Highlander's Promise Page 7

  “So Cree brought you home and cleaned you up.”

  Between his slurred words and his breath heavy with ale, it was easy to surmise the man was well into his cups. What startled Dawn the most was what he had said. He had to be one of Minnoch’s men and one that was there in the dungeon when she had been brought in. But what was he doing here? Minnoch was a day’s ride yet from here, unless he had sent some soldiers ahead to see what they could find out.

  “Since you are all cleaned up, how about giving me some of what you gave to Cree?”

  Dawn cast an eye to the kitchen door. Why was it closed? It was usually open, but then with all the King’s soldiers roaming about, Turbett probably did not want them disturbing him.

  “Come on, we will find a place where no one will bother us,” he said and burped loudly.

  The awful stench drifted down around Dawn and she gagged. She did not wait another minute. She brought her heel down on the man’s foot as hard as she could and when he let out a yell, she rammed her elbow back into his gut with a force that sent him tumbling. She turned and ran, but his hand snagged her ankle and she went down hard.

  “You’re going to pay for that, whore,” he said and scrambled over her as he fought off her flailing hands.

  This is when she wished she had a voice so that she could scream, but there was no point in wishing for something that would never be. And she was not about to rescue Cree from the likes of Minnoch and his soldiers only to fall prey to one of them again.

  She made a tight fist and swung with all her might, connecting with his jaw. He toppled off her and she scurried to her feet and made a run for the kitchen door. It flew open just as she was about to grab the latch, her momentum propelling her through the opening and sending the person there tumbling to the floor along with her.

  She heard someone yell to get Cree and when she looked to see who she had fallen on top of her eyes turned wide. Spread out beneath her was Mathias Obern.

  “Get off me!” he screamed in Dawn’s face.

  Dawn was about to comply, worried that she had caused a bigger problem for her husband when she was suddenly lifted off him. She was relieved to see it was Cree who had hold of her.

  “Get Elsa,” he shouted, ignoring Obern’s complaints as he struggled to get to his feet. “Your wound bleeds. What happened?” Fury rose up in him when he had entered the kitchen and saw his wife on top of Obern and when he had yanked her up and saw that her bandaged was soaked in one area with blood, his heart had slammed against his chest.

  Dawn took a moment to catch her breath, though as she did, she pointed outside and gestured at being grabbed.

  “Someone attacked you?” Cree asked his anger mounting.

  “What is going on?” Obern demanded.

  Cree did not answer him. He cast a quick glance to Flanna and said, “Watch her.” Then he walked outside and over to the man who was stumbling around, trying to get to his feet.

  Flanna kept a firm hand on Dawn as they walked out of the kitchen, Obern following behind them and the servants behind him. Sloan hurried past them all and a couple of the King’s guards came to stand protectively beside Obern once outside.

  “Here let me help you up,” Cree said and roughly yanked the man off the ground. When he saw who it was, one of Minnoch’s soldiers who had striped his wife naked, he let loose with a vicious punch and sent the man flying several feet.

  Cree was on top of him before he could get up, dragging him to his feet. “What are you doing here? Did Minnoch send you?” He did not give the man time to answer. He punched him again. This time in the stomach and he doubled over and fell to his knees.

  “Stop! Stop this at once!” Obern ordered.

  Cree turned such a vicious scowl on him that the skinny man stumbled back away from him.

  “This man dared to put his hands on my wife and he dared to spy on my clan. He will get what he deserves.”

  “You will not harm one of Minnoch’s men,” Obern ordered.

  Cree cast a look to Sloan and he walked over to stand next to the kneeling man while Cree advanced on Obern with fast strides.

  The two King’s guards stepped in front of the quaking man and Cree did not hesitate to shove them out of the way, sending them stumbling. Cree’s warriors had gathered around and stepped forward to make sure the guards did not get in his way.

  “I gave the King my word I would not harm Minnoch. Do not ask anymore of me, little man, or you will learn firsthand why the King seeks my special skills.” He glared at Obern as he said, “Go to the kitchen and speak to my cook as you requested.”

  Obern went to protest.

  “Say one word, just one word,” Cree warned and Obern trembled so badly that when he turned he stumbled and the guards had to help him to the kitchen. Cree was quick to turn and go to his wife when he heard Elsa.

  “You bleed again? This is not good. You need to come with me to my cottage so I may tend this properly,” Elsa said.

  Cree did not like the look of concern on Elsa’s face. He turned to his wife, brushing dirt gently off her cheek. “Go with Elsa and do as she says. I will be there shortly.”

  Dawn wanted to ask her husband why he gave his word to the King not to harm Minnoch. And would Minnoch do the same and give his word not to harm Cree?

  Cree dusted dirt off her nose. “I know you have questions, we will talk later.”

  Dawn traced an X over her heart.

  “Aye, I promise,” he said, doing the same.

  Dawn gave Cree a quick kiss, and then went reluctantly with Elsa.

  Cree motioned Sloan over and two of Cree’s warriors went and stood guard by the man who appeared to have lost some of his drunken stupor.

  “Minnoch will make you suffer if you hurt me,” he called out.

  “Say another word and I will slice your throat and watch you bleed to death,” Cree said as if looking forward to such a gruesome task.

  The man was quick to lock his lips.

  “Send for McClusky and Kellmara,” Cree ordered Sloan. “I want to know more of what is happening on our borders. Then take this one and get whatever information you can out of him. When you are done let me know.”

  “What are you going to do?” Sloan asked.

  “Send Minnoch a gift.”

  ~~~

  Cree entered Elsa’s cottage and almost cringed when he saw how red and raw the one area of his wife’s wound looked. “It will not heal?” he asked as he entered and stood aside so as not to get in Elsa’s way as she worked on Dawn.

  “It had at least stopped bleeding until this scuffle today.”

  Another reason to kill the bastard, Cree thought.

  Elsa turned to Cree. “It might be better to sear it closed.”

  “It will scar,” Cree said.

  Elsa nodded. “It will, but I worry that it will turn putrid if it doesn’t at least show signs of closing soon.”

  “Sear it then,” Cree ordered.

  Dawn hurried off the chair, shaking her head. Her hands gestured fast and her face was pinched with anger.

  “I will not argue over this with you, wife,” Cree said firmly. “It will be done.”

  Dawn crossed her arms over her chest, narrowed her eyes, and shook her head slowly, in defiance.

  Cree inched closer to her. “Do I need to hold you down?”

  Dawn held up a tightly clenched fist.

  “You would hit me?” he asked, stopping beside her.

  She tapped near her wound, and then patted her chest hard.

  “You say it is your decision to make?”

  Dawn nodded.

  “With your choice I could lose you and that I will not have.” He slipped his hand around the back of her neck. “You are mine, Dawn, and I will not let you go, not ever. My heart would shatter and life would be meaningless without you, so you will have the wound seared if I must hold you down and see it done.”

  Dawn pressed two fingers to his lips and with her other hand tapped her chest, and
then held two fingers in front of him and pointed to her wound.

  His brow wrinkled. “Are you asking for two days to see if the wound begins to heal?”

  She nodded.

  “You will let Elsa sear it if by then it gets no better?”

  She took his hand and pressed it against her chest and nodded.

  “Of course I would be with you when it is done. And you give me your word on this?”

  She tapped his chest once.

  Cree turned to Elsa. “Will two day’s wait matter?”

  “I cannot say for sure.”

  Cree cupped his wife’s chin. “One day.” Though it hurt him to see the disappointment in her eyes, he would not chance losing her. “One day or nothing.”

  Her shoulders rose and fell in a resigned sighed as she nodded.

  He went to kiss her lightly, but stopped and turned to Elsa. “This means no vigorous activity?”

  “Nothing that would jostle the wound and cause it to bleed.”

  Cree kissed his wife and whispered, “It may be best if I sleep elsewhere tonight.” He did not give her a chance to argue, since he knew she would. He turned and walked to the door. “I will wait outside for Elsa to finish.”

  As he walked out the door, Dawn shook her head, her shoulders rising and falling again with a sigh and her lips falling in a frown.

  “A scar does not matter to him,” Elsa said, “you do.”

  She pointed to her wound, then at the door, and shook her head.

  “When Cree takes his revenge on Minnoch, your scar will no longer be there whether it is visible or not,” Elsa assured her.

  There was truth to her words. Unfortunately, Cree had been forbidden to seek revenge against Minnoch, so her scar would always hold a reminder that in his eyes he had failed and that she could not have.

  When Elsa was done securing a fresh bandage and saw that blood had already seeped through it, she said, “One day will not be enough. Tomorrow I will sear it.”

  Cree turned and took her hand as soon as she stepped outside. He looked to Elsa in the open doorway and with a nod said, “Tomorrow.”

  They had taken only a few steps when Sloan hurried over to them. “The prisoner wishes to speak with you.”

  “I will be right there,” Cree said and took his wife’s hands. “A warrior will follow you to make certain you remain safe and I will return to you soon.”

  Dawn gestured.

  “Aye, I am sure Old Mary would like to see you as well.” He kissed her cheek. “I will meet you there. At least, there you will not get into any trouble.”

  Sloan laughed, Cree shook his head, and Dawn smiled.

  Chapter Ten

  Dawn did not want to disturb Old Mary, but it was necessary that she speak with her as soon as possible. With hurried steps, she approached the cottage door and was about to knock when the door opened.

  Old Mary waved her in. “I should have thought of it before this, but the years dim memories and sometimes make them vanish completely.”

  Dawn closed the door, not surprised to see the old woman up and about, though mostly not surprised she knew why Dawn was there. She gestured, asking Old Mary how she was feeling.

  “That hasty ride home did not help my old bones any, but rest will see to taking care of that. But you need more than rest.” She paced in front of the hearth. “I woke from a dream, recalling the time you were very young and took a bad fall, leaving you with a deep gash on your cheek that would not stop bleeding. Your mum was advised to sear it, but she refused to see you left with a scar. It was bad enough you could not speak, she feared a scar on your face would only make matters worse for you.”

  Dawn must have been very young, for she did not recall the incident.

  “Your mum sought the counsel of a wise woman in the woods and the woman told your mum to get honey and apply it to your wound right away, making sure to fill the wound with the honey, then cover and leave it. When the bandage was removed there was barely a scar and with time, it faded completely. Of course, there had been no honey to be had so it took your mum a few days to dislodge a bees’ nest from a tree and leave it until the bees vacated it. She suffered several bee stings, but that did not matter to her. You mattered to her.”

  Dawn felt her chest tighten, recalling what a loving woman her mum had been and how blessed she had been to have had her as a mum instead of the evil woman who had given birth to her. She gestured to Old Mary.

  “I miss her too,” she said with tears in her aging eyes. “I believe Turbett has beehives.” She rustled through a basket in the corner and pulled out a cloth that she tore into strips. “Use these clean cloths as a bandage. The one you wear is stained with fresh blood.

  Dawn frowned, feeling at her neck and seeing the blood on her fingers after touching the bandage. Dawn wiped the blood from her fingers on a small piece of cloth Old Mary handed her, then she took the fresh cloth from her and gave the woman a hug. With a quick gesture, Dawn let Old Mary know that she did not know what she would do without her.

  Old Mary waved her off, a tear spilling down her wrinkled cheek.

  Dawn hurried her steps, but was met with disappointment when Turbett refused to let her have the last of the honey.

  “It is for the sweets I promised Obern I would make for him, hoping it might help Cree in some small way.” Turbett turned to leave a frowning Dawn and stopped, then turned back quickly. “There is a bees’ nest in the woods that fell out of the tree a couple of days ago. The bees should be gone by now. You may find some honey in it.”

  Dawn smiled and Turbett explained where she could find the nest, then turned and hurried into the kitchen, shouting orders.

  Dawn waved at the warrior to follow her.

  He stood firm. “No woods today, my lady.”

  Dawn tried to argue with him and grew frustrated when he stood steadfast.

  “What seems to be the problem?”

  Dawn turned with a smile to see her da and Kellmara, Wintra’s da standing, behind her. She was grateful her da understood her gestures so easily, having had a daughter who had been voiceless like Dawn. It was an affliction that seemed to affect some of the women in his family. Dawn had been grateful that her daughter, Lizbeth, had not suffered such a fate.

  Dawn explained to her da.

  “Then we will go find the nest and get you what you need,” Kirk said and took his daughter’s arm.

  “Mind if I join you?” Kellmara asked. “I know a thing or two about beehives. Actually, Cree’s mother, Colleen, taught me and we will need to be careful for there may still be some bees lingering about.”

  With the two men to protect Dawn, the warrior did not argue. He simply followed behind them.

  Dawn enjoyed hearing about Cree’s mum and how much Kellmara loved her. She only wished the pair would have had a chance at a life together. Even now you could hear the love in his voice for the woman that he had lost so many years ago.

  They had gone a distance into the woods when Kirk tugged at his daughter’s arm to stop.

  “Are you sure you are feeling up to this after what you have been through?” Kirk asked with concern.

  Before she could answer, the warrior pointed and said, “The beehive is right over there.”

  Dawn smiled, having been worried that they would not find it.

  “You stay back away from it,” her father said. “Let me and Kellmara see to this.” He turned to the warrior. “You stay with my daughter.”

  Dawn sat on a tree stump and waited, watching from a safe distance. When she saw her da and Kellmara’s heads shoot up and both of them look about, she knew something was wrong. After a moment, her da hurried over to her, a piece of the hive saturated with honey in his hand.

  “We heard footfalls not far off,” her da said quietly. “Kellmara is going to see if it is anything Cree needs to be concerned about.”

  Dawn motioned that the warrior should go with Kellmara.

  The warrior shook his head. “I stay with you.
”

  She did not bother to argue with him since Cree would see him punished for leaving her side. She gave one last look toward Kellmara before her father took her arm and hurried her off, but the man was already gone.

  By the time the three reached the edge of the village, Dawn had suffered three bee stings to her face. Her da’s face suffered two stings and the warrior was lucky and had gotten only one on the back of his hand.

  “We best go see Elsa,” her da said. “She can see to our stings and help coat your wound with the honey.”

  Dawn had hoped to avoid most everyone until the red welts from the stings faded, though it could take a few hours as it had done the couple of times before when she had been stung.

  Her da would not hear it. “Cree will be furious with me if I do not have Elsa tend you.”

  He would be furious anyway when he saw her face, though she did not bother to tell her da that.

  Elsa’s mouth dropped open when Dawn and her da entered the healer’s cottage.

  “Good God, what happened?” Elsa said hurrying over to her.

  Dawn’s father explained about the bee stings and how Dawn needed the honey applied to her wound.

  Elsa’s brow wrinkled. “I have tried honey before to heal wounds, but only after the bleeding has stopped.”

  “Well, now you will be trying it as my daughter wants,” Kirk McClusky said with a commanding tone.

  Dawn stared at her da. She never had a father to speak for her before and it filled her heart with joy to realize she had one who would speak for her now.

  “See to her wound first,” her father ordered and took a seat on one of the chairs near the table.

  “I will be using the honey on the bee stings as well as the wound. It will help with the itching and pain,” Elsa said as she got to work.

  Cree burst through the door as Elsa was slathering honey onto Dawn’s wound. He stood staring at her speechless. She had three bright red welts on her face, one on each cheek and one on her chin. He turned to Kirk McClusky and shook his head, seeing two red welts on his face, one above his eye and the other on his cheek.