“I’m all right, Thaw. I’m all right,” she said to calm him, fearful he would tire himself out and not be able to keep up. Gratefully, his barking stopped and he kept pace.

There was no point in voicing her anger and besides, she truly couldn’t take another step. She, however, wondered over the unrelenting strength of the man and how he could continue his strong pace with her added weight. But most of all she wondered where he was taking her and how he could even see where he was going, the wind having picked up once again and no doubt the snow with it.

How long he walked carrying her, she couldn’t tell? Whether it was day or night, she couldn’t tell? Where they were, she had no idea. She was completely dependent on this man.

It wasn’t long before she grew uncomfortable and called out, “I can walk.”

He either didn’t hear her or he paid her no heed. He kept walking.

She tapped hard on this back to get his attention. “Put me down.”

He ignored her.

Annoyed, she pounded at his back. “Put me down.”

He kept walking, but Thaw started barking.

She realized then that Thaw sensed her distress and was fighting for her to be heard. Fearful the man might hurt him, she ceased her demands and assured Thaw she was fine.

It wasn’t long after that she was dropped to her feet and Thaw was suddenly between her legs growling.

“Stay,” the man ordered.

Where did he think she’d go? And where was he going? He wouldn’t leave her, not after carrying her the way he had. Would he?

She heard a noise mingling with the wind, but couldn’t make out the sound. She didn’t jump this time when his hand gripped her arm and hurried her forward. She felt Thaw keeping pace between her legs.

The wind stopped suddenly.

“Shelter. Stay,” he snapped and she heard what she thought was a door close.

She looked around but saw no gray blur that she usually saw when a person was near and no growl came from Thaw. She heard him sniffing around. He was exploring and she should do the same.

She stretched her hands out in front of her and took short, careful steps, feeling her way around. She bumped into something and she explored it with her gloved hands. It was a small table and two chairs sat with it. More careful steps took her to a wall and as she made her way around the room, she felt a door. She came upon a cold, stone hearth next and after that her leg bumped into what she discovered was a bed, a narrow one from what she could feel.