“The wound does well as do your other less harmful wounds,” Runa said.
“I appreciate you tending them.” Snow closed the soft wool robe, that had been left on the bed for her, more tightly around her.
“I have heard what a talented healer your sister Willow is, I would love to meet and talk with her.”
“I am sure she would enjoy visiting and learning from you.”
Runa laughed softly. “I would be the one who learned from her. When Lord Winton, Tarass’s father, announced that he and his family would be returning to Scotland, he invited anyone interested in joining him to become part of Clan MacFiere. Tarass had made strong friendships and many young warriors chose to go because of him. while I had no thought to leave my home. The old healer who taught me urged me to go and learn the healing ways of this land, and return with new knowledge. I arrived with the second group who came here. Already I miss home.”
Runa laughed again, a little tinkling laughter and it made Snow wonder over her appearance. From what she could judge, Runa was taller than her, but not by much, and she had a gentle touch and a soft voice. She sounded young and for some reason Snow thought, more sensed, she was pretty.
“I have yet to speak with another healer, which is why I would very much enjoy meeting your sister.”
“Willow will enjoy meeting you as well,” Snow said and was unable to stop a sudden yawn.
“You need to rest and I need to return and see how the new bairn and exhausted mum is doing, the reason for my delay in seeing to you sooner. But you need not fret, as I said your wounds do well.”
Nettle went to Snow as soon as the woman left. “Runa is a pretty one with long blonde hair and a gentle way about her. All the men chase after her.”
Snow wondered if Nettle described Runa for her, since she was blind and couldn’t see the healer. Or if it was just her way about her. She did appreciate a description, it helped to picture the person in her mind when she spoke with them, instead of staring at a blurry shadow.
“Runa says to rest, let me get you settled in bed.”
“Not yet, Nettle, I need to dress and take Thaw out before I settle for the night,” Snow said and got a bark from Thaw. “He’s been patient but needs to see to his duty.”
Thaw barked again as if in agreement.
“I can take him out right after I settle you,” Nettle suggested.
“I appreciate the offer, but he won’t leave me, not here in unfamiliar surroundings.”
“He’ll come with me, he’s a good boy. Right, Thaw?” Nettle asked, casting the dog a smile. “Come on, Thaw,” she encouraged with a summoning pat to her side as she walked to the door. “Come on, we’ll go outside.”
Thaw stared at her after parking himself between Snow’s legs.
Nettle opened the bedchamber door. “Come on, Thaw, let’s go. We’ll be right back. Snow is safe here.”
The dog didn’t budge.
“What’s going on here?” Tarass demanded, causing both women to jump at his unexpected appearance.
“Thaw has to see to his needs before settling for the night and he won’t go out without Snow, my lord,” Nettle was quick to explain.
Tarass shook his head and walked toward Snow. “I saw Runa. She tells me you need rest, but otherwise you do well.”
“Aye, and I will rest as soon as I see to Thaw,” Snow said and heard Thaw growl. “He’ll bite you if you reach for him,” Snow warned, knowing Tarass drew close by how loud Thaw’s growl was growing.
“He can try,” Tarass challenged.
Snow scooped Thaw up in her arms. “I need no help from you to see to my dog’s care.”
“I wasn’t seeking permission,” Tarass said, trying not to glance down at the robe she wore. It was obvious she was naked beneath and he couldn’t stop the memories of her enticingly naked body from springing up in his mind.
He stood close, his blurry image consuming the space in front of her, and she suddenly felt vulnerable as she had when she stood naked in front of him.
“You are exhausted from your ordeal. I will take him outside and return him to you quickly. Tell him to go with me.”
Snow realized Tarass was reminding her of the cottage when Thaw had gone with him after she had commanded the dog to go. Thaw had to go out and she needed Tarass to leave. She kissed the dog’s snout and in a firm voice, ordered, “Go with Tarass, Thaw. He will take you out and bring you back to me. I am safe here. Now go with Tarass while I wait for you to return.” She kissed him again, then placed him on the floor.
“Come with me, Thaw,” Tarass commanded and the dog looked to Snow. “He looks to you.”
“Go now, Thaw, and hurry back to me,” Snow ordered.
Thaw gave a bark, walked in front of Tarass, then looked back as if letting him know he was ready to go.
“I’ll have him back shortly,” Tarass said, letting her know they were leaving. “Nettle, get her settled in bed, then bring her a hot brew.”
“Aye, my lord,” Nettle said and closed the door behind him and Thaw.
“Lord Tarass is such a handsome man. All the unwed women want him, but he has made it clear that he will wed to benefit the clan. A few don’t care and warm his bed anyway. Tongues wag that there is no one woman that can please him, his appetite for coupling too great for a single woman to satisfy.”
Snow realized now why Nettle was told to hold her tongue, she had a wagging tongue and could keep nothing she heard to herself. She had to smile, since at the moment that suited Snow just fine. Not that she needed to know about Tarass’s thirst for coupling. She cared not who he coupled with, though she did feel sorry for his future wife unless of course the woman wouldn’t care. She, on the other hand, would not want a husband who wasn’t faithful. It would mean he did not love or respect her enough to be an honorable husband.
She had no worries, though. She and Tarass would never be husband and wife.
Tarass stood wrapped in his fur-lined cloak. The wind was strong and the snow fell heavily and surprisingly, Thaw was taking his time seeing to his needs.
“He prowls to learn the lay of the land,” Rannock said as he approached Tarass. “He’s got good instincts about him for a runt.”
Thaw’s head snapped to the right and he let loose with such an angry growl that it had both men’s brows shooting up.
“I don’t think he cares for you calling him a runt,” Tarass said with a chuckle.
“I apologize,” Rannock said with a bob of his head at the pup. “Anyone named after the god Thor should be treated with respect.”
Tarass held back the laughter that rumbled up in him. If his clan wanted to believe the pup was named after Thor, so be it. Though, why they believed a Highland woman would name her dog after a Norse god he’d never understand.
“The men are ready to go as soon as the snow slows,” Rannock said, turning his attention to Tarass.
“With night fallen, tomorrow will be soon enough. Unless it worsens overnight. If so, the retrieval of the body will have to wait for another time.”
“At least the snow will keep it hidden.”
“While the men are out there, widen your search some and see if you come upon two horses and another body,” Tarass ordered.
“Another body? Horses? What goes on, Tarass?”
“Snow was on her way home when the snowstorm hit. From what she could tell, the man escorting her suffered a sudden death and the horses got away from her.”
“So you found her wandering aimlessly around in the snowstorm?” Rannock asked.
“I did.”
Rannock rubbed at his chin and his eyes narrowed. “You brought her straight here?”
“No questions, Rannock,” he ordered.
Rannock’s brow shot up. “I understand.”
“So Twilla is finding you a wife,” Tarass said and watched Rannock’s cheeks burn bright red. The man was thick-chested, with arm muscles that his shirt had difficulty containing, good features, long, flaxen colored hair, and a scar that ran along the one side of his jaw, not to mention the various scars on other parts of his body, proof of what a ferocious warrior he was. But when it came to women, he was a complete failure.
Rannock’s head hung low as he spoke as if he was about to admit to a horrendous crime. “I have no choice. You know better than anyone how difficult it is for me to speak to a woman.”
“You mean to speak to a woman you think might make a good wife, since I know firsthand you have no trouble speaking to a woman otherwise.”
Rannock rubbed at his chin, this time more roughly. “My tongue gets tied in knots. It’s a curse. That’s what it is a curse.”
“Did you tell Twilla that you like Runa?” Tarass asked, casting a glance at Thaw, still taking his time.
“She’d have no interest in me,” Rannock said, shaking his head to confirm his words to himself.
“You don’t know if you don’t try.”
“And what of you, Tarass? Don’t you want someone in your bed who wants to be there?” Rannock asked.
“I want what’s best for this clan.”
“What’s best for this clan is to have a leader who has a wife who gives him lots of bairns and lots of love.”
“I don’t need advice from you,” Tarass warned.
“I give it whether you want it or not. I always have and I always will, and you know that.” Rannock reminded.
Tempering his annoyance, Tarass said, “And I count on it, my friend.”
Thaw barked as he ran toward Tarass.
“All done?” he asked the pup without thinking.
Thaw barked and looked toward the keep, then barked again.
“We’ll speak in the morning, Rannock,” Tarass said and turned toward the keep.
Thaw bolted up the stairs and was in the room and on the bed curled beside a sleeping Snow before Tarass entered the room.
Nettle jumped out of the chair by the fire as soon as Tarass entered the room.
“She was already asleep when I brought the hot brew to her,” Nettle said, casting an eye at the tankard that sat on the chest beside the bed. “I didn’t want to disturb her so I left it there in case she woke. Snow told me earlier that it wasn’t necessary for me to stay the night with her. She said she preferred to be alone. What do you wish me to do, my lord?”
Tarass didn’t question the lass’s words, since it would be just like Snow to say that. “You can leave, but return at first light.”
“Aye, my lord,” Nettle said, but didn’t make a move to leave.
And she wouldn’t until Tarass did and that thought annoyed him. It wasn’t that Nettle didn’t trust him, she was doing what was proper, not leaving a female guest unattended with a male. And if he dictated otherwise, tongues would wag and Snow’s reputation could be ruined.
“Add another long to the fire, then you may take your leave,” Tarass ordered and turned and left the room, taking the stairs to his bedchamber on the above floor.
With the night cold and the wind howling outside, Nettle added three more logs. One would burn fast, but three would take more time and keep the room warm. She walked quietly to the bed and adjusted the blanket over Snow’s shoulder and smiled when she saw that Thaw was cuddled against her sound asleep. She tiptoed out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar so when she returned in the morning she could enter without disturbing Snow, if she still slept.
Snow struggled to make her way through the snowstorm. She couldn’t see anything in front of her, but she heard Thaw barking and she had to get to him. She kept her hands stretched out in front of her and stopped abruptly when she heard a growl. Her hand went to her cheek, having thought she felt something wet at her face. Or was it the snowflakes hitting her cheek?
She saw it then, the dark shadow beside her, not a blurry gray shadow, but one as dark as night and she screamed, “Tarass!”
Tarass woke with a start, sitting up and glancing around his bedchamber. All was quiet, the fire low, which meant he had been asleep for some time. He couldn’t understand what woke him, then he heard it.
A bark that drew closer until it was outside his door.
Snow!
He rushed out of bed and wrapped his plaid around him as he hurried to the door. Thaw continued barking and when he opened the door, the pup ran to the stairs, stopped, and looked back at him.
“I’m coming, Thaw,” he said and rushed down the stairs behind the pup.
“Tarass!”
Fear like he hadn’t felt, since the day he had learned of the attack on the village where his parents had been visiting and not knowing if they had survived, ran through him when he heard Snow scream his name in terror. He jumped over the pup and ran for her room.
He snarled as he flew into the room, ready to rip apart the person who dared to attack Snow and in his home where he’d told her she’d be safe. He was relieved to find no one there and hurried to the bed, seeing Snow was caught in a nightmare, battling the blanket caught up around her.
Thaw jumped on the bed, this time whimpering, worried over Snow.
Tarass yanked the blanket from around her and wanted to grab her and hold her tight, but he didn’t, fearful it would continue to make her feel confined.
“Wake up, Snow, it’s Tarass, you’re safe. Wake up,” he said and shook her gently by the shoulders.
Snow’s eyes opened wide and she was ready to scream, seeing the shadow hovering over her.
“It’s me, Snow. Tarass. I’m here. You’re safe,” he said quickly, seeing the fear that consumed her face.
Snow jolted up, her hands stretching out, connecting with his bare chest and hurrying to wrap her arms around his neck and hug him tight.
Tarass’s arms instinctively went around her, hugging her to him just as tight. “A nightmare. You had a nightmare.”
“I was caught in the snowstorm again. Someone touched me. It wasn’t a gray shadow I usually see. This one was a dark blur, as dark as the night, and I knew it was evil.”
“You’re safe. You have nothing to fear here,” Tarass assured her, though he didn’t like that she had dreamt of a dark evil shape. Dreams could sometimes warn of things to come.
Snow’s breathing began to calm, though her heart continued to thunder in her chest and her arms remained firm around Tarass.
Tarass kept tight hold of her. She wore a soft pale yellow nightdress that was a thin barrier between her breasts and his bare chest. Fear had puckered her nipples hard and they poked at him through the soft wool. And he silently cursed himself for even letting himself think about it.
Thaw crawled over, from where he waited at the foot of the bed, to nudge his head under Snow’s arm. She let one arm fall away to rest on the pup’s head and let him know all was well, then she hurried it back around Tarass’s neck.
“You are safe with me. I’ll let know one harm you,” he assured her again.
Safe. How long had it been since she felt safe? When she had her sight. She hadn’t felt safe since losing it, not knowing who was in a room with her, who approached her or how to simply maneuver through a room. She certainly hadn’t felt safe in the snowstorm and if it hadn’t been for Tarass, she would have never survived.
At the moment, with his arms tight around her and her body pressed firmly against his, she felt safer than she had ever felt since going blind, and she couldn’t imagine letting go of feeling that secure, at least not yet.
Tarass gave no thought to releasing her, not until she was ready. He could feel her body still quivering with fear and he would keep hold of her until it dissipated even if it took all night.
He did think, however, talking to her might help calm her. “Thaw came and got me. I imagine he tried to wake you and when he couldn’t, he ran for help.” When she didn’t say anything he continued, “You know my whole clan believes the pup is named after the mighty god Thor and will treat him with respect even though he snarls at most of them.”
He felt a small chuckle run through her. “He is named after a winter thaw and not the god Thor, right? A winter thaw fits well with Snow.”
“Thaw and I fit perfectly together,” she said as she plucked her face out of the crook of his neck and turned it up toward his face and didn’t realize the distance between their lips.
Her lips brushed his with a delicate faintness that could barely be felt, yet it sent a sharp jolt to her senses, sending a rush of tingles through her. Instinct had her hurrying back away from him, while passion-filled pokes urged her to return to his arms and his lips.
Thaw hurried into her lap as she moved away and she quickly snatched him up in her arms to hug him to her.
Tarass stood with haste and stepped away from the bed. The way her lips had brushed his could barely be called a kiss, and yet he had never felt as much intensity from a kiss than he had from the faint touch of her lips on his. If a faint touch could produce such a bolt of pleasure, what would a full kiss feel like?
He had to restrain himself from finding out, a good reason to leave, and yet he didn’t want to. He wanted to linger in that shot of pleasure that aroused him enough to turn him hard. Another reason to take his leave quickly. And still…
“I will go. You need more sleep,” he forced himself to say as he backed away from the bed and turned toward the door.
“Tarass,” she called out.
“Aye,” he said, not turning around.
“Thank you.”
“Sleep,” he snapped and left the room, closing the door behind him.
He went straight to his bedchamber and dropped back against the door after closing it. He couldn’t get the faint touch of her lips on his off his mind. It had followed him all the way up the stairs and into his room and had turned him hard, rock hard.
He would get no sleep if he didn’t ease his ache. He thought of the various women always available no matter when, day or night, but the thought of burying himself deep inside any of them brought him no satisfaction. Nor did the thought of poking anyone else.
Damn, he didn’t want to poke anyone but Snow.
He shook his head. That wouldn’t happen. That meant marriage and she was not what he wanted in a wife. Marriage to her brought no benefit with it and with her being blind she would be more of a hindrance than anything.
Snow was not for him, not for one night, not ever. He would do something he had never done. He would deny himself for tonight and tomorrow enjoy a good poke with some woman.
But as he slipped beneath the blanket in bed, the insane thought came again.
Nobody but Snow will satisfy you.