If she could see, she would walk home, but that wasn’t possible, and she wisely kept quiet.
Tarass couldn’t believe that she had spoken to him the way she did, but then he hadn’t dared thought that she would tell his da that he lied when they had been young. Snow had surprised him then as she did now and all the times when he had stopped at the Macardle keep and Thaw would growl and bark endlessly at him. She would defend the pup regardless of what he had threatened.
Giving it thought, he realized when those Snow loved were threatened, she spoke up without thought to any consequences, and that took courage. And in that sense, she would make an excellent wife, since a husband could count on her, defending him and their bairns.
Tarass kept a firm hand on her arm as they descended the stairs so she wouldn’t fall in her haste, some spots slippery from the snow. He wasn’t surprised when Snow started shouting for Thaw as soon as they reached the bottom.
“Thaw! Thaw! Come here at once!” she yelled, worry ringing out with her command. “Now, Thaw!”
They took only a few steps when they heard a bark.
“Thaw!” Snow called out again, her heart pounding in her chest that the bark came from him.
The bark grew stronger and closer and Snow continued calling to him.
“There he is,” Tarass said as soon as the pup came into view.
Snow let out a heavy sigh as if she’d been holding her breath far too long and she gripped Tarass’s arm, her legs growing weak with relief.
Thaw barked continuously as he ran toward Snow, and she smiled. She truly believed the pup understood that she couldn’t see and did what he could to help compensate for it.
Snow reached down to scoop him up as soon as he jumped against her leg. “Where were you? You had me so frightened.”
Thaw licked her face, his tail wagging furiously as happy to see her as she was to see him.
“You can’t wander off like that,” she scolded much too softly and with a smile.
“His curiosity grows along with him just like with a young bairn. Though, I don’t think Thaw would have wandered off if he was with you,” Tarass said. “He’s far too protective of you.”
Snow hugged Thaw tightly and lavished his head and snout with kisses before he wiggled in her arms to be released. When she placed him on the ground and he started barking, she understood.
“Your little adventure made you hungry,” she said with a laugh. “You want to eat?”
Thaw barked several times in response, then grabbed the hem of Snow’s shift and tugged to help her up the stairs.
“Nettle, take the hungry pup and feed him while I help Snow up the stairs,” Tarass ordered.
“Go with Nettle, Thaw. She will see that you eat,” Snow said, not wanting to keep the pup waiting while she made her way up the stairs.
Thaw barked and darted up the steps.
“He really is hungry. He’s already at the top,” Nettle said and hurried her way up the stairs, though with more caution than Thaw.
Snow was grateful that Nettle let her know what went on. It allowed her to see instead of wonder what went on around her.
Tarass took her arm again. “Hold tight. The steps are slippery in spots and I don’t want you to slip and fall.”
Snow reached out and rested her hand over his. “Before we go, I want to apologize to you. I was so frightened that Thaw might be hurt somewhere or that I’d never see him again that I behaved badly and in your own home.” She shook her head. “I should have never done that and I am truly sorry.”
Tarass was shocked not only by her genuine apology but by the fact that she felt she behaved badly and sought to correct it. He would never apologize or even admit there was reason he should. He recalled what she had said to him one time when he was at the Macardle keep and he demanded she apologize for calling him pigheaded.
I apologize for calling you pigheaded. And I apologize for the next name I call you and the one after that, since I’m bound to insult you again.
“You once extended apologies for future names you’d call me, so I believe you’re well covered when it comes to that,” he said.
Snow cringed. “Names are one thing, threatening to—”
“Cut off my balls,” he said with a smile he was glad she couldn’t see.
She cringed again. “My sister Sorrell popped into my head.”
“That explains it,” Tarass said and couldn’t stop from laughing. “Though, I don’t believe you need your sister to be as courageous as you are.”
She tilted her head to look at what she hoped was his face. “Or as foolish.”