Highlander Unchained (Highlander Trilogy 1)

With that he was gone, Dawn disappointed that he would not walk her back to the cottage. She had hoped to coax him inside and…

She turned away dropping down to refill her basket and hide the blush that surfaced. She had turned into a sinful woman and if she was not mindful of her thoughts she would surely suffer for it.

It didn’t take long for her to collect the spilled contents and return to her cottage. She was grateful for the solitude and for the chore that not only kept her hands busy but her mind as well.

The knock interrupted her peace, though when Old Mary entered, she smiled greeting the old woman.

Old Mary shut the door behind her and rubbed her gnarled fingers. “Snow’s coming for sure.”

Dawn pointed to a chair and poured her a tankard of cider from the pitcher being kept hot by the hearth.

Old Mary accepted it with a grateful nod. “I used to make wreaths, and oh how I loved to weave baskets, but these old hands won’t let me do that anymore.”

Dawn patted her chest and pointed to the woman.

“That is sweet of you to offer to make me one.” Old Mary took a sip and remained silent for several minutes.

Dawn patted the old woman’s arm and shrugged wanting to know what was troubling her.

“You are perceptive. You know people, understand them better than most, but then you have no choice but to listen.” Old Mary reached for Dawn’s hand. “Listen well to me, Dawn. Things are not what they seem to be; they never were. You must be careful; you must not trust anyone.”

Another knock at the door had Flanna entering with two servants and baskets of food. Her entrance not only turned Old Mary silent but had her bidding Dawn good night. Dawn tried to get the old woman to stay and partake with her but Old Mary was adamant about leaving. Dawn was disappointed, she wanted to know what the old woman meant by things are not what they seem to be and never were.

Old Mary’s warning made her nervous. Of course they could just be ramblings that meant nothing, but Dawn had known Old Mary too well to believe she rambled. Her mind was sharper than anyone realized or that she led anyone to believe.

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.”