Page 8 of To Tame a Wolf

Alexandra did her best to stay out of the McGregor’s way. The next couple of weeks passed slowly. She continued to nurse the healer Silas back to health, and his improvement increased each day. On her walks to and from the keep, she usually saw the McGregor and his brother James from a distance on the training field with their men. From what she’d observed, it looked like each brother trained his own men, and then they competed one on one, or group on group.

The McGregor demanded she attend the evening meals, and not wanting to cause further tension, she complied. Though they sat next to one another, neither started conversation. She slept on the floor in his bed chamber but made sure to retire before he did and waited until he left the room each morning before getting up. After several days, she admitted to herself she missed his teasing banter.

The wolf pup greeted her with exuberance each morning after having spent the night sleeping with young Jamie. The boy had warmed to her, and she attributed it to their shared affection for Happy. Every day, he was eager to show her new tricks he had taught the wolf. The lad, as young as he was, appeared to have free rein of the keep without the constant supervision of a nanny. Most times, he tagged along behind her and the guards, and he chattered nonstop about the pup.

Today, as Alexandra stepped out of the keep, she was pleased to find the weather considerably warmer than usual. She hoped it was a sign spring would arrive soon. The day was a beautiful reprieve from the harsh winter. The snow slushed beneath her feet, and water dripped continuously as it melted from overhead tree branches. When her entourage passed by the training field, Alexandra automatically slowed her pace to watch the McGregor spar with his brother. She had been surprised to learn the McGregor and his clansmen trained for hours every day, no matter the weather. Undoubtedly, they were preparing for battle with her cousin and the Sullivan.

****

Ian spotted Alexandra the minute she stepped out from the keep. She was like a ray of sunshine. Everyone was drawn to her warmth. Even his guards had fallen under her spell, and quarrels ensued over whose turn it was to stand watch. Today, his besotted nephew also trotted after her with the wolf pup in tow. With his mind on the woman, it was easy for his brother to dislodge his sword from his hand and put his own at Ian’s throat.

“You’ve let that woman get under your skin, haven’t you, brother?” he asked. “What do you plan on doing with her? Don’t forget she’s English.”

“She may be English, but she has a good heart. I’ll rot in hell before I let the Sullivan pig get his hands on her.” Ian picked up his fallen sword and turned his back toward the lady in question. Sparring more aggressively, he backed his brother away.

****

Alexandra hadn’t realized she’d come to a complete stop until little Jamie asked where they were going.

“We’re off to see Silas again this morning. But first, I think we should take advantage of the nice weather and take a walk around the lake. Would you like that?”

“Yes!” he shouted and ran toward the lake followed by the excited pup.

Alexandra laughed. She didn’t blame them as she felt the same way. She was tired of being stuck indoors. The frozen lake was in plain sight of the keep walls and the guards who stood watch on them, so her personal guards did not try to dissuade her. Jamie ran and threw sticks for the pup to fetch. Running ahead, the boy yelled back at her to hurry up. Growing warm, she took off her fur cloak and decided to carry it for a while.

She was familiar with all of her guards’ names. After initially forcing conversation on them, she now also knew their family names and had even treated some of them. Although they weren’t as stiff and formal as they had been, they still kept a pretty watchful eye over her. Today, they gave her a little more freedom and privacy by allowing her and the boy to walk ahead.

Jamie threw a large stick out onto the icy lake and laughed as the pup slipped and slid to retrieve it. Alexandra chuckled at the sight of Happy with his legs splayed out in every direction and his body spinning in circles. She stopped walking for a moment and lifted her face up to the sun, enjoying the warmth and peace of the day.

She heard the pup’s yelp at the same time she heard the boy cry out. Jamie had tossed the stick close to a large hole in the ice and Happy had slid into the freezing water. Jamie ran out onto the ice to help the pup. Both Alexandra and the guards yelled for the boy to stop, but he didn’t listen. As he reached the edge of the hole, the ice broke, sending Jamie splashing into the lake.

Alexandra ran onto the ice with the guards not too far behind. The ice creaked and cracked, and she yelled over her shoulder for the guards to stay back or they would all end up in the lake. She hurried as close to the hole as she dared. She heard ice splinter as she lay down and stretched her arm to Jamie. His arms flailed about as he tried to grasp hold of the pup. Throwing her cloak out toward the boy, she screamed for him to grab it.

“Jamie! You cannot save that pup until you save yourself!”

Finally her words sank in, and the lad grabbed her cloak. As she pulled, he lifted the top half of his body out of the hole. Holding the cloak with one hand, he reached back and grabbed the pup by the scruff of its neck.

Alexandra rose to her hands and knees and backed up as quickly as she could until the guards grabbed her ankles and pulled her and the boy to safety.

She clutched Jamie to her and reverently thanked God for his safety. The boy was already shivering and turning blue when she wrapped him in the fur cloak with the pup he refused to leave behind. She lifted him up to carry when one of the guards took him from her and started running toward the keep. The other guard assisted her in running as they followed close behind.

Before they had covered half the distance to the keep, the McGregor and his brother ran out to meet them. James grabbed his son from the guard and sprinted for the keep. The McGregor took the guard’s place at her side.

“Are you all right?” he questioned, noting her wet clothing. “We heard the screams on the training field and saw what happened.”

“Yes, but we need to get Jamie out of those wet clothes and warmed up immediately,” she said breathlessly.

“James knows what to do. He will care for his son. You may check on him after you’ve changed out of your own wet clothing.” Ian put his arm around her shoulders and escorted her back into the keep and up to his bed chamber, where he left her in Maddie’s care.

Alexandra’s teeth started chattering. In her worry over the boy, she hadn’t realized how wet and cold she herself had become. The front of her gown was soaked and heavy against her skin. Maddie assisted her in removing each layer of clothing and wrapped her in a rough, wool blanket. No sooner had she covered her nakedness than the McGregor barged in holding a steaming mug.

“Drink this.” He thrust the drink toward her.

Alexandra fought to keep the blanket in place. She freed one hand and clutched the covering closed with the other. Taking hold of the mug with a shaking hand, she brought it to her lips and took a little sip.

“Mmmm, not bad. What is this?” she asked and took another sip while waiting for his answer.

“Spiced ale. Drink it down while it’s hot.” The McGregor took her arm and led her to the chair in front of the fire. He pushed down on her shoulders to get her to sit. Popping right back up, she stated, “I want to see Jamie.”

“Not until you finish the ale.” He pushed her back down into the chair. “And get dressed in the dry clothes Maddie went to fetch.”

As he said her name, Maddie entered carrying an array of clothing. Alexandra put the mug to her mouth and gulped down the entire contents in a very unladylike manner. Thankfully, the ale was not scorching hot, but instantly its warmth spread from within. She stood too quickly and stumbled over the blanket that had wrapped itself around her feet. The McGregor caught her by the shoulders and steadied her against his chest. Alexandra’s cheeks flushed red as she was vividly aware of her nakedness beneath the blanket.

She stepped back and Ian released his hold on her. “I’ll be waiting outside the door to escort you to Jamie.”

She opened the bedroom door after dressing to find him leaning against the wall. Taking her elbow, he led the way through the halls until they reached the boy’s room. They knocked and were summoned into the chamber. James sat in a chair drawn close to his son’s bed. He held Jamie’s hand between his and listened as the child heralded his adventure. At their approach, James looked up, acknowledging their presence before turning his attention back to his son.

Young Jamie lay under a mound of covers. His cheeks were flushed and his eyes were bright as he told of his near drowning. The boy’s free hand was wrapped around the wolf pup, holding him close as if still in danger of losing him. Alexandra put her hand over his brow to gauge his temperature. She smiled with relief to find him without a fever.

The boy looked at her and said, “Isn’t that right? You saved me and I saved Happy.”

“You were the bravest little boy I’ve ever seen. Happy is lucky to have such a courageous friend.”

James said, “My son was lucky you responded so quickly. I am in your debt. Thank you.” He took her hand and kissed it.

Alexandra was surprised by his gesture. He had not been the friendliest of men up to this point.

The McGregor pulled her hand back from his brother’s grasp and said, “I think that’s enough thanks.”

****

The incident with young Jamie that morning also broke the ice between her and the McGregor. After checking on Jamie’s condition, Ian escorted her to the healer’s hut before leaving her to practice with his men.

Several days earlier, Silas had insisted he was well enough to resume his duties, and they had begun to check on the health of his fellow clansmen. Alexandra enjoyed accompanying him every day as he went from home to home. She learned the name of everyone she met as well as their place within the clan. On the whole, she considered the clan to be very healthy. A few members had colds or slight fevers, but no one was critically ill.

They also examined several women in various stages of pregnancy, but Silas explained he did not actually deliver the babies as older women usually assisted the birthing mother; however, he was available for potions and brews to ease the expectant mother’s pain. Today, as they finished up and headed back to Silas’s hut, the McGregor himself came to relieve her guards and escort her back for dinner.

“Have you enjoyed your day?” he inquired as they walked back to the keep while the sun set.

“Yes, Silas is a very knowledgeable teacher, and I enjoy his company.” Alexandra put the hood of her cloak up as the temperature dropped with the sun.

“So what do you think of my clansman?” he asked.

Alexandra was surprised, but she was glad he was talkative this evening. The tension of the past weeks had been hard to live with, and she was ready to call a truce.

“I think your people are strong and proud, and they are obviously very loyal to you.” She paused before admitting, “You are a good leader.”

The McGregor smiled and lifted his chin. “Of course I am.”

They reached the hall, and he took their cloaks and handed them to a servant before he walked her to their place at the head table. His brother James and the warriors who usually sat with them were already present, and she was pleasantly surprised when they all rose from their seats as she approached. She looked at the McGregor who simply smiled and pulled out her chair. As she sat down, so did everyone else.

She looked at James and asked, “How is young Jamie doing?”

“Thank God there’s still no fever, but he’s not very happy that I’ve ordered him to stay in bed until tomorrow. This is not his first mishap. If I can just keep him alive until he’s ten, he might live to reach adulthood,” he replied.

“May I check in on him later?”

“I’m sure he’ll enjoy your company,” James said and poured her a glass of wine before handing the bottle to his brother.

Everyone appeared to be in especially good spirits that evening. Talking and laughter filled the hall and echoed against the stone walls. Alexandra felt more relaxed among the clan than she ever had before. She leaned back with her second glass of wine and watched the two brothers tease and torment one another until they were interrupted by one of the gate guardsman who came in from the cold and whispered something in the McGregor’s ear. The laird’s expression changed instantly to serious and he commanded, “Bring the man in.”

Voices tapered off and silence ensued as a stranger was escorted before the McGregor. Alexandra thought she recognized the man as one of Niles’s guardsmen, but she wasn’t certain. The man was nervous, and he swallowed repeatedly. As he did so, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. She couldn’t blame him for being scared with the way everyone glared at him. Finally, the McGregor prompted him to speak.

“You have a message for me?”

“Yes, sir. A verbal message from Sir Niles Conrad of Ravenswood which I was ordered to memorize and deliver.” He swallowed and cleared his throat again before continuing. “I will have your ransom in two months’ time. I suggest we meet in the middle at the juncture of our respective borders. I hope you have discovered what a conniving liar Alexandra is. It is not important to me that she be returned undefiled; in fact, I am sure she has deserved whatever beatings and despoiling you saw fit to order. Her betrothed, the Sullivan, still wishes to marry her as long as she is well enough to stand for the ceremony.” The messenger did not pause to take a breath during his delivery of the speech, and therefore ended up squeaking out the last two words.

Alexandra’s stomach clenched in an old familiar fear and revulsion. Her cousin had just given her captors permission to rape and torture her.

The McGregor did not speak for several seconds. He clenched his fists and took a deep breath, before he smiled icily and said, “Tell the Conrad it is with pleasure that I look forward to meeting him.”

James nodded for the guards to remove the messenger from the hall. Silence prevailed as the McGregor waited for the messenger to be escorted out. Lifting his wine goblet, he stood and shouted, “To war!” His men repeated the shout and chanted it as they beat their fists noisily upon the wooden tabletops.

Alexandra blinked back tears. Feeling nauseous, she excused herself from the table before she lost composure. Shadowed by her guards, she went straight to her room and lay down. Holding one hand against her stomach, she willed herself not to be sick. She shouldn’t have drunk so much wine. Intense hatred for Niles burned within her. For a while, she had actually managed to forget him as she went about the business of learning the ways of the McGregor clan. If this was what one could expect as a prisoner of the Wolf’s clan, she’d stay a captive forever rather than set eyes on her cousin again.

From Niles’s message, it was obvious he was hopeful she was being treated abominably. She hated the paralyzing fear that rose up in her whenever she thought about him or the abuse she’d suffered at his hands. She feared him more than she hated him, and she wished it was the other way around. At this moment, she craved the courage to kill him herself, and immediately prayed for forgiveness at the thought.

What must the McGregor clan think of her after hearing that message? Did they assume she was some horrible person that deserved to be punished? That her family thought so little of her? She was ashamed and humiliated, and of course, that was exactly how Niles wanted her to feel. Well, she wasn’t going to! She’d done nothing her entire life to justify such treatment. She would hold her head high and move amongst the clansmen as she always had.

The only thing she certainly didn’t fear was that the McGregor would take action against her upon hearing Niles’s message. Ian had honor. He hadn’t beaten or raped her, and it wasn’t because he was afraid of Niles or the Sullivan’s retribution to such treatment. Now, he might try to seduce her, but that was an entirely different matter.

Feeling better and deciding not to pity herself any longer, Alexandra left the chambers to check on young Jamie.

****

Debra’s mouth twitched and she struggled to contain her laughter. Her green eyes sparkled with glee as she heard the messenger’s recited message. The look of shock and fear that crossed the Englishwoman’s face was priceless. Debra decided she’d get along nicely with this Niles of Ravenwood. Perhaps someday she’d be fortunate enough to meet him.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a tug on the hem of her dress. That blasted little beast was at it again. Since no one was paying attention, as they were all busy chanting war cries and pounding on the tables, she took the opportunity to aim a kick at the wolf pup’s head. Anticipating the move at the last second, the wolf dodged and took the blow in the shoulder. He yelped and rolled several times before landing on his feet. Baring his teeth, he growled and crouched. Debra’s eyes widened when it looked as if the animal was going to attack her, but before he could, a guard scooped him up and took the pest away.

To the boy, she supposed. She’d heard the rumors. He had the run of the castle and was given anything he wanted, including that wolf. When she was his age, she barely had enough to eat and wore tattered clothes. Shuffled from one distant relative to the next when they grew tired of her, and taken in only to be an extra workhand. Yes, what the boy needed was discipline, and with a thick branch across his backside.

****

“I thought you showed great restraint,” James said to his brother and slapped him on the back. “For a minute there, I wondered if you were going to strangle the messenger with your bare hands.”

“Aye, but I thought it best to save all my anger for the man who deserves it. I’d like to cut out Conrad’s tongue and feed it to Happy.”

“What kind of trap do you think he’s planning?”

“He has to know that Alexandra told me his plans to join in league with the Sullivan to take over our lands, which is why he wants to cast doubt on her truthfulness,” Ian said.

“He has to be crazy to think we’ll turn over the girl for a ransom, only to have her wed the Sullivan to join forces with him against us,” James said.

“Maybe he thinks we’ll be tempted by the high ransom amount and that we might not see their combined forces as a threat.” Ian bared his teeth wolfishly.

“Chances are, they realize we will be coming to attack them, and they want to control when and where,” James added.

“And they obviously aren’t planning to hand over any money.”

The McGregor brothers sat in silence as they followed their own thoughts. Suddenly, James sat straighter in his chair as if a solution entered his head. With a glint in his eye, he said, “You know, Alexandra has been very good with Jamie. She’d probably make an excellent mother.” He glanced over at Ian who remained silent in thought.

James continued, “And she’s a very comely lass. Aye, she’d undoubtedly keep a man warm and occupied during the long winter months.” Ian glowered at him but remained mute.

Slapping the table as if he’d suddenly solved a problem, James exclaimed, “I know the perfect solution. I’ll marry Alexandra! Conrad and Sullivan’s plans will be thwarted, and Jamie will finally have a mother!”

Ian lunged across the table at James. Grasping the front of his brother’s tunic in one huge fist, he pulled him across the table and drew back his other fist, but before he plowed it into James’s face, he saw gleaming laughter in his brother’s eyes. Shoving him away, Ian sat back down and covered his face with his hands and released a frustrated sigh.

Laughing, James slapped his brother on the back and said, “Don’t worry! It happens to the best of us—although I was beginning to think it would never happen to you. So, when are you going to ask her to marry you?”