The following morning, Lisa woke to see Trevor hadn't moved at all through the night. Relief that he at least had fully rested turned into a yawn at her own night vigil. She didn't know how to suggest that it might be safer for her to travel in the cart so as not to fall from the saddle.

While he still slept, she went about her morning chores while also checking for more wolf tracks around their camp. If they were being followed, the animal hadn't risked getting so close a second time. An hour later, the horses fed, she led one to a fallen log and used it to gain enough height to throw the padded saddle across its back.

"I would have helped you with that," Trevor said from beside the cart in french.

Lisa smiled in return and, keeping in his language of choice, said, "I want to learn to do these things on my own. One shouldn't have to rely on a stable hand just to go for a morning ride."

"So you had servants?"

Lisa lifted an eyebrow in his direction, but he seemingly remained absorbed in his task and didn't notice. Lisa clarified, "My husband's lands required his attention, thus his household needed more assistance."

Trevor seemed to consider that and shrugged. "You just... didn't say much about how the two of you lived. Figured you might be a noblewoman to be as educated as you are, but," he shrugged again. "I didn't know there were any proprietors in the area that didn't bow down to the whims of the church."

She looked away with a slight flush to her cheeks. Noble? Her? Vlad would scold her for laughing, but the idea was ridiculous to her. Still, compared to the people of Wallachia... Then she remembered the insignia embroidered on his jerkin. "One shouldn't speculate on the upbringing of myself, young Belmont. Surely, I could say the same about you."

Trevor froze and looked at her wide eyed and fearful. She instantly regretted the attempt at banter and considered how to assauge his emotions. Then he forcibly avoided eye contact and continued to pack in silence. Disappointed in herself and the sudden chill between them, she finished saddling their horse and convinced it to lower its head for her to place the bridle.

"Let me check."

Lisa stepped back and off of the log as Trevor moved into the horse's space, his entire demeaner changed from the cautious but friendly boy she'd grown accustomed to. After shifting the saddle padding, he undid the forward cinch and pulled it tighter. With a flip and a twist the cinch was once again tight. "The bridle looks correct."

She tried not to let the dismissive tone of his voice irk her, but when he glanced her way, his eyes remained cold and distant. Going to the cart, she pulled two bags of grain aside. They wouldn't replace her full riding weight, but it would be close. Matching his tone, she suggested, "Then we should be off. Help me secure these where I ride and I'll focus on handling the cart today."

His brows drew close and she saw a touch of confusion he quickly buried after a glance. She showed no sign of noticing and struggled to bring one of the grain sacks to the riding horse. Dropping it unceremoniously on the log, she returned for the other. Trevor wordlessly lifted it, taking the second from her.

She ignored him, even though it pained her to do so. Clearly, she'd unintentionally hit a nerve with her earlier comment. If he needed space today, she'd give it, though she hadn't lied about wanting to learn how to handle the animals. The day Trevor had fallen asleep before they'd reached the village, she'd practically let the horses lead themselves along the road. Ever since they'd acquired the cart, she'd wanted to learn how to drive properly.

It proved a welcome distraction. Through the morning, Trevor remained withdrawn. If he replied to her questions about how to handle the animal, he gave short, terse answers. By noon, she'd resigned to the fact that she'd be self taught in this as well.

After a miserable nine hours, over half of which remained silent, Trevor finally said, "Let's leave the main road at the next break in the trees."

Lisa merely grunted in response, earning a confused glance from the temperamental teenager. Part of her frustration was simple fatigue, but she didn't know how long he would keep acting so distant. When they finally stopped for camp, she slumped where she sat wishing she could just crawl into her bedroll and sleep.

Yet, she couldn't let a child be the responsible adult between them. Straightening up, she hopped out of the cart and began removing the tack and harness from her own tired horse. He shook the discomfort out of his muscles like a puppy shirking water. She put her forehead to the horse's neck and gently stroked his face for a few minutes before giving a full brush down and picketing him to graze.

Trevor had started removing firewood and tinder from the cart, taking their tin of coals they'd been carefully tending to easily light their cooking fire. She finished turning out the patiently waiting riding horse then filled a kettle with water. Taking it to the fire, she settled it in the coals and turned to the gathering gloom.

When she was almost gone, Trevor asked, "Where are you going?"

Lisa considered returning the attitude he'd been giving her all day, then took a deep breath and chose otherwise. "Our firewood supply is low and if we have more than a week of travel, I'm worried the weather will turn and we'll have trouble finding dry wood."

"Oh," Trevor replied, sounding a bit stumped. She had just left the firelight when he stammered, "Don't go too far."

The concern in his voice made her glance over her shoulder with a small smile. "I'll stay within hearing, love."

The next half hour, she filled and emptied the leather sling they used to gather wood. They'd gone a bit further from the road than most travelers, but most of the choice logs had been taken or used. She bit her lip and glanced back to see if Trevor would notice, then stepped further into the darkness.

Which was an overstatement. There was at least an hour before nightfall and she could see further than expected into the trees. As she did expect, there were several larger logs. She gathered the smaller kindling around them, filling her sack. Turning to the fire, she considered returning with the axe when her blood pressure dropped.

The wolf had returned and Trevor stood facing it, his back to her. Its white coat stuck out amidst the mud. As she watched, he cracked his whip in the direction of the wolf. It barely stepped back as the tip hit the ground in front of its feet before lunging forward.

Lisa dropped the sling of wood and started sprinting back to the fire. Trevor's name was a desperate scream from her throat when the wolf knocked him to the ground. Its jaw locked around Trevor's forearm, but for a second, she could have sworn its icy eyes locked on hers.

"Let go of him!"

When she reached the firelight, the wolf did just that, backing up a few steps and reconsidering the fight it had chosen. Without thinking, Lisa grabbed the kettle of water from the fire and threw its contents at the wolf. Half of the water missed, but the wolf yelped in pain and backed up again, pawing at its face.

Then Trevor stood beside her wielding a burning branch. They advanced slowly on the wolf, backing it further and further away from their camp while it whimpered in pain. After a tense standoff, it finally turned tail and ran. Lisa, tears streaming, screamed her fears after it.

"Doctor, it's gone."

Lisa turned and saw him throw the branch back into the fire. Through blurry eyes, she wrapped him up in a crushing embrace. "Trevor, are you hurt? When I saw that beast attack, I- I-" The next moment, she held him at arms length. "Did it hurt you? I saw it bite your arm."

His eyes were wide with surprise and started to shimmer. He locked his jaw in an attempt to hide the tremors and she put a hand on his face. "Doctor, I... your hands!"

Lisa finally noticed the burns across her palms from grabbing the kettle. "Shit." Striding toward the cart with her medicines, she did her best to keep her hands open, using her forearm to slide things aside.

"Doctor Tepes, let me help you."

Trevor put a hand on her shoulder and gently pulled her away so he could take over. Hopping into the cart, he opened the trunk holding her prized things and lifted a set of small jars and vials. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, Lisa noticed the pain. "There should be a jar marked calendula and hypericum."

"Marigold and St. John's wort?"

Lisa nodded and gestured to the vials. "There should be a vial for a local anesthetic. Eugenia, cloves."

"Do you need a syringe?"

She shook her head and explained, "It can be absorbed through the skin. By mixing it with the tincture, it will take effect."

With the two ingredients in front of him and a small glass jar for mixing, he followed her instructions diligently. Once again, she thought about how promising he had proven himself to be. Then he checked her wounds and administered treatment.

When her palms had been wrapped with sterilized linens, she put away the extra ointment for further applications. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she said, "Thank you, Trevor. Now, show me your arm."

"Oh," he replied, somewhat shocked. "I wrapped my arm," he held up a still tied bedroll and shoved his arm in the middle, "like this. Definitely bruised, but no punctures." He removed his arm and showed the white sleeve of his shirt. "See?"

His wide eyed honesty and gentle smile made her laugh and pull him in for another hug. "Alright, child. I'm glad you're unharmed."

"Then... are you still... angry with me?"

Again, she held him at arms length in surprise. "Angry? Is that why you've been so- No! Trevor, I could never! And here I thought you were upset with me for hitting a nerve."

Trevor looked down and away, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "It's just... you..." He stepped away and shook his head. "Nevermind."

Lisa let him walk away from her, though now he puzzled her even more. He went to tend to their cooking supper, so rudely interrupted, cursing that it might have burnt. She pondered what could possibly have gone through his head to come to the conclusion that she'd grown angry with him.

Perhaps it went back to his lack of adult influence? A survival tactic? She glowered into her lap. If he thought it better to assume the worst than to voice his concerns, what had led him to such extremes? There was a very real chance she'd been the first adult to treat him with any kind of care and respect. Her heart ached that his life had been so full of hardship for someone so young.

Then he beamed a broad smile at her, crowing that their supper had been saved. She hid her concerns with a smile in return and he brought their bowls to where she sat. Taking her bowl, she kissed his temple before settling to watch the fire with him. Whatever had happened to this young lad, she knew she would make up for it. There was no way she'd be able to abandon him back to the wilds.

Trevor laid in his bedroll unable to sleep as his thoughts ran rampant. The doctor had been injured helping him. How useless was he? Let alone that he'd been acting like an idiot all day. All because he thought she'd been upset he'd called her a noblewoman and insulted her husband's estate choices. He'd have screamed from embarrassment if it wouldn't wake her where she slept, blissfully unaware of the turmoil he endured.

The only good to come of the night had been the wolf attack, because it meant the animal would be unlikely to try again. They were safe... at least, as they could be. Not that he'd let the doctor out of sight for the foreseeable future. He'd promised to protect her until this journey came to an end. Then they'd part and he'd never have to relive today's troubles again.

Sunlight through the trees woke him. He began the task of breaking camp as the doctor stirred in her blankets. With the horses fed and hitched, he replaced the grain in the cart so Lisa could once again ride with him. His guilt from the night before stabbed him in the gut.

Then she joined him. She showed no discomfort at being in his presence, so perhaps he could act normal as well. A short time later, they returned to the road. She engaged him in conversation in french. It certainly helped keep his mind preoccupied.

Half the day passed in easy camaraderie and he started to feel like the worst was behind them. He almost missed the twang of a crossbow half a second before the horse they rode reared in pain and surprise. Trevor managed to maintain his seat, but heard the doctor scream as she was tossed. He turned in the saddle to see a wooden shaft sticking out of the horse's hip, leg cocked painfully.

Quickly dismounting, Trevor pulled the horse around to provide cover and helped the doctor stand. "Are you hurt?"

She winced, but shook her head. "What happened?"

He urged her to climb into the cart and said, "Our bad luck caught up with us. Archer in the woods, probably more."

Her eyes flitted to the limping horse. "Shit. What now?"

Trevor grit his teeth and glared into the trees. "Take cover and stay low. I'll deal with it."

Seconds she'd followed his instructions, he let his whip hang slack and drew his hunting knife. Facing the forest, he challenged, "If that's the best shot you've got, I'm surprised you can hit the broad side of a barn!"

The glint of an arrowhead was the only warning before a second shot fired from the trees. He barely back stepped, turning so the bolt flew past him. Locking his jaw, he now recognized where the archer waited, but he couldn't approach and risk leaving Lisa vulnerable. He was weighing their options, considering trying to outpace their attackers, when more movement around him made him realize how deep in the shit they were.

Trevor glanced around, taking note of the five brutes, all while the archer remained where they were. Surprisingly, they didn't bear any religious insignia. "I don't have time to deal with highway robbery. Go on your way, and we can pretend we never met."

A few of them chuckled and the largest scarred man said in a thick spanish accent, "You are in no position to bargain, Belmont."

So they knew who he was. Perhaps the church had actually sent them. Trevor sighed and reiterated, "I really have to be on my way, so piss off and bother some other peasant."

Instead of arguing, they charged him. Gritting his teeth, he cracked his whip at one closest to the injured horse, sending it bolting in fright. The thug, rammed by the horse, fell to the ground. Trevor dodged a heavy punch, returning a swipe of his knife. The big brute dodged as well. Then a bolt flew from the woods.

Trevor screamed and dropped his knife as the bolt embedded in his chest near his shoulder. Another thug punched, catching Trevor's jaw and sending him back against the cart. He bounced off of the wood, but remained standing. The blood pounding in his temple wasn't enough to hide Lisa's fearful gasp.

The bounty hunters loomed closer and closer. Trevor widened his stance and shook the haze free. Grabbing the shaft of the bolt in his shoulder, he broke it off, groaning in pain. "I'm warning you, this won't end well for you."

The largest bounty hunter chuckled with a smug grin. "Considering the price on your head, we expected more than a half grown brat. Oh well, easy money."

Trevor spat blood and grit his teeth, charging the bastard. He slammed his heel, releasing the switchblade in the toe of his boot, and kicked. As expected, the four inch knife embedded in the thug's thigh. The thug shouted in pain, blood spraying from a punctured femoral artery when Trevor pulled back to kick again.

Holding his injured arm to his chest, his whip was still available and his body protested even as he aimed for the thug's neck. Then another tackled him. He struggled, kicking and screaming. The thug dug their thumb into the wound in his shoulder until he was only screaming.

One of the other thugs went to the leader and wrapped his thigh with a tourniquet. Another shouted in spanish, "Shut him up and finish the job! Then deal with the woman in the cart!"

A wad of dirty fabric was shoved into Trevor's mouth and tied behind his head. They flipped him onto his stomach and started wrapping his wrists behind his back with rope when a blood curdling scream came from the direction of the archer.

The weight lifted from his back and Trevor turned his head to see the thugs walk toward the sound. One called to their comrade only to be met with silence. They waited. Trevor noticed even the insects had gone quiet. He struggled to roll over and scooted back to the cart, watching the woods warily.

Seconds passed, tension rising. Trevor barely breathed, waiting for something to happen. He hardly saw a flash of white in the undergrowth behind the bandits before the wolf that had been stalking them launched itself at the back of the leader. Its jaws locked around the man's neck and knocked him to the ground.

Seeing their leader incapacitated in mere moments, the other thugs backed up, drawing machetes and hacking at the wolf. It dodged and grabbed the arm of the one closest, dragging it down to its level. Then the other took the opportunity to draw a flintlock pistol and aim at the wolf.

In a surge of adrenaline, Trevor pushed to his feet and charged, using his good shoulder to knock the shooter to the ground, spent bullet going awry. He stumbled and fell, landing beside the bandit who immediately rolled over and wrapped his hands around Trevor's throat, strangling him.

He kicked out, struggling to free himself of the painful pressure, even as his vision started to blacken at the edges. His efforts weakened and stopped altogether. He mused that he'd meet such a pitiful end as his eyes started to roll back. Then his face was splashed with warm metallic liquid and the weight fell off of his chest.

"Trevor!"

Someone slid to a stop in the dirt beside him and the gag was removed. He gasped, unable to claw at his burning throat. He rolled onto his side, ragged breaths dragging in and out. The rope around his wrists fell away and he pulled his injured arm to his chest, tears falling to the ground.

Lisa's hands attempted to check him over, but he flinched and curled up on himself. "Trevor, I'm trying to help you. Child, please." Then she gasped again.

He suddenly remembered the wolf.

Sitting up and wiping his eyes, he shifted in front of Lisa as the hulking beast dropped the last thug, blood dripping from its maw. They sat facing each other waiting for something yet again. Instead, the wolf let out a large canine sigh and laid on its stomach, resting its head on its front legs.

Trevor continued waiting, holding eye contact and struggling to breathe. At last, the wolf whined and began grooming the blood from its gleaming coat. Sighing himself, Trevor slumped and started shaking. Several minutes passed before he noticed Lisa had moved from beside him. Then he wiped at his face and came away with red on his fingertips.

"Can you move to the cart?"

Trevor looked over where Lisa had retrieved the injured horse. He struggled to his feet and wobbled over, catching himself on the edge. His hunting knife and whip had already been placed within. He flinched as Lisa touched his arm. She withdrew her fingertips and he shook his head to clear it.

"We need to... we need to find a safe haven." Trevor reached for a skein of water and took a long drink. "I'm sorry, doctor, but we are going to take a detour."