The fire in the hearth crackled and popped and they listened, Cree stroking her arm until finally he said, “I am famished. Are you?”
She was hungrier than she had been of late, and so she nodded rigorously.
“I will remedy our situation. Stay in bed,” he ordered and got out, slipped on his shirt, and walked into the other room.
She heard the door open but since this time there was no shouting, she could not hear what he was saying. He returned fast enough, discarding his shirt and once again joining her in bed.
“We will have a feast in no time,” he said with a grin.
She patted his stomach, rock hard against her hand.
“My stomach is well. The sleep did me good as did our lovemaking.”
Dawn smiled at him and draped her leg over his to lock herself more closely around him. She relished this rare time with him and wished that it didn’t have to be so rare.
They talked, ate, and slept well into the next day, and Dawn was pleased that he was not in a hurry to leave. And she believed he would have remained the entire day with her if the village bell hadn’t tolled alerting all to an approaching troop of warriors.
Cree dressed quickly. “You stay in the cottage —”
She shook her head before he could finish and hurried into her clothes.
“I have no time to argue with you.” He grabbed her chin. “You will do as I say.”
She tapped her chest, shook her finger, and stamped her foot to demonstrate her displeasure.
“A tantrum won’t work,” he said with a laugh.
She shook her head letting him know that it was no tantrum but rather annoyance at being kept prisoner and so she raised her arms and crossed her wrists as if shackled.
“Damn, woman, you’re not a prisoner,” he said with an angry growl and brushed her wrists apart, then gave her a gentle shove into the other room. He grabbed her fur-lined cloak from the peg and tossed it at her. “You’ll make sure to stay close to Elwin or he’ll be dragging you back here and locking you in.”
She patted her chest in promise.
Cree swung open the door and Elwin stepped forward. “A small troop of warriors approach at a slow pace. Sloan has taken a troop out to meet them.”
Cree nodded and yanked Dawn in front of him. “She is not to be far from your side or leave your sight. If she gives you any trouble, return her here and don’t let her leave.”
Elwin bobbed his head. “Aye, my lord.”
Cree gave Dawn a quick kiss. “Take no chances, behave, and stay out of trouble. I will see you later.” He hurried off, though stopped after a few steps, turned and with a grin said, “Elwin, if she does not obey, you have my permission to do whatever is necessary to get her back to the cottage. And I suggest throwing her over your shoulder would be the best approach.”
Elwin couldn’t help but smile upon seeing Cree’s grin. It was a rare sight and he nodded and said once again, “Aye, my lord.”
Dawn tilted her head and produced a sweet smile and hooked her arm around Elwin’s to the big man’s surprise.
Cree’s grin vanished in an instant and he stomped through the few inches of snow that carpeted the ground to stop barely an inch from her. Elwin had wisely moved aside giving the couple privacy.
Cree lowered his face and whispered harshly in her ear. “I warned you once that you touch no man but me. Do not make me warn you again.” He was startled when she responded by resting a gentle hand to his cheek, then patted her chest and then his. “That’s right you belong to me and only me.” He kissed her possessively, and then stomped away.
Dawn stared after him and her lips crept up in a smile. She turned to Elwin and he stepped forward. “It is good to see him smile. He deserves to be happy for all he has done for us.”
She purposely set a slow pace hoping that Elwin would keep talking about Cree and she wasn’t disappointed.
“He saved many of us from suffering terrible fates and gave us a chance for a good life. And he didn’t ask anything of any of his men that he wouldn’t ask of himself. He fought and suffered along with every one of us, reminding us all that we worked for a common cause… a permanent home and a better life. And he gave us just that.”
Elwin stopped a minute and gazed up at the gray sky. “More snow today. That’s probably why that troop of warriors are here. They seek shelter.” He smiled. “I have a cottage, and now a good woman to share it with thanks to you.”