“Sadie.” The guard pipes up from behind me, his deep voice low and gravelly. Isabel’s attention swings towards the rugged wolf, and her eyes narrow in suspicion. At once I’m struck by how many of the women in my life have this response to strange men – of fear and mistrust learned through terrible experiences. My heart wrenches with the sting of her pain, but I know this man doesn’t deserve her suspicion.
“Isabel, this is…” I trail off, realizing I don’t even know this man’s name.
“James.” He offers gruffly, his eyes still on the baby.
“This is James.” I finish gently. “He’s one of the guardians getting families off the continent. He rescued Sadie here.”
Isabel’s accusatory glare turns suddenly wary, and I can see her rethinking her first impression of James. She gives him an acknowled
