FF-Saving Grace!!! COMPLETED!! Ch 18 to20 PG 93-94 - Page 46

Chapter 6

Zoya was jarred out of a sound sleep by her husband's booming voice. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Asad was standing at the side of the bed, glaring down at her. He was fully dressed and looked furious.

He needed to be appeased, she decided with a yawn. She sat up in bed and shook her head at him. "No one called me a coward," she told him in a sleepy voice.

"Then why did you say..."

"I thought you needed to know," she explained. "And I needed to say the words."

He lost the edge of his anger. She tossed the covers back and started to get out of bed. Asad stopped her by pulling the covers up and ordering her to go back to sleep.

"You will rest today," he commanded.

"I have rested long enough, It's time for me to begin my duties as your wife."

"Rest."

God, he was stubborn. The set of his jaw told her it would be pointless to argue with him. She didn't have any intention of lounging in bed all day, but she wasn't going to debate the issue with her husband.

He turned to leave. She stopped him with her question.

"What are your plans for the day?"

"I'm going for a business merger

Of What??" she asked. She got out of bed and reached for her robe.

We are just taking over this small company.said Asad.

Zoya put her robe on and tied the belt at her waist. He watched her lift her hair from underneath the collar. The action was feminine and graceful.

"Oh and have you taken care of all the legalities...

"Nah..we are just going to give them a surprise visit..shrugged Asad, putting on his coat...

She let out a loud gasp. "But that's not right" she blurted out.

Asad was vastly amused by the look of horror on his wife's face. His answer seemed to upset her. He couldn't imagine why.

"You cannot be serious."

"I'm most serious, Zoya."

"Asad, its not the right way to get things done. You cant just use your power and snatch from people

She looked like she expected some sort of answer. He shrugged. She shook her head at him.

"It isn't your place to censure me, wife."

He expected an apology. He got a contradiction instead. "Oh, yes, it is my place to censure you, when the topic is your soul. It is my place to instruct you, MR, for I am your wife, and I, therefore, must worry about your soul."

"That's ridiculous," he countered.

She gasped again. He almost laughed but stopped himself in time. "You think it ridiculous that I worry about you?"

"Do you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then you are beginning to have affection for me?"

"I didn't say that, You're turn my words on me. I worry about your soul."

"I do not need your worry or your lectures."

"A wife is allowed to give her opinions, is she not?"

"Yes," he agreed. "When asked for her opinions, of course."

She ignored his qualification. "It is my opinion that you should do things in the right protocol.

He couldn't control his exasperation. "I'll think about it...besides...they had it coming.The owner had been given multiple warnings for his lending habits. So I don't see a reason not to take over.

It's our way, wife. You'll get used to it."

He was finished discussing the topic. She wasn't. "Such justification..."

"Rest," Asad ordered as he pulled the door closed behind him.

She was married to a stubborn man. Zoya decided not to bring up the topic of his work again. Asad was right. It wasn't her place to instruct him or any of the office staff. If they all wanted to spend their eternities in hell, so be it. What did she care?

Zoya spent the morning practicing with her bow and arrows and spent the afternoon with Auggie, tending the garden.

Auggie had become her only real friend.. The older man was patient and understanding with her and answered every question she put to him.

She told him how upsetting she found Asad's ways. Auggie wasn't sympathetic and, in fact, championed Mr Khan's cunning.

They were standing on the ridge, while they discussed her worry.

Our Mr Khan will make certain that he keeps his work and his workers in their place.," he announced

"He's not doing it right," she countered.

Auggie shook his head. "God will understand."

"You've a knack for gardenning, lass," Auggie praised seeing Zoya doing all the work for the day.. "We'd best go back now. I've kept you from your responsibilities longer than I had a right."

"I don't have duties," she blurted out. She stood up and turned to her friend. "I've tried to take over the running of the household, but no one listens to me. The younger staff is more polite though. They smile while I instruct them, then go about their business without paying any heed to what I've said. The older servants are far more rude, embarrassingly so. They completely ignore me."

"What does our Mr Khan have to say about this behavior?"

"I haven't told him. I'm not going to either, Auggie. This is my dilemma to solve, not his."

Auggie took hold of Zoya's arm and started down the steep hill. "You've been here how long now?"

"Almost twelve weeks."

"You were content for a time, weren't you now?"

She nodded. "I was content."

"Why?"

She was surprised by his question. She shrugged. "Coming here made me... free. And safe," she hastily added.

"You were like a dove with a broken wing," Auggie said. He patted her hand before continuing. "And as timid as I've ever seen."

"I'm not timid now," she countered. "At least not when I'm with you."

"I've seen the changes in you. The others haven't. In time I imagine they will notice you've got a bit of gumption."

She didn't know if she'd just been given a setdown or praise.

He was talking nonsense, of course. He liked to tease her. She thought it was just his way of showing affection.

As soon as they reached the courtyard, Auggie took off down the hill. She spotted Keith,and waved to him, and then hurried past. She'd felt uncomfortable around the him ever since he'd explained the real meaning behind the nickname the women had given her.

She also wanted to clean up before her husband came home and noticed how dirty she was. He could be very unreasonable about her appearance; but since he demanded little enough from her, she tried to please him whenever possible.

Zoya was just starting up the steps to her home when a shout sounded behind her. She turned and saw staff running toward her..

She didn't know what all the fuss was about. "Get inside, Maam Pull the door closed behind you." Keith shouted his instruction. Zoya wasn't going to argue with him or question him now. She assumed they were under attack by intruders and hurried to do as she was ordered.

Then she heard the low, menacing growl. She turned around again. She spotted her husband's pet slowly making his way across the courtyard. She cried out at the sight of the beast. Midas was covered with blood. From the distance she could see his left hindquarter had been ripped to shreds.

The hound was trying to come home to die. Zoya's eyes filled with tears as she watched Midas struggle.

The staff made a wide circle around the dog. "Go inside, Lady Zoya." Keith bellowed his order. She suddenly understood what they meant to do. They were going to kill the dog to put him out of his misery. The way they warily moved toward the dog told her they believed he might turn on one of them.

Zoya wasn't about to let any more harm come to the dog. One person started to move forward to grab Midas.

"Leave him alone."

The fury in her shout gained every soldier's attention. They turned to look at her, their surprise most evident in their gaping expressions.

A few of the staff actually backed away from the dog. The others didn't move from their positions, however.

Keith rushed up the steps. He grabbed hold of Zoya's arm. "You shouldn't witness this," he announced. "Please go inside."

She jerked her arm away from the soldier's hold. "Midas wants to come inside. He sleeps by the fire. That's where he's going. Hold the doors open, Keith. Do it now."

She shouted the last of her command before turning back to the other staff. She didn't believe Midas would allow any of the men to assist him. She knew the dog must be in terrible pain, for his gait faltered again and again as he slowly made his way over to the steps.

"Maam, at least get out of his range."

"Tell the men to let him come inside."

"But Maam

"Do as I've ordered,Keith call the vet clinic now," she commanded. "If anyone touches Midas, he'll answer to me."

The tone of her voice told Keith it was pointless to argue with her. He gave the command, then grabbed his maam's arm again and tried to drag her back through the entrance.

"The doors, Keith. Keep them open."

Zoya didn't take her gaze off the dog when she gave the order. Leila and Megan, the two women assigned the duty of cleaning the great hall and the rooms above, came running to the doorway.

"Dear God," Megan whispered. "What happened to him?"

"Get back, Maam Leila cried out. "Poor Midas. He can't make it up the steps. He's going to die..."

"No one's touching him," Zoya snapped. "Megan, fetch my first aid kit,some warm water and some ointments. Get it for me."

Midas collapsed on the third step. He let out a whimper and tried to stand up again. He alternated between yelps and growls now. Zoya couldn't stand the sight of his agony a moment longer. She'd hoped to approach the dog inside by the fire while he was at rest but knew he wouldn't make it inside without her.

She pulled away from Keith and ran to help. The dog let out a loud growl when she approached him. She slowed her pace, put her hand out, and began to whisper words meant to soothe the beast.

Keith once again tried to drag her back. The dog let out an even louder growl when he touched her.

She ordered Keith back. She looked up and saw that two staff members closeby. They were protecting her whether she wished it or not. If the dog tried to snap at her, they would come to her rescue before real damage was done.

Zoya's compassion for the wounded animal warred with her fear. Yes, she was terrified; and when she slowly bent down to put her arms around the beast, she couldn't control her own whimpers.

The dog didn't let up his growling, but he allowed her assistance.

Zoya didn't realize her own strength. The dog leaned into her side. She almost toppled over from the weight, righted herself, and once again wrapped her arms around him. She held him behind his front legs. Bent as she was to her task, the side of her face was pressed against his neck. She kept up a steady stream of encouraging words and half-dragged the dog up the rest of the steps. It was backbreaking work, but when they'd cleared the last step, the dog found new strength and pulled away from her. He growled again and went in through the opening.

Midas paused at the top of the steps leading down into the great hall. Zoya again came to his assistance and half-carried him down the stairs.

Men putting the finishing touches on the mantel with their brushes quickly moved out of the way as Midas walked toward them. The dog circled the area in front of the hearth twice, then began to whimper. He was obviously in too much pain now to lie down.

Megan came running with the supplies Zoya had requested. Zoya sent her back with the order to get the blanket off the bed.

"I'll get a fresh one from the chest, maam," Megan called out.

"No," Zoya said. "Take the one from my bed, Megan. Midas will be comforted by my husband's scent."

A few minutes later Megan tossed the blanket to her. Zoya knelt down on the floor and made a bed for the dog. When she was finished, she patted the cover and ordered the dog down.

Midas circled once again, then collapsed on his side.

"You've gotten the beast inside, Maam," Keith whispered from behind her. "That was quite an accomplishment."

She shook her head. "That was easy," she answered. "What conies next is a little more challenging. I'm going to clean up his wounds and try to put some ointment on, before the doctor comes.

She patted the side of Midas's neck again before leaning forward on her knees to look at the deep gash in his left flank.

"You can't be serious, maam. The dog will kill you if you touch his injury."

"I sincerely hope not," Zoya replied.

"But you're afraid of him." One of the staff blurted out the reminder.

"Yes," she agreed, "I am afraid. It doesn't change anything though, does it? Midas still has an injury and I still have to clean him up. Leila? Have you found the ointment?"

Yes maam

Zoya turned and spotted Leila and Megan standing side by side on the top step. Megan held up the first aid kit and Leila clutched her the ointment

"Bring them to me, please, and put them on the blanket."

Leila and Megan didn't move from the top of the steps. They started toward her when she motioned to them but stopped suddenly. Midas was at it again, growling low in his throat. The sound he made was very like what Zoya imagined a demon let loose from hell would make. It was quite chilling.

The women were afraid to come any closer. The realization astonished Zoya. She thought she was the only one who found the dog intimidating. She took sympathy on the women and went over to collect her supplies from them.

"Do be careful, Maam," Leila whispered.

Zoya nodded. She was ready to begin her work a few minutes later. Keith wasn't about to let her take the chance of being bitten by the hound while she worked on him. He knelt down behind Midas and positioned himself so that he could easily grab hold of the dog's neck and pin him down if he tried to harm her.

The dog amazed both Zoya and Keith. He never made a sound all the while she prodded at him. Zoya made enough noise for the two of them. She whispered apologies and moaned every time she touched the injury with the linen square she'd soaked in the cleaning salve. She knew the medicine burned, and so she blew on each spot after she'd applied the thick liquid.

Into the chaos came Asad. Zoya had just cleaned the last bit of the wound when she heard her husband's voice behind her.

"What the hell happened?"

Zoya let out a little sigh of relief. She turned on her knees to look up at her husband. God, she had never been so relieved to see him. She watched as he walked across the hall to stand over her. His big hands were settled on his hips. His gaze was directed on his hound.

Keith immediately stood up. The other staff who'd followed him into the great hall moved back to give Keith room.

"I'd wager Midas met up with a wolf or two," Keith speculated.

"Think he found our pet?" Calum asked the question. He walked over to stand next to Keith.

Zoya went back to her task. She finished cleaning mup everything and went about putting on the ointment "You have another pet Mr Khan? she asked while she gently dabbed the yellow ointment on the cut. She used another linen square to smooth the healing salve along the jagged edges.

"The old staff here calls one particular wolf Pet. Your hand's shaking."

"I can see it is."

"Why?"

"Your dog terrifies me."

Zoya finished dabbing the medicine on the injury.

"Yet she's tending him, Mr Khan."

"I can see she is, Keith," Asad replied.

"The difficult part's over," Zoya said. "The doctor should be here anytime. Besides..."

"Besides what?"

She whispered her explanation, but Asad couldn't make out the words. He knelt down beside his wife. He placed his hand on the dog's neck. Midas immediately tried to lick his fingers.

"What did you just say?" he asked his wife while he stroked his hound.

"I said, you're here now," she whispered. She glanced over, saw his arrogant expression, and immediately added, "Midas will be comforted. He has great affection for you, Mr Khan. I imagine he knows you'll keep him safe."

"You know it too, Zoya."

She knew he expected her agreement. She decided his arrogance would get completely out of hand if she admitted she did feel safe when he was near, and so she remained silent.

It didn't take her any time for the doctor to come by and asses the injury, giving him a few stiches and some medication to ease the pain.

"He won't leave this alone for long," her husband predicted as soon as the doctor left.

She nodded. She was suddenly overwhelmed with fatigue. Fear had drained her of her strength, she supposed.

She collected her supplies and stood up. A crowd of curious men and women stood behind her. Zoya spotted Lindain the group and immediately turned her gaze away.

"She carried your dog inside, Mr Khan, she did."

As Keith told a somewhat exaggerated version, Zoya continued through the crowd. She hurried up the steps and down the hall to her room. She put her supplies away, washed her hands again, and then took off her shoes so she could stretch out on the bed. She planned to rest for just a few minutes and then return to the hall for dinner.

She fell asleep a few minutes later. Asad came up to the room twice during the evening to look in on her. He finally came to bed around midnight after making certain Midas was resting comfortably.

Zoya barely moved while her husband took off her clothes. She opened her eyes once, frowned up at him, and then promptly fell asleep again. Asad took a fresh blanket from the

chest and covered his wife before he stripped out of his own clothes and got into bed beside her.

He didn't have to reach for her. The minute he was settled, she rolled over into his embrace. He pulled her closer. She tucked her head under his chin.

Asad recounted in his mind the story Keith had related to him. He tried to picture his wife wrapping her arms around Midas and dragging the dog up the steps.

The courage his wife had shown pleased him. Still, he didn't want her to take such chances in future. Midas had been in pain, and a wounded animal, no matter how loyal, wasn't to be trusted.

Tomorrow he would order her never to take such risks again. Asad fell asleep worrying about his delicate little bride.

Another update will be posted soon...so stay tuned..and share ur likes n comments!!! N try and ignore any gliches from my end!!!

Cya soon!!