My Highlander: A Cree & Dawn Novel, page 2
Sloan nodded and rushed out of the room.
Elsa turned to Lucerne. “I will need help making brews and possibly poultices. Go and have the kitchen ready and waiting for my instructions.” Lucerne nodded and left the room and Elsa turned to Flanna. “Fresh towels and more blankets.”
Flanna rushed out the door, closing it behind her.
“That animal needs to go,” Elsa said, pointing to the dog.
The dog growled and moved closer to Dawn
“He saved her. He stays,” Cree ordered and turned a scowl on the animal. “Not a sound from you or you will be gone. Dawn is safe with me.”
The dog’s growl turned to a low rumble in his chest as he backed away and settled down by the hearth to keep watch.
Elsa kept her eyes on the dog as she approached, the size of him and his bared teeth intimidating. Once by Dawn, the animal was a thought no more, healing Dawn her only concern.
“We have to get her out of these wet garments and into the warm, dry bed,” Elsa said, her hands already busy at removing Dawn’s boots.
Elsa cringed and Cree swore when they saw the raw blisters on her feet.
“She has walked far to get back to you,” Elsa said a tear in her eye.
Dawn’s cloak was easy to shed, but the other wet garments were difficult, sticking to her skin.
“Take a knife to the garments,” Cree said, nodding to one on the chest near the bed, “I will see these garments burned.”
Elsa nodded and grabbed the knife and got busy slicing at the cloth and as she did Dawn’s ordeal was revealed. There were raw scratches over her arms and legs and bruises as well, but it was the dark bruise on Dawn’s right side, beneath her breast down to her waist that worried Elsa the most.
It troubled Cree as well, since he had seen men die from such a bruise.
“She doesn’t wake,” Cree said and as if his wife heard him, her eyes fluttered open and she gave him a weak smile.
“A good sign,” Elsa said with a nod and a smile of her own. “Dawn is a fighter. She will not give up. She did not give up. She made it home. Now, care, rest, and food will help heal her. She has gotten thin.”
Cree not only saw it, he felt it, holding her there in his arms. She was a head taller than most women, her head reaching just past his shoulder, and she had always had curves to her and a slight roundness to her stomach since the twins were born. All the curves and the roundness were gone. She was far too thin and it troubled him what she must have suffered to have gotten that way.
“I need to examine her back and,” —Elsa paused, tears gathering once again in her eyes— “I am sorry to say this, my lord, but she smells terrible. She needs to be bathed before you place her in bed to rest and heal.”
Cree had noticed the foul scent when he had taken her in his arms and it was even worse now in the confined room. “Order a bath. I will bathe with her and see her washed clean.”
“First, her back,” Elsa reminded.
Cree lifted her gently to rest her chest to his while his other arm turned the lower portion of her body so Elsa could have a look.
Elsa gasped.
“What is it?” Cree asked, trying to see for himself, but not able to.
Elsa looked reluctant to say.
“Tell me now, Elsa,” Cree snapped.
“A bite mark on her backside, my lord.”
Cree turned a vicious scowl on the dog that had the animal baring his teeth in a feral growl.
“It is a human bite, my lord.”
Cree turned such a harsh glare on her that Elsa took a step back.
“A human bite?”
“Aye, my lord,” Elsa reluctantly confirmed. “The teeth marks can be seen clearly and the bruising is fresh. It has not been long since she got it.” She hurried and grabbed a blanket from the rumpled bedding, seeing for herself the truth to the gossip that the servants had been avoiding Lord Cree’s bedchamber for a while, and draped it over Dawn. “I will see to the bath and have your bedding made fresh.”
Cree nodded, keeping Dawn tucked close against him, feeling her soft breath on him, and her ever so slight movements. He had no idea of what she may have suffered and part of him feared to learn her fate, but learn he would. He would hear all of it, then he would seek his revenge.
It did not take long before Flanna had the servants bustling in and out of the bedchamber. The wood tub was soon carried in, draped with a cloth, and filled with hot water. The servants tasked with the chore, all expressing their blessings on Dawn’s return home.
After Flanna asked if anything else was needed, she shooed the last servant out the door, and slipped out closing it behind her. Only then did she let her tears fall and sent prayers to the heavens for Dawn to heal quickly.
Elsa pulled off Cree’s boots and he stood, with Dawn in his arms, so she could get his plaid off him. The blanket over Dawn fell to the floor along with Cree’s plaid and he stepped on the small stool to step over the rim and into the tub.
Dawn’s eyes shot open as he sunk with her into the partially hot water.
“A bath, my love,” he said softly and kissed her cheek.
Cree felt her sigh as she placed her head on his shoulder, and his shattered heart felt like all the broken pieces were coming together again when her lips gently brushed his chest.
“Never will you be out of my sight again,” he said, sounding more a promise than a declaration and she tapped his arm once, agreeing with him, and his broken heart healed even more.
Elsa did not wait for instructions, she took charge. She got busy scrubbing Dawn’s hair. “A comfrey poultice is being made for the bruise at her side. Honey will help heal the numerous scratches and a comfrey salve will see to the other bruises and swelling. I see no reason to worry about fever, but I am going to give her a brew for it anyway and—” Elsa suddenly turned quiet.
“What is it, Elsa?” Cree asked, seeing her hesitant to continue.
“I mean nothing by this, my lord, but I can give her something in case she got with child while away.”
Cree looked down at his wife, sleeping comfortably in his arms. “No, I will not do that to her. She will decide that for herself if necessary.”
Elsa nodded and continued to fight the tears that had threatened to spill several times since entering the room. Most men would not leave that decision to their wives, but then Cree was not most men.
Cree gently scrubbed his wife’s face with the cloth Elsa handed him.
Dawn woke periodically and attempted to sit up, but she was far too weak.
“Rest in my arms, where you belong. I will see to your care,” Cree said and kissed her brow.
When Elsa finished scrubbing Dawn’s arms, she took her hand to clean the thick dirt embedded beneath her nails.
Cree said what Elsa thought. “She crawled. That was what she must have been doing when the dog came for help, crawling to get home.”
That was it, Elsa could not hold back her tears any longer, they spilled down her full cheeks. “She is courageous.”
“That she is,” Cree agreed, thinking his wife was far more courageous than him since he had given up on her, believing her dead. When she had never given up. She had let no one stop her from returning home to him.
Cree lifted Dawn so Elsa could scrub her legs and gently wash her blistered feet.
“She barely moves,” Cree said, after moving her around different ways so Elsa could scrub her.
“Exhaustion,” Elsa explained. “Her body can take no more. She needs to sleep, to heal, to regain her strength.” She handed him a cloth soaked with soap. “Gently wash her private parts since I do not know if she has suffered there.”
Cree nodded and it was the first time since meeting his wife that he did not grow aroused when he touched her intimately. He was too concerned about her well-being to think of coupling with her. That would come in time after she healed, after she grew strong.
Dawn startled awake in his arms when he slipped the cloth between her legs and her hand latched onto his wrist to stop him. When she saw it was him, her chest heaved in a heavy sigh and her hand fell away and her eyes closed once again.
“She wakes still fearing it a dream,” Cree said.
Elsa nodded. “Time and your arms are the only things that will heal that.”
When Dawn was scrubbed clean, Cree stepped out of the tub with her in his arms and Elsa hurried to dry them both and wrap Dawn in a clean blanket. Then Cree sat once again in the chair by the fire with Dawn cradled in his lap, while servants removed the tub and other servants dressed the bed with fresh bedding.
The whole time the beast of a dog slept by the fire, looking up only when Dawn made a move and not settling down until she did. Cree wondered where and how she came by the dog. The animal was certainly protective of her and that Cree liked.
“Bring food for the dog,” Cree ordered to no one in particular and one of the servants hurried out of the room.
The servants were nearly done with the room when the food arrived for the dog. He growled when the servant approached and Cree shot the animal a look that turned the growl into a low rumble.
The servant took no chance. He placed the crock of food on the floor and gave it a shove with his foot. The dog sniffed it, while keeping an eye on Cree, then devoured it.
If the dog was that hungry, he could only imagine how hungry Dawn must be.
“She needs to eat,” Cree said, looking to Elsa as the last servant left the room.
“She will, but sleep is more important now. A brew will be finished soon that will help sustain her. I will spoon it into her mouth.”
“I will feed her,” Cree said.
Elsa nodded, having had no doubt he would have it no other way. “I was going to examine her more closely, but I think it would be best that she rests.”
Cree understood what she did not say. Her examine would be more intimate, to see if she had suffered in other ways. Cree did not want to learn that from Elsa. He would rather his wife tell him what she had endured in her absence.
“You will wait until Dawn wakes,” Cree ordered.
Elsa was relieved to hear his command and nodded once again. “As you say, my lord.”
A knock sounded at the door before it opened and Sloan entered. “I cannot keep Old Mary and Lila at bay much longer. They are eager to see Dawn for themselves.”
Cree did not want to share Dawn with anyone, but that would not be fair to her or her friends. “Give me time to settle her in bed and dress.”
Sloan nodded. “They wait outside the door. Let me know when you are ready to receive them.”
Elsa had spotted Dawn’s nightdress on the peg by the door.
“No,” Cree ordered when Elsa reached for the nightdress. “She never wears it and if she wakes with it on, she will fear she is not home.”
Elsa nodded and returned to Cree’s side to help him settle Dawn in bed, tucking the blankets up under her chin.
Cree donned a fresh plaid, nothing else and moved the chair beside the bed to sit close to his sleeping wife. Fear smashed into his gut, her dark red hair and the light-colored blankets making her appear far too pale and fragile.
He intended to join her in bed after feeding her some of the sustaining brew. Then he could soothe and reassure her when she woke.
“She needs to sleep, to rest,” Elsa said. It was heart-wrenching and strange to see the worry in Cree’s eyes since he rarely displayed anything but a scowl.
“I will make sure she does.” Cree gently tucked a strand of his wife’s damp hair behind her ear. “Tell Sloan that Old Mary and Lila may enter.”
Elsa bobbed her head and went to the door.
The two women entered with quick steps, stopping at the end of the bed.
Lila, more like a sister than a friend to Dawn, and completely opposite in features, petite and slim with curly red hair and gentle green eyes, and a tongue that could chatter on forever, though at the moment failed to do so. She stood staring at Dawn, tears streaming down her cheeks and reached for support from Old Mary, taking hold of the old woman’s hand.
Though Old Mary’s hand was gnarled from age, she gripped Lila’s firmly, sharing her strength.
“She is well, my lord?” Lila asked.
Cree’s dark eyes went to Old Mary, wanting—more needing—her to answer, since she often had knowledge of things to come. And Dawn’s death had not been one of them. She had been shocked when the news came and refused to believe it, just as he had, but time had begun to leave doubt. Time, however, had been wrong. Old Mary had been right.
“Dawn’s time is far off,” Old Mary said.
Cree wanted to roar with relief, but remained silent.
“Please, my lord, if there is anything I can do to help,” Lila said, her tears continuing to flow.
Cree knew Dawn would want to see her friend, know she, her husband Paul, and their young son Thomas were well, and have time to talk with her, since Lila understood all of Dawn’s gestures easily.
“You have my word, I will send for you,” Cree said.
Lila laid a hand to her chest as she said, “I am most grateful, my lord.”
“I will know when to come to her,” Old Mary said, looking to Cree.
“And you will be welcomed,” he assured her and wondered what it was in her aged eyes that she was not saying.
With respectful nods to Lord Cree, the two woman left the bedchamber, Lila still clinging to Old Mary’s hand.
The brew arrived shortly afterwards and Cree placed another pillow beneath his wife’s head and a towel beneath her chin before sitting on the edge of the bed, bowl and spoon in hand, to feed her the brew.
“A few sips should sustain her, though more would be preferable,” Elsa advised.
Cree worried Dawn would take none at all, but when he eased the spoon between her lips, she opened and eagerly took the liquid.
He and Elsa were ecstatic when she finished half the bowl.
“It is promising that she is eager to eat. She will heal and grow strong soon,” Elsa confirmed. “I will leave you with your wife, though I will return in a few hours with a fresh brew for Dawn to enjoy.”
“Send Sloan in, and, Elsa,” —Cree paused and looked at Dawn— “I am grateful for the help you give my wife.”
Elsa rested her hand to her chest, tears pooling in her eyes. “And I am so very happy that Dawn has returned to us, my lord.” She turned and hurried from the room before tears fell once again.
Sloan entered and Cree stood as he approached the bed and walked to the end, casting a glance back at his wife as if the short distance between them was too much.
“That beast of a dog left good prints for our trackers to follow. Henry leads the group,” Sloan said.
Cree and Sloan had been friends for some time and in that time, they had come to know each other well. So well, that Sloan knew what to do before Cree gave any instructions or commands.
“They will follow the tracks as far as they take them. Unfortunately, the rain does not help the situation,” Sloan said.
“It is a start and when Dawn is well enough she can tell me all of it. Then I can decide if it is revenge I seek.”
“As always, your warriors and clan stand with you.”
“Of that, I had no doubt.” Cree gave a quick glance at his wife, knowing she was there sleeping, but needing to reassure himself. “You and Elsa are the only ones permitted to enter this room when necessary. All others must seek permission.”
“Aye, my lord.”
“We will talk later,” Cree said, dismissing him, eager to join his wife in bed and take her in his arms where she belonged.
Sloan bobbed his head and took quick steps to the door, and turned after opening it. “She is a courageous woman. It is good to have her home.” He shut the door quietly behind him, expecting no response.
It was more than good to Cree and he had to keep telling himself that this was real and not a dream.
He removed his plaid, tossing it on the chair, then crouched down beside the bed. He eased the blanket off her some and gently rolled his wife on her side, holding her steady there with his hand. He wanted to see the bite mark for himself that had so upset Elsa.
His nostrils flared, a scowl deepened across his face, and his anger soared like a mighty bird of prey. A purple and black bruise covered the lower part of her right cheek and in the center could be seen distinct teeth marks.
He reached out to touch it when Dawn shivered, gooseflesh running over her skin. He hurried into bed beside her, easing her back to rest against his front, his arm going around her and tucking her close against him. He slipped his leg between her two just as he had done endless nights before and he rested his face against her damp hair, drinking in her fresh scent.
Cree shut his eyes tight for a few moments, then opened them again. He did that a few times, wanting to make sure yet again this was not a dream. That he would wake wrapped around his wife.
Finally, he accepted that it was real and Dawn was there with him. Still, he remained awake and watched her sleep, ready to do whatever was necessary to help her heal from the ordeal she had suffered.
There was, however, one thing he intended to see done. He would have his revenge on any and all who had dared to do harm to his wife.
Chapter 2
“Two days, Elsa, and in all that time she has barely woken,” Cree said, pacing next to the bed where his wife slept peacefully.
“Her body is doing what it needs to do to heal,” Elsa said, repeating what she had told him endlessly since Dawn’s return. “You have seen for yourself how the scratches are fading and also the large bruise to her side. It is responding much better to the poultice than I expected.”
“And the bite mark?” he asked with a scowl, aware she avoided speaking of it to him. That could be because any time she did, he got angry and snapped at her. He could not contain his fury when he thought of it. He so badly wanted to get his hands on the person who did it to her and make him linger in his suffering before he killed him.
“It also responds well to the poultice and I am confident it will leave no trace of a scar,” she said, pleased herself with the results. “She eats when she does wake or when you feed her. The care, rest, and food all help her grow stronger. You must have seen how she does not struggle to move her arms as she did when you first found her. It proves she is doing well, growing stronger.”
