HALL KEPT HISgaze fixed on the woman across the clearing. Unlike his fully Mortal companions, he was able to see, despite the lack of light.
Though Brie had shown herself to be a resilient warrior and a skilled tracker, it was apparent that she’d paid no attention at all to any lessons on how to choose a place to bed down.
Lying in the open, she caught the full effect of the winds blowing across the big loch. Even without the whiffs of snow that assaulted them throughout the night, the wind itself blew cuttingly cold across the water.
Bridget had rolled herself into a ball, curved around the massive dog that belonged to her brother’s friend. Shielded by her body from the breezes blowing off the loch, no doubt the animal was quite comfortable lying there in his spot.
Hall’sspot.
It should be him lying next to Bridget, not that ragged animal. It should be him holding her in his arms, protecting her from the biting cold. It should be him—
But none of that was possible. She was not his to hold.
Hall dragged his palms over his face, scrubbing his eyes. He’d given up that right when he’d rejected her last night. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t do something to ease her discomfort.
Though he had no right to hold her, that wouldn’t deter him from protecting her.
He waited until the sounds in the camp assured him that everyone slept before he made his move.
Quietly, he crept across the campsite to position himself only feet from Bridget, using his own bulk to shield her from the wind. The big dog at her side lifted his head, peeking out from under the furs where he huddled, but made no sound.
“As well you shouldn’t,” Hall muttered under his breath.
The lucky beast would benefit from his move as well.
Hunched against the biting breeze, Hall tightened his fur, confident in his ability to serve as an effective windbreak, if nothing else.
Just before the first glimmer of light painted the sky, he quietly moved back to his original spot. His muscles protested after hours of cramped exposure to the wind, but the effort had been well worth it.
He’d barely slipped into a comfortable position before Patrick entered the circle, bending to shake Eric’s shoulder first before approaching him.
“There’s movement out in the crannog,” Patrick said, his voice a husky whisper. “Keep yer noise to a minimum so we dinna alert them to our presence.”
Hall tossed off his fur and made his way toward the shore for a better view.
He’d best remember to send thanks up to hisHamingja,because the luck riding at his side today appeared to be all good. Dobbie Caskie himself waited at the open gate as an older man lowered a small, rounded boat into the water.
“No more worthless scribbles,” the man ordered with a slap to the back of the boy’s head. “It’s food and silver yer to bring back. You ken yer orders this time? Food and silver.”
Dobbie nodded, rubbing his head before he dipped an oar into the water.
“It’s him, for sure,” Eric whispered as he kneeled at Hall’s side. “One of my fondest wishes is to cross paths with this wee lying turd again.”
“I’ll be the first to admit the lad has done naught to endear himself to us,” Hall returned. “But it could be he has a story of his own to tell.”
Eric snorted. “There’s never an excuse for stealing from those who extend you a helping hand. Especially not when yer theft endangers their lives as he endangered Jeanne’s when he stole our horse and provisions.”
Hall shrugged, remembering the circumstances of his first meeting with Eric and the woman who was now his wife. The warrior had good reason for his ire and in his position, he’d like as not react in the same way.
“No, no excuse,” he agreed. “But perhaps a reason.”
Crouching low, Hall began to make his way through the brush to position himself along the bank to intercept the boy once he brought the small boat ashore. He heard the others join him, but he kept his eyes fixed on the approaching craft.
They all waited, watching as the boy drew the boat up onto the bank and hopped out, his stride long to avoid the cold water. He wedged the small boat into the bushes and tied its rope to a sapling before they made any move.
At a whispered command from Finn, the big dog pushed past Hall and out into the open ground around the shoreline.
“Oho,” Dobbie called, obviously surprised to see the animal. “Where did you come from?”
