Who Is My Husband
Scene 43

Lance grabbed Kailee by the hand and stood up, lifting her up with him. “Let’s go have some fun before we go back.”

“Oh yeah… speaking of fun.” Kailee gave Grum a deadly stare. “I owe you. I’m never trusting you again when it comes to food.”

Grum chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “What are you going to do about it, little kitten?”

“Looks like someone wants his daily dose of vegetables again.” Kailee let Lance lead her out from the gazebo and they walked back towards the town. As they walked Kailee spotted a large pile of mud. She nudged Lance and motioned her eyes towards the pile. She watched as a small grin rose on his lips. She trailed behind Grum and as they passed the pile, she grabbed two large handfuls of it. She ran in front of Grum and launched her mud grenades at him.

PLOP PLOP

A dark brownish green muddy murky pile of mud landed right on his face while the other hit his forehead. Lance started doubling over with laughter as Grum took his two fingers wiping off the large chunks of mud.

“I suggest…” Grum said in a lethal voice. “You run. Though you are only adding to the thrill of the chase for me.”

Kailee squealed and dashed forward into the village. She dodged villagers as she listened to the loud footsteps coming closer. She let out a giggle as she sprinted as fast as she could. She looked up and noticed Will, Ty and Phill still standing together. She could play the damsel in distress, right? She dove forward between the men and stood there panting behind Will.

Will looked at her confused and then glanced back towards Grum. Grum had dried mud smeared over his face. He raised his hand to his mouth as he stifled a laugh. Ty and Phil also pieced together what had happened and began chuckling loudly.

“Kitten. You wouldn’t be hiding from me, would you?” Grum said in a low tone as Lance jogged up behind him.

“Who would hide from you? I am just catching my breath from running from some crazy mud monster.” Kailee peered out to Grum from between Will and Phill.

“Do you think these men can save you? Hardly. You’ve picked the wrong heroes.” Grum said as he straightened up with a smirk on his face.

“Oh Grum. Tsk Tsk. You have no idea how wrong you are right now. You are acting like these men are the heroes.” Kailee giggled and then straightened up. She took a small step forward, squeezing through Will and Phill. “I am the hero here. I don’t need anyone to save me because I can save myself.”

Grum chuckled. “Look at you hissing at me until the end.”

Lance walked up by Kailee’s side as he controlled his laughter. “You can be the hero Kailee, but I am still your knight. And it is my duty to protect you even if you can protect yourself.” He then looked back at Grum. “Game over.”

“No way. She just won this round. But there will be others.” Grum said with a smirk.

“Like I said. I am never trusting you with food again.” Kailee stuck her tongue out at him.

“What did he make you try this time?” Ty asked.

Kailee turned and looked at Ty. “Well technically he just didn’t tell me that the apple cider was spicy. But who would do that to someone?! I took a big gulp and everything. I still don’t feel that me throwing mud in his face is enough. He needs to eat a bowl of spinach.”

“Now that’s a bit harsh. Don’t you think?” Grum said as he scrunched up his face in disgust over the idea.

“I don’t think so. My mouth could have undergone permanent heat damage from the spice.” Kailee said with a small pout.

“I saw it with my own eyes. It was a wyvern.” A woman said to another woman.

“Les, are you sure?” The woman asked.

“I’ve seen them before. I am confident. It was a wyvern, and it was breathing fire.” Les said as the two women walked away.

“A fire breathing wyvern?” Will asked with his eyes raised.

“That would be extremely rare.” Ty said with his brows furrowed.

“We heard another woman saying earlier that the mill on…” Grum stopped and cleared his throat as he looked at Kailee.

Kailee looked up at him and smiled. “You can talk about it, Grum. The old mill that is located on what was once my parent’s property was burned down by a fire breathing wyvern.” She shrugged. “That wasn’t the part I was upset about. It was the fact that you wouldn’t let me go and look.”

“That isn’t a good idea.” Ty said with a shrug.

Kailee spun around and shot daggers at him. “Thanks, but if I wanted your opinion I would have asked for it. As it is I have enough people in my life telling me no. I don’t need one more thinking they are entitled to do the same.”

“I think the one breathing fire is you.” Grum said as he started laughing. “Our fire breathing kitten.”

“It really doesn’t say much about me anyways. I mean you guys are the ones who said you could protect me and keep me safe. But obviously you are not very confident in your skills.” Kailee gave Grum a poisonous sweet smile.

Grum chuckled. “I’ll take you to the mill now to prove it…” He laughed and rolled his eyes at her. “Nice try.”

Kailee was really half playing. And she enjoyed teasing Grum. But Ty had no business telling her it wasn’t safe. That is what sparked her fire. She looked at Ty and studied him. He didn’t have her husband’s scent but he reminded her of Trey. His voice, features, his eyes… of course Phill was a lot like Trey also. Too many shared characteristics.

“Come on Kailee. Let’s go play some games. They have a lot of different activities set up. Some of the games you can win prizes.” Lance nudged her and grinned. “You want me to win you a prize?” He said, raising his eyes at her.

Kailee giggled. “Like I said. I’m my own hero. I’ll win my own prize.”

“Trey will cry if he hears you talk like that.” Lance gave her a wry smile.

“No, he wouldn’t.” Kailee giggled out. “I think he would prefer for me to win my own prize instead of it coming from another man.”

“Touche.” Grum said with a wide grin.

“What kind of games are we talking about here? I mean arm-wrestling competitions may be out of my league. I mean unless I played dirty.” Kailee said as she pondered over the idea.

“What would playing dirty entail? No wait… I don’t think you should tell me.” Lance shook his head.

“There is a dart-throwing competition, an axe-throwing competition, there is the dunk tub, the sack race and-” Will began to list the activities.

“A sack race?” Kailee asked, interrupting Will.

“Yes, you have to get in a sack and hop to the finish line.” Will watched as Kailee’s eyes lit up. She turned and looked at Grum. “That. We are doing that!”

“We are done until tomorrow for our next job. What do you say Ty?” Phill asked with a smirk.

“I’ll accept the challenge. Will?” Ty asked.

“Heck yeah. I love competition.” Will said and beamed widely.

“Then let’s make the competition even more fun.” Phill said with a twinkle in his eye. “Whoever wins gets to take Kailee on the wagon ride.”

Kailee arched her eyebrow up at Phil and looked up at Lance.

“Pretty high stakes. My lord won’t appreciate just anyone going on a wagon ride with his bride.” Lance then shrugged. “Not that you will win anyways.”

“Alright. Let’s do it.” Grum said, accepting the challenge.

“Ummm. Hellloooooo?” Kailee said, raising her eyes and waving her hand in front of the men. “Hi hello. I’m Kailee. I have my own brain and my own voice. Surprisingly for being a girl I can use my mind and think just fine. Try asking me a question. I bet I can answer it. Kailee, would you like to be the prize in our boring macho male bonding game?” Kailee said fake talking like a man during the last part. She rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest.

“Kailee. Would you do us the honors of adding a bit of sport to our competition?” Will begged with a fake pout.

“What is the wagon ride anyways?” Kailee asked, confused with a small giggle.

“Well, usually it is filled with kids. But a wagon full of hay drives around and they light the torches around the village. Then we each have a basket of fruit that we can throw at anyone who gets too close to the wagon.” Will explained as he looked upwards as he remembered the details.

“We get to throw fruit at people? I’m in! Okay. But I’m racing too. And if I win, I get to choose my own partner.” Kailee smirked.

Lance chuckled. “Perfect. Come on. If we hurry we should be able to get in on the next race.”

Lance helped Kailee into a brown sack and then hopped into his own. He held the sack up and hopped up to the starting line. Grum, Will, Phil, and Ty were already there. Along with several children and a few other adults. Kailee bit her bottom l*p to stop from giggling at the sight. They looked ridiculous. She slowly hopped her way over squeezing in between Ty and Lance.

“You guys look hilarious.” Kailee finally began giggling uncontrollably.

“What will be hilarious is you eating my dust kitten.” Grum said from the other side of Lance.

“You may beat me at this because I have shorter legs. But I think you are being awful confident that you are the best here.” Kailee lifted her eyes up at Lance who nodded his head in agreement.

“Grum, you are going to be having a healthy helping of humble pie after this.” Lance chuckled as he lifted his sack up slightly. He curled the fabric in his fingers and gave Kailee a wry smile. “Be careful not to trip yourself up. Otherwise, you are going to fall.”

“Awe. See Grum. Lance still cares about me. He is giving me advice. You are so cutthroat.” Kailee gave him a fake evil eye look.

“There are no teammates in this game. Every man or kitten for themselves.” Grum smirked back at her.

“Or child whichever the case may be.” Kailee flashed her teeth at him in a wide grin and listened to his quiet chuckle.

“Be careful you don’t want to get ran over.” Ty said winking at Kailee who rolled her eyes at him.

A man walked out in front of them with a flag. He waved it back in forth. “On your marks. Get set. GO!”