A plan was made to take the route Wintra was familiar with and stop at the crofts and see if she had sought shelter at any of them or if anyone had seen her. If not, they would extend their search. They were soon ready to start.
When Dawn mounted her horse and saw that only six of Cree’s warriors waited for them, she turned to her husband.
Cree understood her questioning look without her having to gesture. “Six of my best warriors are enough, anymore will only slow us down. Besides, this is a search for my sister, not a rescue.”
Dawn hoped he was right.
Chapter Two
It was not easy traveling on the snow-covered ground. The pace was much slower than Dawn knew her husband would have liked it to be or Torr as well. Both men loved Wintra, in their own way, and wanted to see her found safe just as Dawn did. Wintra had fast become a sister to her shortly after they had met. Wintra reminded Dawn of Cree in many ways, though they were half-brother and sister, having different fathers. Not that they looked at it that way. Cree would do anything to keep his sister safe, and he had. He had placed her in an abbey when she was young and though she had been angry with him for leaving her there, she eventually realized that he had done so to protect her.
It had pleased Dawn immensely when Torr had fallen in love with Wintra. He was a good man like Cree and, like Cree, he would do anything to keep Wintra safe. With three people who loved Wintra dearly and were determined to find her, surely all would turn out well.
Dawn could only hope and pray.
They traveled in relative silence, everyone focused on making their way through the snow and guarding against the cold. Cree paid close attention to his wife, making certain she remained as warm as possible.
The sky remained overcast as it had been ever since the snowstorm. Dawn assumed she was not the only one praying that they would see no more snowfall, at least while they were on this journey.
They watched for signs and tracks, though if Wintra had stopped when the snow had turned heavy, her tracks would have been covered by the falling snow. They came upon a croft just after midday, the man and woman letting them know that no one had passed their way since before the snowstorm. Just before dusk, they reached another croft and received the same news. They had seen no one.
“You saw no sign of her horse on your way to me?” Cree asked as they continued.
“Nothing,” Torr said, shaking his head. “Those two are inseparable when she rides. The mare would have never left her side unless Wintra was in serious trouble, then the animal would have returned home. I left word that if that should happen the horse was to be brought to me. Since I have received no word from home, I can only assume Wintra and her mare are still together, giving me hope that there is nothing seriously wrong with my wife.”
They camped for the night, the bitter cold having the group build more than one fire to gather around.
Torr sat poking a stick at the flames as he spoke, more to himself than to Cree and Dawn, sitting on the opposite side of the fire. “I think from this point to where I had found shelter for the 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 asked.”
“Which way did she go?” Torr demanded.
“She asked if there was a healer close by. I told her that Cross Hill might have one, but she could not take my word on that.”
“Cross Hill is empty and crumbling,” Torr said.
The man shook his head. “Not anymore, though I cannot say who occupies it now or who would want to.”
Torr and Cree were quick to mount their horses and they were once again on their way.
Dawn watched Cree and Torr’s faces darken with scowls as they rode in silence. She hoped that Wintra had reached Cross Hill safely and whoever occupied it was treating her well. If not, things would not bode well for them.
As Cross Hill came into view, Dawn shivered. The stark keep sat in the middle of a barren circle of land, the forest surrounding it, keeping a good or perhaps safe distance away. It was easy to see, even from a distance, that the place was in dire need of
repairs. A few outbuildings, appearing ready to crumble, ran along one side of the keep, otherwise it sat alone and looked forlorn and deserted.
The horses plodded through the snow, not a sign that anyone had tread there before them. The closer they got to the keep, the more leery Dawn grew, and she sensed her husband felt the same. His body tensed the closer they got and his head turned slightly from side to side, his eyes searching his surroundings.
Torr, however, paid heed to nothing more than getting to the keep, trusting those around him to do that for him. He was off his horse and trudging through small snow drifts to pound at the door mercilessly before Cree and Dawn brought their horses to a stop.
“Stay on your horse,” Cree ordered Dawn after dismounting.
She quickly gestured her objection.
Cree slipped his hand beneath her shift and gave her leg a squeeze. “You will stay where you are until I can make certain it is safe for us here.” Cree felt her light shiver. “You feel the same about this place?”
Dawn nodded, feeling even more uncomfortable being so close to the decaying keep.
“Stay as you are. We will see this done and be gone with Wintra shortly,” Cree said and with strong strides, joined Torr at the door that had yet to open.
Cree reached out and pounded the door so hard a crack yawned loudly along it, then he called out with such strength that the dead could hear him. “Open now or we will break it down.”
The door creaked partially open. No one could be seen, but a woman’s voice spoke up, “Be gone with you, there is illness here.”
“Illness or not, I will know if a young woman heavy with child sought shelter here,” Torr demanded.
“No one has stopped here and if such a woman had I would have chased her away in warning as I do you. Now be gone or suffer for it.” The door slammed shut and shuddered as a board was dropped across it from inside, keeping anyone from entering.
Torr went to pound on the door again and Cree grabbed his arm. “We do not know what lies within or how many are within. You put us all at risk if you do not heed her warning.”
“If she speaks falsely?”
“That is what we must find out before we enter this rotting keep.”
They turned away from the door and walked to their horses.
“You do not believe her?” Torr asked impatient to see this done and hold his wife safely in his arms.
“I am not sure and until I can be, I will not expose any of us to an illness that can strike others.”
“The man at the croft spoke of no illness here,” Torr reminded.
“Or he knew nothing of it. What if we force our way in and there is illness there, but no Wintra. What then? Do you carry the illness to your wife and bairn? What if Wintra was turned away from here like we were?”
“Where then would she have gone?” Torr asked fear for his wife’s safety twisting his stomach in knots.
Dawn paid no heed to the two men, having thought she caught movement just past the left corner of the keep. She watched and when she saw nothing, she assumed she was wrong. After all, if illness was within what was someone doing outside?
She looked to the edge of the forest, beyond the corner of the keep, and slowly turned her head to follow along it. She stopped when her eyes caught something. She stared, squinting to make sure of what she was seeing, then when it was clear to her, she turned and tapped her husband on his shoulder.
Cree stood beside her horse and turned to look up at her with an annoyed scowl. “What is it? We are trying to determine where Wintra might have gone from here.”
Dawn pointed, and Cree and Torr quickly stepped around her horse to see what had gotten her attention.
“A clear path through the woods,” Torr said, “which means it must lead somewhere.” Torr once again mounted his horse with haste and took off before the others.
Cree was quick to mount his horse, ordering two of his men to keep pace with Torr. He turned to his wife as they rode off. “Do you think the woman lies?”
Dawn shrugged, letting him know she was not sure, then scrunched her brow and shook her head as she pointed back at the keep.
“I agree. Something is not right there and rushing in might make it worse for whoever is within.”
Dawn let her husband know that she thought she caught movement at the corner of the keep.
“The one thing that would bring someone outside, if illness lies within, would be to feed the animals, but he had not gone to the rotting structures we passed, which means there may be more enclosures a distance from the back of the keep.”
Dawn patted her mare.
Cree nodded. “You are right. If Wintra is here, then her horse must be here too. We will need to see if there is a structure behind the keep that could shelter her horse.” He shook his head. “I will see if there is such a place. You will not! Understood? Or need I remind you that you agreed to behave while on this search?”
With a nod and tap to her chest, she assured him that she would keep her word. She chose not to make mention of Old Mary’s warning that her courage would be needed and that there was much confusion and danger around the birth. Cree would worry, and rightfully so, and Torr would go mad with fear. She would wait and see and call on her courage when the time came.
She had also kept in mind what Old Mary said about trusting few she met, and so far that had proven true. She reached out and gave her husband’s arm a squeeze, letting him know she was there for him and always would be.
“I do not know what I would do without you,” —he grinned suddenly— “though I know what I would like to do to you.”
A shout intruded upon their moment and he grumbled. “We will have time alone, you and I, when this is finished.”
They rode up to join the others who had stopped and Cree was surprised at what he saw when his warriors parted for him and Dawn to pass through.
Two women stood hand in hand by a cottage that looked barely big enough to hold the two of them. They were not sisters, for they looked nothing alike. One had height and a full body and the other was short and petite. One had dark hair and the other had hair as bright as the sun. The only thing they did share was their plain features.
Torr approached them with such quick strides that he had them jumping back away from him. He stopped abruptly when he saw the fright on their faces. “I mean no harm. I look for a dark-haired woman heavy with child.”
The two women’s eyes turned wide.
Cree did not reach out in time to stop his wife from dismounting. She slid off her mare, though he was relieved when she circled around the horse and waited to walk beside him.
The two women’s eyes turned wider at Cree’s approach, Dawn’s generous smile being the only thing that stopped them from running.
“Truly, we mean you no harm,” Torr said apologetically, but also with a warning that he expected an answer. “My wife got lost in the snowstorm and I search for her. She is to give birth soon. If you know anything, please tell me.”
Cree admired the strength in Torr’s voice and the warrior stance he took, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. He would have done the same if it was Dawn, though he would have had answers by now, and so he spoke up, “Tell us what you know. Now!”
“You will help us, if we help you?” the petite woman asked anxiously.
“Cathan?” the taller woman questioned with fear.
“Netty needs help, Ardit,” Cathan scolded.
“They said they would release her when it was all done,” Ardit argued.
“I do not believe them, and I fear for our safety as well.”
“Tell us what goes on,” Torr demanded.
“You will help us?” Cathan asked.
“We will help you,” Torr assured her.
Cathan looked to Cree for confirmation.
That she should question them brought a scowl to his face, but since she pleaded more than asked, and with concern for his sister, Cree stemmed his annoyance and said, “We
will help you.”
“I am Cathan and this is Ardit,” Cathan said with a turn of her head to the woman standing to her side. “We both are grateful for your help.”
“I am Torr. It is my wife Wintra we search for,” —he turned, looking to Cree— “and this is Wintra’s brother—”
“I know who he is—Cree. He raided my village when I was young and left little alive.”
Chapter Three
“I raided many villages, be grateful you survived,” Cree said. “You asked for help and we will give it in exchange for your help. If you wish to say anymore to me, it will wait until all is done. Now tell us what goes on here.”
Cathan gave a nod, then spoke. “Two days ago, six warriors arrived here. They said they heard a healer resided here and that they were in need of her help. At first, they refused to say what help was needed, but when we explained we could not be prepared to tend someone if we did not know what was wrong with him, they relented. It was a woman who was near to birthing that required help. They took Netty and told us they would return her after the woman gave birth. Worried for Netty’s safety, I followed them to Cross Hill. They hid their horses in the stalls behind the keep and rushed Netty inside. They want no one to know what secret they harbor within.”
Torr looked to Cree. “I do not know what these men want with Wintra, but they are going to die for taking her. Six men will give us little trouble.”
“One warrior can kill Wintra before we can reach her and if there is a secret to be kept, they will take her life without delay,” Cree said.
“None of this makes sense.” Torr shook his head. “What secret could possibly have warriors abducting Wintra?”
“Perhaps it is someone who wishes revenge against her brother,” Cathan suggested, looking to Cree.
Dawn was not certain if it was hate or anger or both she saw spark in the young woman’s eyes every time she looked at Cree. She stepped forward and gestured with her hands to Torr and Cree.
“My wife is right,” Cree said. “It does not matter why Wintra was taken only that we rescue her. Later, when it is done, we can find out the reason behind it all.”
Highlander's Rescue A Cree & Dawn Short Story (Cree & Dawn Short Stories Book 4) Page 2