The Sheik's Ruby (28 page)

“Now,” she continued, “What color is your dress?”

Shelby looked down at the blue sundress she’d pulled above her knees and tucked under her legs. “Let’s see…” She bit her lip as she thought. “
Zarqaa’
.”

“Perfect! You even remembered to use the feminine form.” Aaliya smiled and nodded. “You are learning quickly.”

“Yeah, but everything I know is like Arabic Sesame Street. Colors, numbers, a few animals.” Shelby lifted a date out of the bowl between them and chewed on it before she spoke again. “What about this?” She held the half-eaten fruit. “What is this called?”

“
Balah
.”

“And the sandwiches we had?” Shelby waved toward the blanket behind them where only bits of the delicious meat, vegetables, and flatbread remained from their picnic.

“
Shawarma
.”

“
Shawarma
is possibly my new favorite food.” Shelby patted her stomach, her Bedouin bracelet jingling.

Aaliya laughed. “It is one of my favorites, too. My mother makes it when we have extra meat.”

“You haven’t told me much about your family. Do they live close?”

“My parents live in the city.”

“Do you get to see them often?” Shelby bent forward and scooped the cool water onto her legs.

“Yes. I visit them once a week at least.”

“Do you have brothers and sisters?”

“Yes. One younger sister who lives with our parents.” Aaliya pulled her feet out of the water. She turned toward Shelby, sitting cross-legged. “Your younger brother is named Chet?” When Shelby nodded, she continued. “Do you miss him?”

“Yes.” She was surprised at the lump in her throat and the tears that threatened to spill over. “Aaliya, I don’t know what will happen.”

“No one knows the future, Shelby.”

“I feel…suspended—trapped in mid-air or stuck in mid-motion. You know what I mean?” She clenched her fists in frustration. “I don’t know how long I’ll be here or what my role is in this world. Hakim has alluded to a future together, but if I were to stay, how would I fit in?”

“In my opinion, you are becoming a woman of Khali-dar. You are speaking the language, enjoying the food, and yesterday, you looked the part beautifully, wearing the clothes.”

“We both know I will always be an outsider.”

Aaliya squeezed Shelby’s hand. “Not to Prince Hakim, and not to me. This bracelet you wear shows the wonderful impression you made on Elder Malik and his family. You must not worry. You make friends easily—you are special. And if you continue to be yourself, you will find your place here.”

****

Shelby’s life at the palace fell into a comfortable routine. Every morning, she hurried down to the stables to ride
Al-qamar
. She never forgot to bring Kadir a treat, and the two spent time together, joking around and taking care of the mare. Much of the morning, she occupied herself by reading in the gardens, or practicing Arabic with Aaliya on her balcony. She ate lunch, and every sound caused her heart to skip. She expected Hakim at any time, and the rest of the day always belonged to him.

She knew he worked hard, attending various meetings with his father, and she was determined to give him the space he needed, which was why she was surprised to see him waiting one morning when she left the stables. She had just returned
Al-qamar
after their morning ride.

Hakim was speaking to the trainers and security guards near the racing entrance. He and one of the men strode over to join them. “Shelby, this is Sayyid. He is the head trainer of our racing horses.”

She noticed Kadir had walked over to stand next to Sayyid. “
Al-salaam alaykum
, Sayyid.”

“
Wa
alaykum e-salaam
, Miss Walker,” he responded, bowing.

“Sayyid is the boy’s father,” Hakim told her. “His family has raised and trained racing horses for my family for generations.”

“And now, he’s teaching Kadir,” Shelby said.

Hakim nodded. “We have been making the final preparations for the race horses to be sent to Kentucky to qualify. The Derby is in two weeks.”

Hakim spoke a few words to Sayyid before taking Shelby’s hand and walking along the path to the palace.

“Later, Kadir!” Waving, Shelby called to the boy. “See you tomorrow.”

He smiled widely as he waved back.

Sensing that Hakim had a lot on his mind, Shelby remained quiet. She didn’t want to disturb his thoughts.

When they reached the garden, Hakim led her down a new path. It opened into a small clearing surrounded by high hedges. In the clearing stood a wooden gazebo. The windows were carved intricately—their arches rose to a point. A bench ran around the walls. Hakim held her hand as they stepped inside. “This was my favorite place to play as a child,” Hakim said. “I still come here when I wish to be alone.”

“Do you want to be alone?” Shelby asked. He’d spoken as if he was distracted.

“No. There is something I would like to speak with you about.”

Shelby sat next to him.

He put his arm around her. “Are you happy here?” He kissed the top of her head.

“Yes.” Shelby sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.

He was silent.

Shelby knew he was waiting for her to continue. “Everything is perfect, and everybody is so nice. Well, almost everybody. I have loved spending time with you and, even sometimes, your father. These weeks have been the best of my life.”

Hakim took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. “Would you like to stay here with me?”

Shelby was silent, considering the meaning of his words, but before she could speak, he continued.

“Shelby Walker, will you stay here in Khali-dar and be my wife?” He took her hand in his, and slid a beautiful ring on her finger.

A gasp escaped, and Shelby’s heart raced. Her throat went dry. Holding up her hand, she admired the gold band with a large ruby set between two diamonds. The ring was the most beautiful she had ever seen, and this moment was exactly what she had hoped for. She was in love with Hakim, and he was in love with her. And their love had seemed like enough.

Yet, seeing the ring, the ruby, something started to tickle her subconscious, pushing its way up until it burst out. Shelby’s mind reeled. What would this mean? Could she live here forever? They had spoken generally about the future. Just not in any detail. Suddenly, those forgotten details loomed up and pressed in on her.

What about her family? Would she be able to see them? She didn’t think Hakim would keep her from visiting, but the terrorists might. Could she give up her family?

Ghaniyah, her friends, and who knew how many other people in Khali-dar hated her. Would she have to endure their looks, their spite forever? And what about children? Would the other kids of Khali-dar hate her kids because she, an outsider, was their mother? How would she even go about raising children in a palace? She knew Hakim had been educated by tutors—so did that mean their kids wouldn’t even get to go to school? Or play football? Or have friends?

She looked from Hakim to the garden outside the gazebo as thoughts continued to fill her mind. She worried about the whole issue with his dad. Did the Sheik know Hakim’s plan to marry her? What would he say? Even worse, what would he do? Hakim was risking the disapproval of his father, but what if the Sheik forbade it? Disowned his son? Was Hakim really willing to give up everything to be with her? She couldn’t let him do that. His father was the only family he had. Hakim had been prepared since the day he was born to be the next Sheik. He would be the best Sheik Khali-dar ever had. She couldn’t let him sacrifice all that for love.

She set her hands in her lap, and looked back at him, through eyes full of tears. “I don’t know, Hakim. I don’t know if I can marry you.”

Hakim’s shoulders slumped. He moved his head from side to side, and the skin around his eyes tightened.

“I love you,” she continued, “and I want to be with you, but I don’t know if I can live this life. I’m living here like I’m on a cruise ship. I sleep in, people make my bed, and my days are filled with doing whatever I want.” Shelby reached for his hand, but thought better of it and clutched her elbow. “I’m a taker. I don’t have a role here. I don’t feel as if I am contributing to the world in any way. And I don’t know if I can do that forever.”

Frowning, Hakim opened his mouth to say something.

She held up a hand to stop him and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I know I sound selfish after all you’ve done for me, but I need to do things for you, too. Not just bask in your affection and gifts, rewarding you with a smile and a kiss. I need to feel like I have something to offer—not only to you, or your father, or to Khali-dar, but to myself as well.” She curled her hand into a fist on her knee. “Otherwise, I’ll lose who I am, pretending to be someone I’m not.”

“Shelby.”

“I know, I’m talking crazy.” She shook her head. “But I can’t do this, Hakim. I can’t love you honestly if I’m not true to myself.”

“Is this because of my father?” Hakim’s voice was thick. His eyes shined over-bright and his expression flitted between disappointed, desperate, and angry.

“Partly. You know how he feels about me.” She pointed to herself and then let her hand drop. “He will never consent to this. But he’s not the only one, Hakim. Most of your people don’t approve of us. Of me.”

“Those are people who have not met you, yet. You will win their hearts as you did Elder Malik and his family. I know you will.” His breath hitched and he stared with a crinkled brow.

“Your whole country is depending on you to be the Sheik.” Blinking hard, Shelby looked at the ring again, sliding it off her finger. “Sheiks don’t marry poor American cowgirls.” Saying those words made her stomach churn. Her mind reeled, and she knew she had to leave. Seeing the pain in his eyes made her heart feel like it was shrinking. He looked so vulnerable. She wiped her dripping nose on her sleeve and stood, placing the heavy ring into his hand.

“I just need time to think, all right?” She ran from the gazebo, following the same path they had taken, back to the stables. Shelby ran past a bewildered Kadir, re-saddled
Al-qamar
, and spurred her into a gallop. She rode in a daze before she reined in the mare and considered where she was. Luckily,
Al-qamar
had followed their regular path into the forest. At least the horse seemed to know which way to go. She prodded the mare forward, letting her set her own pace.

Shelby’s mind raced.
Had that just happened?
What was she doing? Was she giving up the greatest thing that had ever happened in her life? She knew the answer was “yes,” but she also knew in a place deep down, a place she often wished never existed, that she had been honest with Hakim. Being raised on a farm, working hard her entire life, she couldn’t deny her existence would be a fake if she wasn’t true to the part of herself that understood the need to contribute to the world, instead of just seeing what she could get for free. She wasn’t paying attention to the path, and when she noticed two men ahead of her, she startled.

They wore the uniforms of the gardeners, but instead of going about their business, they scrutinized her.

Her scalp tightened. Usually, Shelby felt annoyed that people were everywhere at the palace, never allowing her to be truly alone. But, after she darted her gaze around, she realized for once, no one was near to help. She was in danger. Heart pounding, Shelby dug her heels into
Al-qamar’s
side to spur her into a run, but the action came too late.

One of the men had moved fast, grabbing the reins and halting her horse. The other, larger man yanked Shelby from the saddle, clamping his hand over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

Shelby bit down, and the man grunted in pain. In her panic, she struggled, swinging her arms and legs as hard as she could. She felt the satisfaction of her foot making contact a few times before she felt a cloth pushed against her face and smelled the acrid tang of chemicals. Shelby sank into darkness.

Chapter Nineteen

Hakim sat where Shelby had left him, rotating the ring around and around in his fingers—his gaze focused on nothing. He heard a noise and looked up to see Nasir running down the path toward the gazebo.

“Your Highness.” Nasir spoke between panting breaths. “I have bad news.”

When he saw the expression on Nasir’s face, Hakim jumped to his feet. “Has there been another attack?”

Nasir hesitated for a split second. “Your Highness, Miss Walker has been kidnapped.”

Moments later, the two men strode down the hall. Nasir briefed Hakim on the information they had so far.

“Her horse wandered back to the stable alone. Following the animal’s usual path, we found signs of a struggle. Miss Walker’s bracelet was discovered and, nearby, a bottle of chloroform.” Nasir handed Hakim a piece of twisted metal.

Hakim recognized it as the Bedouin bracelet Shelby loved, and his stomach hardened into a rock.

“Based on our intelligence,” Nasir continued, “we believe this kidnapping was orchestrated by
Nahl.
”

“What intelligence?” Hakim fought to control the panic threatening to engulf his thoughts.
How long has it been since Shelby left me? Twenty minutes? Half an hour?

“It was posted in a chat-room forum. The person claimed the ‘prince’s girlfriend’ was the prisoner of
Nahl.
”

Hakim knew Nasir chose his words carefully to spare him further pain. The kidnappers had undoubtedly called Shelby something worse than his “girlfriend. “Were we able to trace the user?”

“No, Your Highness, the IP address was untraceable.”

“How did this happen? We have the best security possible.” Hakim vaguely registered shock that his heart was capable of hurting worse than it had when Shelby had rejected his proposal. But thinking about what the terrorists would do, could be doing, to Shelby, even now…

His breath came in short gasps, and he knew he needed to calm himself. He pressed a hand against a wall and evened out his breathing.

Nasir stood by the prince and continued his update. “After reviewing video from the security cameras, we believe three men in gardener’s uniforms were able to conceal Miss Walker under a large pile of branches which were hauled out of the forest roughly a half hour ago.”