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“And now!” Crown Prince Quinn’s voice roared through the sound system. “The contestants we’ve all been waiting for. Captain Aiden Porter and our very own Chalisa Anderson!”
The crowd roared and surged to their feet.
Aiden grinned at her as he strode farther into the stadium, escorting her on Jersey’s back and raising his free arm in the air.
Chalisa glanced around in wonder. She recognized many of the people in the stands from her visits here and the times she’d worked in Dr. Grace’s clinic and served these very people.
Everybody from sweet old ladies to laughing toddlers were clapping and cheering for her. She hadn’t even done anything yet, but somehow she felt strong and loved. She lifted both gloved hands in the air and waved and smiled.
Aiden directed her over toward the lists where the jousting was set up. As the crowd settled, Prince Quinn announced the various events and schedule for the day.
Aiden beamed up at her. “You’ve already won all of our hearts, love. Give it your best. It’s all going to work out perfectly.”
Chalisa’s throat was thick with emotion as she stared down into his blue eyes. She believed him that the competition would work out. She didn’t think Jagger or Hays would try to hurt her, and she knew the people of Magna loved her like one of their own.
Did Aiden love her?
Even if he did, nothing between them could ever work out perfectly.
He’d still have to walk away.
Chapter
Twelve
Aiden had to stand aside and watch Chalisa joust. Kingston led the horse to the far side of the wooden rail that separated the jousters from each other. She lifted her hand to close the visor of her metal helmet but glanced his direction first.
Putting his clasped fist to his heart, he gave her an encouraging smile.
She smiled sweetly, her blue gaze saying she loved him, and closed the visor. If only he could tell her he loved her back. Already he was treading on shaky ground, letting down his walls and savoring these stolen moments with her. It was possibly a betrayal of his oath, and it was completely unfair to her. Chalisa was so angelic she said she’d always forgive him and love him. He didn’t deserve her, and it would be much better for her when he walked away again.
Kingston handed her the lance. It wasn’t heavy at about twelve pounds but awkward with its length. Chalisa had a quiet strength. She lifted the lance into cradle position, ready to smack it against her opponent’s chest. She could do this.
He looked down at the far end of the rail and saw Captain Lemuel seated on a prancing brown horse, holding his own lance. The man’s face shield was down, but he looked much too confident and comfortable on that horse.
“Apparently the captain was raised in Kentucky on a ranch, and he competed internationally in the steeplechase,” Stuart said, glaring the same direction.
“Great,” Aiden said when he wanted to curse.
“What’s so great about that?” Wes asked, arching an eyebrow.
“I trained you and you are going to win.” Stuart turned his glare on Aiden, daring him to say he couldn’t win because Lemuel was an expert on a horse.
“Oh, I know that.” Aiden appreciated and related to Stuart’s competitive nature. He tried to play off his sarcasm. “But you’re only as good as your competition. We want to beat them soundly, not win because they are incompetent.”
“You’re right,” Stuart said begrudgingly.
Aiden thumped Stuart on the shoulder and turned to focus on Chalisa. If Lieutenant West had been raised on a horse’s back as well, they might be in trouble.
The flag dropped, the crowd cheered, and Aiden’s stomach tightened. He had no stress about his own events, but Chalisa on that horse, riding toward a Navy SEAL holding a blunted lance, made his nerves tingle. Why had any of them agreed to this? If he believed in heavenly intervention, he would’ve prayed. As it was, he held himself erect and felt as helpless as he had since …
Since the night his mom died and he’d seen her lifeless body over Ike’s shoulder before his older brother blocked his view and pushed him into the hallway, pinning him there until the police came.
Chalisa’s horse galloped toward Lemuel’s. She raised the lance to point at him, but even from here Aiden could see the lance was shaking. His stomach turned over.
Lemuel was almost upon her. The man yanked up on his horse’s reins and the horse smoothly leaped over the wooden railing and into Chalisa’s horse’s path. Aiden and the rest of the stadium cried out in surprise.
Chalisa’s horse reared back. Lemuel pushed his lance against Chalisa’s chest, then tossed the lance and pivoted his horse around, reaching for her as she dropped her lance and lost her seat.
