Free Heart's Ransom (Heart and Soul) by Kathryn Loch Page A

stepped in front of Gwen.
    The hound landed on its feet and turned, gathering to lunge again.
    “Nay, Samson!” Talon bellowed, praying the dog would recognize him.
    The dog slid to a stop, looking up at him startled, then ducked his head and tucked its tail between its legs, whimpering.
    “Out!” Talon snapped, pointing to the door.
    The cowed hound turned and scurried away.
    Talon, his chest heaving as he battled to catch his breath, spun and faced Gwen.  Her eyes were wide, her face pallid, and her entire body trembled.
    “What the hell is going on?” he growled between clenched teeth.
    Then he saw a small ball of fur move in her arms.  A tiny pup with golden eyes, and a coat mixed with gray and brindle whined pitifully.
    “I....”  Gwen’s voice cracked and she swallowed hard.  “I saw the wolfhound chasing this pup.  It screamed and cried, Talon.  I could not bear to see it killed.  I tried to call the dog off but it refused to listen and chased the pup in here.  That’s when you came in.  I never imagined the dog would attack me.”
    Talon cursed softly.  “It’s a hunting dog, Gwen; it will attack anything that gets between it and its prey except for me and the master of hounds.”
    “I’m sorry, Talon...but it was going to kill this pup.”
    He scowled and looked at the tiny creature more closely.  “Sweet Jesu, Gwen, it’s not one of mine.”
    She held it up; it was gaunt, nearly starved.  “I think it’s a stray that wandered in.  It’s only about six weeks.  Its mother’s probably dead and all it wanted was food.”
    “Good Lord, Gwen, don’t you have the sense God gave a goose?  It’s a worthless mutt.”
    “So?”  She looked down at the creature.  “It’s starving, Talon.”
    “Gwen, I have more dogs than I need in Montgomery, and they are much finer than a stray mutt.”  He reached for it.  “Give it to me and I’ll have the master of hounds take care of it.”
    “Take care of it?”
    “Drown the damn thing in the river.”
    “Nay!” she cried recoiling from him.  “You will do no such thing.”
    “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!  If you want a pup so badly I’ll have the master of hounds give you one.  There is absolutely no reason to have a cur fouling the bloodlines.”
    “I’m not going allow you to kill it.” 
    He snarled, dragging his hand through his hair. 
    “Talon, please,” Gwen whispered, her voice shaking.  “You can’t kill it.  I don’t care if it’s a mutt.  It’s only a baby.”
    He stared at her liquid eyes, denial on his lips.
    “Please.”
    How could he tell her no when she had just thrown herself in front of a giant wolfhound to save the pitiful creature?  He snarled in frustration, pacing.  “All right,” he snapped.  “It’s your responsibility.  But I warn you, if the thing gets underfoot, I will end its pathetic life.”
    Her shoulders relaxed and she gazed at him with joy in her eyes.  “Thank you, Talon,” she whispered.
    His anger vanished instantly, replaced by surprise.  How could something so simple as granting her a wretched stray mongrel make her so happy?
    She gazed up at him unflinchingly and suddenly the fire within Talon roared to life.
    He stepped forward until he was only inches away from Gwen.  She pressed against the wall, staring up at him wide-eyed.
    Beautiful emerald eyes that fairly glowed.
    “But only this once, my lady,” he said as an afterthought.  “I’ll not have you adopting every stray you come across.”
    Color stained her cheeks.  Talon could not help but notice it was just as true as a red rose, the silk of her skin as soft as petals.
    Talon stepped even closer although he willed his body not to move.  Panic flitted across her expression and her body coiled as if about to flee.  He placed his hand on the wall beside her head, his arm blocking her escape.  Her sweet scent mixed with a soft perfume of roses assailed him and he drew it deeply into her lungs.  It seemed