“You and Sloan both,” Cree snapped. “Wait here and when I return be prepared to ride fast and hard.”
Both men nodded as Cree turned and headed back to the caravan.
Roland Gerwan had stepped out of the wagon that he rode in alone, his wife traveling a distance behind him in a much smaller wagon than his. Cree had not liked the man on first sight. He was a pompous, uncaring fool. He stood barely four inches over five feet but acted as if he were a giant amongst men. He was lean with fine features, pure white hair, and blue eyes similar to is daughter’s though there was a coldness to them that Lucerne’s eyes lacked.
Cree brought his stallion to a stop in front of Roland, though the beast pranced uneasy, as if he was as anxious as Cree to take his leave. “My men will see you safely the remainder of the way.”
“You cannot mean to leave us to your warriors. That is an insult,” Roland snapped as if chastising Cree like a child.
Cree turned such a harsh stare on the man that he took several hasty steps back nearly tripping over his own feet. “What is an insult is that your men are so poorly provided for that they care not a whit of what happens to you.”
“How dare you—”
“Watch your tongue,” Cree warned. “You are addressing the Earl of Carrick.”
Roland drew back as if he had been slapped hard across the face. He quickly gathered himself together and sputtered, “The title becomes yours when you wed my daughter.”
“A mere formality since the King has already decreed me Earl of Carrick.” Cree turned and rode off not wanting to exchange another word with the man. His concern was for Dawn, though not that she would be harmed. He knew that Kirk or Torr would never hurt her. What concerned him more was getting her back. And another concern was why Kirk had chosen now to abduct her. What had forced his hand?
Sloan fell in behind Cree as he rode past and several of his warriors followed. Their pace was fast, though more heavily snow-covered areas slowed them down. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon that they arrived at Dowell. With the time it had taken them, Cree judged that the Gerwan caravan wouldn’t arrive until sometime tomorrow.
Lucerne stood on the keep steps looking anxiously passed him, no doubt eager to see her parents. The smile she wore faded as she realized they did not follow.
“Where are my parents?” she demanded when Cree dismounted his horse, handing the reins to a young lad who immediately saw to the animal’s care.
“They should arrive tomorrow,” Cree informed her and turned away eager to get to Dawn’s cottage.
“You leave my parents’ safety to others so that you can return to your peasant wh—”
Cree turned back around in a flash. “Watch what you say, Lucerne, for you will not like the consequences.”
Lucerne bit her lip as if fighting to keep from speaking, and he supposed she feared losing the battle for she turned in a huff and hurried inside the keep.
Sloan approached Cree cautiously as he continued on to Dawn’s cottage.
“Go see if any of the sentries saw anything,” Cree ordered. “See that men stand ready and see if Henry can find any tracks.”
Sloan nodded and slipped away to see it done.
Cree entered the cottage and stood taking in the room in one sweeping glance. The fire had died down and he quickly added more logs. He did not want Dawn to return to a chilled cottage. He hurried into the other room and did the same to the dwindling fire. He then went to the bed and stared at the rumpled bedding.
He reached down and swiped her pillow bringing it to his face and inhaling her familiar scent, heather and pine. Damn, but he missed her and he wanted her home here in this bed where they made love, laughed, talked, and slept naked in each other’s arms.
He tossed the pillow back on the bed and examined the remainder of the room. He cursed when he saw her stockings on the chest, though was relieved when he saw that her fur-lined cloak was gone. His gloves, however, had been left behind and so more oaths spewed from his mouth.
The stillness suddenly bothered him and he cast a quick glance around the room. There were no remnants of a meal. Had no food been brought to Dawn? Had no one realized she was missing? He swore again and marched out of the cottage and straight for the kitchen. Meals had to have been delivered to her. Hadn’t anyone questioned why she hadn’t been in her cottage?
Every villager that caught sight of Cree hurried to bless themselves and move out of his way. If their suspicions of him being the devil were ever proven true it would be at this moment. His expression was pure evil, as if he had just emerged from the depths of hell and was intent on claiming souls.