Highlander's Rescue A Cree & Dawn Short Story (Cree & Dawn Short Stories Book 4) Read Free Page A

night from the blinding snowstorm is where it would be most likely that we would find Wintra, since the two crofts we stopped at had seen no sign of her. Surely, she would have at least stopped for a rest or food at one of them. She was also ahead of me by hours, which would mean she got further than I did before the storm hit.”
    “A reasonable assumption,” Cree said as he made sure to keep his wife bundled close against him. “Yet you saw no sign of her on the way here.”
    “That is what disturbs me,” Torr admitted. “Why would I not see any sign of her as I traveled the same path as she did?”
    Dawn gestured, holding her hands up and wiggling them as she brought them done.
    “The falling snow.” Torr nodded. “Aye, the snow covered her tracks, but Wintra not having stopped at one croft before reaching your keep makes no sense.”
    “Where then could she have gone?” Cree asked what Dawn and Torr thought.
    Dawn hugged herself, then gestured as if opening a door.
    “Shelter,” Cree said. “The question is where did she find shelter?”
    Silence followed, since no one had an answer.
    They soon stretched out for the night beside the fire, Dawn being warmed nicely between her husband and the fire. He spread his cloak across the both of them, keeping it tucked snugly at her waist. His lips nibbled at her ear, sending warm tingles through her and his whisper warmed her as well.
    “I will find a way to get you alone and warm you good.”
    She wiggled her backside against him to let him know that she was pleased to hear that.
    He yanked her hard against him, stopping her inviting wiggles. “You keep that up and I will poke you right here.”
    She went to tease him again.
    “I mean it, Dawn.”
    From his rough warning, she knew enough not to push him, though he would never take her in front of his men and Torr. He would suffer in silence and that she did not want him to do. She kept still and she soon felt him relax against her and a light snoring whispered at her ear.
    Dawn found sleep difficult and she saw through the flames that Torr did as well. The scar that ran down the left side of his face gave him a more intimidating appearance even though he had fine features, but then the glare in his intense blue eyes made him appear more ominous as well. She knew it was worry that gave him such a threatening look. He had to be going mad with concern, not only for Wintra, but for his unborn bairn as well. She felt a twinge of guilt. If only she had left before the snowstorm hit, none of this would have happened. Wintra would be safe at home, the baby ready to deliver.
    She prayed that they would find Wintra and the bairn safe, and she intended to do whatever she had to, to make sure that happened.
    Little was eaten the next morning, all wanting to be on their way to find Wintra.
    It was before midday that one of Cree’s warriors returned from scouting ahead, letting him know that he had found a croft a distance off the path. They quickly changed course and it took a while before they came upon it.
    Torr was off his horse before anyone else and approaching the door when it opened and a man weathered by work and years walked out.
    The man threw his stooped shoulders back as far as they would go and glanced over the warriors with cautious eyes. “Can I be of help?”
    “We are looking for a dark-haired woman heavy with child. Did you happen to see her pass this way?” Torr asked.
    “What do you want with her?”
    Cree got off his horse and approached the man. His potent size coupled with his scowl could set any man to trembling.
    But it was Torr who spoke before Cree reached them that set the man to trembling. “That does not concern you. I will have the truth and I will not ask you again.”
    The man responded quickly. “A woman like the one you speak of came through here.”
    “Why hesitate to tell us?” Torr asked.
    “She worried that she was being followed and asked me not to say anything if