The trio made it back to the small home of Adela and August and during the short journey Kass and Adela proceeded to tell August of all that had happened, including the details of the old woman's demise.
After they had eaten supper, August had gone to take a nap and Adela went to look at her garden. So much had happened and she needed to think.
Standing beside the scarecrow she remember the look on the old woman's face as she teetered backward. Remembered the fear and horror. She could still hear the wailing as the flames licked at her skin and the metal door slammed shut, sealing her fate. The vision would never leave her and it was not something she wanted to think about for the rest of her life.
"If it wasn't for you," the deep baritone voice startled the young woman, but she never glanced back, "we would all be done for. You saved us all, Adela. You saved me twice. I will never be able to repay you for what you have done. No treasure would ever be enough. No piece of land large enough." He stopped just behind her.
Adela was silent and stone still. Tears were welling up in her blue eyes again envisioning the old woman falling into the fireplace.
Sensing something was wrong and knowing exactly what it was, he closed the gap between them and wrapped his protective arms around her. "She was a witch. She would have just kept on killing."
Turning in his arms, she pressed her face against the rough fabric of his shirt covering his chest. "But I killed her, Kass. I keep seeing her face in my mind as she realized she was going to fall. I keep seeing the flames starting to eat at her. I hear her screams. I killed her." Her voice trembled and tears spilled from her eyes.
His hands rubbed up between her shoulder blades and down the length of her back. "But you saved your brother and I." There was a pained tone laced in his words. She would never have had those dreadful scenes playing out in her mind ifit hadn't been for him. If only he could have kept his promise and not gotten lost in the spell. He had failed her. And now she was paying the price. "Nothing I can say or do will take away those visions, Adela, but you have to realize she was an evil, evil woman who would have burned your brother and I without a second thought. The right thing to do is often the hardest. I am sorry about what you saw, Adela, truly I am and if I could take it away I would in an instant…but I can't."
They simply stayed like that for a long while. Saying nothing as Kass held onto her, she was shaking like a leaf with sobs. After a while he started to hear small squeaks, he passed them off as hiccups, but as they persisted he started to frown. Those weren't hiccups, but she couldn't be….
"You're laughing!" He exclaimed in surprise as he pulled back from her and she finally released her, up until then, silent laughter.
"Oh, I-I am sorry, b-but…" She started to calm down a bit, but her eyes were still bright and there was a wide grin on her lips. "I was just thinking of all those village girls who dreamed of adventure and hated me because I was too beautiful and just thinking that I got what they wanted. I got their adventure." She broke off in laughter again before calming down and seeing his shocked look. "Oh, Kass, don't look at me like that. They were so terrible towards me. Worse then my stepmother sometimes. I never wanted an adventure; I did not mind all the little tasks to becoming a lady like all the rest. But it turns out I got what they wanted and they're stuck with what I had never minded to be in the first place."
"You, my angel, are one horrible person." But there was a bemused grin on his lips betraying his real thoughts. All Adela could do was blush at the angel nickname.
Something gleamed out of the corner of her eye and she noticed the ring still on her finger. "Your ring. Here." Slipping it off her finger she placed it in his hand.
"Thank you. You kept it safe for me." They smiled at each other for a few moments in silence before Kass looked away. "I-I think I know the way home now. Well, to my home at least."
Her eyes lighted up and she beamed brighter at him. "You-you do?" Laughing she grabbed onto his hand and ran off in the direction to where August was napping. "Come on. We have to tell August!"
August was about as excited as his sister and right the next day Kass was leading them back again to the witch's house then passed it. They walked until nightfall before they finally stopped to get a good night's sleep. In the morning just after noon Kass was ahead of August and Adela and they heard him give a shout.
Assuming he was hurt they ran to where he was only to have their breath taken away. They were standing on top of a lush green hill outside of the woods and looking down at a small town. But what had made them gasp was just beyond that was a giant stone castle.
"There's something I have to tell you before we go any farther. I'm a prince." He paused, but there were no gasps or really any shocked looks. "That's why the witch wasn't going to kill me. I was special, so she turned me into a tree and raven." He paused again. Still nothing. "I live in the castle and I will do anything and everything in my power to find your little town and return you to your Father." Stopping he simply waited for something…anything.
"Kass. You were a bird, then a tree, and then a man. Did you really think being a prince would come as a shock to us? You've kind of shocked us out." August looked rather amused by this turn of events while his sister was a little more surprised.
"August." She gave him on her chastising looks before looking back at the prince. "Why didn't you tell us sooner, Kass?"
"It wasn't important at the time."
"And you think it is now? It's actually kind of a let down after the talking bird, then a tree. A prince isn't so interesting any more." August asked with a smirk on his lips.
"August!" Adela shot him another look. "Well, it's a surprise to me. And it's sweet of you to offer to find our Father."
"But not really that surprising considering you do owe her and all." Her brother concluded.
Adela fixed a glare on her brother and seemed ready to throw her first punch when she heard Kass's deep laughter.
"Does that mean you'll come to my castle then?" There was hope in his voice mingled with uncertainty.
"Do we have much of a choice?" Adela lunged, but rather than tackling her sarcastic brother she did the torture she was the best at. Not hitting or kicking, but tickling. Ladylike tickling.
"You need to learn some manners. You are quite rude." Her small fingers dug into his most ticklish spots as he squirmed and unsuccessfully tried to get away. After she was satisfied she had taught August a lesson she pulled away and turned to Kass who had been laughing all the while. "Yes, Kass, we would love to visit your castle."
"Then let's go." Kass grabbed her hand, she in turn grabbed August's and they took off down the hills and to the castle.
They entered the castle through the kitchen, Adela and August timidly following behind Kass.
"Who are these rascals in my kitchen?" As the three had been winding through the hot, bustling kitchen a rather short, plump woman who was about Adela's father's age stepped into their path.
"Gretel! It's me. Kass." Suddenly the woman's eyes widened.
"Kass? Is that really you! Oh, Your Highness! We've all been so worried about you! You've been missing for, well, two years! Where have you been? Are you all right? Good Lord! I can't believe it's you! Your mother and father will be so relieved!" The woman pulled him into a fierce hug, tears stinging at her eyes, that's when she noticed the two behind him. "And who are these rug rats?"
"It's a long story that I don't feel like getting into right now. These are my friends." He turned. "August and Adela. Without them I'd still be lost." With a smile he turned back towards the woman. "We need some baths and rest right now. Would you mind if we sent a servant down with requests for food when we're done?"
"Not at all. I'm just so glad you're back, Kass." She hugged him again then released him.
They made it out of the kitchens and he was leading them down a hallway to the baths when the prince stopped cold in his tracks. Confused, Adela and August looked from him then down the corridor to see a man coming towards them. He was dressed simply yet he stood tall and straight.
"Father." Kass's voice was soft, but the man heard it.
"Kass?" The man echoed and soon they were swiftly walking towards each other then embracing. "Oh, Kass, we've been so worried about you! What happened! Oh, you're so dirty."
"Father, I've had such an adventure. But first I have to introduce you to some people." Pulling away from his Father's embrace he led the man over to August and Adela. "This is August." The man extended his hand to the young lad and shook his hand.
"And who is this lovely young lady?"
Adela blushed as the King's eyes fell upon her. "This is Adela. She rescued me, Father, well, us, August and I. Without her I would still be lost." Kass looked at Adela with such an intense gaze that she blushed even deeper and had to look away.
"Kass?" A soft voice of a woman's came just behind Adela. Turning she saw a beautiful woman with fiery red hair and Kass's honey colored eyes staring in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me our son had returned?" There were tears running down the woman's cheeks as she rushed over and gathered Kass in her arms.
"I only just found out, my love." The little group stood there for quite a while. "I want to hear all about your adventure, Kass."
"I know, father, but first we need baths and clean clothes and rest. Then we'll tell you everything. Mother, can you get Adela settled?" Kass looked at the queen who nodded. Moving to the young woman, the elder wrapped her arm around the young woman's shoulders.
"Of course, don't worry I'll take good care of you, sweetheart. I should have some gowns that will fit until the seamstress can make some of your own." She led Adela off down the hallway and the young woman gave a backward glance to Kass and August, but she knew she was in good hands with Kass's mother.
The bath seemed to take hours. Adela thought she learned a good scrubbing from the Alligator Lady, but she was wrong. The serving women scrubbed until her skin was pink. A year's worth of dirt and cool stream water was washed away with soft bristle brushes and fragrant soap.
Afterwards the women dress her in a frilly, soft nightgown before taking her to a bedroom that was almost as big as her papa's entire cottage! Adela fell asleep on a bed with covers that felt as soft as a foal's velvet muzzle and was as big as the entire shelter they had built in the woods. She felt like a tiny doll in a giant's world.
When she awoke she was surprised to discover it was already the next morning and that she was in a soft bed. Her memories were slow to return.
Her feet had just touched the marble floor when a servant came bustling in.
"Oh, my lady, you're awake. Gracious, you gave me a start. 'Course those boys are up and starting breakfast all ready," she was an older woman with hair swept in a bun and a kind face. At the moment she was shoving open curtains. "But we women need our beauty rest. If it had been me sleeping in those trees or on a dirt floor for a year or two, gracious, I'd be in slumber 'til supper!" Adela just stared at the woman who now had opened a trunk and was pulling out beautiful dresses. "It's going to be warm out today, my lady, might I suggest either this pink or yellow gown? They're made out of light fabric."
Adela was transfixed on the beauty of the dresses. She had never seen the light colors or stitching so fine. Running a hand over one of the gowns, she lightly and carefully touched the lace on it. Lace was rare in her town. It was tricky to make and no one had the patience to make it. "I have never seen gowns so beautiful." The old woman just smiled knowingly and said nothing more as her charge continued to marvel at the gowns. "May I wear the pink one?" She asked shyly.
The servant smiled still. "As you wish, my lady. The pink will look lovely on you."
"I still can not believe that shy, delicate young woman rescued you. Why she looked fit to faint when I told her we should go for a ride on the horses when she gets rested." The queen was quite stunned over the idea as she ate her fruit.
"August and her have been through quite an ordeal, mother, but I can assure you she is not a doll. She is not as fragile as she may seem to be." Kass glanced to his left and a brow rose bemusedly as he witnessed August continue to try every piece of food that was being served and the countless expressions and head movements was enough to entertain for a good while.
Glancing up at the doorway he noticed Adela enter, but his eyes slid over to his father ready to ask a question then suddenly snapped back to the doorway. Adela was entering. The question long forgotten now, he stood up and moved over to her. He had always believed she was beautiful, but the pale pink gown brought out the golden tint of her hair and blue eyes. Not to mention it went with that rose pink blush on her cheeks. "Adela," there was a surprised note in his voice, "you look wonderful this morning. Come, have breakfast with us." He offered his arm to her, which she took with a deepening blush, and then sat in the chair he pulled back for her, right across the table from his own seat.
The queen and king exchanged glances before the king turned to her. "Kass has told us about your journey and how you rescued him. We owe to you our deepest gratitude for saving and returning our son to us. He also told us of your wish to return home and I sent our best knights out this morning to search for your little village and cottage. I must tell you though, my dear, your village is on none of our maps and I feel finding your home is so little a repayment to the large debt we owe you. Is there not something else you might like? Perhaps a large room full of jewels and gold? Or would you like a piece of land, a title, and three-dozen of the best horses? Anything, my dear, you will have it in a heartbeat." Everyone looked at her expectantly.
Feeling rather like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, Adela shifted uncomfortably. Her starved stomach suddenly decided it didn't need the food that had been placed before her after all. What could she say? She did not want anything. She did not need anything either.
Kass sensed the tension Adela was having and quickly intervened. "I think she needs time to think, father. She has been sleeping on a dirt floor for a year, I'm sure her mind is still on that bed she has just slept in." It was meant as a joke that Adela was grateful for, although he didn't know how close to the truth he had come. The bed had been huge! "I have an idea, how about after breakfast I show you the gardens, Adela? Your gardens in the woods were nothing compared to the ones here. You'll love them. How about it? And you, August, will you join us?"
"Ah, if you don't mind I'd rather like to explore the kitchens and figure out the mysteries behind these foods. Maybe another time." August said all this while staring at a particular fruit coated in a layer of puffy pastry.
"Are there vegetable gardens too?" Adela spoke softly and a blush stole up her cheeks again afterward.
"But of course!" And that launched the prince into a lengthy discussion describing the gardens in great detail.
True to his word the prince showed Adela every square inch of the gardens. They were in the flower garden and Adela was holding onto his arm, listening intently as he described the various plants when a group of young men shouted to Kass.
The group came down the path and after Kass and the four young men traded hugs and long due hellos before he stepped back to Adela's side and introduced her to his friends.
"Well isn't she just the most beautiful flower here in the garden? Kass, would you mind if I escorted the rose further up the path? My father's fountain is just over there and I would like to tell her about it." The man who spoke was handsome. Of course they were all handsome. He had dark hair like Kass and a kind face with a playful smirk on his lips.
"Of course. Well, you better make sure it's all right with her. Just don't brag too much, it really isn't flattering for you." Kass grinned and patted Adela's hand reassuringly as she cast him a worried look, but she floated right over to his friend and placed her hand on his arm.
They led her away and Kass made a move to follow when another one of his friend's placed a hand on his arm. Turning he was met by a pair of emerald eyes, this man had been his best friend since Kass was little. The young man had freckles about his nose and under his eyes and as he ran a hand through his fiery red hair he messed up the locks even more. "Kass, you trust me right?"
With a frown Kass nodded. "I always have."
The young man threw a glance down the path to where he witnessed Adela giggling at something their friends had said. "Don't marry her."
"What are you talking about!" Stunned the prince just stared at his friend.
"Don't play innocent, I know you better than that. I see the way you look at her, the touches you give her and I bet you don't even notice them. You're in love with her and don't deny it." His gaze returned to his friend with a disapproving scowl on his lips.
"Fine. Then let's pretend that maybe I do have feelings for her, why shouldn't I marry her?" Kass didn't like the direction this conversation was taking any more than he liked seeing his friends making Adela giggle and handing her flowers. He wanted to get back over to her.
"Think about, Kass. She's a sweet lady; anyone can see that, do you really think she would be able to handle the criticisms she may get? You may be the king-to-be, but your position isn't without its downfalls. I know because I watched you struggle. You've been through it; do you truly think she would be able to handle it? The rumors, the scandal, and the way every noble woman here try to sabotage one another? She'll be in the spotlight, Kass. Everyone's eyes will constantly be on her, do you think she can handle that pressure. Do you think it's fair of you to ask that? What about the loneliness, Kass? You'll constantly be busy, traveling, paperwork, and wars are inevitable. She does not strike me as the type of woman who should be left alone for long. She's too precious for that. You may deserve her, Kass, but does she deserve you?" His friend then left to go rejoin his other friends, leaving Kass simply standing there, in shock, and thinking over what his friend had said. Was it fair to ask her to share a life with him that wasn't like a calm life in a cottage in the wood?
For weeks after that the prince avoided Adela and when he did run into her he shared only a few words with her before taking off. He was trying to fall out of love with her, but it was proving difficult. He watched her from a balcony take evening walks with his friends almost everyday and no matter what he did he still felt jealousy at every touch they gave her and every bat of an eyelash she gave them. They were good men, though. They deserved her. She deserved them.
It was one of those particular evenings that August finally found the vanishing prince. Kass leaned against the stone railing of the balcony, looking down where Adela was sitting on a bench with his friends grouped around her laughing and talking. She wore a beautiful pale blue dress and her golden curls were swept up with only a few strays hanging down to brush against her pale neck. She had a snow-white fan that she was now using to chase off the heat of the evening.
"So this is where our prince escapes to every evening. And here I was thinking he was on some daring adventure battling singing chickens and changing into a flying rabbit." Kass didn't even turn as August walked up behind and moved to stand next to his friend and look down at the scene below them. "You're quite the odd one, aren't you? You've avoided her ever since the day after we got here and yet you sit up here and watch her? I had thought you were a decent man, now I'm starting to wonder." Kass shot him a look that clearly said the prince wasn't in the mood for jokes, but no one ever really could control August. "What I don't understand is she cares for you just as much as you do for her and yet you aren't courting her instead you let," he waved his hand at the scene below them. "The question I have is: why?"
Kass was silent for a long while before he glanced at his friend again. "I'm a prince, August. What would she want with me? My life is dull with wars and travel not to mention full of eyes, parties, and malicious people. My life is cruel. She doesn't deserve that. She deserves someone who can shower her with love and attention, but keep her away from the cruelties of life and society. I can't do that. My position won't let me." He nodded towards the men. "They can protect her in places where I can't. They deserve her. Not me."
"Perhaps. But does she deserve them? Just because they solve the dangers in your position doesn't mean they don't have their own. Answer this, Kass, truthfully, once she gets white in her hair and adds a little weight…will they be so quick to return to her in the evenings? Once she bears for them a son and receives a few age marks on her beautiful face…will they continue to protect her from society and scandal? Or will they go and create a scandal for her to get hurt by? I've watched them, Kass, I'm not so sure they deserve her or her, them. But I do know she's waiting for you, prince. And I do know she deserves you. You said it yourself, Kass, she isn't a fragile doll, give her a chance to decide for herself whether or not she can handle your life."
Kass was silent for a few moments before glancing once more at the man next to him; his eyes betrayed the uncertainty and fear he felt. "Do I deserve her, my friend?"
There was a smirked that appeared on August's lips. "To me, no one deserves my sister. But I think you're the closest thing to what does deserve her. You're a good man, Kass, it doesn't take a fool to see that."
The prince fell into silence, staring back down at the young woman and his friends below him. Eventually she looked up and her blue eyes locked with Kass's own honey colored ones. There was a question in her eyes and confusion, but she looked back at the man across from her, he had fiery red hair and freckles and he had just made a joke.
"What did the witch capture you with? I mean, her house appeared to be made of all the sweets and pastry I love to bake…but what about you? How did she entangle you?" August brought the prince back from his thoughts.
"You're going to laugh." Kass warned.
"When don't I?" His friend shot back.
"The first time it was birds. I had been lost for days in the woods and all I could think of was my mother's bird menagerie and it reminded me of home. That's why she choose the raven form. The second time it was Adela." He paused a moment and August's gaze slid to him. "I kept seeing us living our lives together. Just little scenes from the big picture. It started with her in a wedding dress looking like an angel as always, and then we were chasing a small girl and boy with curly, blonde mops of hair through a field. Every evening we watched the sunset and every morning we would work in her garden with a silly scarecrow guarding it. I remember a scene towards the end when we were sitting in a flower garden telling our grandchildren the story of an evil stepmother, a wicked witch, and a young man, woman, and raven whom would up living happily ever after. Everything was so peaceful and our life seemed so perfect."
August was silent as he studied his friend. He loved her. August knew the prince did without a doubt. "You can still have that you know. She's waiting for you. And I don't think there will ever be any one better for her."
Kass smiled, but there was sadness in it. "Thanks, friend, I will think about what was said."
August was obsessed, completely, totally, and hopelessly obsessed with a flirty servant girl. She was beautiful and served the knights, she even seemed to fancy one of them. Now, August had never been fat, but compared to that man, with zero body fat, August felt rather plump. Every time he tried to impress her with his cooking he wound up making a complete and utter fool of himself.
It was after once such day were August had tried to impress the young serving woman and had succeeded in only covering himself in flour, feeling even more foolish, he cleaned himself up and laid down for a night's sleep. He was looking forward to having dreams of not making a fool of himself when impressing the serving woman.
He had been asleep all of ten minutes and was cozily dreaming of taking the young woman on a midnight stroll through the gardens when something heavy dropped onto his mattress and shook his awake.
"August! August, wake up! I have an idea!"
Groggily August opened his eyes completely bewildered. Who was waking him up? "Kass?"
"I have an idea, August! You have to help me!" There was a familiar spark back in Kass's eye as he excitedly went into detail about his plan.
"You woke me up for that? Go to sleep, Kass." August turned over and Kass's face fell.
"Y-You won't help me?"
"We're friends aren't we? Of course I'll help you, but unlike you I work in the kitchens, I need sleep."
"Adela, I want to take you somewhere today." Kass was actually at breakfast that morning and Adela couldn't believe he was talking to her.
"Me? Where?" Adela placed her fork back down. It had been days since she had last spoken to Kass and since they had returned he had only once took her along somewhere. And that was to the gardens.
"It's a surprise, but it will be a long ride, so wear something comfortable." The prince quickly ate his breakfast then excused himself after making sure to tell Adela where to meet him when she was done getting ready.
The carriage ride was uneventful for the most part. Kass sat on one side while Adela was the other. They spoke of the past few weeks' events but it wasn't until the carriage stopped that things became interesting.
"Adela, do you trust me?"
She gave him a quizzical look, but nodded all the same. "Of course, Kass."
He took a blindfold from his pocket and sat beside her. "I'm going to tie a blindfold over your eyes. I don't want you to guess the surprise before we are even there."
Confused, but trusting the prince she nodded and allowed him to put the blindfold over her eyes. The carriage started to move again, but Kass did not move from beside her. There rest of the ride was full of Adela's guesses as to where they were going. All of which were wrong.
"You are taking me to a dragon's lair, are you not? So that it can steal me away and you won't have to deal with me any more? Am I wrong?" She was clearly teasing.
Kass laughed and answered with what he answered to every one of her guesses. "Perhaps."
"You are horrible."
"Perhaps. But we are here." The carriage stopped and Kass got out. "I'll lift you down, Adela." After he set her down outside the carriage, he surveyed where they were at and stepped behind her. There was a smile on his lips as he untied the blindfold then pulled it away. "Surprise."
Adela opened her eyes and stared at the scene before her. It made her eyes well up with tears and she spun around and flung her arms around the prince, burying her face into his chest. "Oh, Kass…thank you." She then turned back to look at the cottage she had lived in all her life.
He smiled. "It's yours now, Adela. It seems your father and his wife left and never returned. But we'll keep looking for him."
There was a smile as she glanced back at him then started up the path and to the front door. Kass opened the door with the key and she walked in.
The place was covered in a layer of dust and on the mantle, toppled over was the framed painting of Adela's mother. Tears now trailed down Adela's eyes as she walked through her old home, nothing was falling apart, but everything had dust covering it. Finally she went out back and looked at the forest and out to a field where her family had laid to rest a woman so long ago.
Without a word Adela started walking off to the grave, trampling through the high grasses uncaring if the white, lace dress would get stains. It took what seemed to be a lifetime before she was back at the grave of her mother.
Stopping before the head stone she ran a finger over the dark, engravings on the granite. Kneeling down she began to pull away weeds that were threatening to over take the stone.
Kass stopped a little ways away simply watching as Adela knelt amongst the tall grasses. He could only imagine what it must have been like to lose a mother and then be abandoned in the woods. Kass vowed to find her father and bring back together what little family she had left. Adela didn't deserve the life she had received; she deserved so much more in his eyes.
He walked over to her and she stood back up. Noticing the tears in her eyes he quickly wrapped his arms around her comfortingly and she leaned back against him.
"I'm home." She spoke softly and suddenly turned in his arms. Her watery eyes were so big and happy that it startled him. "Thank you, Kass…you don't know how much this means to me…"
"I think I do…" He smiled. "Come on, there's something else I want to show you." Taking her hand, he led her back across the field and towards the cabin. Close to the woods a beautiful garden grew with flowers of every kind.
"Oh, Kass…it's," she stepped onto a dirt path and walked into the middle of the garden of blossoms. "It is beautiful…" There was a dazzling smile on her lips as she slowly turned around to admire the flowers before her eyes fell on him.
As she had been admiring the flora Kass had gone down on one knee behind her and when she turned around and laid eyes on him, he took her left hand. There was a goofy grin on his lips. "Adela, my angel, will you marry me?" It wasn't long, it wasn't eloquent, but that's why he had constructed a garden.
The surprise finally registered on her face as the shock wore off from seeing him on bended knee. "But-But you're a prince!"
The grin didn't flicker. "Boy, man, prince, bird, tree…I'm a lot of things, Adela…but does it really matter what one is when one is in love?"
She was still uncomprehending the situation. He hadn't spoke to her for so long! Was he really in love with her?
"But I'm no one. I'm no princess…" Didn't station matter? Didn't he want a princess who knew what she was doing? She was no one. Another soul in another village.
"No, you are right, you are not a princess, but I never wanted one. I wanted an angel. Adela, you are a brave heroine who saved her brother and a foolish prince…you're a beautiful angel with a shy voice and a charming heart…but most of all…you are Adela. You're not trying to be someone your not, you're comfortable being yourself…and you are someone I want to spend eternity with." Kissing her hand, he released her for a moment to pull off the ring she had rescued for him not so long ago. Taking back her hand he slipped it on her ring finger. "You protected this ring for me, there's no one else I'd trust to have it…it's all I have, Adela…will you wear it and stay by my side?"
"Oh, Kass…" Sky blue eyes met his own as a smile formed on her lips. "Yes. I do! I will! I want to be your bride and wife!"
With a shout of joy he stood and quickly gathered her in his arms, spinning her around and placing kisses all over her face. She was laughing with happiness and was a bit dizzy when he set her back down, but it was the passionate kiss they shared that really sent her mind reeling.
A clapping sound brought the two-dazed lover's back to reality. Adela turned toward the noise and was shocked to see her father standing there with a smile and August right beside him with a foolish, knowing grin on his lips.
"Papa!" Ripping free of Kass's light hold she ran and crashed into her father's open arms. The man simply grinned and placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I've missed you so much, Adela…it's been so long." There were tears threatening to spill from his eyes and some were all ready coursing down his daughter's cheeks.
Kass strolled over and stood beside August. "Well, friend, I can not thank you enough for helping me."
"Sure you can. I lost too much sleep over this, the least you can do is…take good care of my sister."
Kass glanced at August and nodded. "I wouldn't dream of doing anything else."