Who Is My Husband
Scene 11

Lance led Kailee over to the bed and helped her sit. He then grabbed one of the blankets and wrapped it over her shoulders. He didn’t like the look on her face. She looked a little bit scared. He looked up to Reggie who pulled up a chair in front of Kailee. Lance sat on the bed by her side and put his arm on her back.

“Did you get some answers?” Lance asked in a soothing gentle tone.

Kailee sighed. “More questions than answers…” She looked up to Reggie and then over to Lance. “How are you two different? Are you stronger than normal humans?” Kailee could feel the tension in Lance’s arm but Reggie continued with his blank stare.

“What did that phoenix tell you?” Reggie’s voice was low and maybe even sounding a bit agitated.

“Only that I would be safe with you guys…” Kailee frowned. “I guess… I guess there are others that are after me. Some that want to take me and others that want to claim me. I don’t understand what that means.”

Reggie growled and his fists balled up tightly. He then lifted his eyes up to Kailee. His expression softened and a small smile spread over his face. “Don’t worry Kailee. Nothing can get to you here. Your bird is right, we are strong. You are safe with us.”

Kailee sighed angrily and pulled her legs up to her chest. “I don’t like this. I don’t want to need to be protected. I don’t want any of this…”

Lance chuckled. “Nothing has changed on our account though. We were already in charge of protecting you.” He thought her actions were very cute. She had some child-like attributes which he found darling.

“Kailee…” Reggie watched her brown doe eyes look up at him. “I know it bothers you. The idea that something might be after you. You can’t hide that from me. I can tell… you don’t have to worry though. You are safe with us.”

“Trey will protect you and keep you safe. And when he isn’t around, we will. Grum is a tank too. You are quite safe with us.” Lance patted her back gently.

“I…” Kailee stopped before finishing. She hardly knew these people. She did not even know her husband. Sparks was keeping secrets from her as well. What if these were some of the people wanting to claim her? How did she know who she could really trust? She would have to trust her instincts for now. And her instincts told her… that so far these people have done everything to keep her safe and comfortable. “Well if I have some sort of magic in me it better be some awesome power so that I don’t need protection.”

Reggie chuckled. “Even if you do little rabbit, we will still be there to hover over you. Might as well get used to it. The moment you married Trey you inherited a group of protectors.”

Kailee rolled her eyes. “So you guys are really going to sleep in here? Where are you going to sleep if not on the bed?”

“Well if you are offering the bed…” Reggie drew out slowly but Lance immediately interjected.

“You are going to die just for talking like that. Trey will s*******r you for even suggesting laying in the same bed as his… wife.” Lance paused for a brief moment before he mentioned the word wife. “Kailee, we will sleep in our chairs.”

Kailee frowned. “That can’t be comfortable. Just go back to your rooms to sleep.”

“Shhh. Don’t worry about us.” Lance stood up and fluffed the pillow on the bed. “Here lay down.” He pressed down on her shoulders and lifted a blanket around her. He gently tucked her in. “Get some rest. We will be right here if you need us.”

Kailee watched as Lance brought in a chair from the hall. He then reached over and blew the candle out. She could hear the quieted sounds of their breathing and she found it relaxing. She was always alone at night before but she found their presence comforting. Maybe it was because she had laid with her husband the past two nights? Or maybe she just didn’t want to be alone. For whatever reason she found that sleep found her fairly easily.

The world was barren. The dust rolled over the hills creating small dusty tornados. The world was brown and even the sun was hidden in dust. A sinister cackle echoed over the hillside. Kailee looked around but couldn’t see anything, but she felt her chest squeeze in fear and in pain. Her insides were burning again. Hot lava pooled in her stomach. The sound of the cackling resumed again only this time it sounded like it was getting closer. The laughter was taunting her. It was getting closer, but she couldn’t see where it was coming from. There was nowhere to hide or escape. Meanwhile she was being attacked on her insides by a searing pain. It continued to stab and prick at her.

She felt her body get jolted upright. Her eyes popped open. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as her body trembled. The light of a candle danced in the room as her eyes slowly adjusted. She was being held in Reggie’s arms and Lance was at the bedside holding her hand. Her rough breathing was soon being controlled as the pain inside of her began to subside. Still, her body trembled.

“Shhh, you’re okay.” Reggie’s voice softly cooed to her. He was sitting on the bed behind her as he held her body up to his chest.

She turned her head into his chest and curled up into him. She took her hand back from Lance and clutched at Reggie’s shirt. Her hands were trembling as she tried to calm herself down. She could feel dampness on her face as tears slid down over her cheeks. She didn’t even realize she was crying. The pain had been severe, but it was the sound of the laughing that had her terrified. It was the feeling of being helpless and unable to escape that had her on edge. And she had the feeling it wasn’t just a nightmare. It felt all too real.

She felt Reggie’s hand comb through her hair, smoothing it away from her face, while his other arm held her gently. “You’re okay. I’m here. Shhh.” His gentle tones called to her.

She closed her eyes and soaked in his comfort. She let his fingers playing with her hair relax her and soon her tight grip on his shirt loosened as she fell back asleep.

When she fluttered her eyes open again the sun was streaming through. The events from last night flashed through her mind. And then the realization that she was still being held. She opened her eyes fully to see she was laying on someone’s chest. Slowly, she lifted her head up to see Reggie laying down beside her with his head on a pillow. She looked up to see Lance already awake with a scowl on his face.

“I see our little rabbit is awake.” Reggie said lazily as his eyes opened up.

Kailee bit her bottom l*p and shifted a bit. “I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Reggie chuckled as he turned his head to look at Lance. “Guess I got to sleep in bed with her after all.”

“You won’t be smiling when Trey replaces out. And that is all I am going to say about that.” Lance’s eyes flickered to Reggie. He stood up from his chair and walked over to the side of the bed. He smiled at Kailee and held his hand out to her. “How are you feeling?”

Kailee reached into his hand and let him help her up. “I feel surprisingly well. After I fell back to sleep, I slept really well.”

“Of course, you did. That’s because I was holding you.” Reggie smirked as he got up from the bed. “That was much more comfortable than the chair. And I surprised myself with my self-restraint.”

Lance narrowed his eyes on him with a low growl. “If you would have made a move I would have broken your wrist.”

“Yeah. Yeah. The important thing is I helped her out.” Reggie walked up to Kailee and patted her head. “You’re a great snuggler.” He then leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

Kailee’s face heated up. “Um… I don’t know if I should be saying thank you or apologizing here.”

“You’re welcome. And honey, don’t apologize.” Reggie said with a wink.

“Enough Reg. You are making me uncomfortable now. I’m afraid my neck is at just as much risk as your own.” Lance said with an angry frown.

Reggie chuckled. “As you can see, I am riddled with fear.” His face grew serious as he looked at Kailee. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Her brown doe eyes looked up to him. “It was just a nightmare. Nothing really to talk about. Probably brought on by the pain I was having.” She bit the inside of her l*p as she looked up at him. She wasn’t sure if there was anything to talk about. What? She heard a scary laugh in her head? That’s what had her so upset… Yeah, it sounded pathetic to her.

Reggie studied her unconvinced. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. At least I was there to calm you down.”

“How are you able to calm the pain down?” Kailee asked quietly.

Reggie paused for a second. A small smile rose over his lips. “It is just something I am able to do.”

Kailee smiled up at him. “You don’t have to tell me about it if you don’t want to.” She said coyishly as he chuckled at her.

“You, little bunny, need to be careful what predators you provoke.” Reggie grinned.

“Like I said. I am here to protect her from all the beasts, so she doesn’t have to worry if I am around.” Lance raised his eyes in a dare to Reggie.

Reggie scoffed. “You could only manage to buy her time against someone like me.”

“That’s yet to be determined.” Lance said with a shrug. He then turned to Kailee. “Get dressed. We will wait for you in the hall. If you still feel up to it you can come into town with me today. If not, Reggie will stay here and keep you company.”

Kailee smiled widely. She had forgotten about going into town. “No, I am definitely coming.”

The two men left, and she hurriedly got dressed. She had a new energy surging through her with excitement. She combed through her hair and pulled it half up. She then trotted over to the door opening it.

“Ready!” She beamed.

“Breakfast first. Then we will go.” Lance chuckled. “And you better eat your breakfast, or you are not coming.”

Kailee frowned. “All of it? Can’t I just have one of those sweet buns?”

“No little rabbit. I agree with Lance here. You need to eat your breakfast first.” Reggie watched as she openly pouted. She folded her arms over her chest and stuck her bottom l*p out pouting. His eyes trailed over her body and took special note of her lips.

Lance looked at Reggie and shook his head. “You are going to get yourself in trouble and I don’t want to hear it.” He put his arm around Kailee’s shoulder. “Let’s get you both something to eat.”

Reggie let out an airy laugh. “Is that your way of telling me rabbit isn’t on the menu?”

“That is exactly what I am telling you. You are already going to be in enough trouble, and you know it.” Lance sighed and shook his head. It was all fine now, but things wouldn’t go as smoothly with Trey.