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she finished, releasing a silent sigh and tensing the next instant when a figure stumbled out of the shadows toward her.
    “Heard you gave Cree a good poking, how about giving me one?”

Chapter Six
    Cree did not hesitate. He slipped out from under the rags, came around the cart and felt his simmering anger boil over when he saw his wife trying with little success to push the man off her. He wasted no time in coming up behind him and quickly snapped his neck. He had little choice in the matter under the circumstances. Besides, the man dared to touch his wife and that in itself was reason enough to end his useless life.
    Dawn pointed at a wagon a few feet away. Cree dragged the man over to it and rolled him under it and onto his side so that he appeared as though he was sleeping. He returned to his wife, wanting to take her in his arms and make sure she was unharmed, but she had already pushed the rags aside and was waving for him to get back in the cart.
    Before he climbed in the cart he whispered to her, “When we get home I am going to shackle you to me.”
    Dawn smiled wide and quickly traced a cross over her heart, asking if that was a promise.
    Her smile tempered as his scowl deepened. She would eventually answer to him for all she had done and she was looking forward to it, since his attempt at punishing her usually ended with them making love.
    She once again arranged the rags over him and positioned herself on the side of the cart where she could see Old Mary approach. It was only a couple of hours before sunrise, and then they would be on their way.
    Dawn remained alert as the time passed slowly and when the first ray of sun rose in the sky, she grew worried. Old Mary had yet to return and she recalled the old woman’s last gesture to her.
    Leave if I am not there by sunrise.
    Dawn did not care what Old Mary had ordered her to do. She would not leave her behind. Her heart pounded when the sun was full in the sky and a minute later Dawn pressed her hand to her chest as she saw Old Mary approach. Dawn could tell that her bones ached by her slow gait. She had to be exhausted, having not slept all night. Dawn wanted to run and hug her, but that would have to wait until later.
    “Get moving, lass, you heard the soldier tell us yesterday that we had to be gone by sunrise or he would throw us out,” Old Mary said for Cree and those returning to their wagons and carts to hear.
    Dawn helped her up onto the seat when no one was watching, and she could feel the fatigue in the effort it took the old woman to climb up even with Dawn’s assistance. But when Dawn hoisted herself up next to her, she was not surprised to see the old woman grip the reins tightly with her gnarled hands and guide the horse slowly along the path to the gatehouse.
    Dawn wished they could go faster, but they would draw attention to themselves and so the short ride to the gatehouse seemed as though it took hours. She kept her head down and had to keep her hands clasped, they trembled with such worry. She wondered if the guards would poke the mound of rags with their spears and discover Cree beneath. But early morning saw the two guards yawning and more interested in seeing their night watch on the gatehouse done. They waved them through without a word.
    Old Mary continued their slow pace, both women’s attention caught by the many riders and wagons that began to pass by them, heading to Loudon. A few people called out, inquiring about the prisoner and if a decision had been made to his fate.
    “Three days and he is to be beheaded from what we hear, and it is a shame we will miss it,” Old Mary said to those excited about the event.
    One woman, sitting beside her husband on a wagon seat, produced a gleeful smile when she learned the news. “Luck is on our side, it is. A beheading is always a good sight to see, especially one deserving of it.”
    Dawn shivered, wondering how people could be so heartless, but then she had thought her husband