others. You deserve none for yourself.” Torr took Owen’s head in his hands. “And this is for what you’ve done to my wife and all the other women you have so ruthlessly harmed.” With a vicious twist, he broke Owen’s neck.
It was late, the keep quiet after a hectic night. Cree had shouted orders as soon as they had all returned, sending everyone jumping and running at his command. Elsa had hurried from her cottage to attend Dawn in her bedchamber, where Cree had insisted his sister wait so Elsa could tend her wounds as soon as the healer finished seeing to Dawn.
Wintra had tried to explain that she was fine, but there had been no winning against her husband, her brother, and her father. She did not know how she was going to deal with three strong men in her life, but she was happy to try.
She had been so relieved to know that Dawn’s wound had not been as bad as first thought. Elsa had cleansed and bandaged it and ordered her to refrain from using it for a few days until the wound closed sufficiently.
Dawn had worried that she would not be able to talk with one hand.
Cree had shocked everyone when he told her, “You talk too much anyway. It will not hurt you to be silent for a few days.”
Dawn’s body had started shaking with laughter and all those in the room had joined in, their laughter reverberating throughout the room.
Cree had ordered everyone out and they had complied, laughing all the way.
Torr stopped after taking a few steps out of the room and slipped his arm around Wintra’s waist. “Are you sure you do well?”
“You have asked me that endlessly since first seeing my wounds. And I have assured you again and again that I am fine. And Elsa agrees. You have no cause to ask me again.”
Torr eased her up against him. “And what if I have a particular reason for wanting to make certain?”
“That might prove interesting,” she said and smiled, then winced.
“See,” Torr said accusingly, “you are in pain.”
“You trapped me,” she insisted and gave him a shove, not that it did any good. He was too solid of a man to move with a shove from the likes of her. Then a thought hit her, a single thought, and she said, “My lips may be too sore to kiss, but the rest of me is feeling just fine.”
Torr rested his brow to hers. “You tempt me, Princess.”
A familiar tingle ran through her and she ran her hand over his chest. “I meant to.”
“You have been through an ordeal—”
“That is done and finished thanks to you. We should celebrate.”
“I will do all the work,” he ordered.
“Now you tempt me,” she said.
He smiled, though it faded slowly. “I thought I had lost you. I never want to feel that soul-wrenching emptiness again. I love you, Wintra.”
“And I love you, Torr, forever and ever and ever.”
“I wish I could kiss you right now, but since I cannot kiss your mouth,” —he took her hand and his other hand went to rest at her back just above her backside—“let’s hurry and go to the cottage.”
Wintra and Torr rushed down the stairs and stopped when they reached the Great Hall taken by the beauty of the wedding decorations. Pine garlands hung across the mantel with candles interspersed throughout. Garlands were also strung from the rafters as were clan color banners.
“It is a shame the wedding never got to take place and now it is postponed until Dawn feels well enough for a celebration. And another wedding dress must be stitched since hers got ruined,” Wintra said.
Torr turned to her and said, “Marry me, Wintra, here and now.”
“We are married,” she said looking at him as if he had gone completely mad.
“Marry me this time because you choose to do so.”
He gave her a choice, and she didn’t have to think about it. Her heart swelled with joy. “Yes. Yes, I will marry you.”
“Wait here. Do not move. Promise me you will not move,” Torr said excited.
“I will sit at the table by the hearth and wait,” she said, keeping a smile at bay so she would not disturb her wound.
Torr returned in no time with her father in tow, a huge smile on his face as he hurriedly lifted her off the bench to place her in front of him like a shield. “You need to protect me from your brother.”
“I am going to beat your husband,” Cree warned as he entered the Great Hall with his wife smiling beside him. Dawn gave him a jab when they came to a stop near Wintra and Torr. He scowled at her.
After a simple hand gesture and a touch to Cree’s chest, his tone softened.
“We are overjoyed that
someone
is able to wed today,” Cree said annoyed. He looked to his sister and a smile crept over his lips. “Truly, we are overjoyed for you and Torr.”
Wintra went to him and gave him a hug. “I love you and I am glad you and Dawn will share this moment with us.”
“I wouldn’t miss it and I love you, little sister, and it is glad I am to have you home again.” Cree said and kissed her cheek.
Before Wintra returned to Torr’s side, she went to Kellmara. “I am glad you are here to see me wed the man I love,
Da
.”
Tears sprang in Kellmara’s eyes that she had called him Da, and he reached out and gave his daughter a tight hug.
Henry entered the Great Hall, yawning. Since he was sent by the King with the powers to annul the marriages if need be, he also had the power to wed those that had been joined by proxy.
Surrounded by family, those who loved her most, Wintra exchanged vows with Torr and sealed their love with loving words and a loving kiss.