by Mark J Rose
“Lightning came through the roof and hit the bales,” Matt lied. “I’m fine.”
David looked up through the hole at the moon. “Lucky it didn’t start the barn on fire.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Matt replied, still shaken.
“Everything looks fine otherwise,” David said. “We can get this cleaned up tomorrow morning. You fine to sleep in here?”
“Probably. Lighting doesn’t strike twice in the same place, right?”
“I imagine not,” David said, looking back up at the roof. “There’s not a cloud in the sky.”
“Goodnight, David,” Matt said quickly. He was hoping the man would not start asking him a bunch of probing questions. David took his cue, leaving Matt and Scout in the barn. Matt walked to retrieve the cell phone from the corner. It had a few new scratches. He checked to make sure it was off, then set it on the farthest bench and covered it with his folded clothes. He was mostly sure it had to be transmitting to be tracked, but he’d give it a few days before turning it on. He wanted it far away for tonight.
**********
Back in the twenty-first century, military police were prying open the door to the Oak Ridge Propulsion Laboratory. Brian Palmer was still trapped inside and making frantic pleas for help. A team of men in radioactive hazmat suits was waiting in the parking lot after being mobilized by NORAD, which had registered a nuclear explosion coming from the site. Upon arrival, they realized that there was no evidence of an explosion. They scanned the area and verified that it was clean and were in the process of packing up when the MPs started to arrive. Many of the hazmat men sat waiting for an explanation of the false alarm.
Colonel Gabriel called the three physicists and interrupted their trip to the bar. They drove to the lab immediately and stood there as MPs inspected the laboratory door. “Anything dangerous in there?” one MP asked.
“There’s a reactor,” Jacob Cromwell replied. “It doesn’t sound like it’s running, so probably no.”
The other MP, who had been working on the door, said, “Got it open.” It was wide enough for someone to squeeze through.
The MP gestured to Cromwell. “You first. You’re the expert.”
“Fine,” Cromwell replied. All he could think of was his infant son and how he’d failed him. He stooped under a shelving unit that had fallen against the door and squeezed through. Bales of hay and pieces of weathered wood filled the laboratory. Cromwell paused, stunned.
“Don’t stand there,” Palmer said. “Get this off me.” He was trapped facedown under a small mountain of hay bales. The MPs were trying to squeeze into the room.
“Where’s all this hay from?” Cromwell asked.
“1762,” Palmer said. “Where do you think?”
“You transported all this hay back from 1762?” Cromwell replied. “What for?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” Palmer said. “I tried to pull Matthew Miller home.”
Cromwell couldn’t believe how angry he was. “You’re a damn fool.”
“I know,” Palmer replied. “He asked us to tell his dad he’s okay.”
43
Now What?
David was quiet for the beginning of their journey into town, but about halfway there, thoughts came pouring out of his mouth. “You sleep well after all that commotion in the barn,” he asked.
“Like a baby,” Matt replied. It was a lie. He had kept one eye open all night waiting for another green beam.
“Fortunately you didn’t get hit.”
“I can’t help it if I’m lucky,” Matt said. He gave David a big smile to emphasize the jest.
“You think you’ll have enough money to board your horse in Philadelphia?”
“I should have an extra ten pounds. I’ll use that.”
“You’ll ask Jacob about traveling with someone? You don’t want to travel alone.”
“I’ll arrange it.”
“That girl would be unbearable should you get scalped.”
“I’ll try not to get scalped,” Matt said.
“I have trouble saying things like this.”
“I believe you,” Matt said, smiling.
“All men deserve a chance. You have yours.”
“Still feels like the odds are against me,” Matt said.
“Dreams of young men are always thus,” David replied.
**********
They arrived in Richmond soon afterwards. “I’m off to Jacob’s,” Matt said. He arranged to meet David after lunch for their journey home. Matt would go first to the silversmith’s, then to a saddler with the hopes of buying a saddlebag for his journey, and then visit Henry and buy him lunch.
Jacob Berkley greeted Matt with a hearty hello. “It sold,” he said with a wide smile on his face.
Matt looked around to make sure the store was empty and that they spoke in private. “How much?”
“Better sit,” Berkley said, laughing. “You should be prepared for some disappointment.”
“It sold,” Matt replied. “The possibility for me to be disappointed is over.”
“Seven hundred pounds.”
“Seven hundred pounds?” Matt exclaimed. “You’re joking.”
“No. I have never been more wrong about a piece of jewelry. They took eight percent for commission and secure courier.”
“Seven hundred pounds?” Matt repeated. He was sure it was a joke.
“I have the bill of sale,” Berkley said. “Three hundred twenty pounds each after expenses.”
“Three hundred and twenty pounds?” Matt said, dumbfounded. “Who bought it, the king of England?”
“One of his representatives,” Berkley said.
“You’re joking,” Matt repeated. He was still waiting for the punch line.
“It was the crown carved in the stone they desired. Have you a purse for the money?”
“I’m buying a bag. I’ll pick it up on my way out of town.”
“I take trade all day,” Berkley replied. “I have a stack of Joes.”
“Joes?”
“Six pounds each.”
“I’ll be back,” Matt said. “I’m traveling to Philadelphia and need an escort. Thomas Taylor mentioned you know people.”
“Two brothers named Ezekiel and Robert Wilkins go north with the post on Monday. You’ll receive safe passage for a modest fee.”
“I wish to join them this Monday if you wouldn’t mind arranging it,” Matt said. He reached his hand out. “Good doing business with you.”
**********
Matt returned for his money after completing his errands and buying a new saddlebag.
“All ready to go?” David said as Matt walked out of the silversmith’s store.
“Let me pack this gold away,” Matt said. “So much depends on it.”
David waited for Matt to drop the leather pouch into the saddlebag and mount Thunder, and then they started the journey home. They rode in silence for a long while.
“You know, naught depends on all that gold,” David finally said.
Matt laughed. “It’s the missing piece of the puzzle,” he proclaimed.
“How so?”
“If I were wealthy, I’d already be courting Grace.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“You can’t deny I’d be better off if I had money.”
“You would be better off if you had earned money.”
Matt could hear the irritation in David’s voice. “What’s gotten into you?”
“In two years, you should be able to give all that money to the poor and have no doubt that you can make it all back. That’s the man Thomas is seeking for his daughter.” He sighed and smiled. “I’m going on and on. You’re young, and I’m sorry if I let you vex me.”
“Apology accepted, I guess,” Matt said. “I never believed it was only about the money.”
“Seems the ring sold at a good price,” David said.
“More than expected,” Matt replied. “There’s no excuse for me to stay.”
>
“Afraid to go home?”
“There’s nothing waiting for me in Philadelphia. It’s not going to be easy.”
“When has it ever been easy to walk the path of the Lord?”
They were quiet for the rest of the trip. The only sounds were those of the horses and the jingle from the coins in Matt’s saddlebag. Matt made a mental note to secure them for his journey to Philadelphia so they wouldn’t attract attention.
**********
The remainder of the day moved in fast-forward. Before Matt knew it, it was the next morning and they readied themselves for church. He sat next to Grace during the service, and this moment too seemed to disappear in an instant. After church, he was able to convince the Taylors to let him buy them lunch. He said his final goodbye to Will, who stayed in town. Matt rode back with the Taylors, arriving in time for one last ride in the country with Grace. Afterwards, he found himself sitting on the porch, petting and talking softly to the dog until it was time for dinner. Then it was dark and time for bed. He talked briefly to Faith and David, thanking them and saying goodbye.
“I desire to walk Mr. Miller to the barn and say goodnight,” Grace said to her father. Thomas looked at them, considered it for a moment, and said a simple “Fine.”
As they opened the door, Mary called out, “Jonathan, would you please accompany Mr. Miller and Grace to the barn? I don’t want Grace to be lonely when she walks back by herself.” The boy nodded and followed them out the door.
“I must watch for improprieties again,” Jonathan said. “My part is more important now.”
“Why’s that?” Matt said.
“Grace doesn’t pretend not to admire you.”
Grace jabbed him in the stomach. “You shouldn’t talk about improprieties in front of a lady,” she said. They broke into laughter and poked each other as they walked. When they reached the barn door, all three stood there awkwardly.
The boy finally looked up and said, “I saw fireflies on the other side of the barn. I’ll walk there and spend time catching them. You never know when I shall return.” He gave Matt an exaggerated wink and then walked around the barn.
“I’ll miss that boy,” Matt said.
“And he you,” Grace replied. She leaned into him and kissed him softly and he pulled her close.
“I’ll do my best to write every day,” he said. “If you don’t hear from me for a few days, though, don’t assume it’s fine to marry some spoiled rich boy.”
“Don’t go too many days without a letter, then,” she replied.
It seemed only an instant before Jonathan had returned, but Matt knew it had been a long time. The thought occurred to him that every moment he spent in the presence of this woman he loved was definitive proof of Einstein’s theory regarding the relativity of time. “I was only able to catch a few,” Jonathan called as he rounded the corner. “Were you two able to catch any?” Grace poked him repeatedly when he stepped into range. Both giggled again.
Matt reached out and shook the boy’s hand. “I guess this is goodbye, my man,” he said. “I’ll be leaving early tomorrow.”
“You’ll be back soon, though?” Jonathan said.
“As fast as I can.”
Jonathan glanced over at his sister and grabbed her hand. “Mr. Miller will be back.” He pulled her toward the house and she waved as he dragged her away.
“Thanks again, dude,” Matt called out to the boy.
“It’s Jonathan.”
“I know.”
“I was the one who found him,” the boy said as they faded away into the dark.
*********
Matt sat for a long time in the barn, petting and talking to the dog. He wasn’t sure what time it was when he finally went to sleep, but like everything else in those last days, morning came too quickly. He washed, ate breakfast with the Taylors, and went out and saddled Thunder while Scout looked on. Most of his things fit in his saddlebag, so he left his backpack tucked away in the barn, covered with a tarp. His gun was now in a holster at his side, under his jacket. It no longer bothered him.
Grace and her parents stood to say goodbye. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Taylor,” Matt said. “I have to hug you.” He reached around and gave her a hug, then stepped back and said, “Thanks so much, for everything.”
She smiled. “Mr. Miller, may God protect you on your journey.”
Thomas shook his hand.
“Thanks for everything,” Matt repeated.
When Matt came to Grace, Thomas turned to Mary and said, “Let the young people say their goodbyes.” He took his wife’s hand and led her back into the house, leaving them alone.
Matt saw that Grace had tears in her eyes. He reached around her body and pulled her close.
“Two years?” he said. “You promise, right?”
“I promise,” she said.
He leaned down and kissed her long and hard. He tried to remember every part of her—the taste of her lips, the curve of her hips in his hands, and the smell of her hair.
“I have to go,” he said, backing away. “You’ll see me again very soon.”
“I know,” she replied. Her eyes had dried and she was smiling. “I’ll wait.”
Matt stooped down and gave the dog a hug. “Goodbye, boy,” he said. Matt stood up, gave Grace a quick peck on the lips, and mounted his horse. He looked back to see her standing with her hand on the dog’s head and he waved one last time. He had no idea when he’d return.
The End of Book One