The Knight and the Dove (48 page)

“Yes, Megan,” Bracken had answered, and she did not miss the laughter in his voice. It had done nothing to help her relax, but she tried to do as she was told. It had been a busy day, and after a moment Bracken’s heartbeat came to her ear. Megan sighed hugely when she heard that sound, and although Bracken had never let on, he felt her relax against him. Within ten minutes she had gone to sleep.

Bracken then relaxed as well and thought about his relationship with his wife.

At one time all I did was take from Megan. I never knew how remarkable it would be to give to my wife.

On this contented thought, Bracken had joined Megan in sleep until morning.

Now some four weeks later, things were still going well. Megan’s birthday was upon them, and she had the entire castle cleaned and ready for their expected guests. Bracken’s family had sent word of their arrival, and the day had finally arrived. Megan was so excited that she could hardly remain still.

“By the time they arrive, you’re going to be dead on your feet,” Bracken warned her, pulling her close for an instant. Warmly accepting Bracken’s embrace, Megan only smiled, smoothed his eyebrows, and sailed on her way.

Joyce, Brice, Kristine, and Giles arrived together, and within the hour, Stephen had come with Louisa and Derek. Megan’s head felt as if it were spinning. She was in conversation with Kristine and Giles, whom she had just met, when Joyce grabbed her eldest son’s arm and pulled him from the group.

“You did it, Bracken. I can tell by the way Megan looks at you that you did it. You’re courting her.”

Bracken only smiled. “I want to laugh when I think of how confused I was by your words, but then I met Tryg.” Bracken went on to explain to his mother, and her eyes were shining with tears of happiness when he finished.

“It’s a miracle, Bracken. I have prayed so long and so hard.”

Having heard these words from his mother many times, Bracken simply hugged her, and Joyce was pleased that he did not question her. In truth, she had been very worried over their marriage.

Not many months past, Louisa and Derek had come for a visit. It was at that time that Derek shared with his aunt and mother that the Scriptures said a believer was not to marry an unbeliever. Joyce had felt as if the very ground had been snatched from under her. She saw herself sitting with Megan in her room at Hawkings Crest and telling her how excited she was that Megan was marrying Bracken. Joyce had been so sure at the time that this would be Bracken’s turnaround, and then Joyce learned that the union had not even been God’s will.

This news drove Joyce to her knees as nothing had ever done before. She prayed for days. Her heart was so burdened for her son and Megan that she could hardly function, but then the Holy Ghost moved in her heart. Joyce finally came from her knees to see that God’s hand had still been there. He had not lost control of the situation.

She began to pray for Bracken in a new way. She asked God to
show her son how to treat his bride. She knew without the indwelling of God, his change would not be like her own, but she did believe with all of her heart that God could work in the heart of any man.

She also prayed for Megan. Joyce was certain of one thing—had Megan known that it was against God’s Word to marry an unbeliever, nothing whatsoever could have induced her to do so. Joyce prayed that God would show Megan how to respond to a sin committed in ignorance. She also prayed that as Bracken became more tender, Megan would be more receptive. From what she had seen in the first few minutes of her arrival at Hawkings Crest, God had answered her prayers with a resounding
yes
.

The only thing left to see to was choosing the correct time to tell Megan. Joyce felt that to leave someone in ignorance was a sin as well. Telling her would not change Megan and Bracken’s situation, but it might that of the next generation. Joyce felt this was of the utmost importance. She was still praying about the matter when the group headed en masse for the castle to refresh themselves and partake of the noon meal.

“Is something wrong, Megan?” Bracken asked his wife the next evening.

Megan stared at him. It was nearly inconceivable that she should not have married this man, but Megan wanted above all else to be a godly woman, so she had taken Joyce’s news as best as she was able. She could see, however, that it must be affecting her, or Bracken would not have noticed. Now, how would she tell him what was on her heart?

“I try to study in the Holy Scriptures every day,” she began. “And I love my quiet times spent with God.”

Bracken nodded. He had seen her reading often.

“But not everything I read or learn of is easy to take. Ofttimes I am convicted of sins that I was not aware of.” Megan hesitated, praying that she would not have to tell him that their union had been wrong. As it was, Bracken’s mind was elsewhere, and his question rescued her.

“If you want to do something, Megan, then do it. Your faith is your choice.”

Megan gently shook her head. “I must take the Scriptures in their
entirety, Bracken, and not pick and choose what I wish or what suits me.”

Weighing her words, Bracken stared at her, his eyes narrowing.

“I thought God wanted us to be happy.”

“He does,” Megan said. “And happiness is mine—so are joy and peace—as soon as I obey.”

Bracken shook his head, and Megan said, “So you mean to tell me that your father only enforced half of his words?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that if your father instructed you to go hunting in the forest and then to take your catch to the kitchens, it would be acceptable and obedient to hunt and then leave your game with the guard at the gate?”

“Of course not,” Bracken told her.

“So it is with God, Bracken. He wants all of His instructions obeyed. If we only obey half of His Word, we sin.”

This was new to Bracken, and again his eyes narrowed as he thought. Finally, he said, “But I am no child in need of a father’s training, and neither are you.”

Megan smiled at him with understanding, his point well taken, but still she said, “I will always be in need of my heavenly Father’s care and teaching. And I think if you will search your heart, you will see that if your own father were still alive, you would consult with him on many things. It is the same with me and God.”

Bracken’s face showed understanding for the first time. No one had ever compared God the Father to his earthly father, a man Bracken missed very much indeed. It made perfect sense.

But suddenly Bracken had more spiritual matters to think about than he was comfortable with. For years he had tried to tell himself that there was no difference between his mother’s faith in Christ and his own belief in God. However, when he was being very honest with himself he had to admit that the changes in his mother, the lack of fear and overriding sense of peace he witnessed each time they were together, had little to do with the passing of years and steps toward maturity.

Likewise, both Louisa and Derek had changed, and in his heart Bracken knew why. He had never known Megan before her conversion, but Bracken understood that the reason she gave of herself so freely to
him was because of God’s work in her life. Still, Bracken was not convinced that he needed to make this step.

Wasn’t his keep in fine shape? Didn’t he treat his wife and servants with respect and caring? Didn’t he have the king’s approval and land and wealth to last him out and hand down to his seed? Why did he need to become religious? It still did not make sense. Rather than work it out, Bracken sought to change the subject.

In her wisdom, Megan let the matter drop, but she praised God that they had talked of spiritual matters as they never had before. She truly saw it as a step on the path to a new life in Christ for her spouse.

Vincent and Annora arrived the next day. Annora did not go so far as to embrace Megan, but this meeting was vastly different from the one before the wedding or the departure thereafter. Vincent did give his daughter a mighty hug, and as most of the guests were outside preparing for the tourney and the great hall was rather empty, Megan sat by the hearth with her parents for a visit.

Vincent opened the conversation with a painful subject.

“Has Marigold been back?”

“No,” Megan spoke with relief. “And after the incident with Arik, I do not expect to hear from her.”

Vincent was silent for a moment.

“What is it, Father?”

Annora spoke up. “Marigold was at Stone Lake just days ago. She was asking for money. When your father refused, she became enraged. When she learned we were coming here for your birthday, she began making threats against you. Your father told her to leave and not return. We came as soon as possible.”

Megan stared at them, not at all surprised. Marigold was certainly capable of all they had related and more.

“I’m sorry, Mother,” Megan told her softly.

“’Tis not your doing, Megan. I can see now that your sister has played your father and me against one another for many years.”

“I did not want to send her away, but I cannot trust her at Stone Lake any longer.” Annora nodded in agreement with her husband.

There was something urgent in both their manners, and both
looked a little shaken. From what they had said, Megan was still not certain that it was all that great a problem; it sounded like idle talk from an angry woman.

On the other hand, she did wonder if maybe she should inform Bracken. As though her thoughts were a plea, Bracken entered the hall and came across to them. He sat with them, and Megan quietly explained what Vincent had said.

Bracken’s eyes studied her before he said, “You are not afraid?”

“No, Bracken, in truth, I’m not. I know she is capable of nearly anything, but I am so protected here.”

Bracken nodded and reached for her hand. He then turned to Vincent and Annora.

“We thank you for coming, not only for this news, but for the celebration as well. I will inform my people of these threats, and special care will be taken during the tournament.”

“My men know as well,” Vincent put in quietly.

“Mother,” Megan said then, “you must wish to freshen up. May I show you upstairs?”

When the women had gone, Bracken also seemed ready to leave, but Vincent detained him.

“I do not wish to upset Megan on her birthday, but there is more.”

Bracken sat and regarded the older man with interest.

“I have never seen such a look of madness in a woman’s eyes.”

“Marigold?”

“Yes. She said that Megan was nothing but a cow and didn’t deserve you. She said she would be the Duchess of Briscoe and would see to it that Megan suffered well before she died.” Vincent leaned forward now, his face fearful. “I urge you Bracken, do not let Megan out of your sight.”