First of all! I still can't send you messages lol. Apparently, I have used up my "amount" too quickly and now I cannot send more than three at a time... I just wanted you to know that I want to let you know about the updates in person, but wattpad won't let me :))

*Long Chapter Alert*

Please let me know if there is any errors! I am still learning and even though I proofread it like three times I tend to become a bit blind to my own texts! :)

-Keegan-

A fortnight and a half had passed since Keegan had floored Jared at the tavern. He hadn't seen or heard from him after he had left him, and the others, by the lake, nor had he wanted Jared's company after that. They had stayed out of each other's way, and it was probably for the best. Both of them needed time to calm down. 

Luckily, neither of his other friends had spread the word about Cara, not even Kay. However, Keegan figured that Kay didn't tell anyone because she didn't want anyone to know about Cara, since she was apparently threatened by her. 

Instead of hunting with Jared like he usually did, Keegan had brought his little brother to the woods since the scene he had caused in the tavern. But Flynn gladly joined him, he would rather hunt with Keegan than do whatever chores their parents had for him. 

Keegan smiled at the thought of the red haired little lad almost jumping out of his chair when Keegan had asked him to come.

The upside of hunting with Flynn, instead of Jared, was that Keegan actually got some peace and quiet. Flynn talked a lot, but he didn't expect his older brother to say much back, since he knew him so well, and that he didn't say much to begin with. Although he said even less now that he had his mind occupied by a certain someone. 

And this morning was no exception; Flynn was talking about everything and nothing while they were walking towards the woods. The wind was a bit fiercer than it had been in a while and it would make it harder to hunt bigger prey since they would easily pick up their scent. 

Keegan wasn't looking forward to spending the day hunting. Especially not when he knew that it would most likely not result in anything else than whatever had stepped into his traps. A part of him had wanted to see if he could get Cara alone... his mind was a mess most of the time since he had fed his hunger for her. Not at all to his fill though. He wanted more. Needed more. No matter how much he tried not to, he always ended up reliving that moment if he was left alone too long with his own thoughts.

They hadn't gotten the chance, or the privacy, to spend more time together since Jared had baptized her in ale. Not in lack of trying though...

Cara spent most of her time during the days at the grumpy old teacher's house, learning the common tongue. To Keegan's and his family's surprise she had learned quite a lot. However, Cara's long days with her teacher, and his in the woods, left very little time for him to try and catch her alone. Instead they threw looks at each other now and then whenever they were in the same room... Which was solely during breakfast and dinner. 

He had thought about offering to take her to the teacher himself, just to get the chance to spend some time with her. But Orla went with her every day and if he offered to do it now, it would only spark suspicion. Keegan wouldn't mind spending a day in the same room as Cara, but he knew better than to let his family know that. 

"I believe we have to stop taking about her when she is in the room now..." His brother said as they approached the edge of the woods.

Keegan cleared his throat and realized that he had drifted off so far into his own mind that he hadn't even noticed that Flynn had started talking about Cara.

"It would appear so..." He mumbled in response. "I'm just glad mother and father are getting something out of all that coin they gave that old fart."

"... and that we can talk to Cara? With her actually understanding what we are saying?" His brother asked, like it was the best part of it all. Which it of course was, but Keegan wasn't going to let him know that he thought so as well. 

Being able to actually understand her was amazing, but it was also a bit frightening. The fact that he could talk to Cara now made him nervous. What was he supposed to say? What if he said the wrong thing?  Before, he could have said anything to her, and she wouldn't be cross with him or offended, no matter what he would have said. She hadn't understood a word that left his mouth. Now, she understood quite a lot. 

"I guess." Keegan answered and started looking for one of the snares he had set yesterday. Hopefully, a rabbit would have met its fate in it. 

"Come on, Keegan." Flynn suddenly said with a much more serious tone.

"What?" Keegan turned and looked at his brother. His light green eyes were as serious as his tone. "What is it?"

"Don't treat me like I'm stupid. No one is here, not Orla or the old ones." He began and tilted his head a bit. "You and Cara..."

"What about her and me?" Keegan asked coolly and turned around again to hide the panic in he was experiencing. Had Flynn also found out? Or had Orla told him? 

"Keegan." Flynn said his name to make him turn around again. "When are you going to admit that you want her?" His little brother's voice was so stern that it almost sounded like he was speaking to their father. "Do not deny it." He quickly added when Keegan was about to do just that. He sighed in defeat. Slowly, he turned and faced Flynn. 

"What is this about?" He asked and attempted, for the last time, to get out of this conversation.  

"I see they way you look at her." Flynn didn't give Keegan a second to respond. "Orla does as well... and you are not as good at hiding it as you think you are. Neither are you good at sneaking around with it."

"Did Orla tell you?" Flynn shook his head. "What about mother and father" He asked without thinking first.

"Mother just thinks you tried to see her naked a couple of times. Father...hasn't said anything."

That is of no comfort. He usually keeps his thoughts to himself.

"Please, Flynn." Keegan sighed. "I really do not want to talk about it." 

"Why not?" Flynn asked puzzled. "What-"

"Because I do not even know what is happening!" Keegan exclaimed in frustration and clenched his fists. "And I especially do not want to talk about it with you..." He blurted the words out and looked up at the treetops when he realized that it would hurt his brother's feelings. 

"Why not?" Flynn asked, clearly offended. 

"Because, I know you will tell Orla-" 

"Keegan, I would never tell Orla... and she kind of already suspects the same thing as I do." Keegan watched his little brother as he promised not to tell their sister. "Why won't you just admit that there is something between the two of you? And why are you acting like it is something bad?" 

"I don't know... I just... She does something to me and I cannot grasp how she does it." It poured out of him before he could stop himself. At the same time, it felt good to say it out loud. To let someone into his personal hell which was the chaos Cara had caused in his mind.

The offended expression in Flynn's face faded quickly as he realized how tormented his older brother was bout this whole thing. A faint smile appeared on his lips. The green eyes turned soft and warm.

 "Wipe that smirk off you face." Keegan warned him and sat down on a tree stump close by. "And I swear, if you tell Orla or anyone else-" 

"I knew you had fallen for her." Flynn interrupted him, sounding very pleased with himself for having figured it all out. 

"How?" Keegan wondered out loud and let his head hang down. He studied the nature at his feet; some leaves, stones and two small spiders. He kicked a stone far away and swallowed. "I stayed away from her for so long." He sighed to himself. 

"Firstly, I would never tell her. And secondly, there were so many signs, dear brother." Flynn chuckled and walked up to him. "You couldn't take your eyes off her." He said and held up one finger as if he was counting these 'signs'. "You still can't." He laughed quietly. "You looked for her when all of us had given up on finding her and your little brawl with Jared at the tavern said quite a lot." He raised a second and a third finger. 

It sounded like he could go on and on with this list of his but Keegan didn't need the details, he was there for all of it and more.

"And, Jared was right about one thing." His brother added. 

"And that was?" Keegan asked, instantly agitated by the mentioning of Jared's name.

 "You have become... different since she came into our lives." He explained. Keegan gave him a dark look. "However, in my opinion it isn't for the worse. Although, I can see why Jared think of it that way." 

"Jared needs to stop thin of her like the rest of the girls in Tranmere." Keegan growled. "Cara is not some girl he can have his way with until the next one comes along. I'd rather-" 

"If you were looking for another clear sign, there is one for you." Flynn said. Keegan raised an eyebrow at him, urging him to explain. "You are very protective of her." Flynn explained. 

"Fine, Flynn!" Keegan threw his hands in the air and got up from the tree stump. "I want her! I want her, and it is driving me insane! There! I said it! Are you happy now?" 

Flynn shrugged his shoulders indifferently, but the wide smirk on his face answered Keegan's question.

-Cara-

The sun was lingering in the late afternoon sky, it was about to go down was still shining down with wonderfully warm rays of summer. 

Cara was lying in the grass, near the stream, listening to its rippling sound and waiting for dinner to be ready. She closed her eyes, ran her fingers through the grass and breathed out. She had found some sort of daily routine here now, but every morning when she woke up she was sweaty and panting. Nightmares about being lost in the woods haunted her, along with the frightening reality that she still didn't know where she was or why she was here. 

Cara slowly started combing her fingers through the grass, repeatedly, in order to calm herself down. Somehow it soothed her. Every stroke brought her peace and she kept doing it until her mind was completely freed from her nightmares and worries. 

During these past weeks she had learned a lot more of their language. It had been hard at first but now, after long and tiresome days at the old man's house, she could finally have a conversation with them.

Out of nowhere the warm sun disappeared and Cara felt how something blocked the sun. When she opened her eyes a pair of dark eyes and a face covered in black fur looked at her.

"Blackie." She laughed quietly at the incredibly large hound and sat up. He whined in a long yawn, pleased that she gave him all of her attention. 

The large dog was breathing fast with his mouth was open, the tongue hanging adorably to one side. He was panting due to the heat.

"Maybe we should cool you down in the stream?" She laughed and ran her fingers through his almost scorching long hot fur on top of his head. He tilted his it to the side, and she kissed his cheek. "Yeah, you are boiling, let's get you cooled down." She said in a higher tone to get him excited and willing to go with her.

She got up and patted her thighs encouragingly in to catch Blackie's attention. He jumped with his front paws and dug them down into the grass, thinking they were going to play. 

"Come on, boy." She laughed and undid the knot on her skirt, retied it, lifting the hem higher so she could walk ankle-deep without getting it wet. 

Blackie followed her to the edge of the water and then parked his butt very decisively. She threw him an amused look. He wasn't having a bath, that was one thing she could see for sure. 

Cara walked out into the small stream and moaned pleased from the cool water. It felt so nice. The water ran quickly past her feet and she could feel small stones and grains of sand tickle her skin. 

"If you don't get in here, I will splash you." She warned Blackie and crossed her arms over her chest. He tilted his head again, making one of his ears to fall adorably over his head. "Come, boy!" She said and made a kissing noise to lure him in. 

Blackie still panted as he studied the water closely. He got up, suspiciously, and lowered his nose to the stream. By mistake he dipped his nose into the water, exhaled in reluctance and backed away.

"Oh come on!" Cara laughed out loud at him. "You were basically in. Almost at least."  

-Keegan- 

He dumped the rabbits on the counter. 

"Where's Cara?" Flynn asked as he entered behind him. He couldn't help but to wonder the very same. She usually sat by the table, being the very first thing he saw as he stepped inside the house.

"She is down by the stream." Their mother muttered and grabbed the rabbits they had brought her. She started skinning them and held one of them up in front of herself. "Were there no skinnier rabbits in the woods?" She muttered, clearly displeased with the size of them. 

"This was all there was." Keegan sighed and gave his mother a tired look. "Flynn's babbling made it hard to stalk a deaf boar... and the wind did not help."

Flynn mocked him by repeating his words in a dark and grumpy voice. 

That very same moment Orla stepped through the door and Keegan realized that everyone was here, except Cara and Blackie. 

"Has anyone seen Blackie?" He asked and swept the room with his gaze after the dog. He hadn't seen him since this morning. Although he was more interested in were Cara was.

"He's with Cara by the stream." Orla answered him immediately. "I just saw them." 

"Go and get her, would you Keegan?" His mother told him and waved her hand in the air. She did not even look at him. "And if that dog of yours is dirty, he is not setting a single paw indoors." She added sternly and it caused him to chuckle. 

"Fine. I'll tell him to wash them before coming inside." He said and walked out the door. 

As he came around the last corner of the house, he could hear Cara's laughter. It was a warm and happy laughter... sincere and joyful. A couple of seconds later he heard a delighted shriek and then another laughter. 

"What the hell is she doing?" He mumbled intrigued and quickened his steps a bit. 

The vision of Cara sitting on her behind in the creak, with Blackie standing at the edge met Keegan and his heart swelled. His beast of a dog was wagging his tail eagerly and it was not hard to figure out that Cara had tried to give a bath - and lost that battle. 

"Blackie!" Keegan called out without being able to hold back his own laughter. He whistled to catch the beast's attention. The black fur ball turned around so fast that his tongue swayed at the edge if his mouth. He set off towards him and barked in pure joy. 

Cara laughed again but stayed in the water. 

"Did you hurt yourself?" Keegan asked when he reached the stream and nodded at her current situation. Cara shook her head after she seemed to have taken his words in. Even though she understood him it still took her a little while to remember some words.

"No." She answered. "He was hot." She explained and pointed her open hand towards Blackie who was now sitting next to Keegan. He looked almost proud of his accomplishment of making her fall into the water.

"You arsehole." Keegan laughed quietly and gave the dog a scolding look. "You got her all wet..." Blackie panted and didn't seem the very least sorry. Not at all. "Mother asked me to get you." He told Cara and walked to the edge of the stream and reached out to help her up.

She took it and he stopped breathing momentarily as they touched for the first time since that night. He fought the urge to draw her in close. His whole body ached to feel hers pressed against his again. 

Kiss her... The thought surprised him. Are you out of your mind? What if she pushes you away? He argued with himself and then pulled her up with ease. 

When she stood in front of him,  soaking wet. he had to use every inch of his will power not to lower his lips to hers. It would be so easy... but he resisted. Partially because he was scared to death that she might deny him. Stop talking to yourself, Keegan. You're losing your mind over this girl. 

"Thank you..." She giggled shyly and looked up at him. Just then, Keegan realized how close they were standing to each other, and in the exact same spot as when he had kissed her.

"I really..." He stopped himself when he remembered that if he said his wish out loud, she would understand him. I guess Flynn was right, I do have to watch what I say when she is around now...  I really want to kiss her... He thought and could not believe that he had almost told her, right to her face. 

"Hmm?" She mumbled with curiosity in her voice. Keegan met her gaze and drowned in her eyes for a moment. She averted her gaze after a while, blushing. 

Maybe you should stop staring at her, you idiot. You are making her uncomfortable. 

"Uh, what?" He asked. 

"Did Miriam want me to help her?" Cara asked. She managed to get the words out in the correct order, but she still needed to learn how to form them properly. However, the fact that she had learned so much in so little time impressed him. 

"Uhm, yes." Keegan said and woke up from his thoughts. "Dinner will be ready soon as well." He said quickly and took a step away from her. 

-Cara-

The feeling of Keegan's hand in hers stayed with her as they walked back to the house. It felt like he was still holding it. Sadly, he was walking next to her, on what could only be called an appropriate distance, with his hands to himself. He was acting strange, nervous to be precise. 

It had seemed like he was going to kiss her after he had helped her out of the stream, but it never happened. To her immense disappointment.

As they stepped inside Orla and Flynn laughed immediately at the sight of her. Cara smiled at them and shrugged her shoulders.

"I know..." She chuckled and held her hands up at her sides. 

"What happened to you?" Flynn chuckled and raised his eyebrows. 

"Blackie." She answered laughing and held up her drenched skirt as evidence. 

"Cara tried to bathe him." Keegan filled in with a warm smile on his lips. He then walked over to the table and took a seat across from Georg. Cara couldn't help the smile that spread over her lips when his had her almost swooning. 

How is this guy single...? She wondered and ripped her eyes off him before the others would notice her. Is he? Of course ,he is... Keegan isn't the type to...

At that moment Miriam turned and groaned displeased with the sight of Cara's dripping wet skirt.

"No! Cursed be that mutt of yours, Keegan!" She exclaimed and threw her hands in the air. "Cara doesn't have other clothes and I spent the last coin we had to spare on that stupid old man." 

Cara felt guilty. She didn't know that they had spent all their money on teaching her their language.  

"I'm sorry, Miriam." She said quietly. "Blackie was so hot..." 

"It is not your fault, child. That was very sweet of you..." Miriam immediately answered and then shot her oldest son a stern look. Cara did the same, but averted her eyes when she caught him already looking at her. He had an amused grin on his lips and the emerald green eyes were exuding a charm that could destroy her if she let him.

Stop staring at him, for God's sake. She berated herself. The others will notice... and if Miriam notices, she will hit him like she always does. Cara smirked at the memory of how Miriam had lost it when he had accidentally stumbled upon her naked. 

"What do you want me to do about it?" Keegan asked his mother, ripping Cara from her thoughts. "She tried to give him a bath and you know how much he hates them."

"Well, you could have stopped him!" Miriam moaned and gestured towards Cara.

"Stopped him?" He scoffed. "She was already in the water when I got there." Keegan defended himself and rolled his eyes at her.

Brave. She stated and waited with pouted lips for Miriam's response. This woman's reprimands were the nearest thing to comedy show she could get right now.  

"Roll those eyes at me again, boy." Miriam warned her son. Keegan leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, defying her without words nor by rolling his eyes. 

.  .  .

"Where do you think you two are going at this hour?" Miriam snapped at her sons as they had one foot out the door. They had thanked her for the dinner and then walked straight for the door. 

"The lake." Flynn answered without hesitation. Cara frowned a bit. 

That answer was a bit too practiced and perfectly timed. She thought. He is lying... She studied the brothers as they waited for Miriam's response. 

"After sunset?" Miriam asked suspiciously, reminding them how late it was. 

"Would you rather have me take him to the tavern?" Keegan asked. 

A diversion... Yup. They are lying their asses off. I wonder where they're really going. The tavern? Since he is-

"Don't you dare take your little brother to the tavern again, young man!" Miriam snarled and pointed a very stern finger at him. "Not after Ellenor told me how drunk he was last time!" 

Cara put her hand in front of her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. Whoever Ellenor was, she had ratted them both out. 

"Ellenor wasn't there." Flynn defended himself. "She does not-" 

"No, but her son was." Miriam interrupted her youngest son and her eyes narrowed as she waited for the next fabricated answer they had in store for her. Cara wondered if she knew that they were lying to her. 

"Jared told you?" Flynn hissed. "I am going to-" 

"You are not doing anything!" Miriam hissed. "Neither will you, Keegan." She said and pointed her finger towards him as well. He was just about to say something in his defense when she continued. "Do not lie, Keegan." She warned him. "I will not have it. You know as much."

"Did Ellenor tell you about-" 

"Yes." Miriam's voice was now so dark now that Cara shuddered. She had never heard this tone before. It was clear as day that the reprimands she had distributed up til now was Miriam being nice. She did not want to be on the receiving end since this was a taste of Miriam's true anger. 

Cara was so confused. What were they talking about? Why was Miriam so angry? She didn't follow the argument completely since none of them paced themselves while talking, which led to her missing out on pieces of the context. 

"Hit that lad again and Ellenor will make sure the rest of the village finds out about it..." Georg suddenly meddled in the conversation. He on the other hand sounded like he was giving his son advice, not scolding him. 

They are talking about Keegan and Jared's fight... That has to be it.

"Mother! Jared poured an entire tankard of ale over Cara!" Keegan exclaimed frustrated. 

"Well, according to Jared, it was by accident and that wasn't why you hit him." His father said. Keegan inhaled deeply but didn't say anything back. 

"Jared made Cara uncomfortable." Flynn suddenly said, coming to his brother's rescue. He had surprised all of them. "He was standing very close to her, mother. Inappropriately close... Orla and I told him to leave her alone but... He also threatened to tell everyone about how we found her in the woods." Flynn said and pointed at Cara with his open hand. "Which he almost did, if Keegan hadn't..." Flynn turned silent when his mother's gaze advised him to be quiet. 

"Is this true, Cara?" Georg asked and all of a sudden everyone's eyes were on her. 

"Uhm..." She hesitated but when she looked at Keegan and Flynn, she saw their begging eyes. "Yes..." She answered quietly even though she still didn't understand the whole conversation.. "Jared...uhm-" 

"Ellenor will hear of this in the morning!" Miriam hissed furiously before Cara was done talking. She waved her permission for her sons to leave and they did. 

Well, thank you for inviting me... I just saved your asses but whatever. Cara said with eyes widened by the fact that they just up and left her here. 

-----------------------------------

I hoped you liked this chapter even though it was quite uneventful! I needed a bridge ( I know, it was quite a long bridge...) but the  chapters would have been waaaay too long if I hadn't done this! :) 

However! The next chapter is going to be soooo much fun just fyi... ;) 

Just you wait and see... 

Thank you for reading! 

Much love,

 Jenny