The wolf panted heavily in the cool night air, then closed her mouth and turned her head toward a sound, listening keenly. Satisfied that it was nothing, she let her mouthfallopen again and resumed panting. After a while, she licked her chops and laid her chin down on her front paws, and watched Duncan with wide, blinking eyes.
Amelia came out from behind the standing stone. Duncan said nothing as she approached and knelt beside him. The wolf lifted her head and sniffed the air, then sat up again.
Then, without warning, she turned and trotted away, down thehill.
Amelia exhaled with relief. “Did that real y just happen?”
“Aye.”
They sat for a few minutes, watching the spot where the wolf had disappeared from sight. Not a single blade of grass moved.
“But why didn’t she hurt us? If she was afraid of you, or wanted to eat us for dinner, she would have growled orchallenged us, wouldn’t she?”
“I’d wager she had afullbelly.”
“I see.” Amelia sat quietly for a moment. “So if she returns in the morning, there’sstilla chance we might become a meal?”
He slipped his axe into his belt and stood. “It’s possible.”
He held out his hand. Amelia took hold and let himpullher to her feet while she discreetly hid the dagger in the folds of her skirt.
“It didn’t occur to you to shoot her, Duncan?Elliottprobably would have wanted you to.”
“I think the lad might have had trouble doing it, too, if he’d been here in my place.”
Amelia stared after the wolf. “She was beautiful, wasn’t she?”
“Aye.”
Feeling the heat of Duncan’s gaze upon her face, Amelia looked into the lustrous blue of his eyes and felt a little inebriated. A soft breeze—the first of the night—gusted past them and fluttered her skirts. She pushed a lock of hair away from her face.
“Come back to the fire,” he said. Together they pushed through the grass to their little camp, and Duncan spread the fur out on the ground. “You’lllie with me tonight,” he said, “in case she comes back.”
Were it not for the wolf, Amelia would have fought him on that issue, but she did not think she would be able to sleep otherwise. And perhaps also she was feeling more relaxed because of the whisky, not to mention the knife she held in her hand.
She picked her way around the dying campfire to join him.
Before they lay down, however, he eyed her shrewdly.
“I’llhave the dirk now, lass.”
She sighed. “You’re not going to trust me with it?”
“Nay.”
She paused a moment, then decided it was pointless to argue. Besides, after what had happened the night before, she didn’t want to find herself in the position of having to choose between her freedom and Duncan’s life. He had protected her from those soldiers and the wolf. She simply could notkillhim. Not now. Not ever, she supposed.
She held out the weapon. He slipped it into his boot, then dropped lightly to his knees. “Let’s get some rest.”
They lay down together as they did in the cave that first morning. Amelia faced the fire, and he curled up behind her, tucking his knees into the backs of hers. He covered them both with his tartan.
“Are you comfortable?” he asked.
“Yes.” Indeed, she was snug and warm, although she was a far cry from relaxed.
For a long time they lay there without talking, and just when she began to think she might be able tofallasleep, he spoke.
“Can I ask you a question, lass?”
