Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
She unrolled a small piece of parchment to show him.
Cree’s eyes lingered on the drawing. He had forgotten how talented his wife was and how long it had been since she had drawn anything, what with the care of their children and the building of their new home and village. Seeing the scene of the woods that made you feel as though you could smell the towering pines, the richness of the earth, and the sweetness of the flowers made him realize the true extent of her skill as an artist.
It also roused his jealously that Tate understood and possessed a connection with her that he could not.
“You have a talent—”
Dawn interrupted with a gesture.
“You believe it is a gift, to me it is a talent, a skill, that you excel at and that I admire,” Cree said.
Dawn smiled softly, appreciating his praise.
“But I will not have you spending too much time with Tate,” he ordered with a firmness that he thought would have his wife turning a raised brow on him. He should have known she knew him well and would be prepared.
Jealous? She mouthed.
“Aye!” he snapped without thinking and silently cursed himself for admitting it.
Dawn rested her hand on her chest, then rested it on Cree’s, entwining two fingers to tap at his chest, then hers.
He interpreted her gesture aloud. “You and me forever.”
Dawn nodded and spread her arms out wide.
“Forever and ever and ever,” Cree said, looking upon her lovely face, the woman he would forever love and who would forever love him. And as her arms closed around him, he took her face in his hands and kissed her. He never grew tired of kissing her. He often found himself aching to kiss her. And when he reluctantly ended the kiss he said, “I do not want you spending too much time with Tate.”
She wrinkled her brow.
“I do not trust him.”
She wrinkled her brow again as she gestured.
“I do not care if he is a friend of William’s. I do not trust him. So, you will obey me on this, wife,” Cree ordered.
Her brow went up this time.
“You know there are times you simply must obey me,” Cree said, thinking he was digging himself deeper into a hole he had foolishly dug for himself.
Her brow scrunched again, and she patted her chest and shrugged at him.
“Of course, I trust you.” He winced at his own words. “You tricked me.”
Dawn grinned and nodded.
“If I trust you there should be no reason for me to stop you from spending any time with the insufferable man,” Cree said, silently cursing himself once again… this time for walking into her trap.
“I think I preferred when we first met and you were frightened of me and were at least somewhat obedient,” he said with a smile.
She tapped his chest and shivered.
This time Cree scrunched his brow. “You are still frightened of me? I do not want you—”
Dawn pressed her finger to his lips to silence him, then gestured slowly.
Cree listened as if he could hear his wife, then repeated what she said. “My strength and courage sometimes frighten you because it does not stop me from doing things that can prove dangerous and deadly, and you fear losing me.” He kissed her gently. “I can say the same of you, wife. You have taken risks in our marriage that have left me terrified and that time when I thought you dead…” He shook his head. “My life ended that day and all I wanted to do was join you and I fear I would have found a battle to join and died that day if it had not been for the twins. And glad I am that I did not, for I should have known better than to think you were gone from me.”
Dawn hugged him, the memory of that time still paining her.
Cree held her tight, grateful to have her in his arms. “I trust you, wife, but I do not trust Tate, so do keep that in mind when you spend a bit of time with him.”
Dawn nodded as her hand slipped down to rest between his legs.
Cree nuzzled at her neck and whispered, “I love that you never hesitate to let me know that you want me.”
Dawn looked to the stairs.
Cree grinned, hurried off the bench, and scooped his wife up in his arms and headed to the stairs. “Now everyone will know not to disturb us.”
Dawn sat in her husband’s solar the next morning listening to him talk with Sloan about Cavell.
“I know not what happened to Cavell but the scars of whatever horrors he has lived not only mar his once handsome face but also his once boastful nature,” Cree said. “His men wear worn garments and complain that he feeds the prisoners. It is obvious Cavell is in dire need of coins.”