Finding Norway: The Norsemen's War: Book Three - Kyle & Dahl (The Hansen Series 3)

by Kris Tualla

  The problem was, they couldn’t find Thor.

  Kyle, Dahl, Teigen, and Selby combed the rambling house from top to bottom without luck. Even Torhild didn’t know where he was.

  “Maybe he went outside,” Dahl suggested.

  “Could he have gone into the woods?” Kyle was terrified by that suggestion. “Followed your path from when you went shooting?”

  “He might have, I suppose.” Dahl was halfway to the back door. “Teig? Any other ideas?”

  “A couple. I’ll come with you.”

  The two men jogged out the back door.

  Kyle looked at Selby. “Tell me I don’t have anything to worry about.”

  “I don’t think you do. He’s probably sitting under a tree somewhere throwing rocks at birds.”

  Kyle didn’t know what to do with her hands. “Maybe we should talk to Torhild again? See if she has any ideas?”

  *****

  “Thor!” Teigen shouted.

  “Thor! Where are you?” Dahl shouted.

  “Maybe you shouldn’t call out,” Teigen suggested. “If he’s still more angry than scared, he might not answer you.”

  Dahl thought about the look on the boy’s face before he ran away. As much as he hated it, he admitted, “You’re probably right.”

  “Thor!” Teigen bellowed. “It’s Uncle Teigen. Where are you?”

  A moment later, he shot Dahl an apologetic look and added, “I’m alone now! Where are you?”

  The men stopped walking and listened. Birds flitted through the trees, chirping and squawking. Squirrels scolded them. The pine trees whooshed in the breeze.

  But no little boy’s answering call joined them.

  “Let’s check where Ben and I built a secret pig pen during the war,” Teigen suggested. “It’s protected by an outcropping of rock, so he might have crawled in there.”

  “Good idea,” Dahl said softly, just in case.

  He followed Teigen to the spot and was impressed by how hidden it was.

  “We transplanted these pine saplings to camouflage it.” Teigen looked up at the trees that were now taller than he was. “Obviously they survived.”

  Dahl pushed his way past the trees and squatted under the overhang. The pinecone-strewn ground there was soft, its surface disturbed only by pine cones and fox tracks.

  “There’s no sign of anyone being here,” he called back to Teigen.

  Damn.

  Dahl clambered back out. “Any other ideas?”

  Teigen nodded. “One just came to me, but I’m not sure he’d know it existed.”

  “It’s worth a shot though, right?”

  “Sure.” Teigen turned back toward the house. “It’s in the stable.”

  Dahl matched his friend’s long strides. “Did you have a safe place hidden in the stable?”

  “Yep.” Teigen gave Dahl a doubtful look. “But the hay bales are stacked in front of the door. Thor would have to know it was behind there and then pulled the bales out of the way.”

  “Does Torhild know it’s there?”

  Teigen blew a disgusted sigh. “She certainly does.”

  The men started to run.

  *****

  The stack of bales was diminished by use and would not be restocked until the end of summer. And several were lying on the ground in disarray.

  “He couldn’t lift them, but it looks like he could push them,” Teigen whispered. “Can you see the door?”

  Dahl nodded. He motioned for Teigen to stay put and tiptoed to the nearly-hidden opening. He stood still and listened for a minute. Something was definitely shuffling inside.

  I hope it’s human.

  And five.

  The space between the bales and the slightly ajar door was narrow and dusty. Dahl knew he wouldn’t be able to squeeze inside without being heard. At least he’d be blocking the only exit so Thor couldn’t get away.

  He backed away, a sudden inspiration hitting him.

  “I’ll be right back. Stand guard,” he told Teigen.

  Dahl hurried out of the stable and gathered up a handful of pebbles. He put them in his pocket, then went back inside.

  “I’m going in. If I don’t come right back out, then he’s fine and we’ll be talking.”

  Teigen gave him a thumbs-up.

  Dahl went to the back of the stable again, said a quick prayer, and wedged his way through the door.

  Light seeped into the space through a slit under the eaves that would be undetectable from the outside of the building. In the dim light he saw Thor curled in the corner.

  “Go away!” he grumbled. “Leave me alone.”

  Dahl stepped closer and sat on the wood-plank floor next to the boy. “You can stay in here if you want. But your mamma’s very worried about you right now.”

  Thor looked at Dahl like that unsettling possibility had never occurred to him, but he said nothing.

  “I’m glad I found you, though,” Dahl said. “I wanted to have a man-to-man talk with you. Is that all right?”

  Thor shrugged. “About what?”

  “About your mother.”

  “You leave my mamma alone.”

  Dahl nodded like he understood. “Do you love your mother?”

  “Yes.”

  Dahl reached into his pocket and pulled out a pebble. “Hold this. It means you love your mother. Does she love you?”

  He scowled. “Yes.”

  Dahl set a pebble on the ground. “That means she loves you. Did she love your father?”

  He shrugged again.

  “I’m going to guess that she did.” Dahl set a second pebble on the ground. “Do I need to take away the one that means she loves you, now?”

  Thor scowled. “No.”

  “That’s the right answer, Thor. Well done. Now,” Dahl pulled the rest of the little rocks out of his pocket. “Do you have a dog?”

  The question clearly piqued his curiosity. “No. But my grandma does. She has two dogs and a cat.”

  “Do you love the dogs?”

  He nodded. “But not the cat. She lives in the barn and hisses at me.”

  “Fair enough.” Dahl handed him two more pebbles. “Do I need to take away the pebble that means you love your mother?”

  “No…”

  “Another right answer. Who else do you love?”

  Thor named his grandmother, grandfather, and Torhild. Dahl gave him three more rocks. The boy needed two hands to hold them all.

  Dahl held out his palm with two pebbles in it. “If these are my pebbles, who do you think I love?”

  Thor stared at Dahl’s hand.

  “My mamma?”

  “That’s one. Who’s the other?”

  Thor stared into Dahl’s eyes. “Me?”

  Chapter

  Nine

  Tears streamed unheeded down Kyle’s cheeks as she stood by the secret door and listened to Dahl tenderly explain how love worked to her son. She didn’t think her heart could stand being so full.

  Teigen had burst into the house a few minutes ago and shouted, “We found him! He’s fine!”

  Then he grabbed Kyle’s hand. “Follow me and be quiet!”

  He pulled her into the stables and pointed to the space between the hay bales and crooked door.

  “Stand there and listen,” he whispered.

  “That’s right,” Dahl said. “The second pebble would be you, but only if you agree to that.”

  Thor was quiet.

  “Now here comes the most important part, Thor. Are you listening?”

  Thor’s response was barely audible. “Yes.”

  “A person like you, me, or your mamma can collect as many pebbles as they want, one for everyone they love, right?”

  “Right,” Thor whispered.

  “How many do we have to give away?”

  “None?”

  “That’s right, Thor. None.”

  Kyle heard the muted clink of the little rocks hitting each other. “We add love when we love new people. We never t
ake love away from someone else.”

  The voices paused for a moment.

  Kyle almost called out when Dahl spoke again. “Your mother will never stop loving you, even if she starts loving me. Do you understand that?”

  “I think so…”

  “And if you let me love her, then I’ll love you, too.”

  Thor must have been thinking about that because he didn’t respond immediately. “I guess.”

  There was a rustle of movement.

  “So, do you want to go shooting again tomorrow?”

  Thor’s voice was completely different now. “Can we?”

  “You bet. Right after breakfast.”

  “Can I shoot a rabbit this time?”

  Dahl chuckled. “You can certainly try, son. Are you ready to go see your mamma now?”

  More movement and the scrape of shoes on wood. Kyle slid out of the narrow space and stood on the other side of the hay bales with Teigen, wiping her cheeks on her sleeve.

  Dahl emerged first. He held Thor’s hand as the boy followed him. When Thor saw Kyle, he ran into her arms.

  *****

  Dahl watched Thor hug Kyle while Kyle smiled at him over her son’s head. Her eyes glittered with unshed tears as she beamed at him and Dahl thought no woman on earth could ever look so beautiful.

  Thank you, she mouthed.

  Dahl laid a hand over his heart and dipped his chin.

  He was all in now and there was no going back. If he wasn’t sure before today, his talk with Thor made it clear.

  I love you, he mouthed to Kyle.

  Her smiled widened impossibly and the tears spilled down her cheeks. I love you too.

  He chuckled, wondering who else in the world experienced their first declaration of shared love so silently. No matter, he’d make sure he said it out loud at the first opportunity.

  Selby appeared in the stable door. “Teigen? Doctor Gustavsen is here.”

  “Coming,” Teigen said as he strode from the stable.

  “What’s going on?” Dahl asked Kyle.

  “Matilda isn’t doing well, I’m afraid.” She let go of Thor and tousled his already messy hair. “Why don’t you go find Torhild? She was worried when she couldn’t find you.”

  “Give me your pebbles,” Dahl said and held out his hands. “I’ll put them in your room.”

  Thor dumped his handful of rocks into Dahl’s hands then sprinted off in search of his friend.

  When he was out of earshot, Dahl asked, “What happened to Matilda?”

  “She fainted after not eating her breakfast.” Kyle started walking to the stable door. “Do you know what’s wrong with her? Selby’s been vague.”

  “I think that’s because the doctors aren’t sure.” Dahl dropped the pebbles back in his pocket. “It started during the war, I think. Teigen was told she needed to eat more meat, so he put chickens in the chapel and a pigsty in the woods to keep the Nazis from finding them and confiscating them.”

  “But that ended five years ago,” Kyle said slowly.

  “Exactly. And Matilda has not gotten better.”

  The pair walked across the courtyard. “Poor Nikolai,” Kyle murmured. “You can tell how much he loves her.”

  “In my opinion, that’s the only reason she’s still with us.”

  Dahl opened the back door of the house and waited for Kyle to go through first. Since the war ended and Teigen moved back to Arendal with Selby, he’d continually expressed his concern for his mother’s health.

  And since the christening of little Jans, Matilda spent most of her days out of sight, only joining her family and guests at supper. Even then, she never ate much.

  “Should we go upstairs or wait down here?” he asked Kyle.

  “I think maybe you should wait down here.” She looked up the staircase. “But I’m going up.”

  Dahl pulled her close and kissed her softly. “We’ll talk later, after we hear what the doctor says.”

  *****

  Teigen sat beside his mother’s bed and held her hand. “What can I do for you, Mamma?”

  She gazed at him. “I want to talk to Kyle.”

  “Are you sure you’re up to that?” he asked softly. “Don’t you want to rest?”

  She tried to squeeze his hand and the attempt was so pitiful Teigen’s chest tightened.

  “I have to talk to Kyle,” she repeated.

  Teigen turned his head when he heard footsteps and he was relieved to see Kyle entering the room. “Here she is, Mamma.”

  He motioned Kyle forward and gave her his chair. “She wants to talk to you.”

  “Me?” Kyle looked surprised as she sat. She faced Matilda. “What is it, Mamma Hansen?”

  Teigen turned around to leave the room, but his mother stopped him. “I want you to hear what I say.”

  “Okay, Mamma.” Teigen stood at the end of the bed.

  Matilda felt for Kyle’s hand and Kyle took hold of Matilda’s thin hands with both of hers.

  She leaned forward. “Talk to me.”

  “First, I am so glad Tor found you.” Matilda’s voice was breathy. “You gave my son happiness in his last months of his life.”

  “I loved him very much, Mamma.”

  “I know you did. And you gave him a strong beautiful son.” Matilda sighed. “At least part of him lives on for us.”

  Kyle looked at Teigen, her expression wistful. There was really nothing for her to say.

  “But now…” Matilda paused and drew two deep breaths. “Now you have to marry again. This is my wish for you and for Thor.”

  Kyle smiled. “I will.”

  “Now. Not later.” Matilda urged. “Don’t wait too long. Thor is getting too old.”

  Kyle turned to Teigen and motioned him to her side. “What should I say?” she whispered in his ear.

  That was a very good question.

  As much as Teigen wanted to believe that his mother’s health was going to improve, he’s seen her slow steady decline over the last year. Whatever she suffered from was finally defeating her.

  “Tell her what she wants to hear,” he whispered back. “I don’t know if she’ll be with us long enough to see if it happens.”

  Kyle gasped quietly and her eyes met his. “Oh, Teigen…”

  He stepped back, willing himself not to cry. “Go on.”

  Kyle faced Matilda again. “I am going to get married, Mamma. Soon.”

  “I’m so glad…” She closed her eyes and then opened them again. “Who are you marrying?”

  Kyle shot a nervous glance at Teigen, her expression uncertain.

  He nodded his encouragement.

  “I’m going to marry,” she pulled a breath then said, “Dahl Holter.”

  “Dahl?” Matilda smiled a little. “I like him. He’s an actor, you know.”

  “I do know that.”

  “He’s very handsome.” Matilda waved a weak hand. “Don’t tell Nikolai I said that.”

  Kyle smiled. “I won’t.”

  “When?”

  “As soon as you’re strong enough to be there, Mamma.”

  Matilda’s smile disappeared. “Don’t wait for that, Kyle.”

  Teigen stepped forward. “Mamma?”

  “Get your father.”

  “Why?”

  Kyle jumped up from the chair. “You sit. I’ll get him.”

  *****

  Kyle ran down the stairs. “Nikolai? Selby!”

  Dahl and Nikolai came out of the Great Hall and Selby rushed from the kitchen wing.

  “Is it Matilda?”

  Kyle nodded and got out of the way as Nikolai and Selby hurried up the steps.

  Dahl grabbed her hand. “Is she gone?”

  “No.” Kyle started back up the stairs pulling Dahl behind her. “But you need to come, too.”

  *****

  Matilda Sorensen Hansen passed to her reward that same evening, surrounded by her loving family. Thor and Torhild were allowed to see her before Gjertrud bathed them and put them
to bed. Tomorrow morning their parents would explain to them that their grandmother had gone to heaven and they wouldn’t see her anymore.

  Kyle sat beside her sleeping son and her heart ached that he’d lost his grandmother before he even got to know her.

  “So much loss for a little boy,” she whispered.

  Dahl knocked on the door frame. “I came to say goodnight.”

  Kyle stood. “I’ll come down for a while. I can’t sleep yet.”

  She and Dahl descended the stairs together. In the Great Hall, Dahl poured her a glass of wine and himself a tumbler of aquavit. She sat on the sofa, kicked off her shoes, and tucked her feet under her.

  “Some day, huh?”

  Dahl sat next to her. “That’s putting it mildly.”

  She took a sip of the wine and stared at the flames in the fireplace. “She told me to get married soon.”

  “Did she?”

  Kyle looked at Dahl. “Teigen told me to say I was getting married soon. Then she asked to whom.”

  Dahl gave her an adorably crooked smile. “Did my name come up?”

  “Well I thought about telling her I was marrying Frank Sinatra…” Kyle shrugged. “Then I realized I had a much better possibility right here in Arendal.”

  Dahl set his drink on the low table. “I think we need to make our situation official.”

  He took Kyle’s glass and set it on the table beside his. Then he held her hands and stared into her eyes.

  “I love you, Kyle. I can’t believe I’m saying this after knowing you for just a couple weeks, but you have moved into my heart and made yourself at home.”

  Kyle squeezed his hands. “And I love you, Dahl Holter. I have no explanation for it either. But the way you spoke to Thor today solidified it for me.”

  Dahl nodded. “So the crucial question will have to wait until three things to happen.”

  Kyle frowned. “What three things?”

  “First, when I take Thor shooting tomorrow, I’m going to ask his permission to marry you.”

  “What if he says no?”

  Dahl chuckled. “He won’t. Next, I have to buy a ring.”

  Kyle felt for the gold band inlaid with three small diamonds that she wore on a chain around her neck. When she was officially engaged it would be time to take Tor’s ring off and put it in safekeeping until Thor was old enough to have it.