“Lanza—” he muttered in exasperation.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine in this sweater. Please—we’ve got to help it before it’s too late. It’s so sweet.”
To her relief he swaddled it like a baby and stood up. The fox kept yapping. She put her gloves back on and together they returned to the chalet as fast as they could go. “It must have gotten injured during the storm and couldn’t go any farther.”
When they reached the entrance, it was her turn to help Stefano. “I’ll undo your snowshoes so you can take it inside to the fireplace.” She got down and unfastened his straps so he was free to go in. It was a pleasure doing something for him when he was doing everything for her including taking care of the fox.
Another minute and she stepped out of her snowshoes. Then she carried all four of them inside and shut the door before going upstairs. Stefano had found a blanket where he laid the yapping fox and kept the parka over it to retain warmth. She turned on the switch that lit the fire, then knelt down beside him.
“The poor thing is frightened and needs food. I’ll warm some milk. I could dip a cloth in it and then let it drip into his mouth. What do you think?”
“I think you’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever known.”
His compliment filled her with warmth. “Why do you say that?”
“Your kindness and lack of fear. Your concern for a wild animal. All of it.”
“I could say exactly the same thing about you.” Quickly, she hurried to the kitchen and warmed a pan of milk. After finding a clean washcloth, she carried the items over to the blanket.
“If you’ll force its mouth open, I’ll squeeze the liquid into it.”
For the next hour they worked together feeding the fox, who eventually stopped yapping.
Stefano’s eyes smiled into hers at last.
“He’s still alive thanks to your quick thinking, Lanza. I believe you got a cup of milk down him.”
“Him?”
A chuckle escaped his lips.
“It may not be enough. Don’t tell your sister what we did with her parka, Stefano.”
“When I brag about what you did, she’ll never mind. If you’ll stay right here, I’ll find a box and make a bed for him. He’ll feel safer and more comfortable if he’s enclosed.”
“Do you think he’s been injured?”
“That’s hard to tell, but I don’t think so.”
“Maybe he developed hypothermia.”
“That’s possible.” After he disappeared down the stairs, she checked beneath the parka. The fox was warming up and stirred at the touch of her hand. In a minute, Stefano returned with a two-by-three-foot carton. He gathered the blanket holding the fox and placed it inside.
She tucked the parka around it before glancing at Stefano. “His home has to be somewhere near the chalet. If we can get him strong enough, he can be released.”
Stefano studied her features. “I didn’t know you went to vet school,” he drawled.
Lanza smiled. “Nothing so admirable. When we were young my sisters and I often found injured creatures and birds around the estate and nursed them, but it had to remain a secret. Fausta was a natural tending them, but Mamà didn’t want us touching wild things that had diseases. Our parents were too protective of us.”
“Don’t they know you’re fearless?”
“You should see Donetta in action. She’s a real warrior. The way she rides a horse, you would think she was born on one and has won every international concorso she’s ever been in. Her trophies need their own room to be displayed. My sister would make a great king.”
“King?”
“Yes. The word queen loses too much in the translation for her.”
Deep, rich laughter burst out of Stefano, the kind she loved.