Her two sisters, Willow and Sorrell, had helped tremendously, but they both had wed and had their own homes now, Sorrell living a distance away and Willow living not that far, a walk that would take less than an hour, but not in the dead of winter and certainly not in a snowstorm.

Willow and her husband, Slatter, had suggested she stay when light snow had begun to fall. But she had already stayed a week to help her sister settle into a new home. It was time she returned home and allowed the couple time to themselves.

Her visit also had allowed her half-brother James time with Eleanor, who had helped look after her when Willow had gone to visit Sorrell. She was a lovely young woman who James had taken to on first sight. Eleanor had equally been taken with him and love had blossomed quickly. A wedding was being talked about and she couldn’t be happier for James and Eleanor.

There would never be a wedding for her. No man would want a blind wife. It saddened her at times, especially since she had always dreamed of having lots of children to fill a home with laughter and love. Now she would spend her days going from her sisters’ homes to her home with James and Eleanor and enjoying the nieces and nephews that would come along.

Willow was already with child and would deliver in the summer and she would be there to help whatever way she could. Not that Willow would need much help, since she was a skilled healer growing even more skilled with time.

Snow tucked her hood down to keep the snow from whipping at her face. The snowstorm seemed to grow worse by the minute. She worried that Finn was having a difficult time maneuvering his way through the blinding snow that had to be accumulating rapidly on the ground, his pace having begun to slow to almost a crawl.

When her horse came to a stop, she grew even more concerned. Had Finn decided the snowstorm was far too dangerous to continue on? Would they need to seek shelter? She waited anxiously to see what he would say.

Thaw suddenly popped his head out of her cloak and gave a bark.

“It’s all right, Thaw,” she said, trying to calm him. “We’ve stopped for a moment.”

But Thaw wouldn’t settle, he barked again and wiggled to get out of her arms.

“Stay!” she ordered, but Thaw would have none of her command. He wiggled himself free and jumped from her arms.

“Thaw! Thaw!” she yelled, worried she’d lose him in the snow, though his continued barks let her know he was close. “Finn!” she shouted, concerned he wouldn’t hear her through the relentless wind.