Making a New Life
Chapter 1
DG didn't know exactly when she fell in love with him. She did know that over the course of their journey he was always there, her Tin Man, a constant companion among companions.
Now, 3 months after the battle at the tower, he has really started to change into the man she believed he was before the Tin Suit. There was a light in his eyes now. The queen had made him her personal guard. He moved into the guard's room next to her chambers at Central Palace not long after that. He escorts her everywhere, including meetings with her so called suitors. They parade in front of her like they are God's gift; a few even tried to get a little fresh but a few glares and growls from her loyal Tin Man put an end to that. They irritate her as much as the gowns that she has to wear now. But here in her rooms she can relax and just be DG. She looked up at the knock on her door
"Come in." The door opened to reveal Cain, her protector, her Tin Man.
"Hello, Princess," he says. "I brought you some tea." He sat the tray on the small table in front of her.
"Thank you."
"Well, good night, Princess."
"Wyatt, wait. Stay with me for a while. I'm not ready to sleep and I don't want to be alone. Please?" He looks at her for a moment before sitting in the chair across from her placing his hat on the table and throwing his mossy green duster over the arm of the chair. The ever present gunbelt he laid on the floor next to the chair he sat in.
"Alright," He says. He continued to watch her as they sat quietly together..
"What?" she asked. He grins. That small smile that was so rare in the first week of knowing him now graced his handsome features more often, she loved it.
"You called me Wyatt."
"Oh, did I?"
"Yes."
"Sorry, I didn't realize I had done that." That's a lie and she knew that he knew that.
"No, it's alright. I don't mind." My parents might though, she thought to herself.
"I miss the way it was before. Before we found out that I was Princess Dorothy Gale, I mean," she got up and moved over to the window pulling her terry robe a little tighter around her. "You know, when I was just plain, DG." He got up and moved a few steps behind her.
"Princess, I knew who you were for a while, when Mystic Man said that your mother had lavender eyes. That was when I swore to myself that I would protect you, no matter what."
She can feel the tears start to form behind her eyes. "The point is that I don't know what I am doing, Cain! Everyone looks at me like I am some sort of savior. I'm not! The whole thing was my fault to begin with! And stop calling me 'Princess'!!" She's crying now, something she swore she'd never do in front of him, but she can't hold it in anymore.
"Prin… DG, you were only a little girl. You couldn't have known what would happen. No one blames you." He tried to console her but she turned quickly to face him.
"They should! Don't you get that! My sister had her life stolen because of me!" She screamed at him. To his credit he didn't flinch when she threw herself at him, hitting his chest with her fists, sobbing and screaming. "It's my fault! It's my fault!" He wrapped his strong arms around her and led her back to the settee she had been sitting on. "Don't let go," she sobbed. He didn't.
"Easy, DG, I've got you. I'm not letting go. Just let it out, you'll feel better." She didn't know how long they stayed that way, her sobbing in his arms while he tried to soothe her broken spirit. As her tears subsided she took a deep breath to calm down and couldn't help but inhale his scent of gunpowder, leather and something that was uniquely Wyatt Cain. She loved it. She loved him. She looked up at him, and he looked down at her. As their eyes met she knew what she wanted. Him. She knew she had to tell him that she loved him.
"Cain?"
"Yes?"
"Will you kiss me?" He doesn't answer her for a moment, just looked into her eyes. To her it felt like he had been looking into her soul.
"I shouldn't. I shouldn't feel this way for you. You're the Princess of the Realm. You are my charge." His voice was soft as his hand rose to caress her cheek. It was so gentle that she could barely feel it. "I am so much older than you, DG. I'm nearly 40 annuals, I've lost my wife and my son is grown. There are so many reasons why we shouldn't be together. So why do I feel so drawn to you? Why can't I turn away?" He drew her closer to him and it was the barest brush of his lips on hers. The smallest mewling sound that escaped despite her efforts to remain quiet. Encouraged, he deepened the kiss, taking possession of her mouth and leaving her breathless. The kiss broke and they were both gasping for breath.
"Wow," he whispered.
"Tomorrow, I'm gonna tell my mother that I'm not gonna see more suitors. I don't want them and all they want is the power, prestige, and position marrying me will give them. I want you. I love you, Wyatt."
"Oh, DG, my Princess, I love you, too."
They sat there together for a while longer. Cain was holding her tightly like he was afraid she would disappear. All DG cared about was that he was holding her and he loved her. For the first time in a long time sleep came easily.