Page 39 of Defenders of Jawhara

Shira spent time each day in the office, learning about the culture of Jawhara from her new coworkers, and then, after lunch, she spent a couple hours with a language tutor Kale had hired to teach her Arabic. She might never learn to write in Arabic, but she was pleased that she was beginning to understand words and phrases.

The only cloud on her horizon had been a disturbing phone call she’d had with her cousin late that afternoon. Erin had sounded horrible and completely rundown. She had brushed it off as having caught a stomach bug of some type and promised to get some extra rest and drink plenty of fluids.

Shira overheard Kamal talking with Kale just before dinner, and it was obvious that he was upset about something. When her cousin’s name was said, Shira attempted to understand their conversation, but the most she could come up with wasErin,stubborn, andsick. Evidently, His Majesty, the sheikh, was none too happy to hear that Erin was ill.

After dinner that evening, Shira decided to broach the subject with Kale. “Why was Kam so upset earlier?”

Kale wrapped his arm around her shoulder and hugged her to him. “I see that your language lessons are coming along.” At Shira’s nod, he kissed the top of her head. “Kam is worried about Erin. She is ill, and he wanted her to see a doctor. She refused.”

“I spoke with her briefly today. She said it’s just a stomach bug. The doctors wouldn’t do anything for that, so I can see why she wouldn’t want to go.”

“That is not how things are done here. When one of the royal family is ill, for any reason, the doctor is summoned to the palace and everything possible is done to alleviate their suffering.”

“That must be really nice. Sometimes, it can take several days to get a doctor’s appointment back home, depending on how busy they are. You’re usually over a stomach bug before then anyway.”

Kale looked horrified. “Why so long? Do the doctors in America not care that their patients may be suffering needlessly?”

Shira shook her head. “Those who can afford health insurance or get it through work have more options, but even then, it can be difficult to get appointments in a timely manner. And I hate to say it, but Erin really doesn’t like going to the doctor. She’d much rather wait it out than have to waste time at an appointment.” Shira chuckled. “She takes after my uncle that way.”

“Does your cousin have access to good medical care?”

“Oh, yes. She has an excellent insurance plan and wonderful doctors. Don’t worry about her, she’ll be fine. I’ll check in on her in a couple of days.”

Kale nodded. “I’m glad that Erin had someone like you to help look after her. My brother was angry at her refusal to see a doctor and had been further enraged when she hung up on him.”

Shira laughed, picturing Kam’s face after being hung up on. “I’ll keep in touch with her, and if need be, you can let your brother know if he needs to intervene.”

“Agreed. Now, I need to discuss some plans with you. I spoke with Rick earlier today.”

Shira looked surprised. “You did? I spoke with him around three o’clock, and he didn’t say anything to me about having spoken to you.”

“That is because I asked him not to. The satellite office is set up?” When Shira nodded, he continued. “You are happy with the people you have employed?” When she nodded again and opened her mouth to speak, he cut her off quickly. “Wonderful. I alluded to this earlier, but the decision has been made official. Rick would like you to stay on and run the Jawharan office permanently.”

Shira’s mouth dropped open at the implications, and she closed it while she tried to think of something to say. After spending time with Kale, she had been dreading leaving Jawhara and worried about when she would be able to return. She was also growing to love the people and their culture, and thoughts of returning to the States had saddened her. She never dreamed that she might actually be asked to stay here! Her bosses and Kale had mentioned something to that effect when she first arrived, but she figured that staying for a few weeks had been long term in their books. The original delegation was only to be in Jawhara for six nights.

“Before you say anything else, I want you to know what else is being offered.”

“There’s more?” Shira asked, still trying to come to terms with a possible future in Jawhara.

“Habibti, these last two weeks have been nothing short of perfect. You fill a spot in my life that I always knew was empty but had never found the one who fit just right.”

Shira’s eyes burned with unshed tears at his tender words, and when he took her hand and got down on one knee before her, they ran unchecked down her cheeks.

“I understand this is how they do things in your country.” He gave her a little smile. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my bride and spending the rest of your life with me?”

Shira didn’t have to think at all—she nodded immediately, even before he produced a stunning ring of sapphires and diamonds. “Oh yes! Yes, I will marry you.”

Placing the ring on her finger, he kissed the back of her hand and then her palm.

Standing, he gathered her close, wiping her tears with his thumbs. “Why do you cry?”

“Because I’m so happy!” Shira said through her tears. Swallowing, she asked, “If you were following your country’s customs, how would you have asked me?”

Kale got that look in his eyes she was coming to know well, and she bit her lip as she waited for his reply. “Asking is not really in our nature. I would have simply carried you off into the desert. A tent would have been waiting for us and we would have spent several days there. When we returned, we would be considered legally wed according to our customs.”

Shira looked at him, aghast. “But that’s barbaric. What if the woman being carried off doesn’t want to marry her kidnapper?”

Kale looked confused by the question. “All women wish to be married. It is their duty and honor to marry and have children.”

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