As if to prove her words, snow started to fall on them.

“Damn,” Slatter mumbled.

Willow had to agree with him, though she didn’t swear. An early snow always proved troublesome. It could leave a light coating on the ground or dump a sizeable amount. Her concern and the cold shivered her.

Slatter ran his hands up and down her back, trying to rub some warmth into her, but he felt the cold himself. It and her gentle stirrings had been what woke him.

Willow rested as close as she could against him. “Can you spread my cloak over your shoulders?”

Slatter did as she suggested and, with her pressed tight against him, he was able to get her cloak to rest partially over his shoulders. Still, it would not be enough to keep him or her warm if the snow worsened.

And it did.

The snow turned heavy and Slatter knew if it continued throughout the night they could be in trouble.

“Cover your ears, leannan,” he said.

She didn’t think to ask why. She did as he said and a shudder ran through her when he let out a ferocious roar. It sounded like the ones the warriors used when going into battle. He didn’t wait long afterwards to let loose another one.

Pounding feet could be heard after his roar settled and light sparked near the top of the hole.

The grate was removed and Rob peered down. “What are you doing?”

“Letting you know that no ransom will be given if you find me and my woman dead in the morning, you idiot.”

Rob’s eyes burst wide as if just realizing something, then turned wider when Beck’s bellowing shout pierced the night.

“Get them out of that hole! And who was the fool on watch tonight? I’ll have his head for not alerting me to the snow. I’ll get no coin for a dead man.”

Willow shivered in relief.

Slatter’s arms remained firm around her. “You’ll be warm soon enough.”

At that moment, she couldn’t be more grateful to him, though a little voice whispered in her head, I’ll miss your arms around me. She quickly chased it away. She would miss his arms for warmth and that was all, nothing else.

Willow didn’t mind this time when his hands touched her bare, icy bottom as he pushed her up and out of the hole. They were actually warm and sent a brief shot of heat through her.

Once out of the hole, Slatter wasted no time slipping his arm around her and tucking her against him.

“Geary, get them in the hut Maddie made ready and have two men stand watch outside the door,” Beck ordered, then turned to Rob. “You have some explaining to do.”

Willow remained in the crook of Slatter’s arm, having grown accustomed to being attached to him, though it could be because she felt protected in his arms.

Geary opened the door to the small hut. “Don’t try and escape. We have men posted.”