He had thrown his body full force at the man, knocking him off Wintra, then he and the man had fought. Cree had been so furious that he snapped the man’s neck. Wintra had run to him afterward and had flung her scrawny little arms around his neck and wouldn’t let go of him. Her body had trembled against his as he held her tight, and he had wanted to kill her attacker all over again. She had been his shadow for days on end after that, and he realized then that he had to teach her how to protect herself against someone bigger and stronger, and he had done just that. He also had never left her alone again, and it had been another reason why he had placed her in the abbey.
Wintra shook her head. “I had locked that memory away, not wanting to remember it. But I instinctively remembered what you taught me and I did not hesitate to attack him. But then—” She shook her head again. “I wanted answers. I am so tired of not having answers. I yanked him by the hair and demanded to know who sent him and when he did not respond, I stomped repeatedly on his ankle. He fell over and I kicked him in the ribs and was about to do more. Then Torr was there and I almost punched him, though he was quick to stop me.” She shook her head again. “I do not know what happened to me.”
“You are angry and rightfully so, and I am so proud to see what a strong and brave woman you have become,” Cree said.
Her heart swelled with joy that her brother would speak with such pride of her, but then he had helped make her strong. And she was just beginning to realize that.
“We need to talk with the man who attacked, Wintra,” Cree said to Torr.
Torr pressed his finger to Wintra’s lips before she could open them. “This will not be pleasant to see. Rest assured, I will tell you everything upon my return. I am sure Dawn would not mind staying with you while you wait.” He turned pleading eyes on Dawn.
Dawn nodded and smiled, agreeing.
Torr leaned close to Wintra, pressing his cheek to hers and whispered, “You are not going to win this one, Princess. You are staying put. Besides, I have a promise to keep to you tonight.”
Passion rushed in to nip at every bit of her flesh before settling in the most intimate places. She kissed his cheek and smiled sweetly. “Do not be long.”
As soon as the door closed on Torr and Cree, Dawn begged Wintra to tell her about Cree and their life on the farm. Wintra, not having had anyone to relive memories with, was only too eager to oblige her.
~~~
“His name is George and he is more than willing to talk,” Sloan said when Cree and Torr entered the shack that Wintra’s attacker had been taken to.
Cree stepped forward and George, more skin and bones than muscle, cringed and shuffled back on his butt where he sat on the cold ground, wincing as he did.
“I will tell you whatever you want to know,” George pleaded.
“I have no doubt of that,” Cree said, towering over the frightened man. “Who sent you?”
“Owen McBride of the clan McBride.”
Cree didn’t have to ask another question. George kept right on talking.
“He ordered me to get Wintra and bring her to him and to do whatever was necessary to see it done. I do not take to hurting women and had no intentions of hitting her. I never expected her to attack me the way she did. She was ruthless, but then she is your sister.”
Cree scowled, though inwardly he swelled with pride that Wintra had become such a courageous woman.
George apologized quickly. “I do not mean that in a bad way. I just mean that you are both skilled fighters. And from what I am hearing around camp from the warriors that have been here, is that you are more of a fair man than Owen would have us believe. I do not trust Owen McBride. He is a cruel man. It was a sad day when he married our chieftain’s daughter and even sadder day when she died, though talk was that he had her murdered, the poor soul. He treated her so badly, but there was nothing we could do to stop him. His small contingent of men was enough to keep everyone in line. He has brought nothing but grief and poverty to our clan.” George bowed his head. “I ask for mercy, my lord. I have a wife and daughter and another child on the way. They will starve, not that we aren’t already, but they will not last long if I do not return home to them. Besides, wives who no longer have husbands are used by Owen’s men, and I do not want that for my Patricia.”