Page 3 of To Tame a Wolf

As they pressed on, the McGregor led the way, and he took her reins as well. The pup had settled down almost immediately as if the rocking motion of the horse helped put him to sleep. The snow continued to fall, and the temperature seemed to be dropping with it, either that or the coldness was starting to really get to her. She was glad the McGregor had taken control of her horse as she could drop off to sleep at any moment. Only the thought of falling from the horse kept her awake.

Alexandra wondered if Niles had wakened and if they were being pursued yet. Would he just send his men, or would he ride with them? He was going to have a major headache when he woke for which she was exceedingly glad. Niles would be infuriated at being crossed. Would he immediately notice she was also missing, or would he think the McGregor escaped on his own? Knowing Niles, he would think she had something to do with his problems.

Her thoughts turned toward the freed McGregor. She would have to ask his name. She couldn’t just keep thinking of him as ‘the McGregor.’ What was his position in the clan? His teasing and the way he watched her were disturbing. She didn’t have much experience with men as she had been living at the abbey since she was young, but her instincts told her she needn’t fear this McGregor as she had Niles. He disturbed her on a totally different level.

The feel of the dagger she kept in her boot gave her some comfort. She had started wearing one soon after Niles’s failed rape attempt even though she was living at the abbey. It brought her comfort and peace of mind. In fact, she often practiced throwing the blade at trees when she took long walks looking for herbs to replenish her dwindling supplies. It was surprising how many times the knife came in handy for different purposes, and by now she considered it a useful tool.

They trudged on in silence in the deepening snow throughout the early morning hours and into the afternoon. The horses had to work harder, high-stepping through the growing drifts. To her surprise, she nodded off several times but jolted awake as soon as she started to slip from the center of her horse’s back.

Several short stops gave the horses breaks. Alexandra took those opportunities to let the pup down after clearing a place in the snow with her boots so that he could move about freely and relieve himself.

The McGregor seemed to be holding up very well, though she hoped they weren’t lost, as he paused periodically to view the landscape. She didn’t know how he could tell where he was going. The sun was not out to tell them east from west, and the forest looked all the same to her.

Finally the snow tapered off, but soon after it stopped, the wind began to pick up. Icy particles swirled in the air around them, and she pulled the fur cloak tight about her face. She could barely keep her eyes open against the pelting sting.

“We’ve been on McGregor land for the last hour,” the McGregor shouted back over the whistling wind. “There is a hunting shelter close to here, if we don’t miss it. Be on the lookout.”

Either the McGregor was really good at his directions or extremely lucky, for they rode almost directly into the path that led to a wood framed structure. A three-sided lean-to, that she assumed was meant for animals, was positioned next to it, and the McGregor led the way in. They worked together to take care of the horses and feed them before entering what reminded her of a crofter’s hut.

Alexandra was surprised to see that the shelter was in fairly decent shape. There were no windows, only the door they entered through. A crude fireplace stood against the opposite wall. Little light was available once the door was shut; only that which seeped in through the cracks in the ceiling and walls, but it was enough to see by once her eyes adjusted. Along one of the side walls was a supply of cut wood. A couple of make-shift chairs made from saplings sat in the center of the room. A battered cooking pot and several utensils lay on the hearth in front of the fireplace.

The McGregor set her bags down on one of the chairs. “Do you have any flint in these for starting a fire?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been through all the stuff Aggie packed,” she said as she knelt by the hearth and began to empty the bags. She pulled out dried meat, bread, a hunk of cheese, a bag of oats, pouch of sugar, a couple tin cups and bowls, and then, from the bottom of the bag, she pulled out a flint stone and several candles.

“I swear, if your Aggie were here, I’d give her a big, fat kiss,” he said and took the flint from her hands and went to load wood in the fireplace. While the McGregor worked on building a fire, Alexandra took the struggling pup from his pouch and sat him on the ground. He began to sniff the dirt floor and explore the room, so she packed the food back into the bags before he had a chance to discover it.

The wind howled and whistled outside the hut. Now and again a small flurry of snow blew into the room from the cracks. She thanked God for the shelter that provided them safety from the storm. Alexandra doubted they would have survived without it. She couldn’t imagine being out in this weather alone, and she might have been, if she hadn’t been able to rouse the McGregor. She thanked God again, this time for providing a knowledgeable traveling companion.

Alexandra paced the room, rubbing her hands together and blowing on them. She shivered. She hoped a fire would significantly warm the hut. She picked up the pup and held him close, wondering if he too was cold. But he would have none of it and struggled until she let him free. Obviously the cold did not bother him.

Tired, she quit pacing and dropped down in one of the chairs to watch the McGregor while he worked. He really was an impressively big man. His dark brown hair was thick and overly long, reaching his broad shoulders. His massive hands were not the least bit awkward or bumbling as he carefully tented wood shavings and twigs. The pup came up several times to investigate, and each time he did, the man gave him a twig of his own before brushing him aside once more. With utmost patience, he stroked the flint again and again, until finally a spark ignited one of the shavings, and it began to curl and smoke. Cupping his hands, the McGregor gently blew on the wood shaving until it caught fire and then added other shavings one by one until he had a little fire started.

Alexandra melted snow in the cook pot and made some mint tea from her bag of herbs. They dipped their tin cups into the pot to refill them as needed. The fire now blazed brightly, and they positioned their chairs as close to it as they could. The heat was heavenly. Alexandra pushed her feet forward as close to the fire as she dared and kept her hands wrapped around the hot cup. When holding the cup against her lips, the steam from it warmed her face. She glanced at the McGregor and discovered he was watching her again.

“I don’t even know your name. What is it?” she asked.

“Ian McGregor of the McGregor clan.” He lifted his head high.

“What is your position in the clan? Aggie said you were alone when you were caught. Are you a guard?”

“Aye, I guess you could say that, but I’m also one of the clan’s best hunters.”

“Is your laird an honorable man?” She asked the question that weighed most heavily on her mind.

Ian added another log to the fire. “Do you mean is he a better man than those two lazy peacocks we’ve escaped from? Aye. He is a fair man, but many fear him. He will relish the thought of going to battle against the Sullivan clan and your cousin.” He looked at her to gauge her reaction.

“My cousin, as you know, is an evil man, but the innocent people on the estate, such as Aggie, I care very much about.”

“You’ll get your chance to plead your case to the laird. Who knows, he just might take a liking to you,” Ian said with a grin.

Alexandra hoped he didn’t take too much of a liking to her. She had enough problems.

“Tell me more about this Niles. How did you come to be in his care?”

“My parents died in a carriage accident when I was twelve. Niles is my second cousin and last blood relative. He became my guardian and the estate manager. He’s an evil snake. Not to be trusted in any way.” She emphasized her statement by meeting his eyes before looking back in the fire.

“I’d only met him once before, when I was five. His parents sent him to visit for the summer. He was thirteen. I was so thrilled when I heard the news. It would be like having a big brother, the sibling I’d always wanted.” She paused and the McGregor’s silence encouraged her to continue.

“It didn’t take long for that na?ve bubble to burst. First it was small things like chasing me with spiders. I told on him of course, but my parents assured me he was just doing ‘boy things.’ He cornered me the next day. He held a squirming rat by its tail and swung it back and forth in my face. Then he laughed and slammed it repeatedly against the wall until it was bloody and lifeless. Throwing the carcass at me, he said that’s what happens to rats.”

“It was a horrible summer. His torments increased from putting deadly surprises in my bed to pushing me down a flight of stairs and breaking my arm. I cried in relief when he left.” She stared into the fire as if mesmerized.

“I can still see my mother trying to comfort me by telling me not to be too sad. Niles could come visit another year.” She stopped talking lost in her thoughts. Forcing the door to her memories shut, she said, “He had me so petrified I never did tell them.”

She didn’t want to think about Niles anymore. Changing the subject, she asked, “Would you like me to give you something for your pain? It may make you sleepy.”

The McGregor was silent for a moment as if wanting her to continue, but he allowed the topic to drop and answered her question, “I’m fine, woman. I’ve suffered much worse in battle.”

“Well, you don’t look fine; in fact, you look like you’ve been trampled half to death. Your face is a mess, and your nose appears broken,” she stated.

“It’s not the first time it’s been broken”—his hand automatically touched his nose—“and it probably won’t be the last.”

“Seeing how pig-headed you are, I imagine you’re right,” she quipped before giving up arguing with him.

Ian chuckled aloud. “How about some food, woman! Or are you planning on letting me starve to death?”

Alexandra took the food from the bags and dispersed cheese, bread, and more strips of dried meat. She also gave the pup a strip of meat. They ate in silence as they savored the meager fare. The sun had gone down, and no more light filtered in through the cracks. Ian added wood to the fire, and it burned brightly. Occasionally, sparks popped and flew toward them. Shadows danced around the room.

Listening to the whistling wind that had yet to die down, Ian said, “The temperature is still dropping. We are going to have to share some body heat tonight, as well as keep this fire burning.”

Alexandra stared at him for several seconds before saying, “Surely that’s not necessary.”

“Aye, it is. We have a long night ahead of us, and we both need solid rest before we continue on the next leg of our journey. We’ll not spend the night awake and shivering.”

Eyes wide, Alexandra continued to stare at him.

“Woman. I’ll not be taking no for an answer. We’ll both be fully clothed, and as you’ve already pointed out, I’m in no condition to attack you.” As he spoke, he stood and added several more logs to the fire, stoking it up. Taking off his cloak, he spread it out on the dirt floor near the fireplace. He picked up one of her bags and tossed it onto the cloak before lying down and using the bag as a pillow. He held out his hand to her, inviting her onto the makeshift bed.

Alexandra looked at him hesitantly for several seconds before removing her own fur cloak. Ignoring his hand, she slowly sat down beside him and tossed her cloak over them both before lying down on her side, being careful not to touch him.

Ian put an arm around her waist and ignoring her gasp, pulled her stiff body up against his, in spoon fashion. Putting his right arm under her head for a pillow and keeping his left hand securely around her waist, he whispered in her ear, “Isn’t that better?” Alexandra didn’t reply. It was better, even though her stomach was fluttering. His warmth was already enveloping her. Surprisingly, the hard length of his body surrounding her made her feel safe. The strain of the last few days caught up, and she drifted off to sleep while reciting her evening prayers.

****

Ian lay awake. The feel of Alexandra’s small bottom tight against his loins made his blood boil. Visions of her naked and stretched out in front of the fire made him want to remove her clothes and climb astride her. Taking deep breaths, he reminded himself he was a man of honor. He knew she had been sent from the abbey as he had listened to Sullivan and her cousin’s conversation throughout the day while he’d been chained to the floor like a dog. Alexandra’s whole demeanor shouted of innocence; she was as different from her cousin as night is from day.

The rare combination of her beauty and innocence captivated him. Never had he felt such a strong, immediate attraction, but he did not plan on falling under any woman’s spell. Memories of his father’s decline after his mother’s death served to remind him what pain and grief could do to a man. His father, the strong tower of his sons’ lives, had crumbled like flamed kindling, and he had sunk into a spiral of teary depression and drunkenness until his death. His father’s lack of leadership had almost destroyed his clan. Witnessing his brother’s disastrous marriage reinforced Ian’s decision not to lose his heart to a woman. Enjoy their company, aye, and accept what was freely offered, but no more.

He steered his thoughts to Niles Conrad and the Sullivan. Thoughts of blood-thirsty battle and revenge calmed his spirit. Curled protectively around Alexandra’s soft warm body, he too drifted off to sleep.

****

The pup, awakened by hunger, started licking Alexandra’s face. She woke with a jolt to a sitting position and elbowed Ian in his side in the process. Cursing, Ian held a hand to his ribs before he sat up also.

“I’m so sorry!” Alexandra exclaimed, reaching out to him.

“Glad you waited until morning to do that.” Ian stiffly shoved his hand out, palm open, as if to keep her away. He jumped to his feet and walked to the dying fire.

Alexandra pulled the wolf cub onto her lap and held him close. She was amazed she had slept so well. Since the summons had come from Niles, she’d been unable to sleep peacefully.

Ian tended the embers and said, “We need to get moving this morning. The wind has died down, and Sullivan and Conrad will be searching for us. They will probably divide their men into groups of two and three to cast a wider net. One beaten man with a woman will not seem too big of a challenge for a small group, even if we had weapons.” He paused and she looked up at him from the floor to find him watching her try to tame her hair into a braid.

“I’m sorry. I should have considered that we would need weapons.”

“Most women wouldn’t,” he answered, continuing to stare.

“I am not most women.” She blushed under his disconcerting gaze. “My father always wanted a son. He took me hunting. He taught me how to use a bow and arrow, and even had a set made just for me when I was ten. I should have thought of it.”

“You already had much to consider.” He pulled a cloak from the floor. “I’ll get the horses ready.”

Frigid air entered the room as he went out with the pup trailing at his feet. Alexandra hurried to make breakfast from their oats before packing everything back up. When Ian returned a few minutes later, he appeared surprised to find a steaming bowl of porridge waiting. They ate their meal beside the dying embers of the fire. The food was pretty tasteless, Alexandra thought, but it did serve to fill their stomachs. The pup licked their bowls clean before she put them away, and she made a mental note to herself to remember to wash them well.

The day was just dawning when they mounted the horses. A hushed stillness lay around them as if the snow absorbed all sound. Alexandra held her own reins and followed after Ian. In some places, the wind had completely blown the snow from the ground leaving it bare, while in other spots, the horses had to barrel through the high snowdrifts. Her horse had the easier go of it since the mare could follow in the gelding’s path.

When the sun came up, the forest transformed into an enchanted place. Snow glittered like jewels hanging from the trees, and in the bright sunlight, the top layer of snow on the ground sparkled like diamonds. And although it was cold, the sun felt much better against her face than the wind had.

As they rode, Alexandra’s thoughts went back to her childhood and the happy times she’d had with her parents playing in the snow. They’d loved her and indulged her. Her father had treated her like a son much to her mother’s dismay. He’d taught her how to ride and shoot with the bow and arrow until she was proficient. Her mother, on the other hand, made sure she knew how to dress and how to act like a lady. She had received the best of both worlds.

They pushed on as fast as they dared, much the same as the day before, only without the falling snow. When the horses appeared to be tiring, Ian stopped for a short break. During those times, they all stretched their legs or took a few bites of food before mounting up again.

Alexandra’s bottom hadn’t become accustomed to all the riding yet, and it grew increasingly sore as the day progressed. When they stopped again around midday, she was thankful to be getting off her horse. She took the pup from his pouch and set him on a bare patch of ground. Happy to be unconfined, he took off running in circles before attempting to jump over and through some of the smaller snow drifts.

Ian pointed up to a tree-sparse ridge to the north and said, “I’m going to walk up there to get my bearings. The horses could use a longer break. Don’t stray far from this spot.” Without waiting for a response, he strode through the drifted snow toward the ridge.

Alexandra gave the horses a handful of grain each before giving herself and the pup a slice of dried meat. She then headed into the trees in the opposite direction to the one Ian had taken. She felt more at ease relieving herself knowing he was not close by. The pup as usual tagged along behind and kept her in his sights while he played and investigated his surroundings.

Straightening her skirts, Alexandra was stepping out from behind a bush when she heard the pup growl. She couldn’t see him, but he sounded close. Hoping he was just playing and hadn’t put himself in any danger, she hurried in the direction of the noise. She ran about twenty feet farther into the thick forest before she stopped abruptly. The pup was hunched and growling at three rough-looking men on horseback who were attempting to surround him. As soon as she had burst into view, their attention shifted to her.

Assessing the situation in an instant, she turned and fled in the direction from which she had come. She could hear their shouts and the horses tearing through the brush behind her. Her heart pounding, she ran as fast as she could, holding her skirts high off the ground and jumping over the drifts. The snow muffled the sound of hoof beats, but she could hear them getting closer, and then a hand closed on the back of her scalp, jerking her painfully to a stop.

Frightened, she screamed at the top of her lungs while turning and twisting to pummel the side of the horse and the rider’s leg with her fists. The animal, startled by her screaming and her attack, reared, and Alexandra felt the sudden release of her hair as the rider was unseated. Once more she took off running, but she didn’t get far before something heavy knocked her forward off her feet, and she flew face first into the snow. The impact momentarily took the breath from her body. She pushed herself over onto her back just in time to see the fist that slammed into her face before she blacked out.