Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Thaw looked to Snow than to Tarass.
“We’ll be right outside,” he said and wondered why he was even bothering to talk to the pup.
“Go now, Thaw,” Snow urged in a more commanding tone and the pup trotted over to Thaw growling all the way.
“I’ll knock before I enter,” Tarass said, then opened the door, a burst of cold air rushing in and the pup and he hurried out quickly.
With little time before he returned, Snow hurried out of bed with a wince, her side still painful, and into her dry hose, then her boots, surprised both were warm. She made her way carefully to the table, found her garments folded on top, though she didn’t rush to slip into them for fear of getting herself tangled up. She tempered her movements and got the garments on much easier than she had gotten them off.
A sigh fell from her lips when she finished, relieved she was no longer naked, no longer exposed to Tarass. It had been unnerving and humiliating, and she didn’t want anyone to ever know of it.
A bark came before the knock at the door and she turned to face it with a smile. Thaw came running in and sped right to her. She went to snatch him up.
“He’s wet from the snow and you’re dry and warm,” Tarass said.
Snow leaned down and patted Thaw. “Sit by the fire, Thaw, then I will give you a hug.”
Tarass shook his head as he watched the pup do as Snow told him. It was as if the pup understood her every word.
“The sky hints of more snow, but my keep is not far from here. The snow on the ground will slow us down some, but it shouldn’t take us long to reach it if we can keep a steady pace. How does your wound feel today?”
“It’s sore but not as bad as yesterday,” she said. “I’m ready to leave when you are.”
“As soon as I see to dousing the fire, we’ll go,” he said and hurried to see it done.
Snow slipped on her cloak and gloves and made her way to the door, Thaw following close by.
“Can you see me enough to follow behind me?” Tarass asked, watching her take cautious steps and stretching her hands in front of her as if making sure nothing blocked her way.
“You’re a gray shadow to me, but it is enough for me to follow as long as you remain in front of me,” she said with confidence, eager to do anything that would help get her home sooner.
“Stay close to Snow, Thaw,” he said after they stepped outside, then shook his head. Now he was talking to the pup as if he could understand his every word.
Snow realized soon enough why he wanted her trailing behind him. He made sure to clear somewhat of a path for her to follow. There was far too much snow for him to clear it enough to set a quick pace. It took time and effort to go only a short distance. At least it felt like a short distance. At the laborious rate they traveled, she thought it might have been wiser for them to remain at the cottage.
She didn’t give up, though, she kept going, her legs growing heavy with fatigue as she trudged through the snow. She didn’t dare take her eyes off the gray shadow that was Tarass. She feared being abandoned again. She stayed on his tail, taking step after endless step, while silently praying they would reach their destination soon.
A worry took hold when she noticed Tarass’s shadow had faded some. How had he gotten farther away from her? She rushed her step to catch up and felt her boot catch on something. She went flying forward so fast, she had no time to stop herself from toppling head first into the snow.
Tarass turned at the sound of the barking, shocked to see Snow’s face planted in the snow. He rushed to her. She was already struggling to stand when he reached her. With a firm grip on her arm, he got her to her feet and kept hold until she found firm footing.
“What happened?” he asked, wiping away the snow on her face.
She coughed and shook her head. “I’m not sure. I think I tripped over something.”
Thaw was still barking and digging furiously in the snow.
“Quiet, Thaw, all is well,” she ordered, but the pup didn’t listen.
The pup was not only disobeying Snow, he had stopped digging to look up at Tarass, then to the spot on the ground.
“I believe Thaw is angry at whatever it was you tripped over. I’ll assure him all is well. You stay right here. Don’t move.”
“He can be stubborn at times,” Snow said, dusting the snow off herself.
“I wonder where he gets that from?” Tarass said with a chuckle that quickly faded when he spotted what Thaw had revealed… an arm.