“What of the Earl of Kellmara?” Wintra asked.
“The only thing I have heard is that Kellmara warriors are expected at Owen’s campsite any day now.”
Flanna hurried to stand as soon as she caught sight of Cree entering the Great Hall with Torr and Sloan following behind him.
Cree laid his hands flat on the end of the table between where Dawn and Wintra sat. “What are you two up to?”
Dawn smiled broadly and gestured.
Cree’s face lit with a smile. “You are planning the wedding celebration?”
Dawn nodded joyously.
Cree summoned Flanna to him with a shout, and she hurried over to the table. “Whatever Dawn wants see that it is done.”
“Yes, my lord, and may I say this is going to be the best wedding celebration ever.”
“I am sure you will see that it is,” he said with a curt nod.
Torr reached down and took his wife’s hand, tugging her gently off the bench to wrap his arm around her. “I have missed you,” he whispered in her ear as he settled her close against him.
Before she could respond and let him know she felt the same and was wishing for time alone with him, Cree spoke.
“I have had enough waiting. I am taking a contingent of men and going to speak with Owen. Torr will accompany me and Sloan will remain behind. I hope to be back tonight, but we may not return until tomorrow. You two,” — Cree pointed to his wife and sister— “are not to go off alone while we are gone. Do I make myself clear?”
Dawn gestured to her husband.
Cree yanked her off the bench and into his arms. “I will miss you too, but do not think you are going to ignore my orders. Understand?”
Torr walked a few feet away with Wintra as Cree continued talking with Dawn.
“Cree is right about this. He cannot wait to see what Kellmara intends, or Owen for that matter. He must see to this, and I must go with him since it concerns my wife.”
“You could be in danger as well,” she reminded and the thought that she could lose him overwhelmed her with grief. “I do not want to lose you. I love you.”
“You sound and look as if you have just realized that,” he said resting a gentle hand to her cheek.
“It is not that I have only realized that I love you since love struck me so hard and fast, and it is not going away—ever. But until this very moment, I did not realize what tremendous heartache I would suffer if I lost you.” She tried to laugh, though it sounded more like a croak. “No one would love me as unconditionally as you do. Besides, I could never love anyone as much as I love you.”
“Good, for I feel the same about you,” Torr said and slipped his hand around the back of her neck and with a gentle yank had her mouth against his in an instant. They tasted of each other like two hungry children receiving a long awaited treat and when he reluctantly brought the kiss to an end, he rested his brow to hers, and said, “I will never grow tired of the taste of you.”
“Time to go,” Cree shouted.
With another quick kiss to Wintra, Torr turned and joined Cree as he headed out of the Great Hall.
Wintra did not like how empty she felt with each step Torr took away from her and when the door closed behind him, she felt her legs grow weak. She had not known that love could be so wonderful, yet so painful at the same time. And she silently prayed for his safe return, for she knew she would not want to live life without him.
Chapter Twenty-four
Cree despised Owen and he wanted nothing more than to snap the irritating man’s neck and be done with him. But until he could determine what Owen was up to, he would have to wait. Eventually though, Owen would suffer a fate of his own making.
“Why would the Earl of Kellmara send so many of his warriors ahead of his arrival if it was only a friendly visit?” Torr asked as he and Cree were escorted into camp by several Kellmara warriors.
As soon as Cree and his contingent of twenty warriors rode off Carrick land, Kellmara’s warriors swooped around them. The leader cordially, though firmly, offered to escort them to camp.
Cree kept his temper in firm control. He was furious that Kellmara could think that he could camp just a step beyond Cree’s borders and that he would sit there and do nothing about it. But Kellmara had expressed no interest in doing Cree harm, so Cree could do nothing but wait on the man’s arrival. He could, however, question Owen.
Cree and Torr both took note of how well organized the campsite appeared, but then Kellmara was known for his warrior skills. And as Cree had learned, being a good warrior was not only about the battle. It was also about keeping your men organized and well trained, and from what Cree could see, Kellmara did just that.