Page 57 of The Spirit of the Wolf
“Why should it? Why should I care what a man who has the audacity to throw me over a horse should—?”
“I placed you gently upon its back.”
“You threw me,” she contradicted. “So why should I care what you think?”
“I do not know why.”
She shrugged. “Well, I don’t care.”
“Yes, you do. You care very much.”
“Humph!”
“Indeed, so much do you care, you are furious with me for not allowing you your freedom.”
“Stop it, do you hear? Stop it.” Jumping up suddenly, she ran to the pony, vaulting onto it. She had almost attained her seating too, when, having followed her, he reached up and pulled her to the ground. He held her by the wrists.
“You are breaking your promise,” he spat at her. “You gave me your word that you would not try to escape.”
“And you have broken your promise to me. We are even.”
“We are not even. I did not promise.”
“Let me go! Do you understand?” She wiggled out of his grip and turned, as if to run. But he caught her. “Let me go!”
“I cannot.”
They fought then, in earnest, she twisting and squirming, he trying to hold her steady. They struggled against each other, and at last he became the victor, but only after he had wrestled her once more to the ground.
She lay face up, the dry grass and rocks scratching her backside. He adjusted himself over her, holding her hands above her head.
“You did promise,” she accused.
He chose not to dignify her allegation with a response.
After a while, she demanded again, “Let me go.” She glared daggers at him.
They were both breathing heavily, but she wasn’t about to cause the same mistake she had made the last time by attempting to scream. She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to be as resistant as possible to any form of a kiss.
He said, “I will release you if you give me your word that you will not run away. But you must keep your word. If you don’t, I will tie you and not let you go again.”
She gaped up at him silently, his handsome features—made more so by the shimmery moonlight—swimming in her line of vision. “I will never promise you anything. Do you understand? Never. If I am to be a captive, it is your problem to keep me with you and contain my struggles.”
“Then I cannot release you.”
She didn’t respond.
He said, “Here we are, on this balmy night. Though you fight me, I think you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. The moonlight is indeed your friend, my wife.”
She remained silent, but when he didn’t move and didn’t make an effort to say more, she repeated, “You can get off me now.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Did I hear you promise me to not run away?”
“I will not promise you anything.”
“Then I would be foolish to remove myself.”
She turned her head away from him, tears of frustration pooling in her eyes.
