Dawn dismissed her claim with a brief wave, as if it was nonsense.
“You should not make light of it,” Lila said as both women took seats at the table. “Perhaps it could afford you a good marriage.”
Dawn shook her head gesturing that Cree was already promised to Lucerne and that would not likely change.
Lila reached out and took hold of Dawn’s hand. “I don’t mean Cree.”
Dawn shook her head adamantly. Was Lila crazy? She would not wed another.”
“I knew you would dismiss this claim without giving it thought and without realizing that you may not have a choice.”
Dawn shook her head even more vehemently.
“Do you truly think you would have a choice if it is proven that Kirk McClusky is your father? Do you think the man would allow your liaison with Cree to continue?”
Dawn waved her remark away as if not wanting to hear it. Then she gestured quite adamantly that she loved Cree and always would.
“I know that,” Lila said with tears in her eyes. “And surprisingly it is obvious how much Cree loves you, but he is promised to another. And I worry what will become of you. I want to see you happily wed like Paul and I. And Thomas loves you dearly; you would make a wonderful mother and should be able to have children of your own.”
Dawn stiffened for a moment. She didn’t mean to but she couldn’t help it, and it was enough for Lila to take note.
Her eyes turned wide, “Oh dear Lord, you’re already with child. You carry Cree’s babe.”
Dawn tapped her fingers to her mouth warning Lila that she must not tell anyone about it.
“He doesn’t know?”
Dawn shook her head.
“When?”
Dawn gestured the sun high in the sky and fanned herself to demonstrate heat.
“Summer,” Lila confirmed and smiled. “I will pray for a miracle, for I could not abide you moving away. While I want what is best for you, what will make you happy, I am selfish and want you to remain here so that Thomas and your child can grow up together and become the best of friends just like we are.”
Dawn smiled and nodded and patted her chest and gestured that staying in Dowell was what she wanted.
Lila got up and rushed around the table to hug Dawn, then the two women talked about what birth is like and how they best get started on stitching clothes for the babe. Until finally Lila realized that she had to leave and with a quick hug and kiss and a promise that she would not say a word, she left.
Dawn was glad Lila knew about the babe. She had wanted to share the news with her but feared doing so, not wanting to place her friend in a difficult situation with Cree. But time was drawing near when she would have to tell him and so she wasn’t as fearful as sharing the news with her friend as she once had been. And she was right, clothes would need stitching and there were a few items in the chest that she would not make use of for herself but would serve well to turn into several baby garments.
She returned to work on the red velvet dress when she heard a commotion outside her cottage door. She opened it to find Elwin blocking the doorway and Bree standing a few feet away in tears.
“I just wanted you to know that I mean you no harm, Dawn,” Bree said.
“And now that you’ve told her, take your leave,” Elwin commanded.
Bree wiped at her falling tears. “I am sorry for all the problems I have caused.”
“Nonsense,” Sloan said approaching and slipping his arm around Bree’s waist when he came alongside her. “You have caused no problems.”
Elwin crossed his arms over his chest. “Cree ordered that Bree be kept a distance from Dawn and so it shall be. Besides she’s said what she came to say and now she can be on her way.”
Sloan looked past Elwin to Dawn. “Have you anything to say about this?”
Dawn felt for the lass, but she also worried for Cree’s babe she carried. Lucerne very well could have forced Bree to put poison in Dawn’s food, but what if Bree had done it of her own accord? And what if she tried again? There would be a chance that Dawn could lose the babe and that was a chance she would not take.
Dawn shook her head, turned, and went inside closing the door behind her. She felt terrible for hurting the lass, but she was more concerned with the safety of her unborn child and therefore couldn’t take a chance.
She got only a few stitches done when Dorrie showed up with the noon meal. The scent of the delicious food had Dawn realizing that more time had passed than she had realized and she was hungry. With all her unexpected visitors this morning, she had lost track of time.