Ronan eyed the pups. A bit on the small side, but perhaps a wee beastie would melt Mairi’s heart even quicker. He rapped on the glass, shielding his eyes as he strained to see deeper into the house.
A sour-faced woman of advanced years wobbled into view. A pair of bigger mops of yipping fur bounced around her feet and the base of her cane as she hitched her way to the door. Her eyes narrowed behind a smudged pair of wire-rimmed spectacles cocked at an angle on the bridge of her nose. Glaring at him through the glass, her scowl deepened as she eased the door open the barest bit. “Aye?”
He pointed at the smaller dogs still yapping and ricocheting off the glass. “The wee dogs.” He tapped the glass in front of the darkest, fiercest pup. “Would ye consider parting with one of them?”
The woman frowned and thumped the handle of her cane against a white square of parchment stuck at the top of the glass. “Is that not what the sign says? Can ye not read?”
Irritation prickled hotly against the cold damp hairs at the base of his neck. Of course, he couldn’t read. He had scribes and monks for such menial tasks. He rapped on the glass in front of the bright eyed little dog’s face. “How much?” He had no time for the cross old woman. Mairi wouldn’t stay in one place verra long. He worked open the leather pouch slung against his hip and pulled free the small clutch of gold pieces Granny Sinclair had sent for him through the fire portal.
“The sign saysfiddy quid.” The scowling matron rapped her cane against the bit of parchment again. “I willna take a bit less for one of my fine lads. Ye’ll find none nearly as grand in all of Scotland.”
Ronan wasn’t sure how muchfiddy quidwas but he felt certain a couple of gold pieces would properly take care of the old woman’s troubles. Lore a’mighty—this was worse than buy a horse. He clicked two shining gold pieces against the glass. “For the wee dark one still biting at the door. Aye?”
The elderly woman’s face lit up as she pulled the door open wider and plucked the gold pieces out from between his fingers then closed the door again before any of the dogs could escape. She adjusted her spectacles, held the coins up close, and squinted as she slowly rotated the money in her hand. Her thin lips moved as she stared at the gold as though muttering a silent curse.
After another quick glance at him, she placed one of the coins between the only two teeth she still possessed and bit down hard. A happy chortle bubbled from her as she stuffed the payment down the neck of her oversized shirt and patted the spot between her sagging breasts. She scooped up the dog, opened the door, and shoved him up into Ronan’s arms. “The wee bastard is all yers. All sales final.” She slammed the door shut and yanked down the shade. Her delighted cackling still echoing from within her abode.
Ronan looked down at the alert little dog trembling in his hands. “So, ye are a wee bastard, are ye?”
The pup promptly rumbled with a ferocious growl and sank its needlelike teeth deep into his thumb.
“Son of a bitch!” Ronan passed the snarling beastie between his hands as though palming a red-hot coal. He finally yanked his plaid off his shoulders and immobilized the snapping little demon. “Come, ye vicious wee bastard. Ye have a task at hand far more important than eating me alive.”
Tucking the growling bundle under one arm, he headed for the last place he had seen Mairi. Just as he feared, she was gone. He loped across the stretch of rolling green to higher ground. It had not been that long. Surely, she would keep to this place with trees and greenery hoping to find the wolf. And he was right. There she was just up ahead.
If he doubted it before, he doubted it no longer. The mere sight of her soothed him to the deepest level of his soul. Mairi was the one he had needed all these years. She already possessed him. Completely.
Her soaked, bedraggled curls framing her pale face made her eyes seem even larger. His heart hitched as she stumbled, hugging her jacket tighter around her slight waist while chewing on her bottom lip. She had been crying. The tip of her nose was bright red and the deep green of her eyes was rimmed in red as well. The poor lass. All because of her love for the wolf. His heart swelled. He had to win her. Defeat would not be tolerated.
Before she spotted him, Ronan unwrapped the still grumbling pup and held him up to the cold rain. The snarling puff of gray black fur melted into a shivering rain-slicked creature. Ronan chuckled. “Ye are a sight now, wee bastard. Ye look to be more rat than dog.”
The puppy flattened its tiny ears against its bobblehead, bared his teeth, and growled even louder.
“Mind yer manners now. Ye are about to meet a verra special woman. Ye must win her heart for me.” He reached down, raked his fingers through the wet grass then smeared bits of dried leaves and debris all over the little dog. There. Now the wee ratling truly looked to be a stray.
“Mistress Mairi.” Ronan hurried to catch up with her before she wormed her way between the slick gray trunks of a cluster of knotted saplings.
Mairi turned. Suspicion flashed in her eyes as she slicked the back of her hand across her forehead and pushed back her rain-soaked curls. “You followed me?”
He sucked in a deep breath and sent up a silent prayer. He had never been good at the telling of tales.Máthairwas proud he couldn’t lie, but Ronan was none too sure the ability would not be a bit handy to have once in a while. “Mistress Eliza told me about yer lost animal. Yer wolf.” There that part was not a lie. “I wish to help ye.” He held out the bedraggled puppy. “I found this wee mite. He is not a wolf but looks to be verra much needed.” Ronan held his breath and silently begged the vicious wee bugger to turn on whatever charm he possessed in his scrawny body.
The shivering puppy obliged with a pitiful whine.
Mairi’s lower lip quivered as she rushed forward and scooped the whimpering bit of wet dog out of Ronan’s hands. “Poor thing. He’s soaked to the skin.” She cuddled him against the curve of her throat and cupped her hands over him. “I know you’re cold. It’s going to be all right. I promise.” She gently held the pup close as she yanked the hemline of her shirt up over his shivering little body. She seemed oblivious to the fact that the motion exposed a tempting expanse of her creamy stomach above her low-riding jeans.
Ronan nearly groaned aloud. By the gods, he needed this woman. “Here.” Ronan shook out his plaid and cocooned it around Mairi and the little dog. He breathed in her warm sweetness as he hugged the wrap around her, pausing to enjoy her closeness as long as she allowed. “I dinna wish either of ye to take a chill.” His spirit soared as she barely leaned into him and nodded.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She pecked a quick kiss to the top of the puppy’s head. “That’s much better, isn’t it?”
Ronan wasn’t sure if Mairi was speaking to him or the dog. He best stay silent. If he spoke, he risked breaking the fragile spell keeping her in his arms.
The puppy made happy grunting sounds as he rooted tighter into the curve of her neck. Mairi smiled up at Ronan. “Thank you.”
Her smile quivered at the corners then disappeared. Ronan’s heart sank as her red-rimmed eyes blinked hard against fast forming tears. “But what am I going to do? I can’t findmydog. I’ve already called the authorities and they swear they don’t have him—yet.” Her tears spilled over, rolling crystal drops of sorrow down her pale cheeks. She hiccupped a pitiful squeaking sound and ducked her head. “I can’t find my dog and I’m afraid of what might happen to him if I don’t get him back home.”
May the gods forgive him for causing her this pain.Ronan gently pulled her closer, closing his eyes as he rested his cheek atop her bowed head. “There now.” He trailed his fingers across her wet curls. Damnation, he was such a fool.Why the hell had he not stayed hidden until he resumed his human form? “Perhaps yer dog wasna meant to stay longer.” He struggled, searching for the right words to bring her comfort. “Souls come and go in our lives. They stay until they have served their purpose. Then they move on.”
She sniffed and gently pulled away as she looked up at him. “Whatpurposecould he have served in the short time he was with me? I was just beginning to get to know him . . . to get attached to him.” Her voice echoed with bitterness, warning Ronan he best choose his answer carefully.
