She gestured adamantly jabbing the space between them and shrugging wanting to know if not here and now, when?

Later when we are alone, though there is little that you can say that will make a difference.

Perhaps he was right. His word was law, though that didnt mean she could not have her say, make herself heard and at least feel that she finally spoke up for herself. Not that it mattered all that much since little she said would probably be considered, but she strongly felt the need to do so. She might not have a voice but that didnt mean she couldnt make herself heard.

They arrived home late in the evening. Cree took her to her cottage and told her that he would return later. She did not argue with him and she did not care that the men might talk without her. In the end she would have her say.

She did not gesture a word to Cree, she simply turned and walked away from him and entered her cottage without looking back. She collapsed back against the door as soon as she closed it. She was exhausted. She had had little sleep and little food since this ordeal had begun. And there was no doubt that the dilemma would grow more difficult.

All she wanted to do was drop down on her bed and sleep and forgot all her problems for a while. She had barely moved away from the door and dropped her cloak on a chair when there was a knock. It couldnt have been Cree returning so quickly, since he never announced his entrance.

Dawn opened the door reluctantly not wanting to bother with anyone at the moment.

Old Mary stood there. Lila needs you; baby Thomas is sick.

Dawn didnt bother to grab her cloak. She was out of the cottage in a flash only to be stopped by a guard she was not familiar with.

Cree has left strict orders that you are not to go anywhere.

Old Mary explained the situation, but still the guard refused to let her pass.

I have orders, he said. Back in your cottage, you go.

That was it. Dawn could not take another minute of being told what to do and her anger finally exploded, not at all as she would expect. She made a fist and swung at the guard with all her strength and sent him stumbling to fall into a snow drift. It gave her enough time to run.

It was late and no one was about. Her booted feet flew across the snow-covered path. She feared for Lila and baby Thomas. Too often she had seen babes die before they reached their first year and she prayed that wouldnt be the babes fate.

She was a few feet from Lilas cottage when she suddenly and violently got hit from the side. The initial shock stunned her and tumbled her to the ground, but when she saw the dirk poised in the air ready to strike, all she could think about was protecting the babe inside her. Her mounting anger turned to pure rage and she fought like only a mother could to protect her child.

Her reaction caught her attacker off guard and she grabbed for the mans wrist to keep the dirk at bay. They struggled and Dawn soon realized that his strength far surpassed hers and she wasnt sure how long she could keep him from doing her harm. And with it being the evening hour there was no one about so she only had herself to rely on. With that thought, she turned into a wildcat, bucking and kicking as she fought to stop him from jabbing her with the dirk. She managed to dislodge him and scrambled to her feet and ran when she suddenly felt a jab to her side. Her hand pressed against the pain and she felt sticky warmth and knew she had been wounded.

She knew another blow could prove fatal and so she turned and stepped to the side abruptly. The culprit startled and stopped much too suddenly and trying to stop himself from falling proved unwise. He twisted in an attempt to save himself and fell on his own dirk, though scrambled to his feet and ran off faster than she thought his wound allowed.

The pain in her side was minor but when she looked down she was shocked to see blood covering her hand, her blouse and the upper portion of her skirt was also soaked with it. Her first thought was of the babe. She could not lose Crees child; their babe. She couldnt.

The savage roar seemed to tremble the ground at her feet and when she looked up, she saw Cree running toward her. He appeared almost a wild beast on the rampage and for a moment she thought to step back away from him.

Then her mind cleared and she silently cried with relief. He would help her and their child. He would save their babe; he had to. She stretched her bloody hand out to him and took only a couple of steps when her legs turned too weak to hold her up. She went down, bracing for the hit to the hard ground, but it never came. Cree caught her, his arms going around her, holding her firm as he easily scooped her up in his arms and held her close.

He didnt say a word to her. He rushed to her cottage; his shouts filling the cold air. People ran at his commands as he went. She heard him shout for Elsa and for his warriors to find the bastard who did this to her.

She felt his anger reverberate in his chest with ever command he bellowed and oddly enough it felt soothing. She was in his arms and safe and that was what mattered. She thought she heard Sloans anxious voice and Elwins as well. And was that Lila she heard? It couldnt be, Thomas was ill and she would be with him. And that thought had her wondering how Thomas was doing. He was so small and vulnerable. Surely, Elsa had helped him as she would the babe that grew inside Dawn.

Dawn heard Cree kick her cottage door open and she hoped he hadnt broken it. She was beginning to favor the cottage. After all it was where their babe was conceived.

The babe.

She had to tell Cree about their babe.

She was gently deposited on her bed and her only thought was to tell Cree that he would be a father come summer. Though the worried look in his eyes when he glanced at her wound made her think that perhaps it was too late to save her and the babe.

Dawn shook her head. She couldnt die; shed fight for herself and her child. Besides Cree would never let her go. She belonged to him; hed never permit it. She stretched her hand out to him, needing to let him know.

Cree grabbed hold of it. Elsa will be here any moment and all will"

She shook her head and pressed his hand to her stomach while she raised her other hand and pointed to herself and then to him and then pressed his hand against her stomach.

Cree already wore a scowl and it deepened, and she worried that he didnt understand her, and then his eyes turned wide, as if it had finally dawned on him.

You carry our babe?

She nodded and fought to stay conscious, but the darkness was closing in fast around her. She heard him shout her name but it was as if she was falling down a deep dark tunnel, further and further away from his pleas for her to stay with him, until darkness completely engulfed her.

Chapter Twenty-one.

Do something, she carries my babe, Cree shouted when Elsa entered the room. He hunched down beside the bed, his hand still resting on her stomach and his other hand stroking her forehead. I cannot lose her. He shook his head and repeated. I cannot lose her. He turned a threatening eye on Elsa. They will be hell to pay if she dies.

Threatening me will not help her or your child, Elsa said calmly. Now please step aside and let me see to her wound.

Cree reluctantly did as she asked knowing that Elsa was the only one capable of saving her. And knowing that if it was possible the healer would do everything she could to make sure that Dawn lived.

After only a couple of seconds of examining the wound, Elsa said, You need to help me get these blood-soaked garments off her.

Cree did not hesitate. He went to work with Elsa removing Dawns garments, though it wasnt easy, the bloody areas refusing to let go. Once they were done Elsa had him slip a clean cloth underneath her wounded side, and then she set to cleaning the area.

Cree remained close by watching the healer and waiting for word that the woman he loved would live. He did not know what he would do without Dawn. She had become his life and he did not want to think of a day without her. She brought a smile to his face and made him laugh and he hadnt done both in a very long time. And besides he simply could not sleep without her in bed beside him.

He pressed his hand to his chest the way she did when she would tell him she loved him. Damn, damn, damn if his heart didnt belong to her, every pounding beat of it and his soul was lost to her as well for there wasnt anything he wouldnt do for her. This beautiful woman with no voice was his whole life and he wouldnt have it any other way.

Elsa cleaned the injured area well and when she dropped the cloth in the second bucket of clean water, she looked up at Cree and smiled. It doesnt even need a stitch. The weapon caught no vital area. It was more of a nick more than anything, though the preponderance of blood made it appear much worse. Some wounds bleed more than others, though I cannot say why.

Then why did she slip into darkness? Cree asked relieved, though still concerned.

Elsa shook her head. I cannot say, though carrying a babe can tire a woman and with all Dawn has been through, this last incident just may have been too much for her. And so she slipped into a much needed rest.

The babe is well? Again he asked with concern, not wanting Dawn to wake and find that she had lost their babe. She knew him well and knew that as soon as he learned of their child that he would protect them both, and he would not disappoint her.

Dawn is strong and kept your babe safe. Both mother and child do well as far as I can tell, Elsa assured him.

You will tend her daily, Cree ordered.

Elsa smiled. If that is your wish, my lord, though I do not think that Dawn will agree with you. She has done well since she first realized that she carried your babe and I have no doubt she will continue to do so.

You knew she was with child and never told me? Cree said with a touch of anger.

It was not my place, my lord, it was meant for Dawn to tell you, not me.

Cree was ready to argue when he held his tongue. Elsa was right. Dawn would have wanted to tell him and though he had concerns about such a possibility, he also had wondered what a child of theirs would be like. And with Old Mary telling him that he would have many sons and only one daughter, he knew that those children would be born of Dawn and him, for they made love so often that Dawn would be forever carrying a babe of his.

You are a good healer, Elsa, Cree said.

And you, my lord, will make an excellent father. Now I would suggest Dawn not be left alone until she finally wakes and then she should rest, though I daresay she will be up and about quick enough. Nothing seems to keep her down.

Will she need rest? Cree asked ready to decree it if he must.

Dawn will not take chances of harming the babe. She will do what she must without being ordered to.

Dawn finds a way around such things and does more of what she wants than she must, Cree said with a sense of pride.

Then let her be, for she knows best. I will return tomorrow morning and check on her, but I dont anticipate a problem. The wound will be tender, though it will heal fast enough and leave a small scar, nothing more.

I bless the day I found you, Elsa, Cree said in way of appreciation.

As do I, my lord, Elsa said with a bob and took her leave.

Sloan arrived shortly afterwards to let Cree know that they hadnt found the culprit yet but they would continue searching. He wasnt surprised when Cree informed him that he would not leave Dawns side until he was certain that she would be all right.

As night settled in, Cree sat on the bed beside Dawn and watched her sleep. He wished she would wake; there was so much he wanted to say to her. But she needed her rest and even if she did wake, talk would have to wait.

He tended the fire and ate a little of the food Flanna had brought and assured the worried woman that Dawn would be fine. Flanna insisted on leaving some soup by the hearth to keep heated for when Dawn woke. After one last report from Sloan, Cree finally decided it was time for bed. He would crawl into bed with Dawn and be careful not to disturb her wound, but there was no way that he would sleep separate from her.

He was stripping off the last of his garments when he turned and saw that her eyes were open. He didnt go directly to her. He continued disrobing.

He was such a magnificent creature and no matter how many times she laid eyes on his naked form, she couldnt peel them away. She loved looking at him, though touching and tasting was definitely more to her liking. He was sculpted to perfection and she wondered if the babe, a boy if she were to believe Old Marys prediction, would be as handsome as his father.

Once Cree finished, he eased himself down on the bed to rest stretched out,close against her. How are you feeling? Are you hungry? Flanna left soup for you. Do you have pain? I can have Elsa bring you something for it.

She pressed her finger to his mouth to stop him from talking. Then she took his hand and pressed it to her stomach, anxious to know how he felt about the babe, for she recalled his surprised expression when he had realized what she had been trying to tell him.

You have been injured. You need rest. Well talk another time.

She shook her head adamantly and pointed her finger up and down emphasizing that they would talk here and now. She had to know; she couldnt wait. She had to know if he wanted their child as much as she did.

It can wait, he said wanting her to rest.

She shook her head.

You have been through enough. Well talk tomorrow.

She shook her head more vigorously. She could not wait that long.

Shake your head all you want; it will change nothing.

Anger bubbled up in Dawn and, to Crees surprise, she scurried out of bed with a facial wince and quickly slowed her pace, which irritated Cree, and went to stand by the curtain that separated the two rooms. She pointed at it while she glared at Cree.

Are you telling me to leave?

Dawn tapped her lips and then pointed at the curtain.

Youre giving me a choice? Talk to you or leave? he asked incredulously.

Dawn nodded, raised her chin, and crossed her arms over her chest.

Cree stretched out on the bed, crossing his arms beneath his head. Im not going anywhere and Im not talking, so you may as well come back to bed.

It infuriated her that he gave her no choice, but then she didnt have to join him in bed. She went to the hearth and sat in front of it bunching her legs up in front of her. Her mind had been so overwrought that she had forgotten about her wound and winced again from the catch in her side, though the only indication of it was a hunch of her shoulders and the pain-filled grimace she made when she stretched her arms to wrap around her raised legs.

Cree flew off the bed, and to her side, when he caught her reaction. Damn it, woman, youre stubborn. He went to pick her up and she shoved his hands away, then tapped at her lips. All right, he relented. Well talk, but briefly.

She doubted that their talk would be brief but if he wanted to believe otherwise that was fine with her.

He scooped her up gently and deposited her on the bed with the same tender care, then got under the blankets to sit beside her. He reached out to take her in his arms and she brushed his hands away and tapped her lips.

He leaned over until the tip of his nose touched hers. Dont push my hands away when I reach for you. She raised her hand to respond but he grabbed it. Under any circumstances.

Then he did something completely unexpected.

He splayed his hand across her stomach. You and the babe are well?

She nodded.

How long have you known?

Her fingers counted off a month.

Youve known a month?

She nodded, scowled, and pointed at him wanting to know if he was angry, needing to know.

When he didnt respond right away, she thought he didnt understand her and she went to gesture again, but he stopped her. He rested his hand on her stomach. I heard you. I am not angry. I am overwhelmed with joy that you carry our child.

Our child. Dawn felt her breath catch. He was happy that she would have their babe. Her breath caught again only this time with worry and she patted his hand that continued to rest on her stomach and searched his face with troubled eyes. If he was happy why didnt she see it in his eyes?

He leaned down and kissed her softly, then cupped her face in his hands. I wish you would have told me sooner.

Dawn cocked a brow in question confused by his mixture of joy and anger. Was he truly happy or...

He smiled and kissed her again. Trust me, I am more pleased than youll ever know. Quickly though, I realized that I have failed, and rarely do I fail, to protect you not only from being harmed but from getting you pregnant while being my mistress and now failing to protect my unborn child as well. That is not acceptable to me. He paused a moment to softly caress her cheek with his finger. Tell me. You knew you were already with child when I told you to take the potion to prevent such a situation, werent you?

There was no longer any point in hiding the truth from him and so she nodded.