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too canny to give up easily.”
    Caitrin grumbled under her breath as she followed him to the
door.
    “I heard that, lass.” His rumble of amusement made her
blush. Damn werewolves and their sensitive hearing.
    Despite Eagan’s presence, Cait kept her hand atop the sword
hilt. There were Eagan’s tracks, leading to the croft from the hills beyond.
She saw no sign of the other werewolf. Her Sense still tingled faintly. Where
was this Delaney?
    Iris would know what to do in this situation. Cait trusted
the powerful witch implicitly. Yet she would have to visit Iris alone. The
witch wouldn’t take kindly to Cait showing Eagan her dwelling. Like her, Iris
cherished her privacy.
    Frost and Bannock trailed them as they walked toward the
barn, keeping their distance from Eagan. Cait stole a glance at the werewolf.
Striding along clad only in the kilt, he looked dangerous and sexy all at once,
his eyes smoldering with repressed lust every time he looked her way. She noticed
how he kept his body between her and the barn, not quite crowding her but
ensuring he stayed within a protective distance.
    “What needs doing, Caitrin?”
    Again his tongue caressed her name, lending it a tenderness
she was unaccustomed to hearing. She drew herself up, trying not to be too
affected by this man.
    “The flock needs to be driven into the front pasture. They
can stay there until dark. Bannock and Frost can handle them.”
    Caitrin watched the collies herd the sheep through the
gates, silently mourning the slain sheep. The flock was still jittery, warily
regarding the circling collies before allowing themselves to be driven into the
pasture. Even there, many ewes kept raising their heads, scanning the horizon
for danger.
    It would be lambing season soon—how could she keep them
safe? She frowned, beginning to understand Da’s ability to kill.
    Latching the gate, Cait returned to the barn, absently
tossing feed to the chickens. They scattered, clucking and pecking. She was so
used to being alone that it gave her a jolt to see Eagan working quietly next
to her, collecting eggs.
    “Thank you.” She accepted his offering with as much grace as
she could muster. “I need to draw some water from the well.”
    “I’ll do it. Wait here.”
    Caitrin wasn’t certain whether she should chafe at his
restrictions or be pleased at an extra pair of hands. By the time he returned
with two brimming bucketsful of water, she’d settled for somewhere in between.
    “I do not suppose you know how to milk a nanny goat.”
    “O’ course I do.” He flashed her a mock-affronted look.
    “Oh yes. I had almost forgotten that you’re ancient.”
    Had she really just teased him? Was that a smile tugging at
her lips? She turned away quickly, snatching up a clean bucket and crouching
down by one of the two goats. Behind her, she knew he was grinning.
    It was noon by the time they’d finished doing chores in the
barn. Caitrin surveyed the haul: seven eggs, a bucketful of milk, fresh water
for washing up and a handful of just-harvested herbs. With a few cups of dried
beans and the last of the celery, they would dine well on soup this evening.
    The barn was her favorite place to spend an afternoon.
Curled up in the hayloft, she’d always felt safe and warm, protected from the
elements, surrounded by contented animals.
    Trust a werewolf to come and change things. This Alpha was
rapidly entrancing her, causing her to be unable to focus on anything but him.
His lightly tanned skin rippled across his back as he lifted a bale of hay into
the loft.
    Of its own volition, her hand reached out, lightly tracing
the outline of his shoulder blade. He nearly dropped the hay bale as he
whirled, green eyes dark.
    Caitrin took a step backward. How was she going to explain
herself? He was ratcheting up the lust level again, approaching her with that heat
in his eyes. She took another step and sat down quite suddenly on top of the
last bale of hay.
    “Lass, any touch from ye is