Free The Viking's Highland Lass by Terry Spear Page A

said, so softly, he thought she must have drifted off to sleep, and he’d woken her.
    He couldn’t believe she didn’t know where they were. Not when she had said she knew her way around. “You did not recognize the Roman tower ruin? Have you any notion where it is located?”
    Her only response was a whispered warm breath against his neck as she breathed out softly. He thought about how he had to ensure she stayed with the MacNeill clan once he safely escorted her there. She would find a home with them like he had, he thought. Except in her case, she was truly one of their kin, even if her mother might have had a bit of a tarnished reputation.
    He tried to sleep as he half listened to the sounds of the wind whipping the snow into a fury all around the outside of their private little tower. And he thought he’d managed to sleep for a while when he heard a whimpering and then a tiny howl sound outside the tower. His horse instantly neighed and began to move in the small confines of the tower walls.
    Gunnolf jumped up to control the horse before he trampled them to death.

4
    D arkness cloaked the ruined tower and everything around them, including Brina, as Gunnolf had a devil of a time getting hold of his horse’s reins. He hoped he and his horse didn’t accidentally step on Brina while he tried to quiet him.
    â€œWhoa, Beast.” Gunnolf spoke soothingly to him, his hand stroking the frightened horse’s neck.
    He thought Brina was still sound asleep when she whispered from the floor of the keep, “What is wrong?”
    â€œA wolf howled, spooking Beast.”
    â€œThey willna hurt us,” she said with conviction.
    â€œ Ja. I agree. It was a wolf pup, I should say.”
    â€œWhere?” She suddenly stood, her soft body bumping into him.
    His loins instantly stirred. He told himself it was only because she was a beautiful lassie, and he hadn’t been with one for a very long time. That any lassie would do. But it wasn’t true. Something about her humor and her determination, not to mention she had come to his aid as a lad when she had to know he was her father’s enemy, made him see her as something more. “The wolf is somewhere outside the tower.”
    She didn’t hesitate to say, “Go get it then and bring it here.”
    Amused at her insistent tone as she commanded him, Gunnolf still frowned at her. He loved animals and had often cared for the weak and injured, but the pup could be real trouble. “You must be jesting. The pup most likely has a mother. And a father. And aunts and uncles. And other siblings, lass.”
    â€œAre you afraid of taking care of him?”
    He wanted to laugh, but he smiled at the sweet lass. She’d obviously lived a sheltered life at her keep.
    â€œI thought you said you could fight six men at once. That you had fought more than that before.”
    â€œâ€™Tis different, Brina. I would not want to separate a wolf pup from his pack.” And that was the truth of the matter. Though other considerations were important also. The lass’s safety, most significantly. Taking a wolf pup with them could put them all in danger.
    â€œWhat if he has lost his family and he needs our help? Maybe it is a she and she is the one you were sent to aid.”
    He chuckled, drew Brina into his arms, and held her tight. “Wynne was not talking about a wolf pup. She was talking about a woman. You, I am fairly certain. When it is light out, I will see if I can find it, but you will stay here with Beast.”
    â€œThat is the name of your horse?” she asked, sounding surprised.
    â€œ Ja. ”
    â€œHe was a wild one?”
    â€œThe wildest when he was young. You should have seen how hard it was for me to break him.”
    â€œTruly? You had to treat him cruelly to get him to yield?” She sounded genuinely upset to hear of it.
    She seemed to have a kind heart as far as animals were concerned.