Thea sunk into the soft couch in front of the fire. For the first time in weeks, she relaxed.
“Here you go, sweetie.” Thea smiled as the lady handed her a cup of hot tea. “We need to get your insides just as warmed up as your outsides now.”
Thea took a sip of the honey-sweetened liquid. “This is delicious. Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome. I’m just glad you two were able to find your way here through that storm.” Lizzie patted her leg as she sat beside her. “They’re saying this is the worst storm we’ve had in decades. It’s so late in the season, too. Just goes to show how unpredictable the weather here in Kansas can be. There’s just no telling what might have happened to you if you’d wandered around out there for much longer.”
“I think prayer had a lot to do with it.” Thea spoke the words she knew to be true. She’d prayed nearly the whole time, and even though she’d been afraid, she’d known they would be okay.
“Prayer is a mighty weapon, stronger than any man, that’s for sure,” the woman stated. “Not that that man of yours doesn’t seem like the capable sort.”
Thea had no control over the blush that made its way to her cheeks. “He’s not my man exactly.”
“I shouldn’t tease you.” Lizzie smiled. “God has been watching over you two. I sensed it the moment I opened the door to you. And that man, whether he’s yours or not, he reminds me a lot of my Earl when he was that age. You’ll have to stay on your toes with that one.” The woman chuckled, her eyes darting around the walls to the many pictures of her and her family at various stages of her life. “But it’s well worth it all.”
Thea’s gaze followed Lizzie’s around the room. Children of various ages smiled back from framed photos on the walls and shelves around the room.
“Are these all your children?” Thea asked.
“Children and grandchildren. They are the jewels of my life.”
Thea took another sip of her tea. The warmth of it slid through her body. She longed for a family. The memories of her childhood and helping with her baby sister after her mother had died were her fondest memories. She hadn’t had a chance to be around children since her father’s death. But she had to hope she would know how to be a good mother. Someday.
“Being a mother is an amazing gift,” Thea added.
“I wouldn’t trade a second of it for anything.” The woman pulled one of the throw blankets over her lap and relaxed against the plush back of the sofa. “Enough about me. Tell me something about you.”
“I wouldn’t know where to even begin.”
“I’ll let you choose, but I’ve always found the beginning to be the best part. And we do have all day. If the power goes out we might end up having a little campout here in front of the fire tonight.”
Thea smiled. “That sounds fun.” And it did. It sounded like the perfect sort of memory she could take away from this. Instead of all of the pain and fear she’d felt, this would be a keepsake she could cherish.
“The beginning it is, then.” Thea took a deep breath to steady her nerves and stared into the fire. Flames flickered and popped. Through the years she’d tried not to think of the night her father had been killed. But the memories came to her in dreams. Her skin warmed from the glow of the fire and she relaxed, letting her mind go back to that night and the memories she did have.
Leaning into the sofa cushions, she began her story. She shared what she remembered of the sounds and voices. Most of it was a blur in her mind. After all these years she wasn’t really certain of what was memory or dream. She remembered the sound of the gunshots clearly. The fear that had grabbed her. How she’d sat frozen in the closet for what seemed like forever, the smell of the smoke and the heat from the fire raging outside her small sanctuary. She’d nearly given up hope. And then he’d come. The man who had gathered her up in his arms and told her it would be okay. She had felt safe. She remembered very little of him other than his voice.
The voice she remembered had started sounding a lot more real the past few hours. It sounded a lot like...It sounded a lot like Ronin’s.
Thea’s eyes flew open at the realization. She’d been stupid to not have noticed sooner. It had been at the back of her mind all this time, but she’d dismissed it. He’d given her hints through the night. He’d told her of his father and who he’d been. She just hadn’t put two and two together. There was no ignoring it now.
A floorboard creaked. Her gaze shot toward the sound, and there he stood. His eyes were dark with memories of his own. She saw a flash of emotion she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing there or how much he’d heard, but by the look on his face, she figured he’d heard enough.
Ronin. His voice had triggered the memories. His voice had been so familiar. He had been so familiar and now she knew why. It could be just some sort of odd coincidence, but something in the way he looked at her—as if she’d just stumbled upon something priceless—told her all that words could not.
The elderly woman followed her gaze as Ronin and Earl stepped into the room and deposited the logs in their arms by the fire.
“Thea was just telling me quite the story.”
“Sorry to have missed that,” Earl said as he grabbed a few logs and tossed them on the fire. “Hopefully, we’ll have time for a recap later?”
“Oh, she barely got started.” Lizzie chuckled. “I’m sure there is a lot more left to tell.”
“Quite a lot more,” Thea said softly, never taking her eyes off Ronin. So many questions rushed through her mind. So many questions she couldn’t ask right now.
But she would.
“She didn’t even get to how they met. I’m sure that will be the best part,” Lizzie stated.
The lights flickered, dimmed and slowly glowed back to life.
“It’s only a matter of time now,” Earl stated. “Might as well start shutting things down. We’re going to lose power soon. I’ll see to the animals before we lose all the light we have.”
“I can help,” Ronin offered.
“Thank you, but you two need to get settled in, and it’ll probably be quicker if I just do what needs to get done.”
“And I’ll gather up all the extra pillows and blankets we have.” Lizzie eased herself up off the sofa and tossed the blanket over its back. “It looks like we’re going to have that campout a little earlier than we thought.”
“If you can stay awake, maybe we could roast some marshmallows in the fire and really make a night of it.” The man gave the fire one last good poke and then placed the poker back in the rack.
“Such a grand idea!” the woman exclaimed, planting a kiss on her husband’s cheek. “I knew there was a reason I married you.”
“Now, Lizzie, we both know that’s not the only reason you married me.” He winked, causing the woman to giggle and blush.
“You best be getting us some more wood and cool yourself off,” she scolded, but the smile on her face made it apparent she was only teasing. They were obviously still very much in love.
Only after they were both gone did Thea dare speak the words that had been running through her mind.
“It was your father, wasn’t it?”
* * *
“Yes,” he answered. He’d known the truth would come out eventually. He was relieved she’d figured it out on her own. It meant she did have some memories of that night and there was hope that she could clear his father’s name.
“Why didn’t you say so when you were telling me about your father?” she questioned. She scooted to the edge of the sofa, her eyes expectant as she waited for his answer.
“I felt it was important for you to piece it together on your own.” It was the truth. If she didn’t remember on her own, then how would he ever know what her real memories were?
“Important?” She stood and slowly stepped toward the fire. Her gaze locked on it as if she was searching it for answers...or trying to gain more memories.
Ronin stood silent a few feet away. Flames danced and flickered. A log popped, sending sparks shooting. “I wanted to see if you would remember. Do you?”
Thea shook her head. “It was just the voice, his voice. I was watching the fire and thinking of that night and I heard it plain as day.” She turned and looked at him. “Then I realized I’d been hearing that voice all night. That it was you. But that was crazy—it couldn’t have been you.”
Ronin sensed the moment she verged on panic. He’d pushed her too much. He should have told her the whole story from the very beginning and not risked the damage the memories returning could do.
Ronin stepped toward her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close. “It will be okay.” He repeated it over and over.
“Don’t say that. Don’t ever say that again,” she yelled, pushing against him. “That’s what he said, you know. That it would all be okay. And look at us. Does this look okay?” she questioned, motioning around her. He knew she meant the circumstances and what tonight had put them through, but he was blind to everything but her.
Thea pushed away. Drawn to the fire, she reached her hands out, warming them near the flames. For a moment he worried she’d reach right into the fire. She was in the room with him, but he could tell she was far away mentally. She was lost somewhere in her memories of that night and what she had seen and heard.
Her eyebrows pinched together. He couldn’t be sure whether she were deep in thought or in pain. He wanted nothing more than to reach into her mind and know her every thought. If he could, he would make the memories less painful for her and somehow help her arrange the jumbled pieces.
He should be happy. This was what he wanted, after all. He wanted to know the secrets only she could tell. She had been the only person in the room that night, the only person other than the true murderer, and she could prove his father’s innocence. With her help, he could bring honor back to his family. His father would be free, maybe even able to take over his rightful spot as head of the Royal Guard once the throne was returned to the rightful heirs.
“Your father saved me that night.” Her voice was a soft whisper.
Ronin wasn’t sure if it were a question or a statement. She was just working it through in her mind. Saying it aloud could be her way of clearing the haze of memories. “He rescued me.”
“Yes.” There was more, so much more. But he couldn’t push her. Not now when her memories were finally returning.
“Then what happened?” Thea pulled her hands back and turned to face him. “What happened to your father after that night? Is he still the head of the Royal Guard and in control of those who are trying to kill me?”
“No.” He hadn’t realized her mind was rushing so far ahead, piecing so many things together so quickly. He couldn’t let her think that, not for a second. But could he trust her with the truth now? Could she handle it? “After that night, my father was charged with the murder of the king and imprisoned.”
Now that the truth was out, he could only hope she would believe him. She had to know his father wasn’t capable of such a despicable deed. The look of disbelief and dismay that showed on her face was his answer.
“Your father rescued me, then they charged him with killing my father and imprisoned him?” She moved away from the fire and turned to face him. “How does that even begin to make sense?”
It didn’t make sense, not really. But it had happened. His family name had been tarnished. It was a wonder they’d even let him continue his training in the Junior Guard before telling him they had no place in the Guard for him. His older brothers had been dismissed immediately. He could only imagine they thought him young and impressionable. They had thought wrong.
“Why didn’t your father just tell them...?” Her question trailed off. Then she answered it herself as the realization dawned. “He couldn’t tell them he had rescued me that night without letting everyone know I was alive. So he had no way of proving his innocence. He kept the secret even though it meant he would be imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit.”
He could see how the truth hurt her. It was that genuine hurt that showed him some good had come from his father’s decisions. His father had been so determined to protect the heirs to the throne, he hadn’t told anyone he’d been there rescuing the princess. Without an alibi, he’d quickly become the easiest scapegoat. He’d been unable to protect himself without handing the prince and princess over to those who had tried to kill them.
Even upon threat of prison, he’d refused to jeopardize their safety.
Ronin hadn’t understood it then. But now that he’d met Thea, he could see the woman she’d become and he could finally respect his father’s choice. He had worried how he would ever explain to her what his father had done, but she’d figured it out all on her own.
“It’s not your fault.” He reached out to smooth the lines of guilt and worry from her face.
“It just doesn’t make sense,” she whispered, finally relaxing against him. She didn’t move away this time when he brought his arms around her and held her.
“There are a lot of things in this world that don’t make sense. But we have the chance to make it right.” He had no words other than those to try to help erase the pain he knew she felt. He’d felt that same pain when he’d known his father had been innocent and imprisoned anyway. He’d saved the princess and then turned right around and kept saving her. He was an innocent man, yet he had given up years of his life to protect her.
“Bringing me home helps clear his name.” She raised her head and looked into his eyes. Light from the fire flickered across her features. “Doesn’t it?”
“It could.” There would be a little more to it than Thea suddenly reappearing after all this time. It would obviously clear his father of her murder, but it still didn’t explain the king’s death or that of her younger sister.
“Is that the real reason you came for me?”
Her question was so heartfelt, it tore at him to give her an honest answer.
He was saved from answering the question as the lights flickered once again. Then with a pop they were out. For a moment they were surrounded by near darkness and only the light and sound of the fire. Thea stood frozen in place. He felt her stiffen and watched the play of emotions across her face. First the shock, then the fear.
Ronin drew her close. He knew her thoughts were that someone had come after them and cut the power to the house.
“It’s just the storm,” he said. “You’re safe.”
He said the words to reassure her, but he needed to make sure. The men from the woods couldn’t have found them so soon...unless they hadn’t turned back as they’d said and had followed him and Thea instead. Ronin eased away to a window and peered outside. The world was black with the outside lights out, as well. It seemed unlikely the power outage was caused by anything other than the storm. If the men had followed them, they didn’t seem like the sort to take the time to cut the power. They’d have come in with guns blazing.
“Are you sure?” Her eyes darted around the room, searching every shadow. “Are you sure they didn’t follow us?”
Sure? There weren’t many things in the world that were 100 percent. “I just came in from outside. I walked the perimeter. No one is out there.”
No one had been behind them all those miles they had been driving, either. It seemed almost impossible that they could have been found that quickly and easily. Neither did it seem believable that someone had followed them so doggedly through the woods. Something didn’t feel quite right about it.
In the distance he could hear the couple returning. Sounds of their laughter and hollering out to each other grew closer until a faint flicker of candlelight preceded them into the room.
“Guess we didn’t move quite fast enough to get back before we lost power, but we’re here now. We’ve brought snacks and these little guys.” Lizzie entered the room first with a bag of marshmallows and a candle. Her husband followed carrying a box.
“We thought you might like the extra company and they need to stay warm,” he said.
With a flash Thea’s features changed and softened as she leaned over, looking into the box.
She started to reach in and then pulled her hand back. “Can I touch them?”
“Of course. They love the attention. Momma’s around here somewhere, probably scared from the storm.”
Thea reached in and pulled out a small, wriggly ball of skin and fur.
“They’re adorable.” She pulled the black-and-white puppy close, stroking it as she snuggled it against her heart. “I’ve always wanted a puppy.”
The room grew quiet. He knew she’d never had a pet. It was one of the many facts on paper about her. But all the times he’d read the details of her life, he’d never really thought about what those little statistics had meant.
“Well, she’s yours until the momma comes out of hiding. They’ll need to eat then, but for now we’ll fix them a nice warm place here by the fire.”
“If it’s okay with you two, we usually just curl up in front of the fire when the power goes out like this,” Earl said.
“Sounds good,” Ronin replied. Actually, the power going out was a blessing in disguise. He could keep an eye on Thea without having to park himself outside her door all night.
“I’ve got enough pillows and blankets here for everyone. We should have a place for each of us to relax, but someone might get a little squished in the chair or love seat.”
“Anyplace is going to be fine for me.” He didn’t expect to get much sleep tonight anyway. He took the pillow and blanket Lizzie handed him and made a spot a few feet from the sofa, propping himself up against the wall so he could see everyone in the room along with every possible entrance.
Thea plumped up a pillow and snuggled more into the sofa, the puppy lying in the crook of her arm as she settled in. Her fingers rubbed up and down over its back as she held it close.
“I’ll just move the puppy bed over near the sofa, then,” Lizzie said before claiming a spot on the love seat. “And then maybe you can tell me more about how you two met and we can roast some marshmallows.”
Her husband tossed a few more logs onto the fire and settled into the recliner. “I’m sure it’s an interesting story.”
Ronin couldn’t help but chuckle. He glanced over at Thea and noticed she’d been watching him, as well. Her returning smile made him wonder what she was thinking.
“It was very interesting indeed,” she pronounced. “It all started with a brick, actually.”
He wasn’t surprised at all with the way Thea shared. She was a genuinely open person. He had no reason to expect she’d keep the full truth from these people who had opened up their home and given them safe harbor on a night that had gone so very wrong. If not for spotting their home and being welcomed in, Ronin was not sure what he’d have done.
Thea’s faith was solid. If she’d had any doubt during the night that things would not work out, she hadn’t shown it. He’d caught her a few times, head bowed in prayer. Of course she’d had her moments when she’d let the fear show, but she’d never let it overtake her and rule her emotions and thoughts. He was right about her being strong. He could only hope she’d be strong enough to handle the rest of their journey and whatever truths were yet to come to light.