N. Walters - Strands of Love

Jace frowned at his brother and then turned to her. “What is your choice?”

“I choose you both, but I think Darian is right. I’ll marry you.”

Jace’s lips curved into a smile and he suddenly looked like a younger version of himself. It was as though the years and responsibilities had melted away. Sam knew she’d made the right choice.

He lifted her in his arms and began to walk toward Hunter Keep. Darian laughed and fell into step beside them. “Let me know when you grow tired and I will carry Sam for a while.” Sam could hear the teasing note in Darian’s voice and frowned at him over Jace’s shoulder.

“Never. I shall never tire of carrying Sam.” The truth of that struck her like a bolt of lightning. Sam knew both men would love her, now and always.

“Take me home.” She reached out a hand to Darian and linked fingers with them as the three of them made their way home.

Tim snapped several pictures on his phone and prayed they’d come out. Mary would never believe him otherwise. The wind swirled and grew stronger until it became difficult for him to stand upright. He tucked the phone in his pocket and linked his arm around the porch railing to keep from being swept away by the powerful force of the wind.

Sam’s voice reached him over the growing din. “Tim. Check the papers on my desk. And take care of Arrow.”

He tried to answer, but his voice was swallowed by a powerful gust. The world seemed to explode and he was knocked on his ass. When he sat up, choking on dust, the three of them were gone and so was the tapestry that had appeared out of nowhere.

He’d seen the whole damn thing with his own two eyes and still couldn’t quite believe what had happened. It was all true, everything Sam and the two boys had told him.

Sam was gone. Forever.

Tim climbed to his feet and rubbed his eyes, then spit the taste of dust from his mouth. He’d never see Sam again.

The door banged shut behind him when he entered the empty house. His boots felt heavy on the wood floor and seemed to echo. It was as though the house knew the last Calloway was gone for good.

He knew where the office was, had spent many an hour there with Sam’s father and brother. There was a small pile of papers sitting on the corner of the desk just as she’d said. He lifted them and started reading.

“Sam, what have you done?” She’d given the farm to him and Mary with instructions to do whatever he wanted with it. The only stipulation she made was they weren’t to sell it to George Rawlins. As if he’d give that low-down jackass the time of day.

He plucked his phone out of his pocket and went straight to his pictures. There were two good ones of Sam standing in the rain with Jace and Darian on either side of them. There was no denying the love and concern he saw in both men’s eyes.

Tim tucked his phone away and walked to a family picture sitting on the shelf. He lifted it and rubbed his thumb over the faded images. “Well, Cal, your little girl has grown up into a fine woman. She met a couple of men who will take good care of her.” Felt strange to be saying such a thing. He didn’t know how such a relationship could work, but who was he to judge.

“Sue,” he addressed Sam’s mother. “Your little girl will be just fine.” He set the picture back on the shelf. They were all gone now.

Tim suddenly had a deep need to hold his Mary in his arms. He pocketed the papers and walked through the house, pausing long enough to shut off the coffeepot. He’d deal with the legalities in a few days. It would be easy enough to spin a story about Sam running off to marry one of the Hunter brothers. No one would wonder about her wanting to leave the backbreaking work of farming and her family tragedies behind and start anew.

He shut the door behind him and breathed in the cooler air. A light rain pattered gently onto the ground. It was the perfect kind of rain for the crops. Tim foresaw a good harvest this year.

Plenty of time to figure out what he was going to do with two farms. He would need to talk to Mary about that. He pulled the door shut behind him and trudged to his truck. His heart was heavy. Sam was like a daughter to him and Mary, and they would miss and mourn her. They’d never see her children or know that she was okay.

Arrow appeared out of nowhere and twined around Tim’s feet. He stared down at the rather large feline. “Guess you better come with me, boy.” He lifted the large black cat and carried him to the truck. Arrow quickly made himself at home on the passenger seat. Tim shook his head, knowing the cat would be ruling his barn by this time tomorrow.

He started the truck and stared back at the yard where only moments ago Sam had stood. He’d have to have faith that she was happy and healthy. If the Hunter brothers had anything to do with it, she would be.

“Goodbye, Sam,” he whispered as he drove away.

Sam looked out over the crowd that had assembled to celebrate her joining with Jace. Personally, she looked at it as the three of them getting married. Both men knew that and seemed equally amused and pleased by her attitude.

The great hall was filled with music, conversation and laughter. Food and drink flowed freely. Sam couldn’t believe how quickly Edwina had organized the whole thing. You’d never think they’d had only had a few weeks to pull together a wedding feast for such a large group.

She was still amazed how quickly she’d found a place here among the people of Hunter Keep. She loved working in the fields alongside the men. Though the men had a hard time watching her do hard physical labor—they were very protective of their women here—they accepted that she was good at it and it made her happy. Sam was constantly learning more about her new home each day and loved it.

And Edwina was the best mother-in-law a girl could ever have. Totally accepting, she encouraged Sam and supported her having a hand in the farming aspect of the keep. She knew she could go to Edwina for help or advice any time at all.

Sam rubbed her hand over the fancy dress she currently wore. The material had been dyed a soft yellow and was embroidered around the neckline and hem with beautiful flowers. Edwina had made it for her and it was obvious the other woman had a talent when it came to making clothing. They’d already put their heads together to plan a new wardrobe for Sam. Lots of pants and tunics, but a few skirts and dresses as well.

Currently her two men were chatting with some of the guests who’d come from across the land to help them celebrate. They were both incredibly handsome in their leather pants and embroidered tunics. They’d replaced their regular bronze-colored arm- and wristbands with ones made out of silver. Jace wore a silver torque around his neck, a symbol of his leadership and his rightful place as lord of Hunter Keep. Beside him, Darian was no less impressive.

Jace and Darian had sent word to the families of the other tapestry brides, inviting them to Hunter Keep. She knew they’d done it for her, knowing she’d want to talk to the other women who’d left their former lives behind to live in Javara.

Sam smiled when she saw Christina Garen and her husband. Jarek was a big man—as most of the men in this world seemed to be—and he doted on his wife. They’d brought their five children with them, but it was obvious all the brothers doted on their sister. The little girl—Allina—twirled in circles, the hem of her dress belling out around her while her two older brothers Baron and Derrick kept a watchful eye. Her two younger brothers played at their father’s feet.

Then there was Jane Bakra. The woman had a great sense of humor and was a font of information about how to deal with two overbearing warriors. Sam had a feeling she and Jane would be exchanging more than one letter in the coming months. Her husband Zaren Bakra was more than a little intimidating and his younger brother Bador wasn’t much different. They hovered around Jane as though they expected someone to try to steal her any second. Sam figured anyone dumb enough to try deserved what they got. They had twin boys who were a whirlwind of energy and seemed to be everywhere at once.