Forbidden Highlander (Highlander Trilogy 2)

“There is something else you need to know,” Torr said. “Tell them, Da. It could explain why Dawn had one comb.”

Kirk looked to Dawn. “There was a reason I asked you so many questions during our brief chat today. And why I told you of a woman I knew that was voiceless just like you. You see that loving brave woman was my daughter. It seems that several of the women in my family have suffered from this strange voiceless infliction throughout many generations.”

Cree reached out and took hold of Dawn’s hand and he wasn’t surprised to feel her fingers close tightly around his. Kirk had frightened her and that did not sit well with him.

“Are you saying what I think your saying?” Cree said.

Kirk nodded. “There is a chance that Dawn could be my daughter and that her mother, the woman I loved gave her the comb.”

Dawn tightened her grip on Cree and his fingers did the same to hers, letting her know that she was not to worry.

“It is the reason I stared so rudely when I first saw you,” Torr said. “I thought I was seeing my dead sister. You look so much like Teressa.”

“My son is right. You bear a remarkable resemblance to her and as I told you earlier, you two are much alike.”

“There is no proof of this,” Cree said growing concerned, for if Dawn did turn out to be Kirk’s daughter he could demand that she return home with him. Of course, Cree would never let her go, which could start a war between the clans, and if Kirk chose to bring it to the attention of the King, no doubt the King would side with Kirk since Cree was to wed Lucerne.

“Not yet,” Torr said, “but perhaps Old Mary could shed some light on the problem since she was the one who was in possession of the other comb. And I have no doubt that she had been a midwife at one time, the reason for her gnarled fingers. Many of the midwives have such a condition after years of helping mother’s with difficult births.”

You will need it soon. A chill ran through Dawn as she recalled Old Mary’s words when the old woman reminded her to take her cloak. She did not like the implications of what was being inferred, and she needed to clarify who her mother was.

Dawn gestured clearly so that they would all understand that her mum was a simple peasant woman who loved her dearly.

“I have no doubt she was a good mother and no doubt she did love you dearly, my dear. You can see what a wonderful job she did in raising you,” Kirk said with a tender smile, “but she may not have been the mother who gave birth to you.”

Dawn could not believe what he was suggesting. She had only one mother and always would. No one could take her place. She thought about her own babe growing safely in her stomach. And the thought of giving him away tore at her heart. She could never do that… never.

“I know that look well,” Kirk said. “Teressa wore it when her thoughts challenged her and I daresay you probably wonder why your true mum would give you away. I imagine it was to protect you.”

Dawn seemed even more confused and it showed.

“The woman you loved was married, wasn’t she?” Cree said. “And if she birthed a voiceless babe her husband would have questions and might even have had the babe done away with.”

Dawn paled at the thought. If that was so then her true mother must have been terribly courageous to do such a thing to save her child. She doubted that she could be that brave.

Kirk nodded. “The rarity of Dawn’s condition is common place in my family and accepted without sorrow or disappointment. It is rare that a woman in my family is born with a voice.”

Dawn felt her stomach roll. She had hoped to spare any of her children the horror of being born voiceless and yet here she learned that if she had a daughter she would most certainly bear the burden of having no voice. If she was Kirk’s daughter and that certainly seemed probable, her own daughter’s destiny was sealed.

“We should speak with Old Mary posthaste and see this matter settled,” Tor said anxiously. “If Dawn is family then we can make ready to take her home with us.”

That had Dawn jumping out of her chair, shaking her hand back and forth vigorously, and shaking her head vehemently.

Cree got right to his feet and went to stand in front of Dawn. “She’s not going anywhere. She belongs to me and I won’t warn you again about this… and if it’s a war you want, I’ll give it to you.”