This story brings you to the forests of Sweden near Jongkoping. For Katarina, life holds more than the small mining town on the edge of a large fishing lake has to offer her. She's determined, skilled as a marksman with her crossbow and not afraid to venture into the wilds alone on her quest for something to fill the longings inside her. Jon cannot help but admire the fiesty, bold woman who wants freedom but is forced to accept his helping hand. While each of them have their own dreams to pursue, a chance encounter in the woods changes everything.
From the Forest of Sweden...
Varg is Katarina's trusted pet.
Into the forests lie dangers and treasures.
Life in Jonkoping is full of beauty.
Excerpt....
A bitter Swedish air stole Katarina’s breath as she raced through the king’s forest beside Varg, her gray and white, long-haired dog. It was a late fall day of 1541, though the chill and cloud-laden sky seemed to be a sign of an early winter. Varg lifted his nose in the air. He sniffed as he chased the freshly injured boar Katarina had shot only moments before with her crossbow.
The arrow had sunk deep into the animal’s heart. The wild boar lay dying. Its high-pitched squeals resounded though the deep, woody forest as it wove its way amongst the shadowed trees.
“Go after it, Varg.” Katarina’s words were quiet yet determined. “Then papa will see that I hunt like my broders. He canna deny it.”
She lifted the front of her heavy woolen skirt gripping it tightly to keep it from dragging on the ground as she ran. “Oj! This sodden, useless thing!”
She sighed. The snow had dampened the bottom edge of her smock and kirtle weighting her clothes even more. At least she’d worn her fur boots and a heavy enough wool jacket. She hadn’t realized the snowfall would come as soon as it had. A light dusting of flakes steadily fell around her as she stepped quickly over a fallen beech tree in the path and shoved aside tangled branches that tore at her cloak. She looked upward at a hawk which let out a shrill cry above. It landed on a crooked tree branch and stared down at her.
Varg howled and circled the dead carcass lying in the clearing ahead.
Katarina slowed to catch her breath. She whispered and motioned to her dog. “Come!” Then she lowered her crossbow and patted her side. “Varg!”
Varg immediately turned and doubled back. He sniffed the ground, then he yipped and howled and pranced around Katarina.
“There’s a good boy. You’ve taken me to him.” She started toward the massive boar which lay still and quiet as the iron in Jonkoping’s mine. Her eyes lit, and a smile formed on her face with the thought that her papa and broders couldn’t deny the fact that she’d taken down a sizable creature. Her heart quickened at the thought of seeing their expressions when they trekked back together before the night set in.
She looked up suddenly when she heard the snap of a twig in the underbrush, and she turned in the direction of the sound guessing it to be that of a squirrel or a small ground animal. But she’d not allow her guard to come down until she knew for sure it was a harmless creature and not something that could pose a threat to her. It would be imprudent to do otherwise. She stared at the dark, wooded area as she rested her hand next to her dagger on her belt. With her other hand, she laid her crossbow on the ground next to the boar looking around.
Varg growled and leaned forward. His ears lifted, and his body stiffened.
“What is it, boy? What do you see?”
Katarina ducked out of the way when something suddenly fell from above, and she screamed at a heap of netting that grazed her arm. Though she was able to avoid it, the tangled mass landed on top of Varg ensnaring him while he struggled to break free.
A mixture of her dog’s squeals and growls came from beneath the ropes as he gnashed his teeth and snarled at the air. “Stop.” Katarina grabbed a dagger from her belt which was fastened on her waist. “I canna help you unless you’re still.” She looked around anxiously waiting for Varg so that she could cut him loose as some branches snapped underfoot nearby. She turned pushing her hair out of her eyes detecting a pungent smell like unwashed clothing and charred wood from a camp fire. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
Varg snarled wildly as fur stood up on his back. He attempted to break free from the netting but managed instead to become more entangled.
“Varg, no!”
A low voice sounded behind her. “Katarina. You’re not with your broders.”
Katarina moved next to the trunk of a tree and turned sideways holding the dagger in her hand in front of her. Her brow rose to a point after recognizing the tall, wiry red-haired man who’d come out of the bushes. She wasn’t surprised at it being Elof Trolle, a man from Jonkoping who had made advances toward her, and she’d put him off.
Elof’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. He snarled out his words. “You’re difficult to find, woman. It took us half the day.”
“Us? Who else is there? Who would come with you?”
A sound made her turn. Leaves rustled as two men stole into the clearing and stopped behind Elof.
The first man, nearest Elof, straightened the leather pouch that was slung around his shoulders and fingered his scraggly brown beard. He laughed as his eyes met Katarina’s and then he turned back to Elof. “I told you she’d be here.”
The shorter man who’d come out of the forest with him looked anxiously around and then at Elof. He rubbed his ruddy hands together. “Ja, and with that wolfish dog out of the way, she shouldn’t be a problem.”
She stared down her nose at them. Who were these men willing to work with this man? “How much is he paying you?” They didn’t answer. The taller of them shrugged.
She turned back to Elof and gave him a surly look. “If I’d have known you were in on this, I would have had my crossbow ready in hand. But I’d appreciate it if you’d kindly allow me to remove my dog from your loathsome net and not attempt to take the boar. My arrow is in its chest.”
Elof eyed her amused. “I’ve no intention of releasing that annoying pet of yours, and it wasn’t the boar I was after.” He smiled. “Though I’ll certainly not allow the meat to go to waste. I’m taking it, once our business here is finished.” Katarina’s eyes narrowed as she lifted the dagger higher.
Elof moved closer drawing his gray overcoat about him. He stared at the weapon in Katarina’s hand. His deep set brows formed a straight line over his gray eyes, and a smile twisted on his face as he pushed a piece of red hair aside that had fallen onto his forehead. “Leave her to me. I’ll deal with the maid.” He took a step closer to her.
Katarina glared at him. “Do you truly believe I’m fearful of the likes of you?” She waved her dagger in his direction. “You forfeited to me at the fairs in shooting and racing. What makes you think things are different now?”
He scowled, his face reddening. “We were children then. You shouldn’t presume you’ve a chance of winning against me, a full grown man.” His upper lip curled into a surly frown, and he stared at her.
The other men took a seat on a fallen tree watching with interest. The taller of the two took out a flask to pass between them and smiled when Elof made his way toward her.
Katarina turned eying her dog uncertainly. “I’ll get you out, boy. She tightened her grip on her dagger and stared as Elof made a sudden movement toward her.
Varg growled again wrapping himself deeper into the net. “Put that dagger down. Things are different now.” Elof took another step as his eye strayed back to the dagger in Katarina’s hand. “And if you think me an easy mark, then you’re sadly mistaken.”