Dawn walked over to him, and his eyes caught the way the light from the fire silhouetted her naked body beneath her nightdress. Not that she ever wore a nightdress to bed. She put one on sometimes after a bath but always removed—he always removed it—before reaching the bed. He often wondered if she did it on purpose, that she actually liked the way he would strip it off her in urgent haste or teasingly slow. He certainly favored it.
She patted his chest, then hers and frowned.
His heart melted understanding what she gestured. “I will miss you as well, but I will know you are safe.”
She tapped his chest and moved closer to him.
“Aye, I know you are safe with me, and I know you are safe here. I do not know what awaits at Clan Strathearn, therefore, you will remain here.”
Dawn kissed him lightly and smiled.
He was glad she was tall, his height surpassing most men. He would worry even more if she was a wee bit of a thing. And though she was slim, there was strength to her, and she also was good at getting her own way, which she was attempting to do now.
His hand went to rest on her rounded stomach. “I protect not only you but our unborn bairn. You will obey me on this, wife, and remain home.”
She shook her head, patted his chest, then hers.
“You go where I go,” he said the words she was unable to.
She nodded.
“I would take you, but it is too dangerous. I almost lost you once and the pain when I thought you dead was unbearable. I cannae go through that again. I will not lose you because I am selfish and always want you with me.”
Dawn smiled softly, resting her hand on his.
“That smile and your hand covering mine tells me you still think you will go with me, but I tell you again. You are not going with me this time. Now, wife, it is time to rid you of that nightdress.”
Dawn lay awake, Cree sleeping soundly beside her. He had made sure to linger in their lovemaking as if he wanted not only the night to last but the memory as well. It made her realize that he expected this task to take time. Recalling the message that had arrived from Chieftain Newlin of Clan Strathearn, she understood why. Chieftain Newlin had helped Cree once many years ago and they had become and remained friends through the years, and not once had he asked anything of Cree. The message had been dire, and the messenger’s voice had trembled when he spoke.
“I beg you for help, Lord Cree. My people vanish without a trace, as if plucked away by a powerful, unseen hand. I know not what devilish work is at play here, but I need a fearless man to face this unknown. And you are the most fearless man I have ever known. Please, come help me.”
Cree had immediately agreed. But what help could he give when the people had vanished out of thin air with no clue to what may have happened to them. Could Chieftain Newlin be right? Could the work of the devil be at play?
The messenger had whispered about the old myth being true, but he refused to talk of it as if fearful it would strike him, and he too would vanish.
Dawn understood her husband’s apprehension with taking her with him, but just as he feared for her safety, she feared for his. What if he was plucked away by this invisible hand? How would she ever find him? And just as he had suffered unbearable pain when thinking her dead the time she had been abducted, just the thought of losing him sent an agonizing pain through her.
She turned, his arms having fallen from around her when he moved on his back, another thing that disturbed her. They always slept wrapped around each other. That his arms had left her meant he was putting distance between them now before he would have to do it tomorrow. She would not see that happen. She had already made plans to see that all would be well while she joined him on this journey.
Nell would have plenty of help looking after the twins as she usually did, though her husband Henry would accompany Cree since he was Cree’s best tracker. Sloan, Cree’s closest friend, and righthand man would oversee the clan in Cree’s absence. His wife Lucerne would be one of many to help Nell with the twins in between seeing to her son.
Dawn had thought of leaving Beast behind to watch over the twins, but with the strange problem at Clan Strathearn, she thought it wiser to take the large dog with her. He would help to keep her safe and cause her husband less worry.