Highlander Unchained(35)

“I will be right outside,” he said and hurried out closing the door behind him.

Dawn rolled up her one sleeve and returned to Lila’s side ready to help her friend.

~~~

Paul entered the cottage a short time later supported by two warriors. Dawn was quick to move a chair by the bed so that Paul would be close by his wife and the warriors eased him down on it.

The large warrior had followed them in and motioned to Dawn. You are to come with me now. The healer will be here shortly to help birth the babe.

Dawn shook her head, her hands motioning and the warrior scratching his head.

“Dawn says she is staying here and helping her friend,” Paul said.

“Cree has ordered her return to the keep,” the large man explained.

Dawn shook her head and waved her hands signifying that she was not going anywhere.

The large warrior shook his head and scratched his graying beard. “You have no choice, lassie, and he stepped toward her.

Dawn grabbed the broom resting against the fireplace and swung it at the guard.

“She’s warning you to stay away from her,” Paul said. “Can you let her stay until the babe is born and then she will go with you?”

Dawn nodded vigorously.

“It is not my choice.”

The healer entered the cottage the same time that Lila let out another blood-curdling scream and Dawn foolishly let down her guard. The large warrior lunged grabbing the broom and tossing it aside as his other hand grabbed for her. With a tight grip on her arm he dragged her to the door.

Lila screamed at him to let her go that she needed her there with her. The healer, an older woman as round as she was short, attempted to assure her that she would help her and all would be well. Lila would hear none of it; she continued to cry out to Dawn.

Paul pleaded with the warrior to let Dawn stay but he paid no heed to the pleas. He dragged Dawn out of the cottage. She fought him every step of the way but try as she might his grip was too strong for her to break.

Once he got her in the Great Hall Cree’s voice rang out trembling the rafters.

“Dawn, cease your struggles.”

She stilled and turned to face him and her heart hammered in her chest. He was more imposing and more handsome in full light and it sent her knees trembling. Whatever did he want with her? And did she truly want to find out?

She wanted to run but where? As much as she wanted to return to Lila, she dare not for fear that her friends would suffer for her disobedience. She was trapped, always trapped and she could do nothing but face her fate.

“Come here,” Cree ordered.

She walked over to him and as much as she wished to walk with her chin high, she kept her head bowed in respect and out of fear of punishment.

“Look at me,” he snapped.

She raised her head.

“You are safe now. You have nothing to fear.”

Did she believe him? Did he truly mean her no harm?

“I gave you my word and I will keep it. I will let no harm come to you.”

She nodded and placed her hand to her chest in a show of appreciation. She then anxiously pointed toward the door and then herself and back to the door again.

“You want permission to leave.”

She nodded vigorously and rocked her folded arms as if she held a babe.”

“I forgot. You’re friend has birthed the babe?”

Dawn shook her head.

“You want to be there when she does.”

Another vigorous nod.

“Go, but return later. I wish to speak with you.”

She nodded apprehensively, bowed her head, then turned and hurried out of the keep.”

Sloan walked over to Cree. “Do you truly wish to speak with her or ease the ache of lust?”

“Watch your tongue, Sloan, or I’ll cut it from your mouth.”

“I think not. You have never punished anyone for speaking the truth.”

Sloan walked off to tend to his duties and Cree silently cursed him.





Chapter Thirteen


Dawn smiled at her friends and their newborn son. Lila had delivered Thomas not long after she had returned to the cottage. Elsa, the healer, had done a fine job of calming Lila and delivering the babe with more ease than Dawn had thought possible.

The babe was swaddled in a soft wool blanket his mum had made and slept contentedly in her arms. He had full cheeks and a few sprouts of red hair on the top of his head and he was the most beautiful babe that Dawn had ever seen.

“Elsa tells us that Cree will treat the villagers well and that we will not be sorry that he is our new lord,” Lila said with a smile.

“It is true,” Elsa said. “He is the new lord of this land and he will do right by the people. Speak truthfully to him and do your fair share and you will have a good life under his leadership.”

“He will explain to all at the gathering in front of the keep not long from now,” Paul said. “Lila will be excused from attending since she just gave birth but I must attend.”