Flanna fussed over her after ordering the two servants to return to the keep. “I want to thank you again for helping me get this position. I am very happy with it and happy that Turbett cannot order me around anymore.”
Dawn smiled and patted her chest to let Flanna know how pleased she was for her.
“It is an important position and it has earned me respect with the villagers and Turbett even treats me differently.” Flanna smiled. “He had a separate table set for us where we could eat while we discussed the keep’s menu for the coming days. He served me a special mixed cider that he wanted my opinion on. It was delicious.”
Dawn’s eyes lit with joy. Could the unlikely pair be finding common ground? She hoped so. Flanna deserved to find someone to love her. She could be stubborn at times but she had a caring soul.
“Cree is deep in conversation with Sloan and food has been served to them, so I’m not sure if he will be joining you tonight.”
She was disappointed to learn that he might not share supper with her, though she would not let Flanna know that. She pointed to the array of food spread across the table and shrugged.
“I make sure the meal is plentiful in case Cree does join you.”
Dawn pressed her hand to her chest and nodded in thanks.
Flanna grabbed hold of her hand. “You owe me no thanks. It is I who am indebted to you. Now I must go and tend to my duties and later Turbett asked me to share a meal with him. He has cooked something new and wishes my opinion.”
Dawn hugged Flanna and the woman almost squeezed the breath out of her when she hugged her back.
“You are a good woman, Dawn,” Flanna said sniffling back her tears and hurried out the door.
Dawn sat looking at the abundance of food and shook her head. She had lost her appetite as soon as she heard that Cree might not be joining her. Wind whistled around the cottage and she wondered if it had started snowing yet. Then she recalled that a warrior stood guard outside her door and she quickly filled a tankard with hot cider. She also grabbed a hunk of bread and meat.
She opened the door and Neil was quick to step in front of her. A light dusting of snow covered his hood and cloak. She held out the tankard and food to him.
He bobbed his head and took them from her. “Thank you. Now back inside. It’s going to be a cold one tonight.”
Dawn reluctantly closed the door. It wasn’t fair that Neil had to stand out in the cold all night. And the longer she sat in front of the hot fire, the more worried she became for the man. Not able to take it any longer, she grabbed a blanket from her bed and went to the door.
Once again Neil stepped in front of the door. She held the blanket out to him.
Neil shook his head. “I’m fine, don’t worry yourself about me.”
Dawn shook her head and proceeded to wrap the blanket around him.
“A little snow is too much for one of my warriors?”
Neil quickly pulled the blanket off him and shoved it at Dawn before turning to acknowledge Cree with a nod. “The snow does not bother me, my lord.”
Dawn looked to Cree, ready to protest but his dark scowl made her realize it was not her place to interfere when he spoke with his warriors.
“I thought as much,” Cree said, “though you know the protocol for guard watch when it snows.”
“Aye, my lord,” Neil said with a bob of his head. “Guards are to be changed every thirty minutes.”
“That starts now,” Cree ordered with a wave to a warrior that stood a few feet away. “You have been here long enough. Kirk will relieve you and see Sloan for the night’s schedule.”
Neil nodded and turned to Dawn. “Thank you for your generosity.” He took off then disappearing into the swirling snow.
Dawn retreated several steps as Cree entered the cottage.
He closed the door and scowled at her. “Do not coddle my warriors.”
Dawn hugged herself and shivered.
“I know it’s cold outside, but they are seasoned warriors and do as they must under any conditions. They have been through much worse than this minor snowfall.” He walked over to her, his arm going around her waist and drawing her close to him. “Are you as ravenous as I am?”
She smiled, ran her hand along his chest and nodded.
“It will take much to appease my appetite tonight,” he cautioned with a whisper.
Dawn tapped her chest lightly and then tapped his.
“You will appease me?”
She crossed her heart.
“That’s a promise?”
She nodded.
He brushed his lips over hers. “I will hold you to that promise.”
He kissed her and she returned it with an eagerness that had their passions mounting in leaps and bounds.
A pounding at the door had Cree swearing as he reluctantly tore his lips away from hers. “Who disturbs me?”