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beard covering his cheeks. “I like your
stubble, Owen; it makes you look even more handsome and definitely
sexier.”
    “I love seeing your hair flowing about your
shoulders, Tabby. Waking up beside you for the rest of our lives
will be an adventure in and of itself. Now, what is this secret you
are speaking about already this morning?”
    “The one you shared with me last night, my
darling. It is the biggest kept secret of pleasure there is,” she
whispered.
    Owen could not help but laugh. Only his
Tabby would say something so silly, but the male part of him was
reacting to her words with pride. “Would you care to share our
secret with me again, my love?” he asked. “Unless you are
sore?”
    “I do not feel sore, and I hope we share many
secrets during our marriage, Owen.”
    * * * * *
    “I am so pleased that you decided we could
take this tour, Owen. I want to see more of the island!” Tabitha
exclaimed as they boarded a large vehicle that would drive them to
points of interest.
    “It is our honeymoon; I wish to please you,
wife,” Owen smiled as he followed her to a seat and sat down. It
was surprising to both of them to see how many vacationers were on
the tour, and he noticed that his wife was not too comfortable with
some people from other lands who did not adhere to the codes of
modesty that this country found suitable. Judging was wrong, but
Owen was thankful his wife adhered to a code of modesty.
    “She is saying that her swimsuit is wet and
chafing her skin,” Tabitha whispered.
    Owen was still amazed at how easily
different languages came to Tabby, but he was not pleased that she
was eavesdropping on the other couple. “It is not our business,
Tabitha Rose,” he stated firmly.
    Tabitha rarely heard that stern note in
Owen’s voice, but when she did, it hurt her feelings. “Are you
trying to spoil this trip?” she demanded.
    “Do not take that tone with me, wife, or we
will leave the tour and return to our room at the hotel.” It was
not what he preferred to do, but if Tabitha were in need of
discipline, he would see it done.
    Tabitha scooted away from him and kept her
tear-filled eyes on the window. She barely heard what the tour
guide was saying as they rolled to their first stop. She got off
the vehicle with Owen right behind her, but when another man chose
to engage Owen in conversation, it was easy for her to go exploring
on her own, and she did. Tabitha was enjoying looking at the
historical site, and she made her way around the grounds, reading
the different plaques as she did so. She did not realize how far
she had wandered from the rest of the group when she was suddenly
grabbed from behind.
    “Do not scream or we will slice your throat!”
a voice hissed in her ear.
    “Let me go at once!” Tabitha demanded.
    “We have a feisty one, little brother,” a
second man spoke up.
    Tabitha knew the man holding her did not
have a knife in his hands; he was too busy gripping her upper arms
to have a weapon. She immediately threw herself backwards instead
of resisting as she had been, causing the man holding her to lose
his balance. She managed to break free, and then let out a loud
scream, hoping that Owen would hear her.
    * * * * *
    Owen wrapped up his conversation by telling
the other man that he was on his wedding trip and needed to give
his attention to his new bride. He turned, expecting to find
Tabitha by his side, but she was not there! He quickly scanned the
crowd, but his lovely redhead was not among those people. He
approached the tour guide and asked, “Have you seen my wife?”
    “A few minutes ago she was over there
reading the memorial. I hope she has not wandered too far. As I
explained, this stop is not in a safe area of town and she was
instructed to remain with the group.”
    Owen was frantic as he started looking for
Tabitha, and he was just about to turn and look in the opposite
direction when he heard her scream and call his name. He took off
running, praying he