“Come on, Jillian. Don’t give up!” Jake called from the top of the hill. “We need the fire. Keep trying!”
“I am!” she shouted back. There was no way he could see her from that far away. How did he always seem to know what she was doing or thinking? The man seemed to have a sixth sense when it came to her. Although they were eleven months apart, most people thought they were twins.
She saw him start back down the slippery slope with the bucket in his hands and hurried to finish her task. She was not in the mood for another lecture.
After another minute of trying, she finally got a flame. She blew on it excitedly and the flame rose higher, burning her fingers. She yelped, dropped the burning branch into the snow, and dove for a handful of snow to soothe her poor fingertips.
She heard Jake roaring with laughter as he continued down the hill.
“Shut! Up!” She grabbed another ball of ice and flung it toward him with all her might.
“Not even close,” he chuckled when the projectile hit the base of the hill more than 25 feet below him.
His look of amusement quickly changed to fear when the path of snow and ice below him suddenly gave way, tossing him head over heels down the hill.
“Jake!” she shrieked and watched as he rolled and tumbled and bounced, landing with a sickening thud at the base of the hill.
BERTRAM
Bertram heard the screams and spurred his horse to gofaster. When he rounded the final snow bend he saw the three wolves circling closer to their prey.
A young woman stood defiantly, trying to protect the prone form on the ground from the advancing wolves. Her emerald eyes shone with fear as she struggled to maneuver the heavy sword. He jumped off his horse and ran toward them, forcing himself to remain calm.
The wolves saw him and turned their backs to the scared, angry young woman, baring their sharp teeth as he advanced.
“Go!” he commanded. “This is no meal for you.”
The pack leader growled and crept forward. He tensed, flashing his golden amber eyes at the leader, and growled. This was a fight he intended to win. The leader stopped its movement and cocked its head, sniffing the air. It must have realized its foe was more dangerous than he looked. It barked at the remaining pack and with one final snarl, charged into the woods in search of other, easier prey.
The young woman watched him cautiously, her green eyes widening as he strode toward them.
“Don’t come any closer!” She held the sword higher, trying not to falter under its weight.
He tried not to laugh. “Do you even know how to use that thing? It weighs more than you do.”
“Pointy end goes in the heart! Now go away!” She used both her hands to point at his advancing chest.
He looked down at the young man lying in a crumpled heap in the bank of snow, his pack next to him. A pool of blood stained the white snow around his head. “He needs help. If he stays out here, he will die from hypothermia or head injury.”
He knelt down and assessed the young man’s injuries. No broken bones. He carefully picked up his head and wrapped his scarf around the injury. “How’d your husband get hurt?”
“Um, my brother, not husband. He kinda accidentally fell down the hill.” She faltered and dropped the sword.
Years of having bratty submissives tied up and on their knees told him the beautiful young woman was lying. “Kinda. Accidentally?” He raised an eyebrow and met her gaze fully.
The pixie-like brunette flushed. “I, um, threw a snowball at him, and he fell.”
“What?”
“I didn’t mean to hurt him. It was an accident.”
He could tell by the anxiety in her voice she meant it. Noting the hay and bridle on the ground, he asked “Where’s your horse?”
“He ran off when the wolves came. I’m going to keep looking for him.” She started in the direction she had just pointed.
“Wait.”
His command stopped her movements, and she turned to glare at him. “I don’t know how you think?—”
