“Got it!” Gabby grinned and then looked to Carissa.
She smiled. Carissa didn’t want Gabby to sense that anything was off.
“We will stay here.” Carissa moved to sit in the rocking chair that was in the corner.
“Carissa, you needn’t question Garrett’s commitment to you. It may not be my place to tell you, but ever since he was forced into marriage, he’s been miserable. That is until the two of you showed up. He cares for you both deeply.”
“Thank you, Leon.”
Leon nodded and left the room. Carissa sat and watched Gabby play with the toys she had been given while her own mind went crazy.
Why would Eleanora’s father be visiting? Why did he think Garrett would give him any part of McKinley land? He was crazy to believe he would be willing to part with even an inch of his family’s land.
And why did she and Gabby have to hide? Was Garrett ashamed of them? Old pain began to resurface at that thought. Was she only good enough to be in his bed? Like she had been with Parker before she had gotten pregnant?
Tears filled her eyes. She was being crazy, right? Garrett had held her hand and kissed her out on his property in front of his people. She shook her head. She was worth it, dammit. She and Gabby both were, and she would be crazy to believe he was embarrassed by either of them. He probably just didn’t want to hurt Eleanora’s father’s feelings. It was the simplest explanation. But then why did she suddenly feel afraid things were going to change?
Chapter Ten
Garrett walked slowly up the stone steps toward Carissa’s room. Carrick and his men had taken their time before they turned in for the night and Garrett was more than exhausted.
Carrick hadn’t mentioned Carissa anymore during dinner, and he had been grateful for it. He had always walked a tightrope with the man and knew that at any moment that rope might snap leaving the McKinley’s in way over their heads.
He stopped out in front of her door. Never had he felt the way he did for Carissa. He had grown to think of the three of them as a family, and that had even been before he and Carissa had made love. The little girl she had brought back with her had stolen a piece of his heart just as her mother had.
He took a deep breath and gently pushed the door open. Carissa turned to face him, and his heart began to pound in his chest.
How had Gabby’s father turned his back on her? He wondered. She was breathtakingly beautiful with her delicate features and wild hair that shone like the sun even in the dark.
He watched as the flames flickering in the hearth danced across her face.
“Are you okay?” She whispered to him as he closed the door quietly behind them. He could hear a tightness in her voice, had Carrick’s arrival put it there?
“Aye.” He said and began to close the distance between them. She put her hand on his chest, and he sucked in a breath.
Her eyes were glossy when she looked up at him, and he cursed himself. He should have found a way to sneak off and come to her sooner.
“Don’t be upset lass, I am sorry it took me so long to come to you. Carrick was watching me closely.”
“What are we doing?” She asked him sadly and lowered her face to look at the floor.
“We are living.” He responded as he tipped her face up with his fingers.
“We cannot ever be anything more.”
Anger filled his chest. “Who told you such lies?” He asked her tightly. All he needed was a name, and he would make them regret it.
“I am not from here, I am unwed and have a child. Your people won’t accept us. I may not have been a history buff, but I know enough to know that for us to work, I am supposed to come from a good family and have been a virgin.”
Garrett couldn’t help himself, he laughed. How had she gotten such a ridiculous notion? Most families did prefer their heirs to marry into another family, much as he and Eleanora had done, in order to procure an alliance. However, it wasn’t mandatory. Even if it had been, he was never one to follow every rule. She was it for him, she and Gabby both and he would be willing to leave everything behind if he had to in order to be with them.
“Why are you laughing at me?” Hurt filled her bright blue eyes, and he kissed her knuckles.
“There is no such law preventing us from marrying.”
Her face went white, and for a moment he feared she was feeling ill.
“Are you alright?” He asked guiding her toward the bed so she could sit.
“Yes, I just-” She blushed and looked back to him. “I never thought I would be talking about marriage.”
“Why not? Do you not wish to marry me?” He tried to sound genuinely offended but knew his voice was laced with amusement.
“I didn’t say that I was just surprised you went there. We have only been together for a day.” She blushed again.
“For me, it has been much longer.” He knelt in front of her.
“It has?” Her voice was shaky, and he smiled.
“Aye, much longer. In fact, I believe I knew the first time I saw you. When I saw a small woman willing to give her life for her child.” He pulled her down gently with him, so they both knelt in front of the leaping flames.
“Knew what?” She whispered as his lips gently touched her mouth.
“That I loved you.”
She sucked in a breath, and he kissed her again. She opened her mouth under his, and he took the kiss deeper.
Garrett gripped both sides of her face and put all of the love he felt into the kiss. How dare he hide her up here as if he were ashamed of her? Who cared what Carrick thought? Eleanora had been dead for four years, wasn’t it time he began enjoying life again? He had mourned her, had been celibate until he took Carissa to bed.
Garrett broke the kiss and looked deep into Carissa’s lust filled eyes.
“I love you, Carissa.”
“I love you too Garrett.”
“You and Gabby will be present with me at breakfast tomorrow morn. I want to introduce you as the future Lady McKinley.”
“But what about Carrick?”
“What does he matter?”
“But-” She started to argue, and Garrett kissed her again.
“You and Gabby are all that matter to me, Carissa. I love you both. We will deal with what’s to come tomorrow. Tonight, I want to love you.”
“Okay.” She whispered, unable to speak much more.
“Carissa?” He asked as he took her hands in his own.
“Yes?”
“Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Carissa laughed, and Garrett drank in the sound.
“I thought that went without saying.”
“Tis still nice to hear it.”
“Yes Garrett, I will marry you.”
A wide smile split across Garrett’s handsome face and he scooped her up to toss her on the bed. Then without another word, covered her body with his.
Chapter Eleven
“Garrett, I don’t know about this,” Carissa said as they started down the stairs. Meeting the father of the woman Garrett had been forced to marry was not something she had any interest in doing. “Can’t Gabby and I just stay up here until he leaves?”
“I wish to introduce my soon to be wife and daughter to everyone, so no, you cannot stay up here.” He gripped her hand and then lifted Gabby when she reached for him.
Carissa swallowed hard and followed him down the steps. When they emerged from the hall, she heard the laughter of the men she assumed consisted of Carrick and his guards. Her heart beat faster in her chest as they rounded the corner and came face to face with a man who could only be Carrick McLoughlin.
He looked down at their joined hands, and Carissa saw his expression darken. It was mild, and she only noticed it because she had been tuned to spot Parker’s before he blew up.
“Carrick.” Garrett nodded his head toward the man, and he did the same.
“Garrett.”
“I would like to introduce my soon to be wife, C
arissa and our daughter Gabby.”
“Tis nice to meet you lass,” Carrick said and then pushed past them, anger clear on his face.
Carissa hadn’t realized she was shaking, but when Garrett wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, it hit her how afraid she was. Carrick McLoughlin was not a nice man, anyone who looked him in the eyes could see it.
“I am here, Carissa.”
“He is so angry. Couldn’t you see it?”
“Aye, but tis my life, not his.”
“You aren’t afraid of what he will do?”
Garrett laughed slightly. “He will do nothing. He will be angry, and then he will leave, and if I have any luck, he will never return to McKinley land.”
He guided her toward the dining hall, and she stayed tucked in his side.
“Good morning mother.” Garrett smiled and kissed Kettie lightly on the head.
Her eyes widened when she saw them so close, but they lit with excitement.
“So you two finally decided to act on your feelings I see, and with Carrick McLoughlin here as well.” She added eyeing Garrett.
“He does not matter.”
“I agree, still timing is coincidental.” She winked at him. “Although not surprising, you’ve been trying to anger that man since the day you met him.”
“Come on to Grandmother wee Gabby.” Kettie smiled and held her arms out for the little girl. She immediately changed hands and wrapped her little arms around Kettie’s neck in a hug.
“We wish to be married soon.” Garrett squeezed Carissa’s hand and smiled at her.
“Very well, we can have the ceremony in a few days if you wish.”
“We do.” Carissa smiled now. She was so happy with the love she had found with Garrett, and she couldn’t wait to be his wife.
How dare he. How dare her parade this new woman around in front of him as if he was nothing more than a thorn in his side. Carrick slammed his fist down on the bed, not wanting to make any noise from the room he was staying in.
‘Twas no secret that he never truly cared for his daughter. His wife had died in childbirth, and the many women he bedded had never produced a son for him. It was supposed to have been merely a backup plan to have Eleanora marry the McKinley.
He would have killed him too, had the failure of a daughter of his not died herself. Carrick shook his head and pulled out his knife. Now Garrett would be marrying again, and he would lose all hope of taking the land for himself. What if the wench bore him a son?
But what if they never got the chance to marry? He smiled as a plan began to form in his twisted brain. He would show them, he thought to himself as his smile widened. He would show them all that the McLoughlin’s were no one they wanted to be at war with.
Carissa smiled as she walked through the small marketplace in front of the castle. Garrett’s people seemed ecstatic at the thought of them marrying, and it filled her with even more joy than his proposal had. Garrett had insisted on staying back at the castle with Gabby so they could spend some time together. Gabby was finally going to have a father, she thought to herself. She had been beating herself up from the moment she found out that she was pregnant at the fact that Parker was the child’s father. Somehow she supposed she had always known he would not change.
But now, her Gabby was going to have a wonderful man to call her dad, and he would love her as if she was his own daughter. Possibly give her brothers or sisters to play with. Carissa’s slight smile turned into a grin at the thought. She had never wanted more children with Parker, but now that she was going to marry Garrett she found herself wishing for an entire soccer team.
“Lady Carissa!” Carissa turned to see an elderly woman rushing toward her.
“Hi,” Carissa said softly. When the woman got closer, Carissa noted the panic in her eyes.
“I must speak with you!” She whispered loudly and tugged at Carissa’s hand.
“What is it? I am expected back to the castle.” The woman was scaring her and Carissa tried to push her off, but her grip was strong.
“I must speak with you now!” The woman yelled again. Her face was deeply etched with age, and her eyes were full of panic, fear covering her face like a mask.
“What is it? Tell me?”
“You are in danger.” The woman whispered and looked around to ensure no one was paying them any attention.
“What do you mean?” Fear flooded Carissa’s mind.
“He is going to come for you, you must be careful!”
“Who is going to come for me?” She asked, now gripping the old woman’s hand. Was it possible that Parker had found a way to come back in time as well? Was he coming for her now?
The woman shook her head as if she had read Carissa’s thoughts and then leaned toward her.
“You must be cautious lass. I had a premonition, you must be careful.” The woman pushed her back and disappeared.
Carissa fell until strong arms grabbed her from behind.
“Are you alright Carissa?” Leon asked her as he helped her stand.
“I don’t know.”
“What is it?”
“Who was that old woman?”
“What old woman?” Leon looked around confused.
“She was just here, she warned me.”
“Warned you? Were you threatened?” His tone changed, and she placed a hand on his arm to settle him.
“She didn’t threaten me. She said she was here to warn me.”
“Let’s get you back,” Leon said as he placed a hand on her lower back. He guided her back toward the castle, and they were getting ready to walk through the inner wall when Leon caught something out of the corner of his eye.
“Stay here, Carissa.” He drew his sword and walked toward the wood line.
“Some protector he is.” Carissa heard a deep voice from behind her and turned just in time to see a blur of movement before she felt the contact with the back of her head.
“Why has she not returned?” Garrett asked Kettie as he paced the floor of the dining hall. When he had sent Leon into the village to bring Carissa home, he had expected them to return quickly. Now here it was, well after dinner time and they still hadn’t shown up.
“Maybe they got caught up in the village.” Kettie offered as she fed a giggling Gabby another bite of her food. “The people are all incredibly excited over Carissa becoming Lady McKinley. Tis possible they were held up speaking to them.”
Garrett shook his head, he had told Leon to bring her straight back. He couldn’t rid himself of the feeling of dread that was brewing in his stomach. Gabby giggled, and Garrett smiled at her.
“Dada!” She squealed and held her arms out for him. He went to her and lifted her in the air. “Momma?” She asked him and patted his cheek.
“Momma will be home soon lass. Don’t you worry.” He smiled and bit back the fear. What if something happened? What if she never returned? He pushed that thought down, he hadn’t just found the one he was meant for only to lose her. She was his family, and he protected his family.
“Master McKinley!” Sean yelled as he ran toward Garrett. Garrett handed Gabby to Kettie gently and turned to face him.
“What is it, Sean?”
“It’s Lady Carissa. She and Leon have disappeared.”
“What do you mean disappeared?” Fear iced Garrett’s blood.
“They were on their way back here when two men grabbed them.”
“How do you know this?”
“I saw it with my own eyes.” Sean looked down guiltily. “I ran for them, but by the time I reached them the men were already gone. They climbed on horses that wore the colors of the-”
“McLoughlin,” Garrett said through grit teeth. “That son of a bitch!” He screamed, and Gabby started crying. “Lass, I’m sorry. Dada is sorry.” He lifted her in his arms again and calmed her.
“Why would he take them?” Kettie wondered. “He has no right to be angry with you, you married his Eleanora and were faithful until the day
she died. After that even if my intuition is serving me right.”
Garrett nodded. “He wants McKinley land.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants to kill me, if I am out of the way, then he can claim it as his own. His people are starving, unable to pay him what he asks of them because of his own greed. He has no heirs, no one else to marry off and since their land borders ours, he means to take it over until our people are bled dry as well.”
“Carissa is meant to be a trap,” Kettie said angrily.
“Bring me twelve of my men, have the horses saddled and ready to go.”
“You cannot go to war with the McLoughlin clan Garrett. Tis suicide.”
“I cannot leave her with them, mother!”
“That is not what I am saying, and you damn well know it.” His mother never used such profanity, so the word rolling off of her tongue surprised him. “He is using her as bait, you cannot go in without a plan.”
“I have a plan.” He looked to Sean. “Do as I asked, get them ready. We leave in an hour.”
“Momma?” Gabby asked as Garrett tucked her into her crib.
“Momma will be home soon, lass. I love you.”
“Love you too Dada.” She muttered as she laid down. She would be ready for a bed soon he thought to himself. When did she turn two? He wondered. He knew she was close to it when they had arrived and realized now that he did not know when her birthday was. That was going to be the first thing he asked Carissa when he saw her again.
Garrett kissed Gabby gently on her forehead and walked to the doorway where his mother waited. “Watch over her mother. I am leaving James here with you. He will be right outside of the nursery, in the bedroom.”
“I wish you were staying, but I understand why you must go. Be careful Garrett.”
“I will, mother. If anything happens and we don’t return-”
“I will watch over Gabby.” Kettie smiled and patted his cheek lightly.
Garrett kissed his mother lightly on the head and then headed for the door. He walked down the steps and outside where the twelve men on horses waited for him.
Their Own Time: A Trio of Time Travel Romance Novelette's Page 6