Love Knots

Chapter 11

“So, come on,” Ambrose said after a moment, prodding Wyatt in the ribs and making him squirm. “Tell me more about you.”

Wyatt sighed and held Ambrose closer. “Really, there isn’t much to tell,” he murmured.

“Still,” Ambrose said. “I’d like to know more about you than just your name.”

“Like what?” Wyatt asked. “You want stats or something?”

Ambrose chuckled. “I don’t know… something would be nice.”

“Well,” Wyatt said, exhaling heavily. “Let’s see… I’m six foot, a hundred and seventy-five pounds…”

Ambrose laughed, grinning and smacked him lightly once more. “All of that may be fine, and if we’re sharing stats, I’m five foot ten, and a hundred and fifty pounds, but I was thinking a little more in depth if you don’t mind.”

“All right… I’m the second of three boys born to Henry and Annabelle Cain. We grew up working the ranch… cattle mostly. I was an average student in school, but did well. My parents are still here, but both my brothers died in the war.”

 “Have you been to see them?” Ambrose asked sobering once more.

“No,” Wyatt said and sighed. “But we’ve written… there was just too much to do after the witch’s defeat to go out and see them.”

Ambrose swallowed and nodded.

“I’ll probably go out and see them when I get some time and can leave someone else in charge for more than a few days, but it will probably be a while,” Wyatt said. “What about yours?” he asked gently.

“They’re dead,” Ambrose said quietly.

“I’m sorry,” Wyatt murmured, stroking Ambrose’s shoulder gently.

Ambrose shook his head. “We weren’t close, like I said,” he replied. “But they died during the war… The witch killed them to get to me… trying to get me to talk before they did the surgery. I don’t deny that it was a sad thing, or say that I wasn’t hurt by it, but we were more or less strangers, especially after I left for the University.”

Wyatt nodded with a sigh, continuing to stroke Ambrose’s shoulder.

“So, um…” Ambrose said looking up a little uneasily. “Who’s Adora?”

Wyatt lowered his eyes, exhaling heavily. “Adora’s my wife,” he answered quietly.

Ambrose blinked, sitting up. “Your wife?” he asked, blinking again. “You’re married? Oh…” he said with a slight laugh and ran his hands through his hair. “Oh, that’s just great… getting involved with someone who’s married…”

“Ambrose,” Wyatt said, blinking and sitting up.

“No,” Ambrose said shaking his head. “It’s okay… I understand. You were just being nice, doing what DG asked.”

“No, Ambrose,” Wyatt said sitting up. “You don’t understand. I didn’t do this because DG asked.”

Ambrose blinked and looked at him warily.

Wyatt exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair, looking away before returning his gaze to Ambrose. “You said you felt like you should know who she was from the way I looked at you the first time you asked.”

Ambrose swallowed and nodded.

“Yes, I am married… was…” Wyatt said.

“Was?” Ambrose asked arching a brow. “Wyatt, either you are or you’re not…”

“We were never divorced,” Wyatt said. “She died… in the war.”

Ambrose blinked. “Oh,” he said quietly. “Oh, Wyatt… I’m sorry.”

Wyatt shook his head exhaling heavily. “It was a long time ago…” he murmured. “The Long Coats found out I was part of the resistance… we knew the risks.”

Ambrose swallowed and lowered his gaze. “B-but how would I know about that?” he asked looking confused. “You looked at me like I should have known… like I should have known about her…”

Wyatt shifted, swallowing dryly. “I don’t know if I can tell you that…” he replied. “It’s part of those memories the medicos don’t want to be helped along.”

Ambrose nodded slightly and after a moment he swallowed and lay back down, resting his head on Wyatt’s chest.

“Do you remember Jeb?” Wyatt asked as he snaked his arms around Ambrose.

“Mm, he’s the one that DG hangs around…” Ambrose murmured.

“He’s my son,” Wyatt said softly. “We found each other again not long before the witch’s defeat. He’s a good kid.”

Ambrose smiled and closed his eyes. “It’s good you haven’t lost everything.”

“Not like you,” Wyatt murmured and gave him a gentle squeeze. “You gave up so much, and,” he said, pausing to exhale heavily. “Although I plan to follow the medicos’ orders, I don’t like it that we can’t help you remember…”

“Its okay, Wyatt,” Ambrose replied softly. “It may be frustrating for me at times, but like you said, we just have to get to know each other again.”

Wyatt sighed and gave him a gentle squeeze.

Ambrose exhaled softly and shifted, snuggling into a more comfortable position and soon his breathing became slow and rhythmic.

Wyatt looked down after a moment and chuckled softly, carding his fingers through the soft locks framing Ambrose’s face and falling in his eyes. “Come on, Sweetheart,” he said pushed himself up, smiling when Ambrose groaned at the movement. “Let’s get you to bed.” Ambrose groaned again and Wyatt chuckled softly once more, lifting him in his arms gently before getting to his feet and heading for Ambrose’s room. He paused in the door way and flicked on the light so he could see, blinking at the mammoth cherry wood four poster bed. “No wonder you get cold,” Wyatt murmured and headed for the bed.

Ambrose groaned and squirmed, turning on his side and blinking tired eyes at Wyatt as he was settled down on the bed. “Wyatt?” he asked, blinking sleepily once more.

“Yeah, Sweetheart?” Wyatt asked, reaching out and gently brushing the hair out of Ambrose’s face once more.

Ambrose sighed softly and closed his eyes, leaning into the touch and Wyatt smiled.

“Stay,” Ambrose murmured, opening tired eyes once more. “Please…”

Wyatt exhaled heavily and sat down on the bed next to him, and Ambrose rolled over facing him as Wyatt continued gently brushing his fingers through Ambrose’s lock. “Are you sure?” Wyatt asked softly. “No more panic attacks like this morning?”

Ambrose swallowed and shook his head. “I’m sure,” he replied just as quietly.

Wyatt looked at him for moment and could almost swear he saw him tremble. “Alright,” he replied, nodding slightly. He blinked and looked down when he moved to get to his feet and Ambrose grabbed his wrist. Meeting Ambrose’s gaze, he reached out and caressed his soft brown locks. “Its okay, Ambrose,” he murmured. “I’m just going to turn out the light.”

Ambrose relaxed a little and smiled faintly, letting go of Wyatt’s wrist with a slight nod.

Wyatt hesitated a moment, studying Ambrose’s demeanor for a few minutes before nodding and slowly getting to his feet and returning to the doorway, turning out the light. His breath hitched as he turned back and saw the moonlight catch his dark brown eyes. Swallowing, Wyatt moved back to the bed and sat down, taking off his shoes before turning to do the same for Ambrose.

“Thank you,” Ambrose murmured, moving enough to make it easier.

“For what?” Wyatt asked looking up at him.

“For staying,” Ambrose answered.

Wyatt shifted and lay down next to him, covering them with the blankets.

Ambrose sighed as he once more settled down with him, resting his head against Wyatt’s chest, shifting closer, draping an arm casually yet comfortably over Wyatt’s waist as he closed his eyes.

“You’re welcome,” Wyatt replied as he gazed down at Ambrose and brushed the dark curls out of his face.

Ambrose’s hold tightened and his body tensed before relaxing once more as he yawned and Wyatt smiled.

“I am a little confused though,” he murmured as he continued to card his fingers gently through Ambrose’s hair.

Ambrose hummed softly dangling between sleep and wakefulness.

“I was just wondering,” Wyatt murmured. “You seemed afraid I’d leave just now… you still hardly know me, and yet you want me to stay…”

“Lost… too many people… I cared about,” Ambrose answered with a soft sigh as he drifted off to sleep.

Wyatt exhaled a quiet, gentle breath as he wrapped his arms around Ambrose and kissed his forehead, giving him a gentle squeeze before closing his eyes and drifting off as well.