Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36428 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 182(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
He tucked it around her and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze when he was done and, strange as it seemed, she could have sworn he sniffed her hair when he leaned a bit closer to tuck the cloak around her. She was relieved when he stepped from behind her and around the table to face her. “Please consider this your home while here. I enjoyed our chat, and I hope to talk more with you. Until later.” He bobbed his head and left.
Dawn shivered again. There was something about the man that unnerved her. She could not quite figure out what, but she intended to keep a keen eye on him and her surroundings.
Dawn sniffed, a familiar scent teasing her nostrils. She sniffed again, the scent a bit stronger. She turned her head and sniffed her shoulder. The scent was stronger there. It reminded her of Beast’s scent when she would hug him tightly and bury her face in his fur to let him know how much she loved him. Why would an animal scent be on the cloak instead of a human scent? And why had Lord Tiernan spoken about the wolves in such detail? It was as if he was preparing her for an encounter with them.
She shivered again and quickly slipped the cloak off her, placing it at the end of the bench. She did not know what was going on here and she did not know if she wanted to find out. She wanted the fog to lift and Cree and her to take their leave. She rubbed her head, a low pain lingering there, reminding her of her wound. She was not her usual self because of it, and that left her feeling vulnerable, not as strong as she usually felt, and at that moment she wished Cree was there with her.
CHAPTER 5
Cree wasn’t surprised when the man who resembled Lord Tiernan was introduced as his brother, Sim or that Lord Tiernan had his brother escort him to the stable. It told Cree that more than an eye was being kept on him. But why? He posed no threat to the clan. Or did he?
The fog had dissipated a little or it could have been that it was daylight that made it appear so. He could at least make out shapes and the sound of people talking which meant the clan members managed to see to daily chores even in the fog.
“I am glad Tade was found,” Cree said, taking the opportunity to learn what he could.
“Aye, it is not the first time he has gone missing and probably won’t be the last.” Sim smiled. “Only four years, and he has a distinct mind of his own and an adventurous soul.”
“I have one like that, but she’s a lass,” Cree said, thinking of his daughter Lizbeth.
Sim chuckled. “Much luck with her.”
Cree laughed. “I need more prayer than luck. Did you find the wounded wolf cub?”
The smile that had lingered on Sim’s face after his laughter faded, vanished.
“Nay, we found no signs of him.”
“I thought I heard a wolf prowling outside the stable last night while settling my horse. Perhaps he came across the cub and returned him to the pack,” Cree suggested, to see if the man might agree with him.
“That is a possibility. The wolves have been known to prowl the village when the fog is dense.”
“It must be difficult to live with the constant threat of the wolves,” Cree said and waited to learn if his thought resembled Lord Tiernan’s, and it did.
“We don’t bother them, and they don’t bother us. Besides, wolves have no interest in humans. They mostly keep to themselves.”
“A good thing to know,” Cree said, wondering over the brothers’ shared belief. There didn’t seem to be a reasonable explanation as to why a wolf cub was hiding under the bed of one of the dwellings or why a wolf prowled outside the stable last night. He had a feeling that Clan MacMadadh harbored many secrets.
Cree’s horse was doing well and was being well cared for and he thanked Sim for that. He would normally want to explore more of a village unfamiliar to him, not that the fog would let him see much, but at least he could get a sense of his surroundings. Presently, he did not even know the way out of the village, the fog consuming all paths. The thought made him want to return to Dawn, feeling uneasy about leaving her alone in unfamiliar surroundings, especially with her wound robbing her of her full strength.
“I am sure you are eager to return to your wife,” Sim said.
Had his eagerness shown on his face or was Sim eager to return him to the keep?
“Sim,” a woman called out as she began to emerge from the fog. “Tade is doing well, a minor wound and it was wise of you to coat it with honey. Oh—” The woman stopped abruptly when she stepped out of the fog and spotted Cree. She appeared surprised and a bit confused.