Their Own Time

by Jessica Wayne

  “Garrett was never the same.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Four years this winter.”

  “That poor man, he seems so kind.”

  “He is the most wonderful man in the world, I believe. I have been a maid in this house since he was a boy, and it was his father, the head of the clan. He will keep you and your daughter safe.” Edith groaned, “I suppose I should begin the preparations for dinner.”

  “Can we stay here a little while longer?” Carissa asked, she wasn’t quite ready to be alone.

  “You most certainly can.” Edith smiled and then went to work.

  Carissa watched as Edith went back to work in the kitchen. Garrett seemed like such a wonderful man, it was such a shame what happened to his wife and daughter. She couldn’t imagine losing Gabby, she was her entire world.

  Not just that though, he had also lost his wife. All in the same day.

  As if her thoughts had somehow conjured him, Garrett walked in, and Carissa’s heart stumbled in her chest. What was she supposed to make of this man who saved her? He was so handsome and seemed to be incredibly kind. Surely, this was the man Mrs. Kinley had said would take care of them.

  And what was she supposed to make of her reaction to him? It was as if every nerve in her body was firing at once. Probably just a reaction to the adrenaline from earlier. Yeah, that must be it.

  Her vision swayed slightly, and she yawned. She hadn’t realized how tired she was until now.

  Garrett must have noticed because he headed toward them and held his hand out.

  “Come, I will show you to your room. I had them draw a bath as well and lay out some fresh clothing.”

  “Thank you, Garrett.”

  He nodded, and she touched his hand. Electricity seemed to shoot through her, sending her heart thudding in her chest. Judging by the look in Garrett’s eyes, he had felt it, too. She blushed and lowered her head.

  “Dankya,” Gabby said in an attempt to copy her mom.

  “You are most welcome, little one.” Garrett smiled brightly at her. Why couldn’t Parker have been like that? Even when they had still been together, he had never regarded Gabby that way. Carissa knew he hated her, but why couldn’t he have treated his daughter better?

  “She is lovely,” Garrett said as they ascended the stairs.

  “Thank you.” She blinked back the unshed tears that formed at the thought of Parker. Damn him! Why did she still feel so much pain? Where was the anger from earlier?

  “She looks like you.”

  Carissa blushed. “That is something I am grateful for.”

  They walked the rest of the way in silence, and he led her down a long hallway and into a room with a large bed and dresser. Carissa set Gabby on her feet once Garrett shut the door and walked to the other side of the bed.

  Tears filled her eyes again. A handmade crib sat next to the big bed. She ran her fingers over the smooth wood and looked up to Garrett.

  “I had them give you the room with the attached nursery.” He gestured to a doorway off the side of the large room. “I wasn’t sure if you would rather her sleep next to your bed tonight, so I had them bring it out in case. If you prefer it, I can move it back into the nursery for you.” She could see the pain in his eyes. It would have been noticeable to someone even if they didn’t know anything about his past.

  “It’s wonderful, Garrett. Thank you so much.”

  Gabby pulled on his leg, and he knelt to her. She wrapped her tiny arms around him to give him a hug. The gesture seemed to surprise Garrett as much as it surprised Carissa. Gabby had never hugged a man before; always afraid of them after how violent Parker had always been toward them both.

  Carissa walked back toward them and tousled Gabby’s blonde hair.

  Garret stood and studied Carissa’s face. “I am truly sorry this happened on my land.” He gently touched her bruised face. She could see in his eyes the guilt that weighed on him at the thought that she had been injured on his property.

  “This didn’t happen here,” she said softly, looking away.

  “The thieves were not responsible for this?” he asked, still cupping her face.

  “No, they had only just started to come after us when you and Leon showed up.”

  “Then who did this to you?” he asked, anger climbing in his voice.

  She didn’t answer, just closed her eyes on the memory.

  “Carissa?”

  She opened her eyes and stared into Garrett’s soft blue ones.

  “My ex, Gabby’s father.”

  Carissa believed that had he not been cupping her face and had Gabby not been in the room, Garrett would have exploded out of anger. His cheeks flushed, and he hissed. He gently released her face and turned away from her. It took him a moment, but Carissa was grateful when he began to gain control.

  “Is that why you are here?” he asked, turning toward her. “You ran away? Is he in England?”

  She shook her head. How was she supposed to tell him the truth?

  “Truthfully, I’m not sure why I am here, Garrett. I did leave him, and when he found us, I thought we were dead.” She looked down at Gabby, who played on the floor with a doll she had found. “Then my landlord showed up, and she sent us here.”

  “Sent you?”

  Carissa could have yelled at herself. She had slipped. “She sent us to this country so we would be safe.” She recovered.

  Garrett nodded. “I will care for you, Carissa.” He cupped her face affectionately again, and it took everything in her to not lean into him. “For as long as you wish to remain here, I will ensure your safety and the safety of your wee one.” He released her, but the heat from his hand stayed on her face, warming her.

  “Thank you. You have been so kind to us.”

  “No need to thank me, Carissa.”

  Carissa smiled and looked down at Gabby. “Ready for a bath, baby?” she asked, and Gabby giggled.

  “Bath time!” she yelled.

  “I shall leave you two to it then.” Garrett turned for the door, but Carissa gently grabbed his arm.

  He turned to her, and she saw the same attraction in his eyes that she knew mirrored her own. How had she already begun to have feelings for this man when she had sworn off relationships a long time ago? No man had ever stirred her the way he managed to, and she barely knew him. How could she blame herself though? It had been years since a man regarded her with any kindness in an intimate setting.

  “Yes, Carissa?”

  “Thank you, Garrett.”

  “You are welcome. Should you need anything at all, you only have to ask. My room is right across the hall.” He shut the large door gently behind him.

  Carissa let out a breath and smiled at Gabby. “Come on, stinky,” she said lovingly, and snatched up the giggling toddler.

  Chapter Five

  Two hours later, both Gabby and Carissa were bathed, and Gabby was sound asleep in the crib. Carissa wished that Gabby had eaten more, but when the maid brought a tray of food up for dinner, Gabby had eaten two bites and then fell soundly asleep. Truth be told, Carissa was exhausted as well. She looked down at Gabby and smiled. No matter how messed up her own world had become by meeting Parker, she would never regret sleeping with him. She had been given an amazing gift, and regardless of what they’d been through, having Gabby had been worth it all.

  A knock at the door had her heart racing even though the rational part of her brain promised it was impossible. Could Parker have somehow followed them here? How would he have gotten here?

  “Carissa?”

  At the sound of Garrett’s voice, Carissa breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Come in,” she said loud enough for him to hear.

  Garrett’s breath caught in his chest at the sight of her. The dirt and dried blood had been washed away, revealing pale, even skin, and the thin sheer nightgown that covered her slim body left little to be imagined. She was so beautiful that it nearly made him want to turn away for fear he wo
uld pull her to him. He knew she had been through much recently, although she hadn’t shared it all with him, and he wanted to run his sword through the man who had bruised her. Surely, that was worth a trip to England.

  “I wanted to be sure you were comfortable,” he said, taking a step into the room.

  “I am, thank you.” She smiled and walked toward him.

  Garrett noticed Gabby sleeping in the crib next to the bed, and his heart leapt and ached simultaneously. It made him happy to see a child using it, although it pained him that his own bairn never got to sleep in it. It had sat useless in the nursery since Eleonora had died during childbirth.

  “She fell asleep fairly quickly.”

  “It has been a long day for her, I imagine.”

  “Yes, it has.”

  “For you as well,” he said, pulling her attention back to him.

  Carissa nodded, tears threatening her eyes again.

  He closed the distance between them, and she placed her hand gently on his chest over his heart. The beat was strong and steady, and Carissa smiled warily.

  “Carissa, I vow to protect you and Gabby. As long as you are here, and there is breath in my chest, I will protect you. No harm will ever come to you two again.” He gently touched her face and lifted it, so she looked in his eyes.

  She couldn’t quite make out all the emotion behind his eyes. She could see anger for her injuries, sadness for her pain, and could that be lust, she wondered?

  Her heart beat faster in her chest, and she leaned into him, desperate for the touch of someone who wasn’t going to hurt her.

  “Thank you, Garrett.” She stood on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek gently and then let herself lean against his strong chest.

  Garrett was afraid to move. This strange woman had awakened a part of him that he hadn’t known still existed. How was it possible that in the short time he had known her, he had begun to feel as if he needed her?

  Although he hadn’t loved her when they had gotten married, when Eleonora had died, he had felt as if a part of his own self had died as well. It had been beyond painful to lose the daughter he had yet to meet, but to lose the one he had been expected to spend his life with had hurt him more than he could have imagined.

  When Carissa didn’t pull away, he wrapped his arms around her. He stood for a moment and then realized that she had fallen asleep. He smiled and lifted her into his arms. Then laid her gently down and then turned to leave. The weight shift startled her awake, and she gripped his arm.

  “Wait.” Carissa’s eyes darted around the room in fear, and it made him angry again. What had that man done to her to cause such terror?

  “What is it?” he asked while he held his breath.

  She blushed and looked away. “Could you stay? Even if it’s just until I fall back asleep, please? I’m afraid to be alone,” she admitted, ashamed. The last time she had been alone, Parker had found her. She knew it was probably impossible for him to find them now, but she still worried.

  “Of course. He removed his boots and his sword, hanging it high on the bedpost opposite of the crib so that if Gabby somehow got out without them knowing, she wouldn’t be able to reach it. He climbed into the bed next to her, and she scooted back into his arms.

  Garrett did his best to think of anything but the beautiful woman currently pressed against him, but it did him little good. If she noticed his body’s reaction to her, she chose to keep it to herself, and he was grateful for that.

  He lay next to her until he was sure she was asleep, and then stood cautiously. He looked down at her and sighed. She was even more beautiful when she slept, once no worries plagued her mind. He gently brushed a blonde curl from her face, and she smiled softly in her sleep.

  Garrett walked to the small crib and looked down at the sleeping child. How could any man not wish to be a part of his child’s life? No man at all, he supposed, thinking back to the bruises on Carissa’s angelic face. He had no tolerance for men who harmed women, and if he had the chance, he would cut the man down with his sword for ever daring to put his hands on her.

  Gabby smiled in her sleep, just as her mother had, and Garrett grinned slightly.

  His heart hurt for the child he had lost. How he would have loved to have been a father. Garrett looked around the room. This had been his room, but he hadn’t stepped foot in here since the night Eleanora had died. Even now, it hurt him to look upon it.

  “No.” Carissa stirred in her sleep, and Garrett turned to her.

  “Please, Parker, no, don’t,” she cried.

  “Shh, Carissa.” Garrett sat gently on the edge of the bed and tried to wake her.

  “I’m sorry, I’ll get her to stop, please just hang on a second.”

  “Carissa, he is not here.” Garrett rolled her over and pulled her into his lap.

  “I’m sorry, Parker,” she cried and pushed away from Garrett, but he held on, knowing she was still trapped in her nightmare.

  “Carissa.” He ran his hand over her hair and pressed a kiss to her head.

  “Garrett?” The sleep still in her voice, she clutched to him like a lifeline.

  “Aye, ‘tis me Carissa.”

  “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “You don’t need to apologize to me. You don’t need to apologize to anyone, Carissa.”

  Tears still streamed down her face as she pressed tighter against him.

  “I didn’t know what else to do, I had to run.”

  He let her continue talking to him, knowing she needed to release some of the strain on her heart.

  “If I hadn’t, he would have eventually hurt Gabby, and he would have had to kill me to get to her. I think he would have.”

  Garrett tightened his grip on her. “He will not get you now, Carissa, you and Gabby are safe here.”

  “I know,” she whispered and pulled in closer. She knew it was true, but the fear from the nightmare still ate at her.

  Chapter Six

  Carissa watched as Gabby chased Garrett around a field that was covered in the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. She knew that she and Gabby had both needed the fresh air, and what better way to spend an afternoon than watching her baby run, giggling through the bright and fragrant blooms?

  “You are fast for a wee one!” He laughed as he let her catch him.

  Gabby had become almost immediately attached to Garrett since the day they had arrived, and it made her heart happy to know that the toddler knew not all men were like Parker.

  It had been nearly a month since she had suffered through her nightmare and woken up in Garrett’s arms. Her dreams now consisted of only one man, and they certainly weren’t nightmares.

  She looked up at him and saw he was watching her, so she smiled slightly and went back to repairing a hole in one of Gabby’s dresses.

  Edith had brought her a trunk full of clothing for them both, and she had insisted on repairing them all herself, although Edith had offered to do it for her.

  She felt as if she were taking advantage of them all since she had still not told anyone about where she was truly from. Garrett hadn’t asked her again, and she certainly wasn’t going to offer that kind of information even though she honestly believed he would be accepting of it. She couldn’t say exactly why she felt that way. It wasn’t as if he’d said or done anything that cleared the path for her honesty, it was more of a gut feeling.

  “Master McKinley!” Sean ran for them, clearly out of breath.

  Garrett turned to him, and Gabby reached for him to pick her up. He lifted her with ease and then walked toward Sean.

  “What is it, Sean?”

  “Your mother is here.”

  “My mother?”

  “Aye.”

  “She isn’t supposed to be returning for another fortnight.”

  “She has returned early.”

  Garrett swallowed. He hadn’t had the chance to apprise his mother of their guests.

  He turned to smile at Carissa. “Looks as though
you will be meeting my mother.”

  Carissa bit back her fear, and Garrett must have seen it written on her face.

  “‘Twill be alright, Carissa. My mother is going to lose her head over this wee one, she will probably pay you little notice, if any at all.” He grinned, and she knew he was joking with her to try and make her feel better.

  “Garrett!” He heard his mother’s voice off in the distance, and he started toward her, Gabby now on his shoulders.

  Carissa followed behind them, smoothing out the wrinkles in her skirt.

  “‘Tis lovely to see you mother.” He smiled and lowered Gabby down so he could hug his mother. He lifted her and turned her in a circle, and Carissa smiled. It was a sweet gesture, and it had her heart fluttering ever so slightly.

  “‘Tis even lovelier to see you, my son.” She patted his cheek and then knelt to Gabby. “Who is this lovely wee one? Did you have a child without me knowing?” She eyed him amused, and he blushed.

  “This is one of our guests, young Gabby.”

  “Well, ‘tis an honor to meet you, young Gabby.”

  “Dank you,” Gabby replied shyly, hiding behind Garrett’s leg.

  “This is her mother, Carissa,” Garrett said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Carissa, this is my mother, Kettie McKinley.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” She reached her hand out, and Kettie took it gently.

  “It’s wonderful to meet you as well, Carissa. I trust my son has been caring for you both?”

  “He definitely has.” Carissa smiled up at Garrett and then looked back at Kettie.

  The woman was beautiful in an effortless sort of way. Her face was lightly wrinkled, but her skin was bright. She was slender and wore a gown in a deep red.

  “Shall we see what Edith has cooked up tonight? Carissa, will you and Gabby be joining us?” Kettie wondered.

  “She will.” Garrett smiled.

  “Wonderful!” Kettie clapped her hands together and looped her arm through Garrett’s while Gabby grabbed his free hand. Carissa smiled and followed them.

  It struck her just then that from the outside looking in, Garrett and Gabby looked like father and daughter. How had he managed to nestle his way into her daughter’s heart so quickly? Into hers? The thought of them having to leave crept into the back of her mind and caused a surprising amount of sadness. She hadn’t realized just how much like home Garrett’s castle had begun to feel to her.