“You don’t? He smells like one.”
“Dogs don’t need shelter. Or appear at the right moment when needed.”
“Then what is he?”
She almost smiled at the suspicion in his voicebefore saying lightly, “He is probably a wizard in disguise.”
There was a moment of startled silence, and then her companion gave a sharp sound that might have been laughter. “You Irish,” he muttered.
Yes,weIrish. A wave of homesickness overtook her. She yearned for the past, her life at Wiltham, hearing her Gram’s teasing about fairies and the little people who lived in the meadows. Or telling her she was a “lazybones” and best be up and about her chores.
She also missed the way she and her sisters had been back then, so close it was said one couldn’t slide a sheet of foolscap between them. Or how she and Dara would lie in bed and whisper secrets about the day. They had always shared a room... until Elise’s jealousy about Michael had boiled over.
Her throat tightened. She squeezed her eyes, willing back tears. This was not the time to fall apart—
The sound of metal striking flint caught her attention.
Her gaze was pulled to a flame. In the wee light, she watched Mr. Ruffian blow on the tinder, urging it to nourish the flame.
While she had been feeling sorry for herself, he had been practical. He had gathered everything dry that he could find and had set about to start a fire. In the growing light, she could see a small pile of sticks.
Elise reached out around her, finding what felt like wood bits and the like. She gathered them up and leaned forward to offer them to the fire.
He nodded at her, smiling. “Not so bad now, is it?”
“It is terrible,” she replied honestly. “The smoke will fill the hut.”
“A bit. That’s why I started it by the door.”
“Wet air won’t draw smoke.”
He sat back. “We can only do what we can do. This won’t last long anyway, but it is nice for the moment.”
She frowned, knowing he was right and, for some reason, not liking it. She wasn’t comfortable with him. Perhaps if he’d been shorter, thinner, lesspresent, she could relax.
“You sound like a vicar,” she managed. “Platitudes won’t help us.”
He shrugged, not taking offense. “Platitudes are all I can offer.” He sat back against the wall, one knee up, his other leg stretched out, careful of her space.
The dog lay down. He was a shepherd’s dog, a little collie, with an intelligent look to his eyes. He behaved as if his work was done and he was glad for it. He was a shaggy thing. His coat was black, his legs white. A mask of brown covered his eyes and nose. He rested his head on crossed paws.
Outside, the rain wasn’t showing any sign of letting up, although the thunder and lightning seem to have passed. That’s when Elise realized how fast her heart had been beating, how high-strung she’d felt since the crash—no, since the very early hours of the morning when she’d snuck out of the house on her mission—
“Are you hungry?”
Elise glanced at him blankly, needing a moment to register his words. Hungry? Dear God,yes, she was starving. She’d taken two buns and a piece of cheese from her family’s larder, but that was long since gone.
Still, she needed to be wary. A lone woman must be careful. He’d not acted as if he would harm her, however men were funny creatures. They assumed rights. Wise women were cautious.
He didn’t wait for her answer. Instead, he pulled a cloth bag from the pocket of his coat and opened it. “I don’t have much. Just some salted meat, but it will do us some good, I think, to have something to eat.”
Salted meat. Elise detested the stuff and yet her stomach gave her away. It rumbled in the most unbecoming fashion.
“Here,” he offered, holding out the bag. “We have plenty of water to go with it.” He nodded to the door.
She hesitated. The more distance between them, the better. Except, shewashungry. She took the bag. It was almost empty. She pulled out a piece of the beef, murmuring a doubtful thank-you to acknowledge his willingness to share with her.
He removed his leather hat and ran a handthrough his hair before taking the bag back. He pulled out two pieces and tossed one to the dog, who had been watching the transaction with eager eyes. The pup snapped at the meat while it was still midair.
