Chapter 26

NATALEE

I had been so stupid.I huddled against a tree and listened for any sign of Lady. I’d gotten off the horse to try guiding her over a fallen log in the path, only for a noise to spook her. She’d run off through the woods, and now I wondered how I would ever make it back to the cabin. My feet ached from walking so far, and I was sure every odd sound that came from the forest was a huge, hungry predator. Or that wendigo Knot had mentioned. I tried but failed to suppress a shiver.

Darkness was already starting to fall. Knot had probably returned home, only to find me missing. My heart ached, knowing I was probably causing him a great deal of worry. I’d disobeyed him too, but I would gladly accept whatever punishment he deemed fit if only I could be back in his arms and in the cabin next to the warm fire.

I sniffled and set out walking through the woods. I hoped I was going in the right direction. If I took the path all the way down to the fork in the road, however, it would take far too long to reach the cabin. I prayed this shortcut would work out and that I didn’t end up completely lost.

I’d been so certain that if I reached the fork in the path that twisted up the mountain from Faircross, I would be able to easily find the place Logan was buried. But no matter how long I traveled up that particular road, I hadn’t come upon the shack I’d once called home. Just as I’d begun to fear I wasn’t even on the correct road, Lady had bolted off.

The shortcut I was taking through the woods suddenly felt like the worst idea. I couldn’t imagine being stuck in the forest at night. It would be pitch dark.

What if I ran into a dangerous creature? What if I stepped on a snake? Logan had always cautioned me to be careful about where I was walking, lest I run into a venomous serpent. Yet he’d been the one to end up bitten. I wiped tears from my face and kept moving through the trees, trying to shut out the image of Logan’s swollen black leg and the pain that had been in his eyes while the venom took its toll on his body. He’d died in my arms, after I had watched him suffer for hours. A miner from the next claim over had tried to help and suck the venom from his leg, but it hadn’t worked as we had hoped.

“Stop it,” I whispered to myself. “Stop thinking about it.”

If I wanted to visit Logan’s grave, I should have asked Knot to take me there. I had worried such a request was improper and might make him uneasy, but that hardly seemed to matter now that I was scared and traipsing through the forest with the sun inching toward the horizon.

A growl sounded behind me, a bit distant from where I walked, but loud enough that a shiver shot down my spine. Fear clutched my heart and I walked faster.

Please gods, please let me find my way back to Knot.

As I rushed between the trees and through the underbrush, I decided I would have to be diligent after we had children. What if one of our children wandered off into the woods? I also worried about if one of our children had an accident or became ill. The ride from Faircross up the mountain in the wagon had taken almost six hours. I supposed I should trust in the gods that everything would work out as it was meant to, but it was difficult when the safety of our future children was at stake.

After my odd encounter with Mrs. Foxthorne, during which the old woman had wished me well, I didn’t feel as reluctant to travel to Faircross as I’d thought I would. I sensed the gossip about me would die down soon, and I also suspected Mrs. Foxthorne felt some remorse for the way she had treated me. Perhaps the woman had realized her husband wasn’t innocent and she harbored guilt over taking her husband’s side over mine, after all.

If we were to move to town though, the pressure on Knot to become the town priest would increase. I supposed I ought to keep my thoughts on the matter to myself and trust in Knot to keep me and any children we might have safe from harm. Guilt besieged me for my feelings. The cabin was wonderful, and I doubted he would wish to leave it behind and live somewhere in town.

Breathless from my brisk pace through the woods, I gasped at the faint light that was splintering through the trees ahead. I broke into a full run and soon exited the woods entirely, coming to the very path that I hoped led straight to the cabin. Still, traveling on foot would take all night.

I brushed dirt and leaves off the bottom of my dress and set out up the mountain. At least I knew in which direction to travel. The road to the cabin was at a steep incline.

I couldn’t see the sun anymore, but full darkness hadn’t fallen yet. A sharp pain throbbed in my side and my mouth tasted like copper. Just as I considered stopping and finding a place by the road to curl up for the night, a deep growl emanated from the shadows. I froze and peered to the left, searching the tree line for the source of the ominous sound.

A pair of glowing yellow eyes stared back at me.

My stomach promptly flipped.

Oh gods. What was it?

Moving slowly, so as not to provoke the beast, I inched away and continued walking up the road backwards, thinking it unwise to turn my back on the creature.

To my horror, the thing followed me, lurking closer in the shadows as it stalked me. A bear? A wolf? A wildcat? I still wasn’t certain what kind of animal it was. Eventually, it’s size became apparent as it crept further out of the shadows. I gulped hard. Huge. It was massively huge.

If it decided to attack me and drag me into the forest as a meal, I likely wouldn’t be able to stop it. I sent up a thousand quiet prayers for help, beseeching the gods for assistance.

If only Knot were here. He would protect me from the yellow-eyed forest beast. Tears blurred my vision. Thoughts of my husband only deepened my guilt over having disobeyed him. I’d broken a promise to remain close to the cabin, and now there was a good chance I wouldn’t make it home alive. I might never see the strict but loving orc again.

As I edged closer to the tree line opposite to where the beast lurked, I carefully knelt and collected a long sturdy branch from the ground. I gradually rose to my full height and kept the branch clutched in my hands. A poor weapon, maybe, but it made me feel slightly better.

Another deep growl vibrated from the shadows, then the creature emerged from the trees and came to stand directly in the road. My heart nearly stopped, and I felt cold all over.

A wildcat.

Holy gods, I’d never seen one in the flesh. Only drawings in nature books I’d perused in my parents’ well-stocked library. It was much larger than I would’ve ever imagined.

It stalked closer, then crouched and snarled, as though it were preparing to pounce on me.

Just as I lifted the branch high above my head, hoping to make myself appear taller and more menacing, the sound of horse hooves clomping on the dry ground reached me.

Hope overcame me, but I didn’t dare glance over my shoulder to see who was coming. I prayed it was Knot. Suddenly, there was a ferocious, earsplitting roar behind me, and the wildcat jumped in place as its eyes went wide. A second later, the creature turned and fled into the forest.

When I worked up the courage to turn and face the source of the mighty roar, relief rushed me at the sight of Knot dismounting his horse. Oh, thank you, thank you, gods. His demeanor was urgent, his eyes filled with worry. Tears of happiness clouded my vision, and I dropped the branch and ran into his arms.

“Natalee. Gods, Natalee, are you all right?” He pulled back to peer down at me, his handsome face etched with concern. “Are you hurt? Did the wildcat touch you?”

I gave a slight shake of my head. “I’m fine, thanks to you. It didn’t give me so much as a scratch. I’m so very glad to see you. I-I had no idea you could roar like that.” My ears still hurt from the thunderous sound.

“What happened?” The first hint of sternness appeared in his gaze, and my stomach flipped.

Aside from our escapades in the bedroom, I had never truly disobeyed him before, not as I had today, and surely he would punish me for it. Severely, judging from the tightness of his jaw. He must have been worried sick. Shame filled me as I stood circled in his arms, protected. Safe at last.

“I-I took Lady for a ride.”

“I gathered as much, little female. But why? Did something happen? Were you looking for me?” His eyes searched mine.

I swallowed hard and stared into his dark depths. “I wanted to try to find Logan’s claim. He’s buried there, and I wanted to visit his grave. I thought it was closer though, and I didn’t make it there before Lady became spooked and ran off while I was trying to guide her over a fallen tree.”

A look of understanding overcame his visage, but then in the next moment anger firmed his features. “Natalee, you could have been hurt or even killed. What were you thinking?” He gave me a brief shake. “Why didn’t you ask me to take you? I would have gladly taken you to visit Logan’s grave.”

I was crying now, and I couldn’t seem to stop the flow of tears. “I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad. I’m all right. I’m sorry I lost Lady, but maybe…”

“I don’t care about a lost horse! I care about you, Natalee.”

“I’m so sorry.” I looked at my dirt-covered boots and sniffled. If only I’d obeyed my husband. If only I had stayed in the cabin and awaited his return. We would probably be making love right now. I despaired over having caused such a deep rift between us. I had never seen him so angry before. All because of me.

“Come,” he said, leading me to Telrud. “We’ll finish this discussion back home.”

We rode in silence and reached the cabin just as total darkness descended. Lady was found lingering by the stable, thankfully, patiently waiting on our return. Stars sparkled overhead and the moon appeared as only a sliver of white in the sky. I would’ve had a difficult time finding my way through the darkness and I felt fortunate my husband had found me in time. I was utterly exhausted from all the excitement and worry I’d endured today, especially the fear I’d experienced during my encounter with the wildcat.

I stood outside the stable while Knot got Telrud and Lady inside their stalls and fed. Once he finished, he grabbed my hand without a word and led me into the cabin. It was dark inside, and Knot immediately set about lighting the lanterns that were scattered about the downstairs.

I remained as still as possible near the front door, expecting him to start raging at me at any moment. I certainly deserved to be yelled at. And punished. My bottom tingled at the thought. Surely, he would take his belt to me.

“Natalee, come sit down by the fire.” He looked up as he got a blaze going in the sitting room hearth. “Natalee.”

After he called me the second time, I managed to cross to him, though my legs felt so weak with fear that moving was slow and difficult. He nodded at a plush chair in front of the fire. I sat in it and tried to meet his eyes but couldn’t hold his gaze for more than a second. I was so ashamed of what I’d done.

He took a long breath and then exhaled slowly. “Natalee, what you did was incredibly reckless. Even if you were an expert rider, I would not have let you venture off on your own on a trip that would take several hours. Furthermore, you promised to remain within eyesight of the cabin. You’re lucky I arrived when I did. That wildcat could’ve easily devoured you.”

“I-I told you I thought it was closer.” I forced myself to look into his eyes but regretted it at once. He appeared more livid than he had moments ago, with his jaw clenched tight and a mixture of anger and disappointment gleaming in his dark eyes. The disappointment devastated me. How could I have done something so stupid? “Knot, please forgive me. I promise I’ll never do anything so dangerous again.”

“Not only did you disobey and break a promise, but you risked your life. If something happened to you, wife, I-I couldn’t bear it.”

My remorse deepened, and I was still shaking slightly from my encounter with the wildcat. Knot had arrived just in time, and he’d probably saved my life. “I know, I know, and Knot, please believe me when I say I’m sorry.” I wept into my hands. Logan had warned me about snakes all the time, but he’d also warned me about the forest beasts. I had never disobeyed Logan and wandered off alone. I was so ashamed to have disobeyed Knot, especially so soon after we’d gotten married. I had promised myself I would try to be the perfect wife, yet not even a week after our wedding I had erred badly.

Knot reached for my boots and pulled them off my feet. To my utter surprise, some of the fire left his gaze and he commenced rubbing my aching heels. “You’re in a lot of trouble, little female. By the time I’m through with you, you will never, ever think of doing anything so reckless again.”

“Are-are you going to punish me right now?”

He shook his head. “Not tonight. You’re exhausted, Natalee. But tomorrow after breakfast, I expect you to meet me in the woodshed. I will mete out your punishment there.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” I lowered my head, feeling thoroughly chastised from his scolding.

“Now,” he said, standing up. “I’m going to get you something to eat, and then we’re going to bed.”

He disappeared into the kitchen before I could protest.