Page 102 of Robin and Marian
Scarlett wouldn’t let his arm go. She pressed her free hand against Midge’s rough hair and tried to pat it down while they walked away to give their statements to the sheriff.
Robin rubbed his arm above his cast and winced at his burn. Marian knew he’d have to get that looked at again. Feeling a wave of affection rush through her, she slipped her arms around his ribcage and rested her head against his beating heart. “I wanted a hug too.”
“Yeah, me too.” He smiled, though wearily. Under all that soot, the exhaustion and horror from the night had left its mark on him. “How about we don’t let each other go anymore, okay?” He kissed her cheek and she snuggled closer, grateful to have him with her and in one piece. He rubbed her back, and with her ear on his chest, she listened to him give an intake of breath before his rumbling voice turned teasing. “What happened to your dress, Marian?”
She jerked upright and yanked self-consciously at the tattered remains of her May Queen skirt—it wasn’t indecently short—and noticing Robin’s grin, she nudged him. “A real gentleman would give me a coat instead of gawking.”
“Hey, it doesn’t matter to me what you’re wearing; you know I like you… in fact you can wear this whenever you want.” At her gasp, his eyes crinkled up at the sides before he kissed her gently, his mouth moving over hers in sweet possessiveness. And for the first time since seeing Guy on the shoreline, Marian felt like things might be okay.
Ahead of them, Tuck slid out of the passenger’s side of the patrol car and walked casually over. He held a clipboard with papers. Marian turned to Tuck, running her hand down Robin’s arm while Robin straightened. “You were here the whole time? I could’ve gotten shot. Why didn’t you bother to tell the sheriff that I was innocent?”
“Are you?”
“Really? Are you really doing this now,Tucker Field! You want to talk about how innocentyouare?”
“It’s Uncle Franco to you, and by the way, you should be more grateful.” Tuck waved his phone in the air. “I listened in on Guy’s phone call and kept your uncle safe while you were poking around in the forest. Midge and I had a lot of fun siphoning money from the rest of Guy’s bank accounts.”
“Hey!” Little John straightened from across the parking lot and shouted at him. “That’s my phone.”
That would explain why they hadn’t been able to get through to Little John all night… or to Tuck. Robin growled out in irritation. “Are you kidding me, Tuck? You stole John’s phone?”
“Mine’s recharging!”
The sheriff wandered over, raising his brows in mild curiosity. “Wait, what did you just call Franco?”
Tuck sighed deeply. “Well… I suppose I’ve sinned,” he began.
“No,” Marian hurriedly cut Tuck off before he gave away his identity. There was no use throwing away a good thing. Tuck was good for this town. Strangely. “We’re grateful for your work here, Pastor,” she said, “… Pastor Tuck Franco.”
The sheriff glanced over at the two men and they backed off reluctantly. Tuck ambled back to the patrol vehicle and got in. It looked like he was filling out paperwork. Marian didn’t even know whatthatwas about, but it probably meant he had every intention of taking on a permanent position as the sheriff’s deputy.
Epilogue
—1 year later—
It was a fantastic Mayfair day. Maybe not as eventful as the year before, but Robin wasn’t complaining. The main attraction that year was the traditional English wedding held in the forest of Sherwood. They’d had to find some way to beat the crowds from last year. And since Scarlett and Little John were game to sharing their nuptials with the world, it was on. The lights glittered in the trees and the bridesmaids were all in white with daisies and dainty vines in their hair as they rushed around Scarlett under a lace canopy, getting her ready for her wedding.
“Marian!” Robin caught his wife’s hand and she smiled at him. Her dusky curls bounced against her shoulders. He reached out and caught a tendril. He’d never get tired of touching it or her, especially now that he was free of his cast. It gave him so many ways to hold her. “You look beautiful!”
She was four months pregnant, a little baby bump on her belly announcing the latest member of the King family—little Henri the II. Robin was tempted to kiss him too, but he settled for a soft touch where he judged his head to be. Marian giggled and put her hand over his. “You don’t look bad yourself. I never thought I’d like you in a skirt.”
“Kilt,” he reminded her with a wry smile. All the groomsmen wore them, including their grandfather who was giving Scarlett away. Again. Robin tried to remind himself that if he could wear biking shorts then he could wear a kilt, but at every gust of wind he had to reevaluate that brave thought, and it sent Marian into bursts of laughter every time it happened.
He squeezed her hand. Part of the Yorkshire tradition was for a happy couple to put the veil on the bride before she walked down the aisle smothered in rose petals. It would give her luck. Scarlett had chosen them to do it, and he was touched. It would be an honor.
Marian gave Robin the other side of the ivory, Irish lace veil. It was made of the same fabric as Scarlett’s wedding dress—a filmy Medieval number with bell sleeves that fluttered around her elbows, and a short, flowy skirt with soft, frayed ends. Its high waist was tied with an embroidered ribbon that danced in the soft morning breeze. His sister reminded him of a forest sprite; she looked so happy and carefree. It had been too long since he’d seen her this way.
Feeling like his hands were too big to handle the gossamer fabric of her veil, he placed it over Scarlett’s red hair while Marian tucked it into her wreath of flowers. The black Celtic Spade on his trickster tattoo glared up at him, though now it seemed less a spear than an upside-down heart. He felt the warmth of his wife’s fingers as they brushed against his and the symbolism wasn’t lost on him—such different hands joined together to share a life, bringing to Scarlett a hope that her future happiness would be like theirs. And after seeing her with Little John, Robin was sure it would be.
Tears glistened on Scarlett’s cheeks. It had been a year since she’d lost Alan. It had taken her most of that time to untangle the love she felt for him from his abuse. She’d always assumed the heavier her burden when they were together, the more that he needed her. And though Scarlett had been unfailing in her loyalty and willingness to work through the hard times, there was more to a relationship than what Alan had given her.
She glowed now. Scarlett might’ve gone her whole life happy to please such a man had Alan not tired of her. In a way, he’d freed her to finally experience what it meant to be with someone who actually loved her back. Little John was protective of her—not just physically, but he cared that she was happy, and she meant everything to him. In the months that they’d been together, Robin had never seen a girl blossom as much as his sister had. Scarlett had looked so tired and drawn after he’d first returned from prison. These days, she had a bounce to her step, and it would take her straight down the aisle.
He kissed her forehead. “I love you, Scarlett.”
Marian echoed the sentiment and clasped her friend to her in a loving embrace.
“Stop! It’s too much.” Scarlett wiped delicately at her eyes. “You’ll ruin my makeup.” She playfully swatted them away. “Tell John I’m coming soon, but I refuse to go down the aisle wailing like a banshee bride.”
