From what she could tell, it was a small cottage the man had left her in. Was it his? But what would a barbarian be doing with a cottage on Scottish land? And whose land was this?

“Thaw,” she called out and the pup jumped up to press his paws against her leg. She scooped him up and hugged him tight. “The man has helped us so far. I don’t think he means us harm.”

Thaw didn’t agree, he growled.

“I suppose that animal head he’s wearing doesn’t help you trust him,” she said, rubbing behind his ear, his favorite spot.

He growled again.

“I’ll pay heed to your warning, but at the moment we’re stuck with him.” She held him up in front of her face, wishing she could see more than a gray blur. “And you will do nothing to bring harm to yourself.” She smiled when he licked her nose and she kissed his snout before placing him on the ground.

She returned to exploring the small space, hoping to find some type of kindling to start a fire in the hearth. She hadn’t gone far when she heard the door open and felt a rush of wind enter along with the man.

Thaw immediately was at her side, letting loose with a growl.

She scrunched her eyes in the direction of the shadowy blur as if somehow that would help her see more clearly. Of course, it didn’t. She still couldn’t see any better and she wondered if she ever would.

Self-pity will do you no good, she silently reminded herself. Especially now.

She managed to make out that he had dropped down by the hearth. Had he gotten wood for a fire? But it would be wet. It would not burn. So it surprised her that not long after she caught a whiff of smoke and felt a touch of warmth. He had got a fire burning.

The heat grew, flaring stronger and stronger throughout the small room.

The man stood and his shadow seemed to overpower the small space. Thaw even backed away to sit closer in front of her, his growl not as strong.

She watched and from his blurred movements she thought he reached up and removed the animal head to place on the table. How she wished she had her sight at that moment. But surprisingly she found it unnecessary.

“What in God’s name were you doing out in that snowstorm alone?”

Snow recognized that voice and her eyes scrunched in an angry scowl as she said, “Tarass!”

Chapter 3

“Aye, it’s me and how foolish are you to be out in a snowstorm like this on your own,” he reprimanded, still shocked from finding her wandering around on her own in the raging snow.

“What are you doing wearing the garments of a barbarian?” she demanded.

“You don’t want to know.”