“He will want someone who will excite him with squeals of delight and pleasure.”
“Enough, Dorrie,” Paul said.
“I agree,” Dorrie laughed. “Cree has had enough of the dumb one and will look for a good woman to please him.”
“Then that leaves you out,” Paul chuckled, “since everyone knows that you’re not good.”
Dawn grinned and silent laughter rippled through her.
Dorrie rushed past them in a snit purposely bumping against Paul and causing him to stumble. Dawn held tight to him and kept him from falling, his weight heavy upon her when suddenly he was lifted off her. A warrior, big and broad had taken hold of Paul.
“I’m to help him, Cree’s orders,” the warrior said.
Dawn followed along as the warrior easily helped Paul to the cottage. At the door the warrior turned to Dawn. “Cree will see you at the celebration.” With that he turned and left.
Paul stared at Dawn. “It sounds as if you are not to miss the merrymaking.”
What Paul truly meant and he well knew it was that Cree had commanded her presence there. She had no thought or want to go and participate in any form of merriment. She didn’t understand how anyone would want to. The village had been attacked, people had been harmed, and this called for a celebration?
“Cree is providing a celebration tonight, which means there will be food and drink aplenty, he has seen the injured tended to and he has freed anyone who wishes to leave. That is far better than what Colum did when he had first arrived here.”
Was Paul trying to convince her that Cree was a good man and she should not worry or was he trying to convince himself that she would be safe with Cree?
They entered the cottage to find Lila up and about, though moving slowly. Her cheeks glowed rosy red, her blue eyes sparkled with joy and her favorite green wool shawl was wrapped snug around her shoulders covering her warm wool night dress. The babe lay sleeping in the cradle that Paul had fashioned for him.
Paul went straight to her. “You should be abed resting.”
“I feel well enough and I cannot abide to lay abed too long. Besides it is time you rested. Your leg must be paining you something awful.” She hustled him over to the bed. “There is time for you to rest until supper.”
Paul grinned, sat on the bed and took his wife’s hand. “You want to talk with Dawn.”
Lila nodded and leaned down to give him a quick kiss. After which he stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. It wasn’t long before he was snoring lightly.
Lila went to Dawn and threw her arms around her and with tears in her eyes said, “I owe you our lives. If it hadn’t been for your courage Paul would not have survived and either would I or the babe. You are a true friend and I am grateful to have you in our lives.”
Tears tickled down Dawn’s eyes and any previous worry that she was being shut out of her friends lives faded. They sat at the table and Lila went to fix them a brew but Dawn stopped her and pointed to the chair for her to sit.
Dawn shook her head when Lila went to argue and pointed sternly to the chair.
Lila laughed softly. “Since you put it that way.” She sat and sighed gratefully.
Dawn appreciated the way she and Lila conversed so easily and no different from anyone else. They began talking about the babe, Lila’s delivery and how grateful she was that Elsa had been there. Dawn had agreed. The woman truly was a gifted healer and her friend had been lucky to have her birth Thomas.
When they were on their second brew Lila asked, “Tell me what Cree wanted with you.”
Dawn had not intended to speak about Cree even though she wished to share some of her apprehension with her friend. It was better left for another day.
“Do not think to keep it from me,” Lila warned in a whisper. “I know it concerns you; I see it on your face.”
Dawn playfully ran her hand over her face.
“You cannot rub it away that easily.”
No, that she could not and Lila would not let her. Dawn sighed, though no sound was heard and Lila reached out and took her hand.
“What does Cree want from you?”
Dawn gestured as if she held up a shield in front of her and a sword in her other hand.
“He wants nothing from you but he offers you protection.”
Dawn nodded slowly.
“You have your doubts though, don’t you?”
Dawn nodded again and shrugged.
“But you don’t know why.”
Another nod from Dawn turned Lila as silent as Dawn for a few minutes.
“There are women in the village who I am sure will keep Cree entertained, Dorrie being one of them.”
Dawn smiled and nodded vigorously.
“Ah, Dorrie has already made her intentions known. That is good, let her have the beast, she no doubt will service him well.”