Free Highlander's True Love: A Cree & Dawn Short Story by Donna Fletcher

another hug before leaving and thanking her for having eased the burden she had been carrying all day.
    Dawn could not wait to return to the keep and share her thoughts on Tallis with her husband, though she was more looking forward to being wrapped in his strong arms. She hurried her steps, though she stopped a few feet from the keep and glanced up at the night sky. She had no time to be bothered with it before, but now her heart was lighter and the beauty of the stars so bright in the sky whispered to her.
    She stared up at their brilliance and smiled at the ones that winked repeatedly at her. It was a glorious night and she wished Cree was here right now to share this moment with her. The thought of him had her hurrying along, eager to see her husband.
    The attack came so quickly that she barely had time to respond. She was grabbed around the waist and dragged toward the woods.

Chapter Nine
    No hand bothered to cover her mouth. Why should it when she could not scream for help, though in her mind she did and with such force that she wondered how it could not be heard. She tried desperately to rip at the hand that held her, but the muscled arm would not budge.
    Suddenly, she was thrown back against a tree trunk, a hand gripping her throat.
    “The mighty Cree was wise in choosing a wife who could not speak, for then he does not have to listen to the endless harping of a woman. It even saves him from coming to her rescue since he would never hear her cry for help.”
    Dawn glared at Fitzbane as she tried frantically to loosen his hand at her throat, his grip so harsh that she could barely breathe.
    He let her struggle for a while before he ordered, “Stop, or I will choke the life from you and be done with it.” He squeezed harder.
    Dawn had no doubt he would and so she stilled.
    “Listen well, you will—”
    Shouts, voices, and footfalls drew close and she prayed someone would find them.
    Dawn was released as fast as she had been grabbed and she fell to her knees, grasping for breath. She struggled to her feet, not wanting to take the chance Fitzbane would return. She was glad she had, for once she reached the steps of the keep those who had frightened Fitzbane off were nowhere to be seen.
    The Great Hall was also empty and as Dawn took the stairs slowly, she wondered over telling Cree of her ordeal. He would grow furious and go after Fitzbane, starting a possible war between the clans. But was it fair not to tell him?
    She entered their bedchamber glad he had yet to return. It was not for her to judge what actions should be taken against Fitzbane for his attack on her. That was Cree’s decision. He ruled this place; his word was law.
    She gave a thought to going to see if the twins needed feeding, but the women who cared for them throughout the night no doubt had them well in hand. Besides, the long day and its endless ordeal had finally taken its toll on her. She removed the combs from her hair to let it fall free, slipped out of her garments and climbed into bed naked to wait for her husband.
    ~~~
    Cree entered his bedchamber to find his wife sleeping, her dark red hair spread around her neck and shoulder like a silky cape. Her body was tangled in the covers, though one or two naked limbs peeked out and the tip of a nipple tempted him. He could not blame her for not being able to remain awake. The day had been a demanding one on her and yet she had dealt with it with kindness and a generous heart.
    If it had been a man who arrived claiming he loved Dawn, he would have killed him on the spot. He shook his head, recalling how she had heard him say that he would remember a woman as beautiful as Tallis, but he had said it only to see her reaction, to see if perhaps it would somehow illicit a remark that would help him learn the truth.
    Cree slowly disrobed, thinking on what he had just learned from Tallis. After this evening spent with Fitzbane, he had an idea of what the truth might be and he had wanted Tallis to