Dawn understood her need to be courageous. She had experienced it herself and gave no thought to doing what had to be done. But she did not know if she could sit by and not help Wintra if it should prove necessary. There was the babe to consider, but he was safe inside her. And how could she ever face Cree and tell him she had sat by and done nothing to help his sister.
Dawn could make no promises and she was about to let Wintra know that when they both suddenly heard the pounding of hooves not far off.
“Please stay put,” Wintra said and hurried off to meet her fate.
Chapter Thirty-four
“Blood,” Cree’s tracker said as he examined the area.
Cree and Torr were off their horses in an instant. Kellmara followed, staring at the rock smeared with blood as the tracker drifted off.
Torr’s gut clenched with fear for his wife and his sister. He raged inwardly at feeling so helpless. He wanted his wife and sister back and he wanted Owen dead. And he would not rest until he saw that both were done.
Cree stepped away from the others and looked in the distance. He balled his hands into fists, needing to control his anger. Right now he had to focus on Owen and his men, not his wife and sister. He would lose all perspective if he allowed his fear for his wife and sister’s safety to interfere. He was a warrior and this was a battle. And this battle was not going to end well for the enemy. He intended to slaughter every one of them.
The tracker returned smiling. “The two women escaped and from their footprints neither appears injured.”
“Get us to my wife and sister, Henry, and you will live like a king,” Cree said.
“I live better than a king, my lord, thanks to you. I would have never met my wife Greta if you had not freed her people from invaders, and now she and I will welcome our first child in two months. I have a good life and I am grateful. I will get you to your wife and sister,” Henry said, “but we must hurry. Horses follow the tracks.”
They all mounted their horses and followed the tracker.
~~~
Wintra waited until the riders came into view. Owen rode in the lead and after staring at him for a moment, she turned and ran. If she could put enough distance between her and Dawn before Owen caught her, there would be no way the stubborn woman could help her.
She had no doubt that Owen would catch her. What he would do when he did, she wasn’t sure, but she did not think he would kill her—not yet at least. And, hopefully, that would give Torr and Cree time to find her.
The pounding of the horse’s hooves grew louder and closer, no matter how fast she ran, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the riders caught up with her. She spied a clumping of trees and headed for them, knowing that it would be hard for the horses to maneuver around them.
She heard Owen spew a string of oaths as he drew near and a chill raced through her, knowing he was not far behind her. She had left the dagger with Dawn in case she needed to protect herself. As for herself, she would do whatever was necessary to stay alive until Torr or Cree found her.
The brutal shove to her back came suddenly and sent her sprawling to the ground face first. Her face no soon as smacked the patch of snow, then she was yanked up by the back of her hair and turned to face a furious Owen.
Wintra could not help it, she could not stop from smiling. The lump on his forehead protruded like a horn from his head.
“You bitch,” he screamed and slapped her across the face so hard that the sting reverberated through her head. “Before I get done with you, you will beg for death.”
“I would not be so quick to harm me,” she warned. “Not only will my husband want to see that I am unharmed, but so will my brother and father before any ransom is handed over to you.”
Owen grinned. “What I intend to do to you no one will be able to see, and do you truly believe I intend to return you to your husband?”
“No, never did I believe that.”
“So you attempted a foolish escape.” Owen suddenly gave a quick look around. “Where is the pregnant one?”
“Do you actually think I would tell you,” she said mockingly.
Another hard slap sent blood running down the corner of her mouth.
“You do know that Cree will stop Torr from killing you fast. My brother will want to see you suffer for every injury you inflicted upon me, and I want to see you suffer for what you have done to those women.”