She was glad for the cloak’s warmth and for his added warmth, the cold sneaking in through the walls.

“I remember it quite clearly. Father brought me and Sorrell with him when he came to your keep to speak with your father. You dared Sorrell to climb a tree with you and got mad when she climbed higher than you. You went and told your father and mine that Sorrell had climbed high in the tree when you warned her not to climb the tree. Your father gave her quite a tongue lashing.”

“Which you interrupted by shouting ‘liar, liar’ and punching me where a young lass’s fist should never touch and sending me to the ground.”

Snow chuckled. “I was short. It was the only spot I could reach.”

He laughed himself and shook his head. “Did I ever suffer for that one. First with the punch from you and second for lying to my da.”

“You deserved both, though I didn’t think you remembered it.”

Tarass laughed again. “That’s a memory you don’t forget. Your punch might not have had much strength to it, but where it hit, it didn’t have to.”

“My da yelled at me and Sorrell praised me.”

They both grew quiet.

Then Tarass asked, “Do you remember my features?”

“I remember your eyes. They were such a bold blue they frightened me. They reminded me of the sky when a storm was drawing near. And you were so tall.”

“You were petite then and still are. My father actually admired your courage, for one so small, to strike out at me.”

“That was the only time I saw your da and I was terrified of him. He was so big, a giant in my young eyes, and I feared he would devour me for hitting you and my sister for climbing the tree, and I worried my da would not be able to stop him.”

“Yet you defended your sister anyway.”

She smiled. “I was a fearless fool that day.”

“No,” he contested, “you were brave, though I don’t blame your da for not bringing you with him after that when he visited again.”

“I didn’t want to go with him, though Sorrell did, but my da wouldn’t let her go.” She laughed softly. “He had heard her plotting revenge against you.”

“Well after all these years she finally got her revenge by marrying Ruddock and the Clan Macardle claiming fealty to him instead of me.”

“You can blame that on fate and love. Fate brought Ruddock and Sorrell together and love did the rest.”

“Love does nothing but get in the way of things,” he argued.

“You don’t wish to marry for love?”

“A marriage’s sole purpose is for gain, whether to strengthen ties, expand holdings, or grow more powerful. That’s what a marriage will bring me.”