He was right. There was nothing she could do but obey. She cast one last sorrowful look around the small room; her home since she and her mum had arrived here and breathed a silent farewell, fearing it was not only her cottage that she was bidding farewell to.

Dawn stopped just outside the door. Several women were gathered in a huddle a short distance away. They were whispering and pointing in her direction.

Sloan stepped past her and shouted, You have chores to attend to, be gone.

They scurried away, whispers trailing behind them.

Dawn followed Sloan, though gave one last glance behind her and was sorry she did. She watched as her only garments were thrown on the fire. Her stomach knotted and her hands began to tremble. She turned around not wanting to think of what all this meant, though she was no fool. Cree was making it clear to all that Dawn was his.

What she could not understand was why? Why did he want a woman who he refused to couple with? She was more confused than ever.

A strong wind blew sending the shivers through her meager cloak and gray clouds raced overhead. She shivered again. A storm brewed and she did not care for storms. They frightened her, though she could not say why.

Dawn halted when Sloan did and cast a wary eye at the cottage in front of her. This certainly could not be where he meant her to live. It was much too large for just her and was meant for one in service to the keep, which was why it sat close to the keep and tucked back a bit in the woods this way the person would have easy access to the servants entrances in the back.

It struck her then what her living here would mean. It would say to all that she was in service to the lord of the keep.

This is your home now, Sloan said and waved her forward.

Her legs trembled so badly that she didnt think she could move. All she could do was stare at the cottage and all it represented. How in such a short time could she have gone from being ignored by most and unwanted by a man to being the main fodder of gossip and being a kept woman?

Are you all right, Dawn? You have gone pale, Sloan said.

She took a breath and she could see the pity in Sloans eyes when there was no sound to be heard. She hated when anyone pitied her. Her mum had taught her that pity never did anyone any good.

Deal with your lot with strength and courage and you will know no pity. Her mums words rang clear in her head and gave her the courage to toss her head up and march forward.

Sloan followed, though stopped just before they reached the door. Cree will be here to see you shortly.

Dawn turned to him and nodded. Then she smiled and bowed her head in thanks. There was no point in being rude to him. He followed Crees orders as did all.

Sloan returned her smile, and looked about to say something then stopped, nodded, turned and walked away.

Dawn lifted the latch on the cottage door and walked in. It wasnt until a good wind wiped past her stirring the fire in the hearth that she hurried to close the door behind her. She stood eyes wide and mouth agape. The room was twice the size of her cottage with a table and four chairs in front of the hearth. A narrow table sat against one wall and on it sat wooden bowls and crocks while beneath sat stacked baskets. A long bench sat to another side with pegs above it along the wall. Two cloaks hung from the pegs, both wool one dark green, the other dark blue and lined with fur. Before she did anything she hid the pouch with her cherished possession behind the baskets until she could find a better place for it.

She was surprised to see another doorway, though no door blocked its entrance. She wandered over and entered coming to a stop just inside the room. It was a fairly good-sized room with a bed that could hold two people and a flat-topped chest at the foot. The lit hearth kept the room more than comfortably warm and the wooden shutters on the lone window were closed, the latch firmly in place.

The fires light flickered across the bed and Dawn stared at the fresh bedding and the lovely wool blankets not to mention the two overly stuffed pillows. It was much too elegant for her and much too large.

The thought startled her. Of course the bed was too large, it was not meant for her to sleep in alone. Actually, it wasnt meant for sleep.

She took a quick step back and bumped into something solid. She turned even more quickly and scurried back away from Cree, the size of him filling the doorway.

He glared at her for a moment then walked straight for her. He still wore all black and his size so over powered that he appeared the devil himself rushing at her. When he reached her, he simply grabbed her cloak pulling it off her shoulders.

Youll not wear rags anymore. He rolled it up and tossed it into the fire. It caught and burnt quickly.

She inched her way toward the door not feeling comfortable with him in such an intimate setting.

He scowled when he turned and saw what she was doing. He walked over to her, took hold of her arm and shoved her in front of him and through the doorway. He let her go once in the other room.

You will live here now. He stared at her, a spark of passion glinting in his eyes.

She gave a nod not knowing what else to do. It was a command after all and she had to obey. Her life was not her own; it belonged to him and as Sloan reminded; all in the village belonged to him.

He did not like the frightened look in her eyes; he had seen it there too often, though he had to admit it was tinged with courage. Even though she feared, she fought it and bravely battled through whatever ordeal she faced.

She had done that in the hut and what disturbed him was that there were times he wished he was back there with her, just the two of them. When he had stepped into the other room it had given him that sense of confinement with her and he had found himself growing aroused at the thought. Could he have that here with her, the feeling of being locked away from everything, only having each other? He had found certain contentment with her, though he did not understand it and did not want to try. He did however wish to experience it again and that was why while she slept he had issued orders to have her moved to this place, though Sloan believed it was because he had no choice but to make Dawn his mistress.

It had been some time since Cree had done anything because hed been forced to. His reputation alone was enough to make people fear and obey him and fear they should for he had no qualms about making those who disobeyed him suffer. As Dorrie was finding out now sitting in the stocks where she would remain for at least a week and others would learn from her misfortune... learn not to mistreat Dawn.

You may take whatever food you wish from the kitchen or have meals brought here to you. I have already spoken with Turbett and he awaits your visits.

Her eyes turned wide and she went to gesture but he held up his hand.

I will brook no argument. You will do as I say.

This would not bode well for her with the villagers, receiving special treatment, especially when it came to food.

Im waiting for a response.

Again her eyes widened for no one except Lila or Paul ever expected her to respond. She nodded, though she wished she could have protested. She would have much preferred to prepare her own meals.

There are garments in the chest in the other room. Make use of them and make sure to get rid of the ones you wear now. They are nothing but rags and I will not see you in them again.

He would expect a response and so she gave him a nod. What else was she to do? And that was a question that had haunted her. What was she to do with herself? Everyone had chores and she wished to be as productive as the others.

She tapped her chest and shrugged.

Cree looked puzzled at first and then he asked, You have a question?

She nodded.

Ask me?

She gestured slowly hoping he would understand her. She made a half circle and turned her palms upward.

The rising sun, he said pleased with himself.

She nodded and then took a step to the side and turned her hands over and brought them down.

The sun sets, he said.

She nodded and pointed back and forth between her hands then at herself and shrugged.

You wonder what you are to do throughout the day.

She nodded.

That is an easy question to answer, Dawn. He stepped toward her reaching out to slip his hand around her neck and ease her mouth to his and just before his lips claimed hers he said, You will be available to me whenever I want you.

Chapter Twenty.

How could she be upset and yet find his kiss so enjoyable? She was angry with herself and angry with him and yet his kiss had her melting against him as his arm coiled around her waist and he yanked her hard against him.

She had never been kissed by anyone but him and she doubted that any kiss could prove as wonderful as his kisses. He kissed with brutal yet tender possessiveness setting her heart to pounding, her stomach fluttering and between her legs tingling. And worse, the more he kissed her the more she wanted him to.

His tongue did not shock her when it surged into her mouth this time, though she was surprised when her own played wickedly with his. And his groan let her know that he was enjoying their kiss as much as she was.

As their kiss turned urgent, insatiable, he grew hard against her and she grew wet.

He ripped his mouth off hers and took several steps away from her and paced shaking his head.

She suddenly felt vulnerable just as she had when they had been in the hut. He could have done whatever he wanted to her there, no one would have stopped him and no one would stop him now. She was more a prisoner than he had ever been and she would never know freedom.

He walked over to her and grabbed the back of her neck, his grip firm. I know not what you do to me but know this... you are mine until I say otherwise.

With that he stormed out the door.

Dawn felt her legs go weak and she wisely got herself to a chair to sit. How could she find such comfort and yearning in the arms of a man who with one command could decree her fate?

She glanced around the cottage. There was so much room for one person and the furnishings in good shape. It was truly a lovely place. And she need not worry about food; she would have as much as she wanted and then there were her new garments.

She got up and hurried into the other room lifting the lid to the chest at the foot of the bed. She could not believe her eyes. There were soft wool dresses and plush velvet ones that were not fit for the likes of her. She was relieved when at the bottom she found wool skirts and linen blouses and a pale blue shawl so tightly weaved that she could not resist wrapping it around her shoulders. She brushed her cheek against it, the wool so soft that it tingled her skin.

Dawn closed the chest and sat on it, tugging the shawl more tightly around her, needing its warmth.

Tingles.

All Cree had to do was look at her and her flesh would tingle. Most would say that the devil was introducing her to sins of the flesh and if she was not careful she would lose her soul to him. The thought sent the shivers racing through her and she stood ready to return to the other room and fix herself a hot brew.

She stopped and glanced down at the chest of clothes. Where had he gotten them from? Who had they belonged to and who were they intended for?

She didnt want to think of the possibilities; she wanted to run as far as she could and not look back. But there was no place for her to go. The village Dowell was and always would be her home.

Her stomach gurgled and she realized that she had not eaten all day. She could go to the kitchen and get food as Cree had instructed. But it did not seem right for her to simply enter the kitchen and take what food she wanted.

She could however see if she could get Flannas attention and request a few items so that she could cook her own meal. Her stomach gurgled again and she smiled. She had no voice but her stomach certainly did and was protesting loudly its hunger.

With a quick deposit of her shawl to the chair and grabbing the wool cloak off the peg, she hurried out the door. She sniffed the air as she hurried to the kitchen... rain... you could smell its crisp scent and it was not far off.

Dawn smiled seeing Flanna outside the cookhouse and hurried over to her.

Good lord, are you all right? Flanna asked cringing at the sight of Dawns bruises.

A nod and a smile assured Flanna that she was fine.

Stop your gossiping and hurry with those onions, woman, came a rough shout from inside the kitchen.

Flanna shook her head and grabbed a basket from the stack outside the kitchen door. Come with me so that we can talk.

Dawn frowned and pointed to the basket as they walked to the wild onion patch in a field beyond the kitchen.

Flanna shook her head. I am nothing more than a helper now and Turbett is not an easy task master. He works everyone until bone-tired, though I must admit that his food is quite tasty. And he is generous in feeding his helpers. But what of you? she asked reaching out to take hold of Dawns hand. Tongues are wagging about your attack and how Cree has punished Dorrie and how now you serve the" Flanna bit her tongue.

Dawn slipped her arm free and brought her hands to her head and stuck two fingers up on either side.

Flanna nodded. The devil. And then whispered. Do you serve the devil?

Did she serve the devil? She wasnt sure and so she shrugged and taking Flannas basket from her, plopped down in the field to gather wild onions, wishing to talk of anything other than Cree right now.

Flanna joined her and wisely spoke no more of Cree, but rather of Turbett and his dictatorial ways, which had Dawn smiling since he sounded not much different than Flanna when she had been in charge of the kitchen. And though her stomach continued to gurgle with hunger, she didnt want this time with Flanna to end too soon. It reminded her of life before Cree had descended on the village and changed everything.

So she sat continuing to pick onions and smiling.

It is done and yet you continue to fret and scowl, Sloan said, pouring him and Cree more ale as they relaxed at the dais. Dawn is now well protected. The villagers think that her chore is to service you.

A chore you say?

Sloan laughed. Fear is a better choice since that scowl would send any woman running in fright.

It didnt send Dawn running; she bravely stood her ground fearful or not, Cree informed him adamantly sounding as if he defended her. Not realizing it, though Sloan did.

So then she is your woman now?

Yes, Cree snapped.

Sloan leaned closer so that the nearby servants would not hear and said, Youre a bloody liar.

Crees dark eyes narrowed, his scowl vanished replaced by an ominous expression that had Sloan offering an apology of sorts.

My tongue runs before I think.

Cree simply nodded, more annoyed that Sloan had seen through to the truth, but he would not admit that he had yet to actually couple with Dawn, not even to Sloan. And he and Sloan had certainly shared many tales about the women they have bedded.

Dawn, however, was different and he would not discuss the intimacies of what he shared with her and sully her character any more than it was already being tarnished.

Has there been any news on the search for Seth or Goddard? Cree asked letting Sloan know that they would talk no more of Dawn.