Who Is My Husband
Scene 12

Kailee bounded happily between Lance and Reggie as they walked into the village. Lance wanted to take them in the carriage, but Kailee insisted on walking. She wanted to enjoy the beautiful sunny day. So, he instead sent a carriage ahead of them just in case they wanted to ride back instead of walking. The village wasn’t exactly a short walk.

It was late morning when they started getting closer to the outskirts of the village and they started passing little homes along the road. There were some people farming, some were herding sheep, and others were chopping wood. People stopped and nodded or waved as they walked by. One of the gentlemen she had to do a double take. He had brown hair and green eyes. He looked to be about the same age as her two travel companions too. He waved and Lance waved back.

“What have you gotten yourself into today Phill?” Lance asked with a wide smile.

“Fixing the sodding of the mill roofs. Best to do it before it rains again.” Phill answered as he sat his shovel down. He nodded his head over to Reggie and then his eyes came to rest on Kailee.

“This is the lord’s new wife. Kailee, this is Phill. He does lots of odds and ends work. A jack of all trades.” Lance directed his head over towards Phill.

Phill wiped his forehead and nodded his head in reverence towards Kailee. “My lady.”

“Kailee.” She smiled and nodded her head to him. She watched him for a moment as they walked off as he got back to work. Brown hair and green eyes must be quite common. If she was to judge by that alone she may never figure out who her husband is.

“Hey, keep your wandering eyes up front, little miss. Or I might get jealous.” Reggie gave her a crooked grin and she giggled up at him.

“You might get jealous?” She raised an eyebrow at him and smiled.

“Sure. We have already slept together. Why wouldn’t I get jealous?” He teased playfully trying to provoke a reaction out of her.

“So, I can casually tell Trey that we slept together, and it should not be a problem, right?” She grinned as she listened to his dark chuckle.

“Do you want me to steal you away from him?” He was trying to make her flustered as he walked his hand over her shoulders.

Kailee giggled. “You’re cute Reg, but I’m not interested.”

Lance snickered and looked over at Reggie. Something flickered in his eyes. He leaned closer to Kailee. “What if I was your husband though? I mean put a mask on me and what do you think?”

Kailee smiled and nodded her head. He was right. He was very similar to the man she called her husband. And he very well could be her husband. However, she did not know. Thus, she would stay loyal to the man wearing the mask. Whoever he may be. She would play his game of her not knowing who her husband was. Maybe it was a test to see what her character is like?

“Well then I guess I am about to be disappointed for the rest of my life.” Kailee brushed his arm away from her shoulders and took a few steps away from him.

Reggie snorted. “What if behind the mask is a hideous face? What if it is full of craters and scars? Or has a huge nose?”

Kailee turned around and looked at him as she walked backwards. Her hands were folded behind her back and a small smile rested over her face. “So, what if it is all of that? Does that change who he is as a person? I care more about the person. I mean worse comes to worse, the mask can just be a permanent solution.” She giggled as she turned back around. She looked up ahead at the bustling village they were entering. Behind her she could hear Lance trot up to her side. He put an arm around her proudly and gave her a wide grin.

“I think you shocked him a bit. He isn’t used to being turned down.” Lance winked at her, and she only shrugged.

Kailee looked over all the carts that were set up through the village. They each offered a different trade that the villager ran. She walked along the path under Lance’s arm. She followed him to a building towards the far side of the village. An older man walked out and greeted Lance.

“I figured it was about time for you to place another order.” The kind man’s voice rang out.

“Yes, I have a long list for you.”

Kailee looked off in the distance and their voices quietly blended into the background. At the far end of the dusty road was a familiar house surrounded by thick well-trimmed bushes. It was the place she grew up but could hardly call it her home. She had been so close to the village but was never allowed to venture into it. She frowned as she looked at the place. She didn’t have a lot of fond memories there. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Reggie watching her. So she immediately put a smile on her face and looked away from the house. She didn’t want anyone to worry more about her than they already have.

“Would you like to look at some of the new baby lambs in the back?”

Kailee’s ears perked up as she turned to look at the older man. He had asked Lance about looking at the goats. Before he could answer…

“Yes!” She then grinned. “I mean… can we?”

Lance chuckled. “I have a couple more things to do, but Reggie will go with you.”

Kailee turned and flashed him a wide smile. He was already smiling back at her.

“Let’s go little rabbit.” He walked up to her and took her arm in his own. He then led her around the building to where another smaller building was with a fence. Inside of the fence were several baby lambs jumping around and butting heads together.

“They are adorable.” Kailee gushed as she ran over to the fence.

“They look delicious.” Reggie teased and she turned and looked at him mortified.

“What?!”

“They are being sold for meat. Lamb chops.” He raised his eyes at her and she gasped and covered her mouth. She turned and looked at the little lambs and frowned.

“Can’t they be kept to grow up as adult sheep?” Kailee asked quietly.

“Sure, if someone wants them for that. But the primary reason is for meat my dear.”

Kailee looked at the little lambs and continued to frown. Reggie walked up behind her and chuckled. “In this situation little rabbit you can actually be the predator.”

“I don’t like looking at my food when it is still alive.” Kailee reached out and rested her hands on the fence. “Look how happy they are too.”

“It seems like no matter where I go we are destined to meet.”

Kailee tensed as she heard the sound of a familiar voice. She straightened up immediately and turned to see her uncle walking closer. She took a small retreating step away from him.

“What? No hug? Haven’t you missed me?” Fredrick’s lips curled upwards.

Kailee took another step backwards and ended up in Reggie’s chest. She felt his strong arm settle around her as his eyes glared at her uncle.

“Is this your husband, Kailee?” Fredrick looked at the man with interest.

Reggie answered quickly. “It doesn’t concern you who I am to her, does it? She is not your business.” His voice was cold as his grip on Kailee tightened.

“I AM her only living relative.” Fredrick’s gaze set again on Kailee. “And I have been the one to take care of you all of these years.”

Kailee squeezed her fingers into little fists. He took care of her? He offered a roof over her head and scraps to eat. Sure, she wasn’t homeless, but she wasn’t exactly taken care of.

Reggie’s fingers curled around Kailee. His posture was relaxed and a small smile played on his lips. “It doesn’t matter who you are or who you were to her. She doesn’t belong to you. She’s taken. To you she is someone who is leaps and bounds above you.” He pulled Kailee and took a few steps away. He stopped and looked at Fredrick with cold and savage eyes. “Do remember to speak to her properly the next time you meet? Otherwise, I may lose my temper.” His tone was low and threatening, showing that he meant what he was saying.

Reggie didn’t give the jaw dropped man a chance to say anything further. Instead he led Kailee away.

“He is going to think it is you, you know that right?” Kailee said with a frown.

“You mean he is going to think I am your husband… Is that a bad thing?” Reggie smiled as he continued to walk away with her.

Her face was serious as her lips were still curved down. “He will look for your face if he decides to retaliate…” Her body involuntarily shuddered. She realized that deep down she was a bit afraid of her uncle. Or more like she was afraid of what her uncle was capable of. “I don’t trust him.” Her voice trailed off quietly.

Reggie looked down at her quietly. Then he squeezed her shoulder and gave her a confident smile. “I’m not worried about that man. He comes looking for a fight then I’ll give it to him.”

“I don’t think he is the type to fight fair. If he decides to fight it would be from behind while your back is turned.” Kailee looked up at him and he nodded his head.

“I already know this. But I’m not afraid of him. You are no longer his business. But I can still see he looks at you like you are his. And that is a problem for me.” Reggie said with a low snarl. “If he touches you… I’ll destroy him… I really don’t like how he looks at you.” His voice trailed off quietly as he looked off ahead of him. Her uncle looked at Kailee with possessive eyes as if she was his property.

“Reggie!”

Kailee watched as a man walked towards them. He had a big grin plastered across his face as he approached.

“I heard you were in town, you should have stopped to see me.” The man looked at Kailee curiously.

“I’ve been a bit busy.” Reggie looked at Kailee and then up to the man. “How have you been Will?”

“I’ve been good.” Will’s eyes were locked on the brown ones in front of him.

This man was also very similar in body type and hair color. Thank goodness his eyes were hazel and not green. Still his gaze upon her seemed to be more than curious. He looked intrigued by the way Reggie had his arm around her. And she could tell he was curious about the two of them. The next thing he said proved just that.

“Are you going to introduce me to your…” Will smiled and then directed his attention back to Reggie.

Reggie grinned widely and shrugged. “This is my Kailee.”

Kailee looked up at him quietly. She kept herself composed though. He was trying to allude to everyone that she belonged to him. Who knows… maybe she did?

A loud commotion started taking place a few buildings over. There was loud shouting and screaming.

“Fire!”

“There is a child inside!”