Highlander's Winter Tale (4 page)

Dawn woke, stretching her arms above her head and arching her back. She startled when she opened her eyes and saw her husband standing beside the bed fully dressed and his fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders.

“The snow has stopped and I must see to the well-being of the villagers. You and I will talk as soon as I am done. Until then you will not go near Alexander.”

He sounded angry with her and she was about to gesture her concern when he reached down, his arm wrapping around her to lift her up against him. His mouth captured hers in a kiss that was more a hungry demand and it quickly fired her blood. But before she had a chance to wrap her arms around his neck and let him know that one kiss would not appease her, he released her and took a step away from the bed, then turned to look at her.

Dawn stared at him bewildered.

“I do not trust him.”

He worried for her that was why there was anger in his voice, it was for the stranger, not her.

She tapped her chest and nodded her head, letting him know she felt the same.

“Then you will obey me on this?”

Dawn nodded. She would keep her distance, though she would find out from others what she could about him.

“One other thing, wife,” —anger sparked in his eyes— “never ever wear a nightdress to bed again.”

Dawn smiled ever so softly as she rose up on her knees and pulled the nightdress up and over her head and threw it to the floor.

Cree stared at her. He loved her body from the first time he saw her naked, but even more so now after giving birth to the twins. Her curves were a bit more rounded, especially her hips. He loved taking hold of them as he entered her from behind and squeezing them as he drove into her over and over. He grew hard just thinking about it.

Dawn saw the hunger in his eyes and she stretched her arms out to him. When he did not make a move toward her, simply remained there staring, she cupped her one breast and squeezed the nipple until it turned hard, then beckoned him with her other hand as her body heaved as if with a heavy sigh or moan.

“Damn it, wife, I have no time—”

She quickly turned, falling on her hands and knees and presented a wiggling backside to him, inviting him to quickly take her from behind.

Cree let loose with several oaths as he flung off his cloak and went to her. He slipped his finger inside her and was not surprised to feel how ready she was for him or how she pushed against him wanting more.

He shoved his plaid aside, grabbed her hips, and entered her with a forceful thrust. She pushed back against him, taking him deeper. He did not hesitate, he slammed into her again and again, the feel of her and his relentless need firing his blood. He would not last long, but he was not supposed to. This was a wild joining born out of need and love that would have them both soon bursting in climaxes.

He felt her then, arching her back, pushing harder against him and he knew she was near to coming and so was he. He slipped one hand around her to tease the small nub that would send her reeling over the edge, and it took only a light playful touch for her body to slam against him in a shuddering climax that sent him into a never-ending one.

When the last of the climax trickled away, he dropped down over her back, his arm winding around the front of her. He pushed her hair off her neck and placed gentle kisses along it and felt another shudder ripple through her. He nibbled along her shoulder until finally and reluctantly, he tore himself away from her and when he did, she got to her knees and turned to face him.

Dawn smiled, threw her arms around his neck, and hugged him tight, then let him go and fussed with his garments so that no one would know what their laird had been up to.

“It will matter not, all will know, for I will be wearing a smile instead of my usual scowl,” he teased and her cheeks flushed red. He gave her bare backside a tender slap. “Later, wife, we will take our time.”

Her grin grew as she nodded.

He turned and picked up her nightdress and threw it into the fire for the flames to greedily devour. “You will not be needing that—ever. I will burn the other one you have later.” Then he walked out the door, though took a moment to glance back at her. “Remember—”

She waited for him to remind her to stay away from the stranger. Instead his words warmed her heart.

“You belong to me and always will.”

~~~

Dawn dropped back on the bed as soon as the door closed and pulled the covers up over herself. Her silent sigh could not be heard, but she felt it ripple through her body. She loved her husband beyond words and he loved her with equal measure and that was something that would never change. Their love was forever.

She did not know what had gotten into her last night that she had worn her nightdress to bed or that she was overcome with tears. But worse, she had not felt like making love with Cree. It was almost as if she had not trusted him and that disturbed her. She trusted him beyond measure, so why had she felt that way?

The blanket was off her in an instant and she donned her warm winter garments, a soft blue wool tunic over an equally soft green wool shift, almost as quickly. She fashioned her long red hair in a braid and after slipping on her shoes, she rushed out of the room eager to feed her son and daughter, then she would go see how Old Mary was doing.

The twins were just waking when she arrived in their bedchamber, the servants who saw to their care were fussing over them. Dawn had recently started taking the twins, after their morning feeding, down to the Great Hall so that Cree and she could spend more time with them. But this morning she felt it was wiser they remain in their room and the servants as well. The servants agreed, having learned of those who had taken ill in the Great Hall.

Valan, however, got fussy when she returned him to the arms of one of the servants after feeding him. He made it clear he wanted to go with his mum and Lizbeth did as well once her feeding was done, but the servants diverted their attention and Dawn left the room feeling guilty and annoyed. This stranger had disrupted their lives and it had to stop.

She stopped in her bedchamber for a shawl before she went to see Old Mary. Though fires burned in all the fireplaces in the keep, it was difficult to keep the cold completely out. She entered Old Mary’s room with a smile, eager to see how she was and eager to speak with her.

Her smile faded as soon as she stepped into the room and was met with bitter cold. The fire had died to near embers and Old Mary was buried beneath the blankets. Dawn hurried to the fireplace and quickly got a roaring fire going. Then she rushed to Old Mary’s side and grew frightened when she saw how the covers trembled. She eased them back and was shocked to see how pale the old woman was and how badly she trembled. Her hand went to the old woman’s brow and she grew more upset to feel her burning with fever.

It did not take long to see what was causing her to tremble. The fever had caused her to sweat, soaking her nightdress. How long had she lain like this with no one to help her? Old Mary had always been there for her, yet she had failed to be there when the woman needed her.

She quickly gestured to Old Mary, though Dawn was not sure if she understood. She seemed unaware and that frightened Dawn even more. She rushed out of the room and down the stairs to the Great Hall and hurried to Flanna, explaining what had happened and what she needed, then she ordered one of the warriors to go fetch Elsa. Once finished, she raced back up the stairs to Old Mary.

Flanna was not far behind her after issuing orders to two servants.

“Good lord, how long has she been like this?” Flanna asked upon seeing the pale woman.

Dawn shook her head, tears pooling in her eyes.

“Do not worry, we will have her warm and feeling better soon,” Flanna encouraged.

Dawn hurried from the room after gesturing to Flanna that she would be right back. She grabbed the last nightdress Cree intended to burn and returned to the room, relieved he never got a chance to feed it to the flames. The servants arrived shortly after her with fresh bedding and Dawn and Flanna got busy tending Old Mary.

With the old woman barely responsive, it took time to get her out of her wet garment and the bedding removed and replaced. Dawn had moved the lone chair closer to the fire and draped the nightdress over it, so when they slipped Old Marry into it, it was toasty warm.

By the time they had her settled snugly and warmly in bed, she was beginning to respond to them. She tried to talk, but Dawn put a finger to her lips and shook her head. She then placed the chair beside the bed and took the tankard with the healing brew in it and began to spoon it into the old woman’s mouth.

“Drink as much as you can, then rest. Someone will be with you at all times,” Flanna said, reassuringly.

Dawn nodded vigorously, intending to be the one who remained by her side.

Old Mary managed to slip her hand out from under the blanket and point to Dawn.

Dawn patted her chest and with firm gestures, assuring the woman she would not leave her.

Old Mary seemed to calm and took the brew eagerly from Dawn until her eyes drifted closed and she fell asleep.

Flanna approached Dawn after speaking with a servant who had appeared at the door and from her solemn expression Dawn knew something was terribly wrong.

“One of the cows is sick, some food in the storehouse has turned bad and...Elsa has fallen ill.”

Dawn started praying then. She prayed as hard as she did when her mum had taken ill. She only hoped this time her prayers would be answered.

Cree watched his warriors as they worked hard along with the horses and long logs to plow through the huge amount of snow that had fallen throughout the night. Everyone helped to dig paths through the village and dig out those the snow had nearly buried in their cottages. Animals were seen to and the storehouse unlocked so that food could be distributed amongst the villagers and more brought to the keep’s kitchen for fear the snowstorm would return. The sky was a heavy gray and the air so bitter it felt like sharp teeth nipping at the skin.

His men needed little direction or encouragement. They had fought too long and hard not to take care of the place they finally called home. They were ready to settle, get themselves wives, have a bunch of
bairns
and war only when necessary.

He wanted the same after far too many years of fighting endless battles for the highest bidder. Now he fought for his home, his clan, and surprisingly for his wife and twins. He had never thought he would fall in love. He had expected to secure a profitable marriage bargain, nothing more. He was glad it had not worked out that way and he was lucky that Dawn had entered his life.

A smile tugged at his lips. He had wanted to talk with her this morning, but when he had been informed of all the snowfall that had trapped some of the villagers in their homes, there had been no time.

Gratefully, Dawn had answered his misgivings when she had stripped bare in front of him and wiggled her bare backside at him. She wanted him with the same eagerness, or more, that she always did. He was a blessed man to have such a loving wife and he would do anything to keep her safe and never lose her.

A shout from Sloan drew his thoughts away from Dawn and he focused on the present situation.

“Unsettling news and more unsettling news,” Sloan said, stopping in front of Cree.

Cree scowled. “Tell me and be done with it.”

“One of the cows has taken ill and she is being isolated in hopes that she has not affected the others. Some of the food in the storehouse has rotted, though no one can understand why,” Sloan paused and it was obvious he did not want to deliver the last of the bad news.

“Tell me,” Cree ordered.

“Elsa has fallen ill.”

“Where is she and how bad is she?” Cree demanded.

“She is at her healing cottage and I do not know anything beyond that.”

“See to the men,” Cree ordered and went immediately to the healer’s cottage. He did not announce his arrival. He simply walked into the cottage that had been added on to her cottage for Elsa to tend the sick.

Neil, the man Elsa had come to love, was sitting beside her, worry on his aging face as he laid a cool cloth upon Elsa’s hot brow. He shook his head when Cree entered. “I do not understand it. She was fine and all of a sudden she was struck by fever and now she is barely responsive. And I do not know what to do for her. As soon as the large snow drift was dug away from the door and she heard that many had taken ill, she prepared several baskets with her healing potions to take to the keep. The fever struck before she left.”

Cree stared at Elsa looking so lifeless on the bed. He had rescued her from dire circumstances years ago and she had been with him ever since. She had helped many of his warriors and those in the village, including Dawn. They could not lose their healer and he could not lose his friend.

“What of the two women who help her tend those in need?” Cree asked.

“Lara came here as soon as she could and Elsa sent her with one of the healing baskets to the keep. Ann I have yet to see, but she may be stuck in her cottage since she lives nearer to the woods and I have heard that the men have yet to dig their way there.”

“And Elsa saw no one before she turned ill?”

Neil shook his head, then stopped. “Someone came to the door, but did not come in. Elsa stepped outside to treat him, a minor wound I believe.” Neil shrugged. “Probably one of the warriors who was anxious to get back to the task of digging out the village. That is another thing. I have never seen so much snow fall in one night. And with those falling ill in the keep,” —he shook his head again— “it is as if someone has cursed us.”

It was not what Cree wanted to hear, but it was something he could not ignore.

“I will have the men work to dig Ann free and have her sent here immediately,” Cree said. “For now do what you think is best.”

“I do what I have seen Elsa do in such a situation. I only pray I am doing the right thing,” Neil said, choking back a tear.

It was not until Dawn had come along that Cree had allowed himself to begin to feel again. Having a cold heart and barely a soul was the only way he had been able to be victorious in battle and do the many things demanded of him.

Only a year ago, he would not have wasted his time to see how Elsa fared. He would have had Sloan keep him informed and as for Neil, he would have ordered Neil to return to his duties and not been concerned with how worried the man felt for the woman he loved.

But now, since Dawn...Cree walked over to Neil and rested a strong hand on the man’s shoulder. “Elsa is strong. She will be fine.”

Neil looked up at Cree. “I pray it will be so, for I do not know what I would do without her.”

Cree gave the man’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze and then left the cottage. He knew exactly how Neil felt, for he could not think of life without Dawn.

Once outside the cottage, Cree looked around for Sloan. He did not spot him, but he did see Lila, Dawn’s closest and dearest friend, and Dorrie, a friend to Dawn now, but not always, heading toward the keep.

He shouted out to Lila and the two women halted and respectfully bobbed their heads at him when a few feet away and together they said, “My lord.”

“Where are you off to?” he asked.

Lila answered. “We go to the keep to help those taken ill and see how Dawn fares.”

“Dawn is well,” Cree said, “but I do not want either of you at the keep and spread the word to others that they are to remain away from the keep. Also there is a stranger among us. He arrived last night and no one is to go near him.”

“Do you believe he has brought an illness upon us?” Lila asked with concern.

“I am not sure, but I intend to take no chances. Keep to your cottages until you are informed otherwise,” Cree ordered and seeing Sloan called out to him.

The two women bobbed their heads again and turned and hurried off, huddled together talking as they went.

“Have you seen Alexander today?” Cree asked when Sloan approached.

“Not that I recall, though one of our warriors discreetly follows him,” Sloan said and lowered his voice. “When the villagers who were not at the keep last night heard about the tale being told and a stranger suddenly appearing, tongues started wagging and fear now can be seen in far too many eyes.”

“Time to lock Alexander away until this matter can be settled,” Cree said.

“My thought as well,” Sloan said and walked with Cree to the keep.

~~~

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Dawn jumped, dropping the cloth she had been bathing Old Mary’s brow with, upon hearing Alexander. She snatched the wet cloth off the bed where it had fallen and wondered how she had not heard him enter the room. The door always gave a soft creak when opening or closing, yet she had heard nothing.

She shook her head and waved him away. She did not want him there. She was not comfortable with his presence and she wanted nothing to do with him. Besides Cree had ordered her to stay clear of him and this was one time she agreed with his demand.

“You dismiss me again and all I want to do is help you,” he said and took a step closer.

Dawn glared at him. So she had seen him outside her bedchamber last night, but how was that possible when a servant had insisted he had been with her the whole time and a guard had confirmed it?

Ghost? Demon? What was he?

“I am merely a man who offers his help.”

A cold shiver ran through her. He answered as if he had heard her clearly, as if she had spoken aloud.

Dawn stood and pointed to the door as her brow furrowed in anger and, to see if what she believed was true, she spoke in her mind.
Leave at once!

“Do not be so hasty to chase me away yet again. I only wish to return the kindness shown to me.”

Dawn felt a tingle of fear creep over her. That he could hear her thoughts so clearly disturbed her. She would have to be careful around him, but then she did not plan on being in his presence often, if at all. But how did she get him to leave.

His smile vanished for a moment, his head tilting to the side as if he heard something, and then his smile returned. “I do not wish to make you feel uncomfortable. I will take my leave.” He sent her a nod. “Until next time, my lovely lady.” He went to the door, opened it, and walked out.

Dawn heard the creak as he opened the door and again when he closed it. She wondered again why she had not heard it when he had entered before. Her husband may believe Alexander was nothing more than a man like any other man, but she did not agree. Though what he was, she was not sure, and how did one combat something that was possibly already dead or could not die?

She shook her head and lowered herself to the chair. This was far worse than any nightmare. One could wake from a nightmare, but this...was all too tangible. She gave past nightmares a thought. How had she escaped them?

Her mum had always been there to comfort and counsel her. She missed her dearly and she was pleased that her wise words would always find a way to her when needed, as it did now.

Chase the nonsense away and see what remains and then fight it, refuse to let it conquer you, and you will always be the victor.

How did she chase away the nonsense of the present situation when that was all there seemed to be?

Winter Tale.

The tale was like a nightmare. She had to push away the nonsense and see what she could find out. But she did not know the tale well enough after hearing it only once and Old Mary—she turned to look at her sleeping peacefully—was not well enough to speak with her. She felt the old woman’s head and was pleased to find the fever had lessened, though remained. She wondered if there was anyone else in the village familiar with the tale.

The door creaked open and Cree entered.

Dawn smiled and hurried to him and as always he caught her in a strong embrace. She was never happier than when she was in his arms. Problems and worries seemed to melt away and all that was left was the love that embraced them as powerfully as his arms.

“I was sorry to hear that Old Mary took ill. Does she fare any better?”

Dawn nodded, patted her brow, and raised her hand up and down slowly.

“Her fever goes up and down?”

Dawn nodded again.

“I wish I could say the same for Elsa. She remains the same.”

Dawn patted her chest and pointed to her ear, letting him know she had heard about Elsa falling ill and shrugged, her brow going up and her eyes full of concern, asking how Elsa was doing.

“Neil is with her and more fearful than I have ever seen him. He is doing what he can until the men can reach Ann’s cottage and dig her out. Lara is seeing to those in the keep who have yet to improve.” His brow knitted. “The illness strikes so fast, fever coming on without warning and without Elsa it will be difficult to combat it.”

Dawn agreed, telling Cree how she had found Old Mary, the fire dwindled to embers, unable to call out for help and her nightdress soaked through from the fever.

Cree followed her gestures. “You should have given her your only nightdress since you will never be using it.”

Dawn tapped her chest and nodded.

“You did?” And when Dawn nodded, Cree said, “Wise woman. I wish we knew what causes this illness so that we can stop it from spreading. I have ordered all those who have not been to the keep to remain a distance from it, though it concerns me that Elsa took ill without being in contact with either. Whether the stranger has something to do with this sudden illness or not, I can take no chances. I have ordered him locked in the tower room with guards posted outside the door until a path has been cleared from the village and he can be sent on his way.”

Dawn gestured, letting Cree know that the stranger had been here, speaking with her. She was eager to tell him how Alexander had seemed to hear the thoughts in her head.

“When was he here and what did he say?”

She held up two fingers, keeping them only a short distance apart.

“Not long ago? That is not possible. He was in the Great Hall when I entered, half asleep on his pallet, and I had him locked away immediately.”

Dawn shook her head and pointed her finger down at the floor, insisting he had been there. When Cree went to speak, she pressed her finger to his lips, then tapped her temple as she shook her head again.

Cree scowled. “I was not going to say you imagined him. I am trying to understand how he can be in two places at the same time.”

Dawn stuck a finger up from each side of her head.

“For the last time, he is not the devil—”

“I tend to agree with Dawn,” Sloan said, stepping in through the open door. “The two warriors guarding Alexander heard a loud noise coming from inside his room. They unlocked the door to see what was wrong—the room was empty.”