TWENTY-SEVEN – GREGORY
This morning made me realize that I never want to spend another morning waking up without Ash in my arms. I long for the day she can move out of her room at Nash’s and move into the manor, full time. We will spend every morning, and every night wrapped in each other’s arms.
I want to see her next year and in twenty years. I want to watch her fatten with our children growing inside her. I want to see her when she turns grey. I want her forever and I hope she feels the same. We still have a lot to learn about each other, but I know it will only bring us closer.
We can spend the rest of our days protecting and loving each other. We can spend the rest of our nights, flying to new heights. We won’t have to hide any parts of ourselves from each other and that will only bring us closer.
I am going to ask her tonight after she finishes up at the tavern. I am confident she will accept my proposal. I know she feels the same way about me. We fit together perfectly and I will do all I can to make her happy.
This evening is far away though, and I can already tell today is going to drag on, the way it tends to when it leads to something you are looking forward to. At least I will stay busy with final construction plans. I haven’t done anything new to get it ready to start early next week. I need to find workers, set up my management plan and designate supervisors, develop the supply train, find a chef for each site and get the plans finalized with my father. A steep to-do list, but I will enlist my siblings. Grant can be in charge of finding the workers and Gwen can plan out the supply train. She has a knack for organizing and she needs something other than worrying about Parker to fill her thoughts.
Before I can do any of that, I need breakfast. I can smell the ham wafting from downstairs and I hope they made enough, I am extra hungry from all of my physical activity. I am quickly dressed, then on my way downstairs. I hear everyone except father downstairs, I wonder where he was off too so early this morning. When I enter, mom greets me, “Gregory. I have barely seen you these past few days.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“Doing what?”
This is as good of a time as any to tell them of my plans with Ash. “I was with a woman. A wonderful, amazing woman.” I can’t stop the smile that spread over my face, thinking about all of her.
“Who is she?”
“Ash, the new barmaid at Nash’s Tavern. Do you know her?” I ask as I sit down.
“Of course I do, she has been in town almost a month. She is beautiful, I knew someone would sweep her up soon, I am happily surprised it is you.”
“She is beautiful but she is so much more than that. I am going to ask her to marry me tonight.” Everyone looks up at me, they all look surprised, except for Grant. Gwen adds in, “So soon, you had to have only known her for a couple days. You just got back.”
“I know its sudden, but I have never been more certain then I am of her.”
“It’s about time, I am ready for a grandchild. Bring her by for dinner tomorrow,” she adds, “I will make something special and we can all get to know her better.”
“Good luck tonight, brother!” Grant adds in.
I reach over and grab the plate of ham and slide a healthy portion on my plate. There are also morning buns, I grab two, scrambled eggs with some sort of herbs, I grab a large portion of that as well. I eat with gusto, shoveling large bites in my mouth. It’s yummy! I see Grant eating just as fast as I am, so I reach out to grab some more ham before he takes the rest of it. He moves at the same time and I grab the plate the instant before he does. “Hey!”
“I’ll leave you a piece.” And that is all I leave him, I take most of the rest, but he repays me by taking the rest of the eggs.
“You guys are disgusting,” Gwen says.
“We are still growing,” Grant says
“No, you are not.” Mom says, “You are both well into your twenties, you stopped growing years ago.”
I laugh out loud, “That can’t be right. I wouldn’t want to take any chances by eating less.” Grant tries to steal some food off my plate and I swat his fork away.
We spend the rest of breakfast joking with each other. The only thing missing was Ash, but not for long.
Hours later, I am in the library, writing plans. I have been working for so long, I am starting to see double. It’s late afternoon, much earlier than I was planning on finishing, but I don’t think I will get much more done today. I haven’t been able to find father all day and talking to him was the only other thing that needed to get done. I might as well head out. Not only because I am eager to see Ash.
I can use the time there to recruit some more workers. A few of the young men in town are likely to be out. Hopefully, I will talk to them, but there is a chance I will just watch Ash all night, daydreaming about our future.
I tidy up the desk and put some books away. Cleaning up in preparation for tomorrow’s use. I pass Grant on my way out, “I am headed to Nash’s, want to come with?”
“Sure, I can tell you how the recruiting went on the way.”
“Great! I will have more courage with you there.” We start walking and I ask, “So, how did it go?”
“It was pretty fruitful as most of the seasonal planting is already done. Those that aren’t required to care for animals or maintain the farm and willing to spend a couple of weeks to help make the town safer. It didn’t take much convincing.”
“Good. Were you able to get Aaron?”
“Of course! He was one of the first to volunteer.”
“I want him to be in charge out there.”
“I am sure he would do it. We might see him tonight, you can run the request by him if we do.”
“If not, I can track him down tomorrow.” With Aaron helping run things, I won’t have to be out at the construction sites, I can stay in town and have more time with Ash. “How many others did you get?”
“Twelve locals and even eight visitors. They wanted to make some extra money in addition to their market sales.”
“You got twenty? That’s spectacular. We will finish early with all those resources.”
He looked proud, “Yes we will! Father will be pleased and it will be a great message for our neighboring villages.”
“This is cause for celebrating.” We approach the entrance of the tavern, “I think we deserve a night of some good old drinking fun.”
“Don’t get too drunk, that will ruin your proposal plans.”
“Nothing could ruin those plans.” We head inside and I scout out a place to sit while keeping my eyes out for Ash. It is still early enough that there are a few tables open, but I don’t see her anywhere. “Want to grab that table? I’ll head up to get drinks and ask where Ash is?”
“Okay. Get some food too.”
“Do you think I wouldn’t?”
“No, I guess not.” He rubs his tummy, “Hurry.”
I wave to Nash as I near the bar, he heads over to help. “Howdy Nash, can we have two pints and two of whatever you cooked tonight? Is Ash in the kitchen?”
He shakes his head, confused, “No. I thought she was with you all day.”
“She’s not here?” I look around, frantic. “She left my place this morning and was planning on making a quick stop at the market on her way back to here.” Where is she?
Nash looks startled, “Do you think she ran again?”
“No, I know she didn’t. Can you cancel my order, I am going to go find her.”
“Is she in trouble?”
“I think she might be,” I turn and start to walk away, Nash asks, “Do you need help, I can close up and search along with you guys? I care for that girl like she was my own.”
“We might. I will let you know, but right now, just keep running the bar.” I turn back to him, realizing he has been seeing most of the people in and out of town today. “Do you remember that guy that was with Den and Stann last night?”
“The shady one from Naven? Yeah, why?”
“Did you see him today?”
“I did. Those three were in here this morning, with your father and two other guys I didn’t recognize.” I feel as if I just got hit by a truck. Father deliberately lied to us and used that to set Ash up. Six of them have her and I have no idea if she is still alive. I start running towards Grant, “Thank you, Nash, I will come find you if we need help.”
Grant sees me approach in a frenzy, he stands and asks, “What is wrong?”
“Father lied to us, they didn’t leave town. They must have grabbed her sometime this morning.”
“What!”
“Nash saw all of them early this morning, there are six of them including father. We can’t talk here, let’s go.”
We both head towards the exit, pushing through the throngs of people. We are almost out the door when I see Den out of the corner of my eye. I nudge Grant and he follows my sight. Wordlessly, we both head in towards him. Thankfully, he is alone.
“Den. Can you come outside with us?”
“I’ve been looking for you guys,” he gets closer and whispers, “I have some news about the shifter.”
I growl, “I know you do. Outside. Now.” Grant grabs his arm and we head towards the door again.
“Calm down guys, what the hell has you so angry?”
“I will tell you outside. Now hurry.” I am aggressively pushing past the people that are trying to enter and make a path out the door. We head towards the woods that border this end of town. Once hidden from view, Grant pushes Den forward and I say icily, “What do you know?”
“They think Ash is the shifter that killed my cousin.”
“She was,” I say, without hesitating. No point hiding the truth, when I am going to kill him for hurting her.
“I don’t believe it. That’s why I was looking for you, I know you are close to her. I don’t know what to think now.”
“She had to do it,” I say, “She tried to get away, but two of you tried to stop her. Would you expect her not to fight back?” I start shouting, “You guys attacked her clan for no reason, they were peaceful, just trying to live!”
Den flinches at my shouting, “I had no part of that!”
“But you had a part of this!”
“Stop shouting,” Grant yells at us, “Do you want someone walking in on this, Greg?”
I am shaking with anger, “Is she still alive?”
“She is. At least she was when I left. Your father is the reason?”
“How?”
“He wants to be one hundred percent sure she is the shifter before they kill her. He knows you have feelings for her and does not want to hurt you unless he has to.”
“How are they going to prove she is the shifter?”
“Ted gave her an ultimatum. She can shift on her own, or if she doesn’t by sunset,” he hesitates, and I stare at him, urging him to continue, “He will torture her until she does.”
“That is in less than an hour. Damn it.”
“Why are you telling us all this?” Grant asks.
“Because I don’t agree with it. I have never shared my family’s hatred for shifters, I don’t see the point of it. And I like Ash, she was always nice to me and Stann.”
“Will you help us get her out?” I ask.
“Only if you promise not to hurt Stann. I love him and would never forgive myself if he died in there.”
“I won’t hurt him unless it is the only way to save Ash.”
“That is not good enough, if that is the situation, let me talk to him first. If he dies, it would crush me the same as Ash’s death would do to you.”
“I didn’t know you were that close. We promise, don’t we, Gregory?” Grant says.
“Fine. We will not hurt him. But we will all have a big talk when this is over. Ash and I are not leaving so you both will keep our secret.”
“And father,” Grant added.
“Maybe. I can’t trust him anymore. We need to move out. Where are they holding her?”
“Stann’s warehouse.”
“That’s so close, it will save us some time. Grant, can you run in and tell Nash we need him and to be ready in fifteen minutes?”
“Good idea, we need more strength.”
“Hurry.” He runs off, back towards the Tavern. “Den, who else is a Ridder in town.”
“No one that I know of,” he shakes his head, “Why?”
“I need more help, but I didn’t want to risk letting the wrong people in on the plan. When Grant is back, we will head out and get Aaron, Big Walt, and Tom, if we can find them.”