Now was not the time to think on this. He needed to see to her wounds and see her returned home safely. There was one other thing he needed to make sure of.

“No one can find out about you being naked in front of me or we will be forced to wed,” he said.

“You need not worry about that. I have no wont to wed you,” she said, and she didn’t. So why had his words hurt her? “I will tell my sister I tended the areas that pained me and that I could reach. Everyone is aware we have no like for each other so they will easily accept my word.” She kept her chin up and her shoulders back as she spoke, though the weight of the endless day lay heavily upon them. “I don’t believe anyone will question it. Once you return me home we’ll never have to bother with each other again.”

“I imagine you’re right,” he said and wondered why he felt as if he’d just been stabbed in the gut. “I’ll see to your face and—”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I can do the rest myself. At least that way part of what I say will be the truth.”

Tarass was about to argue, but realized she was right. It was much better for them both. He should have never broken his word to her. He should have waited until she had shed her garments and wrapped the blanket around her. So why hadn’t he?

It had upset him to hear her struggle with her garments, and in pain, and stand there and do nothing. Why he had let it disturb him, he didn’t know. But it was done. He’d get her home and make sure they’re paths crossed as little as possible. She’d been right about people accepting the explanation, it having been obvious he and Snow didn’t care for each other.

“I’ll keep my back to you. Do what you must and let me know when you’re done,” he said.

She was blunt. “I do not trust your word.”

“There’s nothing I can do about that. My back remains to you. Do what you will.” He turned his back on her and went and sat on a chair. “The bucket of water and cloth are not far from your right foot.” He intended to say no more after that, but a thought had him deciding otherwise. “Is there anything you can recall about this man who grabbed you?”

Snow was relieved for the change in conversation. “His grip on my shoulder was strong. He didn’t speak. When he went to drag me away, I fought him.”

“You fought him?” Tarass asked, not sure he had heard her correctly.