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)
“From this day on, this is our home,” Cree said with pride.
Dawn smiled and agreed with a quick kiss, happiness filling her heart but concern lingering along with it.
CHAPTER 8
“Lord Cree rides off to bring William home?” Tate asked as he watched, along with the villagers, the mighty warrior and a troop of his men ride out of the village.
Kirk responded, Dawn at his side and her eyes and thoughts on her husband. “Lord Cree goes and does what is necessary.”
“What does that mean?” Tate asked anxiously. “Will there be a battle?”
Kirk shrugged. “Lord Cree will do what he must.”
“But it has not been three days. Lord Cree has another day yet before he must respond to the ransom demands,” Tate said, his eyes wide with worry.
“Why wait?” Kirk said. “What difference will a day make?”
Tate’s face pinched in distaste. “The Highlands are far too wild and fierce.”
“Which is why only the fierce survive here,” Kirk warned.
Tate shook his head again. “It is no place for me.”
“Aye, we Highlanders are a breed apart from most,” Kirk said proudly.
“Uncivilized,” Tate said, without thinking and hastily sought to correct himself. “The land. The land is uncivilized.” To Tate’s surprise it was Dawn who responded.
Dawn gestured, knowing her da would interpret for her.
“My daughter says that the uncivilized Highlands will remain fierce and strong no matter how many civilized men attempt to tame it or its people.”
“There are those who would disagree with you,” Tate argued.
“More fool them,” Kirk said with a laugh.
Dawn smiled and saw that Tate neither laughed nor smiled.
Cree approached the campsite with caution yet with a commanding presence, keeping his steps tempered to give him time to take in everything. Few men sat by the fires that burned strongly. Most of the men were standing, their attention focused, some with their hands on the hilts of their swords, others with their feet planted firmly to the ground ready for battle.
Cree almost halted his steps but that would show uncertainty and fear of which he had neither. What he did have, and with clarity, was that Cavell had been expecting him which meant that he had been notified of his impending arrival. But who would know of it when he had only decided this morning to meet with the man?
He also noticed something he had not taken note of the previous time he was here. While there were several men whose worn garments betrayed an impoverished life, there were others whose garments betrayed just the opposite. How was it that two such opposite groups existed together?
“Time to talk!” Cree called out as he approached Cavell.
“There is nothing to discuss if you have come here other than to meet my demands,” Cavell warned.
“I think otherwise,” Cree said in a tone that commanded and cautioned at the same time.
“I will give you a few moments, no more,” Cavell said and walked toward him.
Cree watched as a man, a good head shorter than Cavell, his garments in fine shape, followed close behind him.
“We talk alone,” Cree said, his harsh tone leaving no room he would have it any other way.
“You do not make the demands here,” Cavell shouted.
“On that you are wrong!” Cree’s strong voice carried over all there, though he had not raised his voice, and several men shivered.
The man behind Cavell moved closer to whisper something in his ear.
“A few minutes, no more,” Cavell said, and the man remained where he was when Cavell stepped toward Cree.
Cree waited for Cavell to reach him, then began to walk, giving Cavell no choice but to join him.
The man who had remained where he was hurried to keep pace a distance behind them.
Cree stopped abruptly. “Continue to follow us and you will feel the thrust of my sword in your gut!”
The man took a hasty step back and shot Cavell a warning look.
“Do as he says, Blaine, so we can be done with this,” Cavell ordered, and the man nodded, a reluctant look in his eyes.
After a safe distance from the man, Cree kept his voice low to ask,” What have you gotten yourself into?”
“You will give me what I want,” Cavell said loud enough for others to hear.
Cree glared at him and walked farther away from prying eyes and ears.
Cavell took quick steps toward him and kept his voice to a whisper. “All is not what it seems.”
“More friend than foe, so my daughter tells me,” Cree said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Cavell laughed vigorously as if, somehow, he won a point in the conversation. “She is remarkably intelligent for one so young as well as fearless.”
“Foolish is more like it.”
“I would never harm her,” Cavell assured him.
“My daughter was sure you wouldn’t hurt her.”
Cavell did not seem surprised. “She is observant.”
Cree had to agree, though did not remark on it, since he suddenly saw the sadness in Cavell that his daughter had seen.