Slatter adjusted his wife in his arms as her body grew limp with sleep. It was strange how easily he had grown accustomed to sharing a bed with her to the point where he looked forward to it. Of course, sleep wasn’t the only thing on his mind when he’d join her in bed. That he wanted to make love to her had his loins aching more than they ever had. But he could be wise when wisdom was called for, though it was getting more difficult to remain wise when his wife snuggled so close that she roused his manhood throughout the night. And forget the morning when he woke with an aching need for her that had him rushing out of bed to avoid surrendering to it.

She was his wife and he had a right to couple with her, but that would make an already difficult situation worse. As much as he enjoyed her company, sleeping with her, holding her, sneaking a kiss now and then, sharing his life with her was out of the question. He had to return her home to her family.

His chin shot up and his thoughts vanished in an instant upon hearing a sound. He listened again and was relieved to realize it was an animal in the forest. He had learned at a young age to distinguish sounds. Lander had taught him well. He had taught him most everything he knew.

He had always thought of Lander as his father, called him da for as long as he could remember, not that he and his mum ever wed, though they had been like a married couple and more loving than any married couple Lander had known. Lander had been at a loss when Blair, Slatter’s mum, died three years ago and it wasn’t but a year later that he died as well. He had claimed his heart had been too broken to live without her. His mum had told him that she knew when she had first laid eyes on Lander that she loved him and Lander had said the same about Blair. They had been inseparable. Slatter missed them both and he better understood how they felt about each other since meeting Willow.

He couldn’t say he had loved her at first sight, though it might be that he didn’t want to admit it to himself since he had to let her go. She had told him that he couldn’t give her what she wanted most… love.

He couldn’t help think that that might be the easiest thing he could give her.

They stopped to rest and eat a short time after mid-day. The skies were overcast and the air more than chilled. Willow wished she had a hot brew to warm her insides, but was grateful for the food they did have.

“The scratches on your face heal well,” Slatter said, handing Willow another piece of bread.

“As do the others since I’ve been applying what bit of honey I have left.”