by Mark J Rose
“I have asked Mr. Miller to help with the new fence,” Thomas added. “He’ll stay for a few more weeks after harvest.”
“And you must finish your riding lessons,” Grace added.
“Can’t you do your apothecary in Richmond, Mr. Miller?” Jonathan asked.
“Richmond already has an apothecary, and there’s not enough business for two,” Matt said. “Besides, Philadelphia’s my home.”
They pulled into the gate. David and Faith had already returned. “Start soon on chores,” Thomas reminded everyone. There was a collective sigh.
“Mr. Miller,” Thomas said, “would you bring the horses in this evening?”
Matt nodded as the wagon stopped in front of the house. He hopped off after Grace and headed to the barn to change into his hiking clothes. Despite them now looking rather ugly, they were rugged and comfortable. He saw David as he was walking out. The man exaggerated his face into a frown and shook his head.
“What?” Matt exclaimed.
“You can minuet, too?” David said.
“Henry Duncan showed me,” Matt replied. “I know what you’ll say.”
“What’s that?” David was smiling.
“I’m a villain,” Matt replied, “and my pulling Grace into that square with my knees knocking and my heart pounding was another part of my devious plan.”
“Nah,” David said. “I saw you look to the sky and pray as any common man. You may truly love my niece.”
“I do,” Matt said, “and I’ll do the minuet in front of all of Virginia if I have to.”
“Well done,” David said. He reached out and shook Matt’s hand.
The rest of the night was routine for Matt. There was comfort in joining the Taylors as they put the farm to sleep, which turned to foreboding as the night got closer to ending and he knew he would return to the barn. He had made his decision to stay in 1762, and tonight was the night he’d commit to his plan to end the rescue efforts from the future. He turned the phone on and the text came like clockwork.
“Are you there?” it read.
Matt typed, “I’m staying. Rescue one of the others.”
“The portal will open at your original entry point in exactly 48 hours. Ordered to be there.”
“I told you. I’m not coming.”
“We can’t risk you changing the timeline.”
“Rescue one of the others. Again, the timeline might require my being in 1762.”
“Be at the entry site in 48 hours. Step into the portal.”
Matt typed, “Will not be there.”
There was no reply.
41
Time to Go
It was Friday and Grace had finally given up on teaching Matt the finer points of jumping. After the Thursday lesson, he could get Thunder to jump over short obstacles, and that was all both man and horse were interested in doing. Thunder was so big that the earth and his body shuddered when he landed. Silver Star was a natural jumper, only two thirds the size of Thunder, with muscles wound tight around his bones like rubber bands. He looked like a pogo stick as he jumped, whereas Thunder took off and landed like a pallet of bricks.
Grace recognized their aversion to jumping in the ring early on Friday and decided that they should take their lesson into the country to learn to jump over natural obstacles. Matt was chasing after her as they headed toward the river. She was galloping, but not at full speed and he had no trouble keeping pace. She’d veer off the trail intermittently and hop her horse over logs or gullies. Thunder rarely hesitated on these jumps, which were inconsequential in comparison to the hurdles in the ring. His long stride made it so he barely had to run to keep up with Silver Star.
In general, the week had been a peaceful one for Matt. Harvest was over, so the work was less frantic. He had spent most of the time hauling and cutting wood to build a fence for a new pasture. He and Charles had completed most of the task, with Jeb and Jonathan helping when their other chores allowed. Both boys had another week before they would return to school. Matt hadn’t heard anything about his gold ring, but in truth, he hadn’t given it much thought. He had little desire to dwell on the cascade of events that would occur once it sold. For the moment, he was happy to work, ride, and dream big dreams in his mini oasis.
Grace slowed Silver Star as they neared the mild precipice that looked down over the James River Valley. They hadn’t been there since the day they first kissed. “Do you remember this place?” she said.
“How could I forget?” Matt said, smiling. “It was the first time you realized how charming I am.”
“I may have realized before that,” she said.
“You didn’t act like it.”
“Ladies need to think on such matters,” Grace said. “You do realize that you’re not the only eligible gentleman in Richmond?”
“With all these wealthy men chasing you, why waste your kiss on me?”
“Does it matter?”
“If I’m going to spend the next few years of my life working to win your hand, it does.”
“The other men’s lives are set,” she said. “My life would have been decided.”
He gave her a good-humored laugh. “So you like me because I have no plan.”
“It’s more than the fact that your future is uncertain,” she said, frowning. “You desire to build a new life rather than live an old one.”
“More true than you imagine,” Matt said. “I think you also want to ride your horses.”
“I’m not a petulant, spoiled child. ’Tis not all about me and my animals.”
“I never said that!”
“I feel my husband must consider my wishes,” she said. “Time will tell, I imagine.” She thought for a moment. “I struggle much with the names you favor for our children.”
“We can talk about it. You name one, I name one, that sort of thing.”
“How many children did you expect to have?”
“Ten or fifteen, give or take.”
He was joking, but Grace took him at his word. “Ten or fifteen? You must pledge to provide me a wonderful mansion with attached stables for me to agree to fifteen children.”
“It’s a challenge, then,” Matt said. “Remember, I don’t plan on providing you with anything. Both of us will build the mansion with attached stables. You get short breaks to have the kids and then it’s back to work.”
“Very charming,” she said, frowning. She turned away and looked out over the river. “Where shall we live? I’ve been afraid to ask.”
“Somewhere nearby. Close to your family, but not too close.”
“Not too close?”
“Close enough to visit, but not so close that they are always involved in our decisions.”
“A worthy conceit,” Grace said. “A lady should command her own house. Mother should be near when I’m with child. I have some trepidation and will need her guidance. What if we only have daughters, like the Martins?”
“At least then you’d have to agree to a few of my names.”
They led the horses closer to the water and wandered along, sharing dreams of the future and discussing even the most trivial items down to the smallest detail. At one point, they dismounted their horses and stood together overlooking the river and holding hands. Some unknown signal would make them turn to one another and kiss and then, as mysteriously, make them start walking again. The horses glanced at them occasionally while they grazed together on the long fall grass.
“We should get back,” she said while they kissed.
“You’re safe with me,” Matt said. “I don’t plan to ravish you.”
“It’s not you that worries me,” she replied. He kissed her again and she pressed her body against him harder than she had before.
He was breathing her in.
She pulled away with passion in her eyes. “I’d give you everything now if you asked.”
“You’re not the only one who’s vulnerable,” Matt replied. “You better wait for me.”
**********
&
nbsp; They met Will in the road on their way home, so slowed their horses to walk beside him. He was returning from Richmond. “How was the lesson?” he asked.
“Very good,” Grace replied. “How was your first week back in town?”
“Difficult,” Will replied. “There were stacks of papers taller than me. I did a month’s labor already.”
“Did you visit Graine?” Grace asked.
“Wednesday for supper,” Will replied. “Her sisters demanded to know my intentions.”
“An alliance between our families would be beneficial,” Grace replied.
“I admire her more and more,” Will said. “Ofttimes I’ll mention my work at Samuel’s and she’ll have some suggestion.”
Matt looked back at him knowingly.
“I admit you said as much,” Will acknowledged.
They were entering the gate to the farm. “Don’t be late for supper,” Grace called back to them. They watched her ride away, leaving them alone to walk their horses to the stable.
“You still off to Philadelphia?” Will asked.
“There’s no way for me to start a business in Richmond.”
“Have you spoken of your future with my sister?”
“Some,” Matt replied. “I haven’t heard from Jacob, so I have time.”
“I imagined these would be good tidings,” Will said tentatively. “Jacob said your ring has sold.”
“Did he say how much?”
“No, but you owe me a meal.”
“It sold for at least eighty pounds,” Matt said. “I’ll have enough money to pay for Thunder.”
“When will you leave?”
“I want to attend church again, and then I’m off to Philadelphia.”
“Jacob knows people who take the mail north,” Will said. “Make sure you arrange an escort.”
“How long is the trip to Philadelphia?”
“Ten days, perhaps,” Will said. “You’ll miss the farm.”
“Nah,” Matt said. “I’ll meet friends in Philadelphia.” Matt hoped the dread he felt didn’t show in his voice. “Hopefully your sister will wait for me to come back.”
“My sister’s constitution has improved since you arrived,” Will said, “and her smile has returned.”
“Half the men in Richmond are trying to marry her.”
“They’ve been trying to marry her since she was sixteen. Will rolled his eyes and laughed. “She’s been waiting for someone who is not vexed by a lady wearing breeches.”
“I think if I were your father, I’d find every way to steer her elsewhere.”
“We all have high expectations for the man that will marry Grace. Is she worth your effort?”
“Effort?”
“Think on it,” Will replied. “Tomorrow you can ride away without encumbrance, never having to impress Father again.”
“I’d regret riding away from your sister.”
“Then I’d welcome you as my brother,” Will replied. He looked down at Scout. “Can I borrow the dog for a bone?”
“He’s your dog,” Matt said.
“Should you return for my sister’s hand, I suspect he should desire to live with the Millers, especially if you take his horse.”
“I hadn’t thought about that,” Matt said. It was true. Scout was going to miss Thunder.
“Come, boy,” Will said. “Let’s get a bone.”
Matt was embarrassed when the dog looked up at him for permission. “Go, dog,” he said, and Scout followed Will to the house.
Matt continued on to the corral. He unsaddled Thunder, brushed him briefly, and let him into the pasture. He had a million thoughts as he washed up and put on a new shirt for dinner. He sat on his bed, looked around the barn and then up at the ceiling. The first time he woke up and stared at that ceiling seemed like a lifetime ago. He gazed up into the empty space, hoping that he was part of some plan. Give me strength.
**********
Dinner that night was lively. “Are you going back into town tomorrow, Mr. Miller?” Thomas asked.
“My ring sold,” Matt replied.
“’Tis good news,” Thomas declared. He looked at his daughter to gauge her reaction.
“I’ll have money to pay for Thunder and fund my trip,” Matt said. “I’ll be traveling back to Philadelphia soon.”
“This is a surprise,” Grace said. “When will you leave?”
“Monday. I’d like to go to church one more time.”
“Find a church in Philadelphia,” Thomas said.
“It’s important for a young man to attend church,” Matt replied. “I was listening.”
“Children want church,” Mary added. “Their appreciation for God’s gifts can only be learned from a father who is influential in this regard.”
“I have not always gone to church and been a godly man,” Thomas admitted. “A man’s success and joy in life begins and ends with a life centered on the Lord. If you move towards Him, He moves towards you.”
“You’ve convinced me,” Matt said.
“Motivations matter little,” Thomas said. “Put yourself in the Lord’s house and your blessings will come.”
42
Toothpaste, Part V
“We don’t know what became of the others,” Kevin Moore said. “What if we get him back and he’s dead. Then what?”
“He made it through the first time,” Brian Palmer replied. “You either believe the data or you don’t.”
“He said that he was sick,” Jacob Cromwell said. “It might be worse coming back.”
“Data!” Palmer exclaimed. “He’s fine.”
David Greer, who had been listening quietly, felt the need to speak. “Brian, you keep saying ‘data,’ but I don’t think we have any. We may have been responsible for the deaths of three others.”
“That’s nonsense,” Palmer replied. “These people are alive.”
“That’s your theory,” Greer said. “I can’t imagine how anyone survives an unprotected trip through a wormhole.”
“We have contact with one,” Palmer said. “That’s proof enough.”
“We should shut this down,” Cromwell said. “It was an accident; I can still live with myself. The consequences of anything we do in the future are on us.”
“I’m sick of working nights and never getting any credit,” Greer said. “I’m done.”
“Me too,” Moore added. “From the things Colonel Gabriel has said lately, he’ll support this.”
“You’re reading into his comments,” Palmer replied.
“I’ll pull together a meeting tomorrow,” Cromwell said. “I don’t want to work on this anymore. Besides, Matthew Miller says he doesn’t want to be rescued.”
“Fine,” Palmer replied, resigned. “We can talk to Colonel Gabriel in the morning.”
“Let’s go have a beer,” Moore said. “I don’t want to end this on a miserable note. We’re a great team…we just need a project we can talk about.”
“Fine,” Palmer agreed. “I’m getting tired of being the only one who wants this.”
“We can make plans at the bar,” Cromwell said. “I have a few opinions about what we should work on next.”
“Faster than light is impossible,” Moore said.
“Give me a chance to explain over a few beers!” Cromwell replied.
“I haven’t submitted my abstract to the APC yet,” Palmer said. “I’ll meet you guys in a half hour or so.”
The four physicists did a quick cleanup of the lab and switched off the instruments. As the lab grew quiet, a look of relief began to grow on their faces with the idea that they were making the right decision in shutting down the project. Palmer waved to them as they left. “See you in a moment. Shouldn’t take too long.”
Palmer sat there working on the computer until he heard the outside door click closed, and then he sprang into action. He walked systematically around the laboratory, flipping switches. The stainless steel reactor began its calm hum and the room filled with soft green
light. He set the chronometer to 1762 and slowly released particles into the reflectors. Palmer sat at his computer and typed, “Are you there?”
“This will be my last communication,” Matt replied.
Palmer typed, “I’ll be opening up the portal at your original entry point. Please step in.”
“I’m not near the entry point.”
“When can you get there?”
“Tell my dad I love him and I’m okay. I’m staying.”
“Not if I can help it,” Palmer said aloud. The longitude and latitude of Matt’s cell phone was flashing in the corner of the computer monitor. Palmer now had the exact position for the cell transmission. He filled in the values and flipped the switch. The particles shot into the reflectors at full power and the time portal on the wall began to glow.
**********
Matt Miller was in the barn, leaning against a stack of hay bales, watching the symbol on the screen of his phone as it shut down, and talking to the dog. “Hopefully, these guys have gotten the message. I’ll take my chances in 1762.”
The shock the phone gave him was a familiar one, and suddenly his memory of the events leading up to his disappearance from the hiking trail came rushing back. He knew immediately what was happening. “They’re trying to open a hole on top of me,” he said aloud. He tossed the phone to the corner of the barn, dashed toward the dog, picked him up and dived into the opposite corner. Scout yelped angrily as they hit the floor. Matt looked up in time to see a faint green field appear above the haystack where they had been standing. Three seconds later, there was a sharp crack like a bullwhip and then complete silence. About forty hay bales had disappeared and there was a large round hole in the barn roof. Hay from surrounding stacks tumbled to fill the void left by the missing bales.
“Sorry about that, dog,” Matt said. “You okay?” The dog was already on his feet, sniffing the ozone in the air. There was knocking on the barn door and then it slid open. Matt was still sitting dazed on the floor.
David walked in and stared at the damage as he made his way to Matt and the dog. “What in God’s name was that?” he exclaimed. “Are you hurt?”