Page 2 of To Tame a Wolf

Alexandra held back a gasp and quickly turned to look at her cousin’s companion. From where the man sat, she could only see the back of him until he staggered to his feet and turned to face her. He was obviously drunk as he swayed from side to side making his way across the long room toward her. He stopped midway, then began cursing, and kicked at something on the ground. To her dismay, that something seemed to be a man chained to the floor. The crumpled, bloodied mass emitted a slight moan, and the drunkard quit stomping. Appearing satisfied with his captive’s reaction, he moved toward her.

He was older than her cousin, probably in his fifties, and food particles clung to his beard. He grinned when he stopped in front of her, and she noticed that he also had several missing teeth. Squinting at her as if trying to focus his beady eyes, he said, “You didn’t tell me she was a beauty.” Alexandra stiffened as the man reached out and grasped a handful of her long hair.

“Like gold, it is,” he murmured, letting the silken strands run through his fingers.

“Huh,” Niles replied as if suddenly bored and took another bite. “I think she’s rather homely myself.”

The stranger’s eyes combed her figure, pausing to linger over her ample breasts and small waist.

“Aye, she’ll do just fine,” he panted. He grabbed her jaw with rough hands and pried her mouth open, inspecting her teeth.

“Can she talk?” he asked, his sour breath brushing against her face.

Repelled, Alexandra pulled her head from his hands and stepped back. “I can speak,” she stated coldly. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself.”

The foul man frowned at her words.

“Now, now, is that any way to speak to your betrothed?” Niles smiled. “Your future husband’s name is Hugh Sullivan, and you’ll be married just as soon as Hugh and I can come to terms on our agreement.” Gloating at her dismay, he said, “You see my dear, once you’re married, Hugh and I will split your estate, and together we will join forces to defeat Hugh’s enemy, the McGregor, and then we’ll split his lands too.”

At the mention of the name McGregor, the man named Hugh grumbled and swayed his way back toward the unconscious body on the floor. Alexandra had momentarily forgotten that he was there. She heard another muffled moan as Hugh kicked him several more times. Her heart went out to him. The poor man’s face was a mess. His eyes were swollen, and his nose looked broken. Dried, caked blood covered his face. He was also covered in mud and filth, but she could still see that he wore the McGregor colors.

Knowing from experience that interfering with the poor man’s torture would only make things worse for him, Alexandra drew their attention back to herself by saying, “You can’t force me to marry anyone against my will.”

“Oh really, and who’s going to stop me?” Niles sneered. “The priest? He has his price.” Wiping his mouth on his sleeve and pouring himself more wine, he suggested, “Perhaps Hugh would like a trial sample of his future wife’s affections?”

“Aye!” Hugh agreed, eyeing her eagerly.

Alexandra hid her repulsion behind a stoic expression.

“On second thought, let’s not be too hasty, Hugh,” Niles said. “You may decide you don’t like the taste of her, and then where would I be?”

“Aggie!!” Niles bellowed for his housekeeper. A few seconds later an old woman appeared. “Bring us more wine, and escort her ”—nodding toward Alexandra—“to her rooms and lock her in.”

The gray-haired Aggie looked up at Alexandra with dawning recognition and then spat in her direction. “What’s she doing back here?” She glared with contempt at the girl.

Niles chuckled. He had always enjoyed the old crone’s attitude toward her. “Don’t worry. She won’t be staying long, and don’t trouble yourself getting her anything to eat. I’m sure she had plenty on the journey,” he added while filling his plate with more food.

Hugh’s gaze never left Alexandra as she followed the old woman from the room.

“Come my friend, let us drink and make plans,” she heard Niles say before the door shut behind her.

****

Alexandra silently followed the woman through the halls. She was pleased to see she was being led in the direction of her old rooms. Neither she nor the woman spoke to the servants they encountered on the way. Alexandra couldn’t help but notice how her home had deteriorated during her absence. Art pieces no longer adorned the walls. The plush window coverings and silver candle holders were also missing.

Upon approaching her bedroom door, the old woman pulled a bracelet of keys from her apron pocket and unlocked it. She did not step back for Alexandra to enter but entered the room herself. Alexandra followed and promptly shut the door. The two women stood and stared at one another for a second before quietly squealing and throwing their arms around each other.

The old woman pulled back first and framed Alexandra’s face in her hands. “Look at you, my child,” she exclaimed with tears in her eyes, “You’re all grown up! You remind me of your mother.”

“Oh Aggie, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again!” Alexandra exclaimed and gave the older woman another hug. It had been Aggie who came up with the idea of portraying the image of disliking one another, as loyal servants were being let go at the time. The old woman was a great actress, and she embellished her role. She was also quite the Scotswoman with no love for the English. Although Alexandra was English, Aggie had known and helped care for her since her birth, and she had been a great comfort to Alexandra since her parents’ deaths.

“I’d better go take the peacock his wine before he starts wondering where I am. I’ll be back as soon as I can. We’ve plans to make,” Aggie said with a wink before slipping out the door.

Alexandra looked around her chambers. Apparently, Aggie had heard word that she’d been sent for. Nostalgia hit her as she remembered the room from her childhood. The chamber was spotlessly clean, and a fire blazed in the hearth. Her traveling bags leaned against the wall in one corner of the room.

Hearing a soft whine, Alexandra opened the door to her dressing room. There in the middle of the floor was a timber box which held her furry new friend. His coat was a mixture of gray and white, and only his front paws and nose could be seen above the top edge. He must have sensed her presence as he started yipping with excitement. Alexandra darted across to pick him up. As remote as her rooms were from the rest of the keep, she doubted that anyone could really hear his cries, but she didn’t want to take any chances. He wriggled happily against her, licking her face whenever he got the chance. She would have to tell Aggie about him and ask her for some milk or meat.

Thomas had placed a woolen blanket in the bottom of the box, as well as a stone cup full of water. The structure was big enough for the pup to take care of his business at the other end. Thomas had done a good job. She was grateful.

Alexandra carried the cub as she paced about her chambers. What was she to do? She would rather die than marry that disgusting creature downstairs. If she escaped and ran back to the abbey, that would undoubtedly be the first place Niles would look, and she didn’t want to put her friends there in any danger. She paced back and forth as she thought. The door opened, and Aggie appeared. She came in carrying two bowls of porridge.

“One for the pup,” she said, and set the bowl upon the floor near the hearth. “I caught your young man sneaking him in when they dropped off your bags. After scaring the daylights out of him, I extracted his promise of secrecy.”

Alexandra put the pup down next to the bowl and dipped her finger into it and then wiped her finger on the pup’s tongue. He was so hungry that it didn’t take him long to get the idea and soon he started licking from the bowl.

“Thank you,” Alexandra said, and she gestured for Aggie to sit in the lone chair by the fire before sitting at her feet.

“Aggie, what am I to do? I have to leave. Did you hear Niles’s plans for me? And why is there a McGregor man chained to the floor?” The questions came pouring from her.

“I’ve listened to the two of them scheming for weeks. Hugh Sullivan has a reputation for being almost as bad as your cousin. Yesterday, a Sullivan hunting party came across this lone McGregor near the Sullivan-McGregor border. They say that he killed half the hunting party before he was captured. The Sullivan brought him here to keep the McGregor clan from attacking the Sullivans, should word of the abduction leak out. They want to find a weakness in the McGregor clan’s defenses that might aid their attack. However, this McGregor clansman is surprisingly strong, and they’ve not gotten a word out of him. I fear they’ll end up killing him before he speaks.”

Both women were quiet as they thought. The pup had finished his supper and in his attempt to lick the bowl clean, he was chasing it across the floor as it scooted out from under him.

“I don’t remember much about the McGregors except for the name. What can you tell me about them?” Alexandra asked.

“Well, they be a fierce fighting clan. They tend to keep to themselves most times. The old McGregor died several years back, and now one of his sons, a man they call the Wolf has become clan leader. He is called such because of his reputation for being cunning and ferocious in battle. I have a niece who married into the clan, but I haven’t spoken to her in years,” Aggie replied.

Alexandra stood up and started pacing once again . Lord, is this a coincidence? I rescue a wolf pup and hours later learn of this leader named Wolf? Or is it a sign from you? As a plan began to bloom in her mind, Alexandra grabbed Aggie’s hand and said, “Aggie, do you think I could get this McGregor to take me to his laird? In exchange for his freedom? I could warn the laird of Niles’s plans, and perhaps he will grant me shelter. If nothing else, it would buy me time.”

“You would have to steal the man out from under their noses.” Aggie stood. “I don’t see how that would be possible.”

Alexandra continued to pace. After a few minutes, she said, “I think I know how it can be done. I have learned much about medicine in the years I’ve been gone, and I have many supplies with me in my bags. We could add a sleeping powder to their wine. It would be risky. They may be able to taste the bitterness.”

“Aye,” Aggie agreed, “it could work. They are so deep into their cups now that they probably won’t even notice, and if they do, I could say that the bottle must not be properly fermented yet, and must have gotten mixed in with the older bottles by mistake. How long before this potion would take effect?”

“It should take no more than fifteen or twenty minutes if they drink the whole bottle, and they will wake up with terrific hangovers. Hopefully, they will just believe they passed out from drinking too much. Can you pull it off, Aggie? I don’t want to put you in danger.”

“Aye, my part will be easy,” she replied. “You, on the other hand, will have to take a barely conscious, injured man through rough terrain in the middle of the night, and you have a two or three day journey ahead of you, if they don’t catch up to you first.”

“Believe me, it is much better than the alternative,” Alexandra said. “And if we cannot rouse this man, I will attempt to go on my own even though I don’t know if I can find the way.”

Aggie replied, “Follow the creek to the northwest corner of your property. You know the way. That will probably take you the rest of what’s left of the night. Continue north. Hopefully, the McGregor will be alert enough to help you by then.” She held out her hand. “Give me that powder now. Niles should be asking for another bottle soon, if they are not already passed out. If we are to do this, it must be done with haste.”

As soon as Aggie left the room, Alexandra started packing the essentials she would need, which included all her medicinal herbs as well as a change of clothing. She knew it was foolish, but she didn’t want to leave the pup behind. Aggie was kept too busy by Niles to have enough time to care for it, and she didn’t really trust anyone else with the task. Besides, she felt that her fate and the fate of the cub were somehow entwined. From a wool blanket, she created a sling she could put over her head. The sling would work much like those that carried human babies, and she could wear it under her cloak.

Aggie re-appeared at the door. She was carrying a satchel and a fur cloak. “Good timing,” she said. “They were almost finished with the last bottle, and they were too drunk to notice any difference in taste. I went to the stables after and told Lem to saddle two horses. He will have them for you at the creek.” Lem had been Aggie’s sweetheart for as long as Alexandra could remember. “As long as you don’t make too much noise, you should be able to get to them without any trouble.” She lifted the satchel. “I have packed food and supplies, and I have taken Niles’s best cloak for the McGregor.”

“I’d be lost without you, Aggie,” Alexandra declared. “Now if we can only get the McGregor up and moving.”

****

Ian McGregor lay still on the floor while contemplating his dilemma. He’d been an idiot for not listening to his brother regarding taking men with him on his hunt, but the clan was not currently at war since the last feud with the Campbells. Ian had wanted time for himself away from everyone, and he’d been yearning for the peace and quiet of the forest. Apparently, he was wrong about not having any current enemies.

It was indeed fortunate for him that he had not been recognized as the McGregor laird. His head pounded and his ribs hurt with every breath he took. He hadn’t heard their voices for a while, and he hoped they were passed out. Slowly sitting up, he bit back an oath as pain stabbed through him and the room spun. He could barely see out of a slit in his right eye. Yes, both bastards were passed out.

He quietly pulled on his chains. His wrists had been chained as well as his legs, and the leg chain was anchored to a loop in the floor. There was no give in the loop, not that he expected any. Tomorrow morning, before they started to work on him in earnest, he would attempt to take one of them. He was not as badly off as he pretended to be. He had played at being unconscious several times, and he made sure to moan with every kick and blow. The next time he feigned sleep and the Sullivan came close enough to kick him again, Ian intended to sweep Sullivan’s feet out from under him and crush the pig’s head between his thighs. He might not be able to escape, but he would take as many men down with him as he could before he was killed.

Ian stiffened when he heard soft footsteps approaching the hall. He lay back down, feigning sleep.

****

Alexandra cautiously approached the hall entrance. She stared into the room where both men sat slumped with their heads upon the table. Niles’s face was cushioned by his food plate. She observed them for several minutes before concluding it was safe to enter. Walking quickly over to the chained prisoner, she set the bag she carried with her on the floor next to him and started to kneel down. She gasped as the man ensnared her ankle between his very large hands.

“It’s okay,” she murmured, gently placing her hand upon his shoulder. “I am here to help.”

He blinked several times and shook his head as if trying to clear his vision or comprehend what she was saying. He eased his painful grip but kept his fingers locked around her leg.

“Thank God you are conscious,” she whispered. “I have a plan, if you are willing. In exchange for your freedom, will you take me with you to the McGregor stronghold?”

The man’s eyes widened, and he quickly nodded. Too quickly, she wondered?

She stared at him untrusting and then asked, “I have your word of honor that you will take me to the laird of the McGregors?”

“Aye, to the laird,” he whispered.

“We are going to have to hurry,” Alexandra said, and she took the key Aggie had given her from her pocket and proceeded to unshackle the man. “But first, let me check your injuries, as you are going to have to be able to ride.”

The McGregor captive grabbed her hands as she began to run them over his body. “Later woman,” he stated gruffly, “just help me to my feet.”

Alexandra assisted him in rising and was staggered by his weight. She hadn’t realized what a large man he was when he’d been lying down. Putting his arm about her shoulder, she picked up her bag of medicines and slowly walked him out of the hall and toward the back area of the keep where Aggie was waiting. The man’s breath hissed with repressed pain from every step they took, but by the time they reached Aggie, he had grown more accustomed to it and was walking fairly well.

Aggie rushed up to them. “Hurry, I’ve got the back guards in the kitchen for some hot ale. I do that occasionally, but they won’t stay away from their posts for long.” She handed Alexandra her sling, and then she threw fur cloaks over both of them and herded them through the outer door.

“It’s snowing!” Alexandra exclaimed as they stepped out into the night. Lord, what next?

“Hopefully it will continue and serve to cover our tracks,” the McGregor said. “They’ll know the direction we’ll choose, but not the path.”

“There are to be horses staked for us at the creek,” Alexandra said as she led the way toward the closest intersection where the creek should be. The fresh layer of snow on the ground helped to reflect the light of the night and made it easier for Alexandra to get her bearings, but it would also make them more visible to the guards when they came back out. The McGregor must have also reached this same conclusion as he significantly increased his pace. No longer leaning upon her, he kept his hand at her elbow allowing her to lead. Within several minutes they were safely behind the cover of forest trees.

“It’s not much farther. How are you holding up?” she asked with concern.

“I’ll make it,” he said through clenched teeth. The cold must be helping to keep him conscious. Finally, they broke through the trees and came upon the bubbling creek. There were no horses in sight.

“Damn,” the McGregor started cursing.

“Shh!” Alexandra hissed, “Let me think.” They wouldn’t make much progress on foot in his condition. Envisioning the keep and the stables in her mind, she tried to imagine the path that Lem would have taken with the horses.

They both heard the faint sound of a horse’s neigh at the same time. “Thank you, God!” Alexandra gave a sigh of relief. Hurrying east in the direction of the bend in the creek, they came upon the hobbled horses.

Alexandra recognized the gray mare as a horse she had ridden as a child, and the black gelding alongside looked to be as old. They were not prime horseflesh, but they would do. She knelt down to unhobble them while the McGregor held their reins. Handing Alexandra the reins to the gray mare, Ian cursed again as he carefully pulled himself up onto the back of the gelding. He was bent low over the horse but managed to maintain his seat.

Alexandra tied her bags to the saddle and mounted her own horse. Reaching her arm out toward the McGregor, she said, “Why don’t you give me your horse’s reins while you rest as best as you can. I will follow this creek to the end of my property, and after that you’ll have to lead the way.” The McGregor handed over his reins without a word.

****

The snow continued to fall as they made their way along the creek bed. The snowflakes grew bigger and floated unnaturally long in the air before they hit the ground. The forest was still, and she heard only the soft crunching of their horses’ hoofs on the fresh snow and the continuous gurgle of water flowing over rocks in the burn.

Alexandra found herself once again alone with her thoughts over the gentle sway of a horse. She knew she had made the right choice by running. Though she was scared and apprehensive of what lay ahead, it couldn’t possibly be any worse than what she had left behind.

The wolf pup wriggled slightly against her stomach before settling down again. He was faring much better than she could have asked for. It had been a bad day for the poor mite as well. Looking over her shoulder to check on the McGregor, she found him slumped over his saddle. She didn’t know whether he was still conscious or not, but he managed to remain seated. With the hood of his cloak up and over his face, he looked like a large, snow-covered rock.

They plodded along for hours, and Alexandra was weary to the bone. She could sleep for days. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel nearly as cold as she had during the ride in the rain earlier that same day, or was that yesterday? Time seemed to run all together. If she and the McGregor had both been in good health and riding good steeds, they would probably have covered twice the distance. Thank you, God, for the snow! It was going to be their saving grace.

As darkness faded and dawn broke, they rode beside the creek and out into a small clearing that contained several outcroppings of rocks. Alexandra stopped the horses and dismounted, shaking snow from her cloak. She walked over to the McGregor who had awakened or stirred when the horses halted. Looking up, far up, into his swollen face, she said, “This is as far as I know the way. We are at the Sullivan border. I believe the McGregor lands lie to the west of his?”

“Yes, and we are at least half a day’s journey from reaching the McGregor border and then two more days before we reach the McGregor keep.” He stood in the stirrups and swung his leg over the back of the gelding. “The horses are in need of a rest before we continue, and we’re going to need a supply of water with us,” he added as he eased himself from the saddle.

“Aggie thought of everything.” Alexandra withdrew two leather canteen flasks and a bag of oats for the horses. “I should attend to your wounds now while the horses are resting.”

The McGregor walked over to one of the rock outcroppings and brushed off the snow before sitting down. The snow was still falling, but it was much finer. Alexandra hobbled the horses after letting them drink from the burn and cleared a place on the ground for their oats. The McGregor watched her movements until she pulled the wolf pup out from under her cloak and set him on the ground.

“What the…?” he exclaimed as he watched the furry pup dance around her feet. She picked up the cub and gave him a quick kiss on his snout before putting him back on the ground and telling him to take care of his business. The fat pup waddled up to the edge of the creek and after testing the depth of the water with his paw began to drink. He tagged along behind as she walked over to where the McGregor sat. The McGregor stared at the pup as it sniffed around his boots, and then he looked back at the woman who was busy pulling items from her bag.

“It’s a wolf. Are you daft?” he asked.

Looking straight into his one semi-open brown eye, she replied with a smile, “Yes.”

Lifting a ball of material from her bag, she said, “I’m pretty sure you have some broken or cracked ribs. They’ll feel much better if you let me wrap them, but you’ll have to remove your shirt in this cold.” She looked at him and lifted her brows.

The McGregor stood up and shrugged off the fur cloak and started to pull off his woolen shirt. His breath caught when he lifted his hands up over his head. Alexandra moved closer and helped him pull the garment off. His chest and arms were massively muscled and covered with black and blue welts. She could not help but stare before she came to her senses and started unrolling the material.

“Please sit back down, I’ll be able to reach you better,” Alexandra said. As he did so, she stepped up and stood between his open knees. She could barely reach around him to wrap the cloth. Each time she stretched a portion of cloth around his back, she had to stand uncomfortably close to his chest with her arms wrapped around him. She could feel his warm breath on the top of her head. Embarrassed, she hurriedly finished her task. Stepping back and finding her own breath, she said, “I’m sorry, I know that had to hurt.”

“On the contrary, I was pleasantly distracted.” He picked up and shook his discarded filthy shirt and slowly brought it down over his head. This time Alexandra let him struggle with it on his own. Her cheeks flushed, she turned her back on him and put several things back into her bag. She had herbs that could help with his pain, but they would also make him sleepy. Better to wait until they were camped for the evening. The wolf pup grabbed at the hem of her skirt and growled and tugged it back and forth.

“I’ll bet you’re hungry, my friend,” she said and threw him a piece of dried meat, which immediately grabbed his attention. She turned and gave the McGregor a large piece of dried meat and a hunk of bread before starting to eat her own portion. While they ate, the McGregor kept staring at her like he was trying to fathom a puzzle.

“Must you stare at me while I’m eating?” Alexandra pulled the bread away from her mouth and waited.

“But the view is so pleasing.” The McGregor shifted his weight on the rock and continued to stare, smiling now.

Feeling unsettled by his teasing, Alexandra pocketed what remained of her food to eat later and walked toward the forest with the intent of relieving herself.

“Don’t go beyond calling distance,” the McGregor shouted from behind her.