His Best Intentions chapter 4.5
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Jared sat in the hay, letting the puppies climb and romp over him. They were all so adorable Jared named each of them even though Jensen only gave him one. Because Jensen was kind and patient, Jared thought the Prince would probably help train the pup. Jared smiled to himself as he thought of Jensen’s fond expression whenever he was playing with Lady or her pups. Jared picked up the one he named ‘Chance’ and thought how lucky he was that Jensen was nothing like Chad said he would be.
“What are you doing here?” Princess Elizabeth stood outside the stall in her riding gear.
“I’m trying to decide on a puppy. Jensen’s given me the impossible task of choosing one for a pet. They are all so adorable I can’t decide,” Jared replied, grinning at the puppy he held.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and mumbled, “Of course he has.” She took a breath and continued, “I mean, why are you still here? Living in our home? It’s obvious you don’t like us.”
Jared’s mouth fell open, but the Princess ignored him and continued, “You take all your meals in your room. You rarely interact with anyone other than your teacher. You have not tried to get to know Jensen or us. Yet, you haven’t gone back to your life outside the castle.”
“I had no place to go,” he replied meekly.
“Don’t give me that. You know damn well my brother would have provided you with everything you needed. Why haven’t you gone to whatever northern province to live with your beloved? Is it because it’s so much easier to take advantage of us?”
Flummoxed by Elizabeth’s words, Jared stammered, “I, I didn’t, I don’t, I mean, Jensen said I could stay so I--”
“So, you never left! How is my brother supposed to choose another Intended if you’re here? Why are you deliberately choosing to destroy Jensen’s future?” Her voice cracked with emotion.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to--.”
“My brother is a wonderful man. You don’t deserve him.” Her tears fell, and she ran out of the barn, leaving a perplexed Jared to stare after her.
He thought about her words. How was he destroying Jensen? Jensen was a prince. Nothing Jared did or didn’t do would change that, right? He set down the puppy and scratched Lady behind the ears. The Princess wasn’t right about everything, Jared told himself. While it was true he kept to himself, he would not be a Royal so why interact with people that made him nervous.
He could have left, Jared thought to himself. She was right. He could have found himself a place and a new job. But what about finding Travis? Surely he couldn’t do that without the Prince’s help. At least, it was much easier with Jensen’s help, Jared admitted.
He stood and dusted himself off. He would pack his few belongings and find a place to live and employment by the end of the week. He could do this. He would miss Jensen and their friendship. He’d miss the castle. A puppy took that moment to bite and tug at Jared’s pant leg, and he would miss the puppies. But he would leave and start his life again.
Decision made, Jared left the barn but stopped short when he saw Jensen comforting Elizabeth. They hugged for a while, then Jensen tenderly wiped her tears with his thumbs and kissed her forehead.
Not wanting to interrupt, Jared returned to the barn. An unwelcome memory of Travis came to him. He was laughing at a poor girl who had been crying. Jared couldn’t recall what caused her tears, but he remembered the disgust he felt at Travis’s laughter.
After a few minutes, Jared left the barn and ran into Jensen, nearly toppling him.
“Jared, I’m glad you’re here. Would you ride with me? I need to,” Jensen didn’t finish, he just blinked like he didn’t know the words to say.
Jared’s brow furrowed, but he followed Jensen. A moment later, he was riding faster than he ever had as he followed Jensen to the edge of the forest and down the path to the cove.
Once safely on the beach, Jensen tied the horses and paced. Jared watched until the restless, sullen Prince finally exhaled and collapsed on the sand. Jared sat next to him, struggling to remain silent as Jensen stared at the sea.
After several minutes of listening to the waves crashing on the shore, Jared noticed Jensen wiping his eyes. “Jensen? What’s wrong? What happened?”
Jensen answered with a shake of his head. “Nothing. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
Jared blew out a breath and turned back to the water. “You’re a terrible liar, but you don’t have to tell me. I’m happy to just sit on this beautiful beach with you.” He’d hoped to make Jensen smile, but he got no response from the Prince. So he placed his hand on the other man’s shoulder, letting him know he was there if he needed him.
Jared watched the waves roll in and let the sound soothe his nerves. One after another, the waves washed over the sand, gradually getting closer to them.
The Prince sat with his arms folded on his knees and his forehead resting on his forearms, his eyes closed. Finally, after several minutes, Jensen turned his head to Jared and spoke. “My father is sending Elizabeth off to school, so she is prepared to rule. She’s upset she won’t be here for the festival on Saturday.”
Jared nodded. Although that explained why she was so angry, he knew Jensen was withholding something. Elizabeth wouldn’t rule unless the Prince couldn’t.
“Jared, would you do me the honor of sitting in the Royal box on Saturday?” He glanced at Jared, then looked away again. “I know you’re not my Intended, but no one else will be there, and it would be nice to look into the stands and see a friendly face.”
“The Royal box?” Jared repeated.
“Your friends can join you if you wish.”
Jared smiled weakly. “I’m sure Genevieve and Chad will love that. Thank you.”
Jensen stood. “You are doing me the favor, Jared, I should thank you.”
Jared held out his hand so Jensen could pull him up. “Then, you’re welcome,” he said, smiling.
Jensen took Jared’s hand and tugged him to his feet. “On Monday, we will leave for Wildebridge. From there, we will travel north until we find Travis.” He walked back to where the horses were tied.
Jared gasped, “What?”
Jensen didn’t meet his eyes when he replied, “Waiting here for word isn’t working. We need to search for him ourselves.”
Jared nodded, not knowing what to say. Finally, he asked, “How long will it take?”
“To find him?” Jensen shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“No, of course not, I meant to get to Porthcawl.”
Again Jensen shrugged. “Depends on how fast we can travel. You can handle horseback so we won’t need a carriage, that will speed things up.” He walked the horses over to Jared. “Do you think Travis traveled to Wildebridge before heading north? It seems like the most direct route. It’s the path I would take, but perhaps he knew a better one.”
“I don’t know. We didn’t talk much about him leaving.” Jared grew quiet, thinking about the last time he was with Travis. After begging his boyfriend to stay, Jared used sex to tempt Travis to forget about leaving. It didn’t work, and it made Jared feel cheap for trying it. That night, as they held each other, Jared promised to always love him. Travis promised they would be together again.
But Travis left in the morning, and Jared never heard from him again. What did those promises even mean?
Thinking Jared became quiet because he was worried, Jensen took his hand. “I promise we will find Travis. You will be together again.”
chapter 5
Jared sat in the hay, letting the puppies climb and romp over him. They were all so adorable Jared named each of them even though Jensen only gave him one. Because Jensen was kind and patient, Jared thought the Prince would probably help train the pup. Jared smiled to himself as he thought of Jensen’s fond expression whenever he was playing with Lady or her pups. Jared picked up the one he named ‘Chance’ and thought how lucky he was that Jensen was nothing like Chad said he would be.
“What are you doing here?” Princess Elizabeth stood outside the stall in her riding gear.
“I’m trying to decide on a puppy. Jensen’s given me the impossible task of choosing one for a pet. They are all so adorable I can’t decide,” Jared replied, grinning at the puppy he held.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and mumbled, “Of course he has.” She took a breath and continued, “I mean, why are you still here? Living in our home? It’s obvious you don’t like us.”
Jared’s mouth fell open, but the Princess ignored him and continued, “You take all your meals in your room. You rarely interact with anyone other than your teacher. You have not tried to get to know Jensen or us. Yet, you haven’t gone back to your life outside the castle.”
“I had no place to go,” he replied meekly.
“Don’t give me that. You know damn well my brother would have provided you with everything you needed. Why haven’t you gone to whatever northern province to live with your beloved? Is it because it’s so much easier to take advantage of us?”
Flummoxed by Elizabeth’s words, Jared stammered, “I, I didn’t, I don’t, I mean, Jensen said I could stay so I--”
“So, you never left! How is my brother supposed to choose another Intended if you’re here? Why are you deliberately choosing to destroy Jensen’s future?” Her voice cracked with emotion.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to--.”
“My brother is a wonderful man. You don’t deserve him.” Her tears fell, and she ran out of the barn, leaving a perplexed Jared to stare after her.
He thought about her words. How was he destroying Jensen? Jensen was a prince. Nothing Jared did or didn’t do would change that, right? He set down the puppy and scratched Lady behind the ears. The Princess wasn’t right about everything, Jared told himself. While it was true he kept to himself, he would not be a Royal so why interact with people that made him nervous.
He could have left, Jared thought to himself. She was right. He could have found himself a place and a new job. But what about finding Travis? Surely he couldn’t do that without the Prince’s help. At least, it was much easier with Jensen’s help, Jared admitted.
He stood and dusted himself off. He would pack his few belongings and find a place to live and employment by the end of the week. He could do this. He would miss Jensen and their friendship. He’d miss the castle. A puppy took that moment to bite and tug at Jared’s pant leg, and he would miss the puppies. But he would leave and start his life again.
Decision made, Jared left the barn but stopped short when he saw Jensen comforting Elizabeth. They hugged for a while, then Jensen tenderly wiped her tears with his thumbs and kissed her forehead.
Not wanting to interrupt, Jared returned to the barn. An unwelcome memory of Travis came to him. He was laughing at a poor girl who had been crying. Jared couldn’t recall what caused her tears, but he remembered the disgust he felt at Travis’s laughter.
After a few minutes, Jared left the barn and ran into Jensen, nearly toppling him.
“Jared, I’m glad you’re here. Would you ride with me? I need to,” Jensen didn’t finish, he just blinked like he didn’t know the words to say.
Jared’s brow furrowed, but he followed Jensen. A moment later, he was riding faster than he ever had as he followed Jensen to the edge of the forest and down the path to the cove.
Once safely on the beach, Jensen tied the horses and paced. Jared watched until the restless, sullen Prince finally exhaled and collapsed on the sand. Jared sat next to him, struggling to remain silent as Jensen stared at the sea.
After several minutes of listening to the waves crashing on the shore, Jared noticed Jensen wiping his eyes. “Jensen? What’s wrong? What happened?”
Jensen answered with a shake of his head. “Nothing. I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”
Jared blew out a breath and turned back to the water. “You’re a terrible liar, but you don’t have to tell me. I’m happy to just sit on this beautiful beach with you.” He’d hoped to make Jensen smile, but he got no response from the Prince. So he placed his hand on the other man’s shoulder, letting him know he was there if he needed him.
Jared watched the waves roll in and let the sound soothe his nerves. One after another, the waves washed over the sand, gradually getting closer to them.
The Prince sat with his arms folded on his knees and his forehead resting on his forearms, his eyes closed. Finally, after several minutes, Jensen turned his head to Jared and spoke. “My father is sending Elizabeth off to school, so she is prepared to rule. She’s upset she won’t be here for the festival on Saturday.”
Jared nodded. Although that explained why she was so angry, he knew Jensen was withholding something. Elizabeth wouldn’t rule unless the Prince couldn’t.
“Jared, would you do me the honor of sitting in the Royal box on Saturday?” He glanced at Jared, then looked away again. “I know you’re not my Intended, but no one else will be there, and it would be nice to look into the stands and see a friendly face.”
“The Royal box?” Jared repeated.
“Your friends can join you if you wish.”
Jared smiled weakly. “I’m sure Genevieve and Chad will love that. Thank you.”
Jensen stood. “You are doing me the favor, Jared, I should thank you.”
Jared held out his hand so Jensen could pull him up. “Then, you’re welcome,” he said, smiling.
Jensen took Jared’s hand and tugged him to his feet. “On Monday, we will leave for Wildebridge. From there, we will travel north until we find Travis.” He walked back to where the horses were tied.
Jared gasped, “What?”
Jensen didn’t meet his eyes when he replied, “Waiting here for word isn’t working. We need to search for him ourselves.”
Jared nodded, not knowing what to say. Finally, he asked, “How long will it take?”
“To find him?” Jensen shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“No, of course not, I meant to get to Porthcawl.”
Again Jensen shrugged. “Depends on how fast we can travel. You can handle horseback so we won’t need a carriage, that will speed things up.” He walked the horses over to Jared. “Do you think Travis traveled to Wildebridge before heading north? It seems like the most direct route. It’s the path I would take, but perhaps he knew a better one.”
“I don’t know. We didn’t talk much about him leaving.” Jared grew quiet, thinking about the last time he was with Travis. After begging his boyfriend to stay, Jared used sex to tempt Travis to forget about leaving. It didn’t work, and it made Jared feel cheap for trying it. That night, as they held each other, Jared promised to always love him. Travis promised they would be together again.
But Travis left in the morning, and Jared never heard from him again. What did those promises even mean?
Thinking Jared became quiet because he was worried, Jensen took his hand. “I promise we will find Travis. You will be together again.”
chapter 5