Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 111355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111355 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 557(@200wpm)___ 445(@250wpm)___ 371(@300wpm)
Cree guided his horse forward while his men waited where they were. When he got a few feet in front of Torr, he stopped and glared at the man. “You have something that belongs to me. And let me warn you that if you should decide to start a war over this, I will massacre every last one of you, and then claim your land as mine.”
“I want no war with you, Cree,” Kirk said, “though I do want what is best for my daughter.”
“Dawn has what is best for her... me.”
“Do you love Dawn?” Kirk asked.
Dawn felt her breath catch. Cree had never told her he loved her, though she never doubted he did. He showed his love in many different ways and each time he had told her that she belonged to him, it seemed as if he was saying I love you. But it would be wonderful to actually hear him say it. She almost laughed at the ironic thought, after all, he would never actually hear her say the words.
“That’s between Dawn and me,” Cree snapped.
“When a man loves a woman he has no problem admitting it.”
“I will not discuss this here and now,” Cree said sternly. “Return what is mine and I will let you live.”
“And what if she doesn’t want to go with you?” Kirk asked.
Cree shot Kirk such a lethal look that Dawn half expected to see him fall off the horse dead.
“She doesn’t have a choice,” Cree said, as if it were a decree.
“But she does,” Kirk insisted. “I have provided her with one. I will openly accept her as my daughter and I will provide well for her. I know someone who would wed her. It would be a lucrative marriage for her.”
Cree appeared ready to lunge at the man. His dark eyes cut into him like sharp daggers as he said, “Listen well, McClusky, Dawn is mine and always will be mine. And I will let no one, and I mean no one—not even the King himself—take her away from me. So you would do well to release her, for I long to run a sword through you and my patience wears thin.”
Dawn felt Torr’s arm tighten around her waist, though it was for only a moment. He did not like that Cree threatened his father, which was understandable. And if something wasn’t done fast, she feared there would be much bloodshed.
She took matters in hand to settle the volatile situation and began gesturing over and over that she wanted to go with Cree. It wasn’t a permanent choice, for she still had the babe to consider but it was a choice to end this standoff without blood being spilled. And it wasn’t a lie, at this moment she wanted to be with Cree.
“Your daughter has spoken,” Cree said and brought his horse next to Torr’s.
Dawn pushed Torr’s arm off her and reached out to Cree. He leaned over, slipped his arm around her waist and in one powerful lift he scooped her away from Torr and sat her in front of him on his stallion.
She could have sworn she felt a sigh of relief low in his chest as she rested against him.
“Are you all right?” he whispered.
She nodded and her hand gripped his arm, as if letting him know that she was relieved to finally be returned to him.
Cree turned to Kirk and Torr. “You are no longer welcome on my land.”
Dawn squeezed his arm. She certainly had not agreed with Kirk’s plan but it had made her realize that he had done it out of love. And besides Cree had to be made aware of what Kirk had told her.
Cree raised a questioning brow when he looked at her. And she pointed to Kirk, then to her and then repeatedly patted her lips.
Cree looked to Kirk. “You have told her things that I should hear?”
“I have and it would be beneficial for you to know as well.”
“Follow me back to the village,” Cree instructed.
“I do not think that is a good idea,” Kirk said. “When you hear what I have to say you will understand my concern. There is a cottage where we can stop and talk, if that is agreeable to you.”
Cree nodded and before he turned his horse away, he looked to both men. “Know this, if you dare try to take Dawn from me again, I will kill you on the spot.”
Dawn shivered as they rode off, for she knew he meant it.
He wrapped his cloak more tightly around her and hugged her close. She snuggled against him drinking in and relishing his familiar scent. She was surprised that he remained quiet. She thought that he might question her about what had happened but he said nothing, though his hand squeezed at her waist now and then as if making sure she was really there with him.