Highland Secrets (Cree & Dawn)

“I fear the demon in the dungeon somehow coerced my daughter into improving her lot in the cell,” Newlin said, gripping tight to his tankard. “Tavia would never disobey me as she did. She has always been a kind and obedient daughter. The demon has somehow gotten hold of her.”

His remark unnerved Dawn and certainly did not bode well for Fia.

“I believe she did the same to Lord Ivan, but he is a strong man and in the end he, himself, thought torture would be wise,” Newlin said.

Cree felt his wife’s worry, though he could not fault Newlin for thinking as he did. He had a clan to protect and no doubt the clan would call for the prisoner’s death, believing it would solve the problem. Cree was not so sure about that.

“It is a difficult situation, Newlin,” Cree said. “If the woman has the power to control what people do, how then do you dare take a chance and approach her? She would surely convince you otherwise.”

“You are a strong, brave man, Lord Cree, surely you could defeat her,” Newlin suggested with a sense of hope, then shook his head. “That is not fair of me to ask of you. The demon could do damage to you and your family. It is my responsibility, and the only reasonable solution is for me to have her burned at the stake.”

Dawn was glad when it came time to retire for the night. She was eager to talk with her husband and share her thoughts she had on this puzzling mystery. And she hoped that a solution could be found for Fia’s fate.

“Lord Torin seemed to understand Flora’s failure to join us for supper. He even expected some reluctance from her with the arrangement for them to wed but was not disheartened by it. He appears confident that all will go well between them,” Cree said, stripping off his shirt.

Dawn shook her head and gestured.

Cree chuckled. “I agree he will be shocked to learn his wife is not as quiet as he believed.”

Dawn smacked her hands down on her hips and glared at her husband.

Cree held his hands up in mock surrender. “He will have brought it on himself for rushing into the marriage. Besides, Flora is not a woman a man can easily dictate to. She will definitely have her say in the marriage.”

Dawn’s glare turned to a grin and her hands fell away from her hips as she nodded.

“Let me help you off with your garments,” Cree offered but she shook her head and gestured.

“You have thoughts you wish to share,” he said, and he slowly shed his plaid when she nodded. “First tell me if you had anything to do with the dungeon mayhem.”

Dawn held her thumb and pointer fingers very close together.

“So, Tavia truly was the spark behind the force?”

Dawn nodded with a smile, proud that Tavia had the courage to do as she chose.

“And you, dear wife, was the force that gave her the courage to do so.”

Dawn shrugged not quite sure she agreed with him.

“Tell me the thoughts you have gathered,” he encouraged.

She gestured slowly while trying to ignore her husband’s tempting body when he discarded his plaid and stood naked in front of her. Muscle, strength, confidence, and… arousal. With difficulty she kept her eyes on his face, which was not easy, his fine features adding to the temptation.

“A promise forces Fia to hold her tongue and you think that promise somehow is connected to the missing people?”

Dawn nodded and continued to gesture.

“You think something,” —he shook his head— “someone enticed the people away? The wee lass?”

She shrugged not sure and went right on gesturing.

“You believe they hide?” he asked confused. “Why and from who?”

She nodded, then shook her head and gestured again.

“I never thought about that. The group of mercenaries are here for a reason as is the tracker whose tracks Henry found. What do they both search for? And who sent them?” He rubbed his chin in thought. “So, whoever hides does so out of necessity. But why entice people from the clan? What help could three old men and two women provide—”

Dawn interrupted holding up one finger.

“Hume, I forgot about him, unless the two-legged creature got him.” He chuckled.

Dawn did not find it humorous. This was serious and she let him know with a stinging glare.

“Ouch!” he said with a quiet chuckle as if she had hit her mark, then wisely turned serious, though it was more out of selfishness. He had an overpowering urge to make love with his wife and that would not happen until talk was done. “What good would any of those missing do this person or persons who hide?”

She shrugged, having no answer.

“It is a good theory and could explain the dead man’s fate. He may have come across one of the hunted and the fellow had no choice but to kill him,” Cree suggested and reached for his wife’s tunic to draw over her head without protest which pleased him.