Page 47 of A Dark and Stormy Knight (A Knight’s Tale #3)

Three months later

The rocking gait of the horse almost lulled her to sleep when Wallace said, “I do not wish you to go back for your parents. I will retrieve them alone.”

Cara bit back a smile as she relaxed against her husband. Though she was well able to ride a gentle mount, they both enjoyed his arms around her.

Besides, it was cold! When she’d told her parents to meet her in three months, she hadn’t considered it would be closing in on Christmas!

She pulled her blanket close. “In my condition, you’re going to argue with me?”

Wallace went silent, but Cara could almost feel that moody, stubborn expression she loved so much. She was well aware he wasn’t done with his argument, only coming up with a better way to present it.

He simply had it in his head that arguing with an expectant mother was bad for the babe.

Not that they were even positive about there being a babe at this point.

Conjecture, pure conjecture. That’s what she’d told Wallace anyway, but she was pretty certain.

If he’d known for sure, he’d probably have snuck off without her and she wouldn’t be heading toward the chapel where they’d first wed three months ago.

When she would not abandon her intent to go, he’d simply extended the time to get there, camping along the way at frequent intervals so she wouldn’t be on horseback for too long.

Fine by her.

Though cold, it was dry, snug, and pleasant riding with her husband once more. They’d been so busy these last months that this time together, in his arms, was pure heaven.

A lot had happened and she was excited to tell her parents about it. Excited to see them again.

They’d married a second time to please his family and people.

Father Hazleton made them wait an additional three weeks as he’d moved parishes.

Since there were no witnesses to the first marriage, they’d been chaperoned the entire time, much to everyone’s amusement.

Longest three weeks of their lives!

Wolfsbane Castle and all its properties were back under Wallace’s control, and in a strange turn of events, so were the Dinsdales.

The priest had sworn to the king the hand of God had taken Lord Dinsdale and his son, and so Wallace was not accused of foul play.

The king washed his hands of the entire affair, made Wallace swear the feud was over, and ordered him to watch over the Dinsdale properties until their return.

Fortunately, Amelia didn’t seem too broken up by Rupert’s disappearance. It seemed she was in love with a different knight every month.

If Rupert didn’t hurry and come back, she’d end up marrying someone else.

Sir Thomas had called Sir Gladwin out for his disloyalty, but the other man fled to parts unknown, and good riddance. An accounting showed he’d been stealing from the Wolfsbanes for years.

She had a host of good friends in Lady Helena, Amelia, and Dori, and they were soon to foster two preteen girls. Lady Helena was going to teach her — whatever it was she was supposed to teach them. Household management, sewing, embroidery. Cara had a few of her own ideas. Swimming, hair, makeup.

She’d also seen Gillian last month when they’d traveled to Marshall Keep.

Her friend was, in fact, glowing with happiness, and visibly preggers.

Kellen gave her back her ring, but according to Gillian, never did cough up the other one. The two men had further bonded over the difficulties of having a headstrong wife. Ha!

When Wallace took a deep breath at her back, she knew it was time to argue again.

“’Tis simply that I do not wish any harm to come to you or the babe. You must admit you’ve no idea what could happen as you dash about through time. I will simply not allow it.”

“I swear, I’ll become upset if you do not.”

“You’d risk harm to our babe?”

“Would you?” she turned the question back on him.

They were still arguing on and off when the chapel came into view, and the first thing she saw were her parents coming out the front doors, dressed in stylish medieval garb.

She gasped as shock and happiness had her bolting upright and waving an arm frantically. “Mom, Dad!”

Wallace tightened his grip to keep her from falling when she started to go sideways. “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”

They rushed to meet them, stopping short of the destrier, their excited chatter filling the air.

“Cara, what took you so long?”

“You look great, hon, really great!” Dad was all smiles, so different from when she’d last seen him.

Wallace was already off the horse and snatching her off the saddle with an unhappy glare, before gently setting her on her feet.

She was in her parents’ arms, hugging, crying, all of them talking at once.

She started to laugh, and outpouring of joy. “I have so much to tell you, you have no idea. But first tell me how you got here.”

Mom pulled the necklace that had given Cara so much grief out of her pocket.

Cara gasped. “You didn’t give it back?”

“We did give it back,” Mom nodded decisively. “We cleared your name, and we sold some property, and we purchased it.”

Cara gaped at them.

“What?” Mom gave her a look. “Do you honestly think we’re going to be left without a way to contact our only child for the rest of our lives? I don’t think so.”

Her dad grinned. “Besides, it said right on the card describing the Heart of Eternity it belonged to Wolfsbane’s bride.”

Cara was speechless. She really had changed history.

Laughing again, she hugged her mother and father once more, and said, “I have a surprise of my own.”

She settled both hands on her stomach, and smiled broadly. “I mean, I’m not sure, but I think so, maybe?”

Mom squealed, a sound she didn't even know her mother could make.

Dad started to cry, a reaction she totally predicted.

Mom walked to where Wallace stood off to one side and gave him a hug.

He looked startled, and gently patted her on the back, then did the same thing all over again when her father, openly sobbing, hugged him as well.

Cara glanced at the stone. “How long have you been here?”

“A couple of days. We didn’t want to miss you, so we came early, and the priest took us in.”

She recognized the priest in the background and gave him a wave.

He went inside, shutting the doors behind him.

She turned back to Wallace. “I guess that answers that. We won’t be going anywhere, after all.”

“We’ll start for home immediately,” her guy was visibly relieved.

Glancing around at the tall trees, the chapel, and the healing stone, she couldn’t help but remember the night of the storm. So much had happened since then.

“Mom, Dad, wait until you see our place. It’s a genuine, honest-to-goodness castle. You’re going to love it.”

She patted her husband on the chest. “Wallace totally rocks the whole lord-of-the-castle thing.”

He really did. And he rocked her world for sure.

They’d had a few more storms over the autumn months, and Wallace always pulled a chair up to their bedroom window, wrapped them both in a blanket, and cuddled her while they watched it play out.

He’d explained it was to honor good memories with her parents, to celebrate the storm that sealed them, and to know they were here, now, building a life together.

Who wouldn’t love this guy?

The guards loaded the leather bags her parents brought along, filled with who-knew-what, helped them onto the extra horses, and they started on their way again.

Seated in front of Wallace, she glanced at her mother. “When are you going home?”

Mom’s gaze dropped to Cara’s stomach and she shrugged. “How about we play it by ear, shall we?”

If she had her way, they’d never leave.

“Did you guys ever find Rupert?”

“Oh, we found him all right. He’s …” Mom glanced at Dad and there was some sort of unspoken communication between them before she continued. “We’ll talk about that later.”

“He still alive, isn’t he?”

“Oh, yes, he’s alive. It’s just that he’s gotten into a bit of trouble.” With a quick glance at Wallace she said, once again, “Later, sweetie. Oh, Lissa sends her love, and I’ve got a letter from her.”

That statement, and quick change of subject, left Cara wildly curious, but she let it go for now.

Obviously, they needed to tell her something not for Wallace’s ears.

But really, how bad could it be?

Wallace tugged the blanket around her shoulders and pulled her close. He draped an arm across her, and she sank into him, luxuriating in his strength and heat.

His hand slid to clasp her stomach, he nuzzled her cheek, and the moment was so sweet, tears sprang to her eyes.

He was the love of her life.

She could look back on that moment now, when she’d considered herself so free, unencumbered, and could only laugh at how smug she’d been.

Nothing had prepared her for the happiness she’d have with the man at her back.

She was in love, probably expecting his child, and now her mom and dad were here, at long last.

Her life was fun, exciting, something new every day. And messy, and frustrating, and sometimes harder than she’d anticipated.

She knew life would never be perfect, and that like everyone else, more challenges would come their way. But with this man at her back, giving her joy and grief, they’d figure it out together.

Besides, she’d always loved a good storm.

***

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the story.