Lay like a saint amid the wild deer (6)
I believe the answer is:
rested
'lay' is the definition.
('rest' can be a synonym of 'lie')
'saint amid the wild deer' is the wordplay.
'saint' becomes 'st' (abbreviation).
'amid' is an insertion indicator.
'the wild' indicates anagramming the letters.
'deer' is an anagram of 'reed'.
'st' placed into 'reed' is 'RESTED'.
'like a' is the link.
(Other definitions for rested that I've seen before include "Reposed or took a breather" , "Took break in desert" , "Took one's ease" , "Relaxed, took a break" , "Took a break from activities" .)