“You wonder why, as do I.”
She gestured as if drawing back an arrow in a bow and shrugged.
“A good question. Who would want to harm you?”
She stared at him. Most of the villagers simply ignored her. Some would acknowledge her with a nod. Then there were those who would amuse themselves by making fun of her like Dorrie. But serious harm? What reason would anyone have to harm her?
She shook her head letting him know that she had no answer.
His eyes roamed over her with annoyance, though lust still lingering in them.
He fingered her worn garments. “Don’t let me see you in these rags again.”
With that he stood, held his hand out to her and when she took it, he slowly eased her to her feet.
She swayed a moment, still a bit disoriented from him tackling her to the ground or had it been the way he had protected her with his body, keeping every inch of her covered with no concern for his own safety. The thought still startled her. No one had ever protected her so gallantly. And gallant was not a word anyone would use to describe the infamous Cree.
His hands went instantly to her waist. “Take a moment and regain your strength.”
She nodded attempting to gather and make sense of her confused thoughts and the best place to do that was alone in her cottage. Her cottage? How she wished she could go home to her small cottage. She had found comfort there. More so when her mum had been alive but even now it had been as if her spirit lingered there watching over Dawn and it made her feel safe.
“Are you all right, Dawn?” he asked lifting her chin with one finger.
She had not realized that she had lowered her head, but then it had been weighted with too many thoughts and no doubt had sunk on its own. Though she was not sure how she felt, she nodded.
“I want the truth, not what you think I want to hear,” he chided.
So he wanted the truth? She threw her hands up in frustration. Was that a smile? It had been brief but she thought she caught a smile tempt the corners of his mouth.
“You need a washing, clean garments, food, and rest.”
And time to herself, she added silently.
Cree was suddenly issuing orders and some of the warriors that circled them formed a line on either side of them. Another order had the circle parting and forming a line facing the woods while Cree and her kept pace with the warriors shielding them.
It wasn’t lost to Dawn that Cree kept her tucked close against him with his arm around her waist. He held her with the ease of familiarity. And why? Simple. They had become more than familiar with each other while in that hut, and it hadn’t stopped.
Dawn was never so relieved to walk into her new home, though she stopped abruptly once inside the door. The table was laden with food and her stomach gurgled with joy. Then she saw that the table was arranged for two people and her heart sank. She had hoped to be alone, have a chance to think, to make a modicum of sense of all that had happened to her in such a short time.
Cree gently nudged her forward so that he could shut the door. He slipped off her cloak and went and hung it on the peg. He then eased her down in one of the chairs at the table.
“I was going to join you but first I must see to this incident.”
How could she feel relieved and disappointed at the same time? She wanted time alone and here she was sorry that he was leaving.
“I will return later.”
A tingle of anticipation settled between her legs and she scolded herself for her body’s wicked reaction.
Cree stopped beside her at the table and leaned over her. He raised his hand, though stopped in mid-air, as if he questioned his actions and then as if resigned to the inevitable he stroked her bruised jaw with the back of his fingers.
“I will find who did this to you and I will see him punished.”
The resolve in his voice sent a small tremor through her but it was his kiss that made her shiver and tingle. It was so unexpected and so very tender that it made her feel cherished like never before.
“Until later,” he whispered and brushed his lips lightly across hers, then walked out the door.
Dawn gasped, though no sound was heard, when she realized that she had been holding her breath.
Later.
He would return and what then would he expect of her? Her thoughts were quickly diverted when she eyed the meat on a platter. She stared in awe at it. She could not recall the last time she ate meat, though she did recall the delicious taste of it.
She stared a few minutes more not believing that she could actually reach out and take a piece and not just one but many. She smiled and snatched a slice. It was more delicious than she remembered. She grew bolder and tasted from the other platters and bowls amazed at the tastiness of the food. Though she hated to admit it, Turbett was a far better cook than Flanna.