think so.” She glanced at the ball of fur huddled in her arms and smiled.
Duncan frowned. “I admire yer charity, but how can we keep a wolf around our horses and livestock?”
“If he grows up in the stables with the other dogs, why would he become a problem? I shall train him and he can hunt with me.”
He looked at her skeptically. Anna tilted her head in challenge.
“I have trained dogs before to track and hunt. Why should he be any different?”
“Ye think ye can train away his wolf instincts?”
She wasn’t sure, but relished the challenge. “If his nature wins over training and causes harm, I will kill him myself. Agreed?”
Duncan’s lips quirked. “I have seen the effect ye have on me, horses and others. I look forward to seeing if ye can charm the wolf as easily.”
As they returned to the fire, curiosity rose among the men regarding the newest member of the party.
“Lady Anna, what have ye found?” Liam asked.
“We found a wolf’s den. The litter had been deserted. ’Tis the only survivor. I thought some goat’s milk butter would be a good start.”
Rory, Liam’s younger brother, hopped up and searched for it in the cart.
“Aye, ’tis a good idea. We might see if he’ll take a wee bit o’ meat also, though he may be too young.”
Scooping some of the butter into a bowl, Anna put it and the pup on the ground and sat next to him. He sniffed the bowl once, then lapped at the butter hungrily. He licked the bowl clean, then stumbled back to her and curled up on her lap.
“He is smart for such a wee one. He already kens who his mistress is.” Liam smiled and winked at her. “Have ye thought of a name fer him?”
“Trean, since he was the strongest of his litter.”
“Aye, strong. ’Tis a good name,” Liam replied. “Let us see if he is strong enough to last the next couple o’ days.”
Anna stroked the pup’s ears and back as he dozed. He rolled over in her lap, offering his bulging tummy for petting. She glanced at Duncan and smiled as she obliged Trean’s silent request. The pup gave a whimper of pleasure at her touch. Duncan rolled his eyes.
“Seems the charming has begun.” Anna grinned broadly.
Duncan chuckled and shook his head.
Malcolm and Iain, two of the warriors who rode with them, dressed and skewered the game on a spit. When it was ready, she roused Trean and offered him some of the bird. He ate a small amount, then licked the grease off her fingers.
The men took turns on watch in two-hour shifts. Duncan took the first shift. Anna lay awake watching the stars, Trean cuddled next to her, waiting until he returned. Though his bedroll lay a few feet from hers, she felt his presence like the heat rolling from an oven.
She marveled at the changes he’d inspired in her. Never before had she dreamed of anything like this. The approval in his eyes when he saw her wrapped in the plaide he’d given her warmed her more than the blanket ever would. Sleeping only a short distance from him under the stars made her want to close the space, to lie in his arms. Only the presence of his men kept her from doing so. The look on his face in the glow of the fire told her he desired the same and more.
They broke camp before dawn. Trean rode with Anna, perched on the front of her saddle, content to ride. He was more active when they stopped, and his increase in appetite gave her hope he would survive.
By the end of the second day, they stopped on the edge of Graham lands to camp. Sitting with the men gave her the opportunity to ask questions about their families and backgrounds. Liam told stories of Duncan as a boy, and the trouble he caused, along with Malcolm, Iain, Donnan and others. There were more than a few tales of Duncan and a lad called Colin MacKay who had fostered with the MacGregors for a few years. It sounded like Colin did his best to get Duncan into trouble, while Duncan attempted to keep Colin reined in.
Liam belched and leaned forward, gaining attention. “I remember when Callum…”
The mood changed immediately. He cleared his throat, shot an uncomfortable look at Duncan, then swiftly moved on to other stories. Though puzzled with the reaction to Callum’s name, Anna enjoyed hearing them laughing so easily once the