Highland Secrets (Cree & Dawn)

Anger churned her stomach and she wanted to shake her fist at the man for being so cruel to a starving young lad. But that would do her little good. Instead, she nodded as if understanding and turned to Dermid. She pointed to him, tapped her lips, then pointed to the lad, then repeatedly to the ground.

“You want me to tell the lad to wait here?” Dermid asked.

Dawn nodded, relieved he understood her.

Dermid did as she said, then followed her into the keep. She grabbed one of cloaks on the pegs by the door, folded it in half and placed it on one of the tables. She then proceeded to gather various food items left from breakfast, bread, cheese, meat, and a couple of quail eggs, and placed them on the folded blanket. When she finished, she gathered the blanket edges to form a sack and left the keep, the servants staring after her.

Dermid kept close behind her, though stepped aside when she reached the lad.

Dawn held the sack out to him.

He appeared reluctant to take it, his eyes darting around as if waiting for someone to attack him.

Dawn gestured shoveling food into her mouth, then to the lad.

“Food for me?” he asked, bewildered.

She nodded and he snatched the sack from her to hug against him.

“You don’t talk?” the lad asked.

Dawn placed her hand to her throat and shook her head.

The lad’s eyes turned wide. “You have no voice?”

Dawn shook her head, tapping her lips, confirming what he asked.

“You are kind and generous. I am most grateful,” the lad said. “This food will serve my sister and me well while we continue our journey to reach our uncle.”

The lad suddenly took a sudden step away from Dawn, his eyes going wide.

“Did you give him food?”

Dawn made sure to shield the lad with her body as she turned to face the furious man from the kitchen hurrying her way. Dermid would let nothing happen to her, but when she gave a quick glance to where he stood, he was not there. If she were not with child, she’d have no concern since she would not hesitate to protect herself against the man.

“Give me that food,” the man ordered, his face blotched red with anger.

Dawn stood her ground, knowing Dermid would have not gone far from her, and thrust her arm out to order the angry man to stop. She was shocked when he shoved her arm aside and his hands reached out to grab her and move her aside.

A vicious roar pierced the cold air and had the man turning to see not only Cree running at him, but a growling Beast as well. The man froze in fear for a moment, then he wisely dropped to his knees before Cree reached him.

“Forgive me, my lord,” the man said, his eyes downcast staring at Cree’s boot toes that nearly touched his knees as Beast growled near his ear. “I do not know what came over me. Please. Please, forgive me.”

The man was suddenly launched into the air, his back slammed against the stone wall of the kitchen, leaving him slumped on the ground, though not for long. Cree grabbed him by the neck, yanked him up, his feet dangling above the ground, and held him there. The man fought for breath, trying desperately to rip Cree’s hand from his throat.

“NEVER TOUCH MY WIFE!” Cree yelled in the man’s face and Beast agreed with a sharp bark.

“Lord Cree!” Newlin shouted, running toward Cree. “Please let Stuart go. I will see him punished.”

Cree paid no heed to Newlin, but he did pay heed to his wife’s hand when it rested gently on his arm and she slowly mouthed, please. He released the man and he crumpled to the ground gasping for breath.

“Are you all right?” Cree asked, reaching out and taking his wife in his arms.

Dawn nodded.

“Get him out of my sight, Newlin, and see him punished good or I will,” Cree ordered and stepped away with his wife without casting a glance at either man. Beast followed after them, but not before delivering one last threatening growl to Stuart.

Dawn could feel her husband’s anger in his taut muscles and see it in the hard set of his jaw. His anger was nowhere near to subsiding.

“Where is that lad you helped?” Cree snapped.

Dawn rushed her fingers along to let him know he had run off.

“You should have sent word to me as soon as that man refused your order,” Cree scolded.

She looked over her shoulder as they walked and pointed to Dermid who followed a distance behind them.

“Aye, you did have Dermid to help, but he followed orders and as soon as he saw me approach, he wasted no time to hurry and tell me what had happened. This is for me to see to not you.”