by Loyd, Sandy
Shaking his head at their shortsightedness, he marveled at her nerve. Here she was a young girl taken away from her home in the future by—OK, he knew it sounded bizarre—magical oak trees.
Had she really come from the future like Nathan had said? Or had Nathan simply told him a make-believe story?
The problem was, it made sense with what he’d seen—Libby standing in front of him one moment, disappearing the next, only to reappear seconds later.
Colin always kept an open mind to possibilities. While traveling from the future seemed about as farfetched as anything he could fathom, he’d read and studied too much about past cultures not to have a desire to believe in the unbelievable.
Take mythology, for one. Legends that ancient cultures believed, whether Greek, Roman, Hindu or Nordic, all had mystical ideologies behind them. Most cultures stemmed from some kind of belief in magical beginnings as an answer to their mysteries.
Science was just beginning to unravel a few mysteries, but there were still plenty of unanswered questions. During a world tour taken before his marriage, Colin had seen many amazing sights. Stonehenge in England and the pyramids of ancient Egypt left behind plenty of questions that may never be answered. Who was he to question the unexplainable?
“Libby’s become quite an asset to the farm in a matter of days,” he threw out, just to measure his manager’s reaction.
“Ja. The lad knows his stuff.” Gus went on singing Libby’s praises. In fact, the entire time they worked, it was Libby this or Libby that. According to Gus, she could single-handedly run the farm.
At quitting time, Colin was even more confused. How in the hell had this paragon won over his manager so easily? It was all too much. The girl, supposedly from the future, held Berta and Nathan in her pocket and now Gus was raving about her. He needed to find out what was what and he planned on doing so later that night.
Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, he took the porch steps to his house two at a time, hurrying to find his children, intending to spend time with them before dinner. Then after his evening meal, he hoped to catch Libby under the tree. That was the key to solving this puzzle.
An hour later, Colin entered the dining room and nodded at the nannies. “Good evening, ladies.” He sat and picked up his napkin to spread on his lap. “I trust you had no problems with the children while I was away?” Thank God Colin had found these two blessings. Neither had married, probably because both were a little odd. Or their spinster status could have more to do with their resemblance to horses. Each woman had a long narrow face dominated by big eyes and a wide mouth. The two pulled back their graying hair into tight little buns, creating stern appearances, which were totally opposite of their manner.
Despite their looks, the Young sisters were two of the warmest individuals Colin had ever met.
“I believe Sam is ready to learn to ride a horse,” Minnie said, smiling warmly and recounting the story of his earlier escapades with his younger sister.
Colin sighed and nodded. “Once the busy part of the foaling season is over, I’ll have more time.”
“Horses are all that child talks about,” Maizie agreed. While she prattled on about more of the children’s exploits, Colin listened patiently, glad to know his children were so well-loved.
He’d taken on the two shortly after their father had died, leaving them nearly destitute. They needed employment and a place to live. Abby had needed help. The two became indispensable after Abby got pregnant again. In Colin’s opinion, Minnie and Maizie had not only taken care of his children, they’d also taken care of his wife during the last year of her life. For that he’d be eternally grateful.
Funny, Colin thought. Until that moment, his dead wife hadn’t entered his train of thought since the evening before. He smiled. Maybe he was healing. Lord, he hoped so. The guilt that ate at him because of Abby’s unhappiness wasn’t helping anyone.
“Ladies.” Colin stood when done with dinner and held out both elbows to escort the spinster sisters to the library. “I have to check on my horses. I’ll see you in the morning.” Colin bowed and hurried toward the oak trees. At the same spot he’d hidden two nights earlier, he made himself comfortable. Though the sun was low on the horizon, it wouldn’t be dusk for a while.
Not more than a quarter hour passed before Libby walked down the path, and as before, she moved behind the bushes, emerging minutes later. Sure enough, she’d changed clothes. He watched the girl make her way to one of the trees and look up in total concentration, or a better definition might be in prayer. When nothing happened for a multitude of moments, her shoulders slumped in defeat, or possibly exertion. Colin wasn’t sure. She sat at the base of the tree, leaning back to rest her head against its trunk with her eyes closed.
Noiselessly Colin strode over to stand in front of her and studied her without her knowledge. From this angle, he noticed her delicate and feminine features. She would be a beauty in a few years. A smattering of freckles splayed across the bridge of her nose, the only imperfection on a face with flawless skin. Observing her thus, he really had to doubt his judgment at ever believing her to be a boy.
An owl hooted in the distance.
Her eyes flew open.
A startled blue-green gaze met his amused one. As before, Colin felt a jolt go through his system when he looked into the depths of those light eyes. Why this young girl elicited such a response from him, he didn’t know. But it was there nonetheless.
Then he spotted what looked to be the deed to his farm tucked into her vest. The spark of heat cooled instantly into icy rage that fingered down his spine.
~
Libby jerked awake and leaned away from the tree. “Mr. Thorpe. What are you doing here?” She couldn’t believe he stood in front of her.
Colin chuckled, but there was nothing humorous in the sound. “Funny, I could ask you the same question. In fact, I think I will. What are you doing out here? And that’s awfully strange attire you’re wearing, Libby.” His eyebrows shot up and he continued staring at her with an unreadable expression, until it hardened.
Too dumbfounded to speak, Libby gawked at him. He was dressed much the same as the first time she’d laid eyes on him in the stables. Up close he was devastating to her senses, all male, smelling of leather, horses, and sweat. Her heart started pounding and her mind went blank. What was it about this man that made her lose her train of thought so easily? He turned away and she finally regained a measure of mental clarity.
Then he did the unbelievable and sat down next to her. He brought one knee up and placed his bent arm on the knee, creating an unconcerned pose.
He looked directly at her. His lips quirked in what looked to be a smile, but didn’t reach his eyes. “Well? Cat got your tongue?” He hesitated a bit before adding, “I’m waiting, Libby. What are you doing out here? With my deed?”
Uh-oh! Still at a loss for words, Libby knew she was in deep doo-doo, but had no idea how to remedy the problem. What could she tell him? The truth? Yeah, right—that would get her kicked off the farm or put in the loony bin, and then she’d never get home. She let out a breath, thinking. “It’s a long story.” She started to rise, hoping to escape. “Look, I have to get back now. I just came out for some air.”
His arm shot out, straight and firm as a bar, holding her down.
“I’ve talked to Berta,” he said, sighing. “And Nathan, who told me an incredible tale. Now I want to hear your version.”
“He told you?” Libby’s eyes widened in horror. How could the little bugger give her up? She sat back down and her shoulders slumped.
“Yes, he told me. And as I said, his tale was astonishing.”
“Nathan promised he wouldn’t say anything,” she said, shaking her head. “Wait till I get my hands on him. He’s dead meat.”
She tried to shoot to her feet, but he halted her movements again. “Whoa there, young lady. Calm down. It’s not his fault. You should know better than to tell a ten-year-old a secret.”
>
Having no choice, she settled back down as he continued speaking.
“You can get anything out of one if you know how to ask the right questions, especially one like Nathan. Besides, I promised him I wouldn’t say anything and look who’s breaking his promise now? But promises are overruled by extenuating circumstances.” He paused to take a breath. “When it comes to the welfare of my farm or my workers, I do what I have to do. Nathan’s just a youngster, who doesn’t know any better. I’m an adult doing what I feel is right, so let’s keep this between you and me, OK?”
Libby looked him squarely in the eyes. Wrong thing to do. As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t look away. Colin Thorpe had the most beautiful blue eyes. Gazing into them, it was all Libby could do to keep from melting like an ice cube on the spot.
That he seemed as affected by the connection as she was even more disconcerting. Finally, he broke his visual hold and looked out toward the pasture for several minutes before he said, “Well, do we have an agreement? Can we keep this between us?”
“I don’t seem to have any choice, do I?” she was able to squeak out without his scrutiny.
“No, you don’t. And you might as well be honest with me because…” He turned back to her. “I saw you the other night.”
“You did?” She met his gaze again, unable to keep the stunned expression off her face. “What did you see?”
Colin flashed white teeth, moving his attention to the pasture a long moment before adding, “Let’s just say I saw enough to make me want to investigate. Now that I’ve talked to both Berta and Nathan, I want to hear what you have to say.”
“Oh, right.” Libby snorted. “Like you’re going to sit there and tell me you’d believe I came from the future!”
“Is that where you’re from?” he countered.
“Would you believe me if I said yes?” she shot back.
“If you told me it was true, then I would at the very least consider it. But what I don’t understand is why you’d take the deed to my land with you.”
His honest, yet puzzled, tone left Libby speechless. He had every right to be upset that she’d take his deed, but the idea that this man, sitting over a hundred years in her past, had such an open mind—more so than most from her century—was hard to grasp. Her gaze followed his toward the pastures as her mind spun.
Finally, her need to unburden herself and get another viewpoint was too much to resist. She glanced down at her hands and sighed. “I am from the future. Somehow the trees brought me here originally. Best I can tell it was from a wish I made. Unfortunately our scuffle with Smithers resulted in a change in history, which is why I took the deed. I need it to save the farm in my time. I’d planned to return it before I left for good.” She reached for the deed from under her vest and handed it to him.
Taking it, he nodded to her jeans and tailored shirt. “So that’s why you changed clothes?”
“It’s a long story,” she said, offering a lopsided smile.
“Then it’s a good thing I have a little time.” He leaned back against the tree and made himself comfortable. When he turned her way, his glance said he clearly expected her to talk.
For the next hour Libby did just that, telling Colin everything about her job on the farm, her best friend, and her fiancé, Dave. She explained how the trees had called to her and how, after heeding their call, her initial run-in with Smithers now threatened the farm in the future. There wasn’t much she left out about the life of Libby Edwards or life on Twin Oaks. He was a good listener, only asking questions here and there for clarification.
When she was done, there was silence between them. The sun had already set, but the light still lingered. Cicadas buzzed, the evening breeze carrying the loud noise throughout the meadows. The tree frogs and crickets eventually joined in, creating a symphony of sorts in the balmy night.
“Let me make sure I understand all of this.” Colin’s questioning voice infiltrated the other sounds. “You traveled back and forth from the year 2013?” He paused, as if absorbing the news. “And the farm’s still intact, even after I’m gone.” He glanced at her for verification. When she nodded, he whistled. “Amazing!” Still watching her face, he asked, “Does Louisville still have a racetrack?”
“What do you think,” she asked evasively, not wanting to reveal too much information about the future. She had to be careful about changing anything else.
“I hope it lasted. If what you say is true, then I have the closest thing to a crystal ball in front of me.” An engaging grin spread across his face. “Can’t you at least give me a hint?”
“Time will tell, not me,” she said, shaking her head.
He laughed. They discussed the deed and Colin said he’d have a copy made. “But it will take a few days. In the meantime, you can’t continue pretending to be a boy, nor can I let you continue to train such unpredictable animals. It’s not right.”
“No.”
He eyed her intently, his mouth forming one tight line. “What do you mean, no?”
“Either I continue as before or I leave.” It was an empty threat, since she needed the trees to get home.
“I thought the trees brought you?” When she didn’t respond, his lips curled into the semblance of a smile. “I’d like nothing better than to continue as before, but I can’t have your safety on my conscience. What if one of the horses throws you? Or worse?” He shook his head, his expression turning to stone. “It’s too dangerous for a girl.”
Libby blew out a frustrated breath and rolled her eyes. However did women in 1874 put up with such chauvinism? She sent up a prayer of thanks to Susan B. Anthony and others like her, who paved the way for women a century earlier. The fact that it hadn’t happened yet made her more than anxious to find her way home. “I’ve only been thrown once in my life, due to my error. Trust me, I have no intention of letting any horse throw me again. Besides, in my time, we can do just about anything a man can do.”
“Really?” He considered this for a moment. “So women in your time vote? Like out west, in the Wyoming Territory?”
“Yes. We vote. We pay taxes. We own land and we fly planes in the Air Force.”
“Air force? What’s that?”
“Never mind. Suffice it to say I’m fully qualified to train your thoroughbreds. Just ask Gus. I’ve gotten more out of Fortuna and Zeus in the two days I’ve worked with them than you or Gus could get all summer.”
Again he was silent. Then he wiped his face and sighed. “I can certainly use your skills, but you’re way too young.”
Bristling at his comment, she jutted out her chin. “I’m old enough.” Jeez, even in this century she was mistaken for a kid. What did she have to do? Wear a sign that said Over twenty-one? “I’m a liberated woman and perfectly capable of making my own decisions.”
The crinkles near the edges of his eyes deepened when he smiled. “Just how old are you?”
“Like I said, I’m old enough.” She tried to keep annoyance out of her voice, but the comment still came out too caustically.
Colin chuckled. “OK, you’re old enough. Prickly too. So, women in the twenty-first century go around looking like men?”
Nodding, Libby mentally counted to ten. “We’ve also earned the right to dress as we please. It took almost a century, but we prevailed. And to ease your mind about my age, besides being engaged, I have two years of college under my belt.” This time she was more successful in keeping her tone light while still getting her message across.
Grinning, Colin held up a hand. “Such a feisty woman-child. There’s fire in your eyes when you speak. Far be it from me to dictate to you. I’d venture to say I could learn a lot from you.” He leaned back against the tree, pulled up a blade of grass, and rested an arm on his knee in his earlier nonchalant stance. “I like you, Miss Libby Edwards from the future.” Just before sticking the blade of grass in his mouth, he said, “If you’ll continue your charade as a boy, I’ll allow you to train.”
“Thank y
ou.”
“You’re welcome. It’ll take a few days for me to get the deed copied and notarized. In the meantime, be careful. I don’t want any mishaps.”
“You won’t be sorry.” It seemed a good thing that she hadn’t been able to return tonight. If she went home with a copy rather than the original, she wouldn’t have to risk returning. Now that her secrets were out, she could relax and enjoy her stay for a couple more days. She refused to listen to the voice in the back of her head, warning her not to get too attached to these people. She would have to pretend to be on a vacation.
In no hurry to leave, Colin was silent again.
Libby didn’t think he would say anything further, but he proved her wrong by asking, “You’re engaged to be married?” She nodded and he said, “Tell me about your fiancé.”
“Why do you want to know about Dave?”
“That’s his name? Dave?”
“Yeah, Dr. David Phillips.” Thinking of Dave, she smiled. “My friend, Bev, calls him Dr. Bull.”
“Dr. Bull? As in…”
Libby shrugged and stopped a gurgle of laughter from bursting forth. “Dave can be a little stuffy at times and he doesn’t like Bev, so you can form your own opinion about that.”
Colin’s chuckle zinged through her ears, landing in the soft part of her belly. “It’s been a long time since I’ve sat talking and laughing with someone like this. It seems so natural, sitting here discussing your life in the future as if we did it all the time.”
Dusk lurked, but there was still light enough for her to discern his grin when he looked at her. His eyes held such warmth that Libby had to glance away.
He sighed. “This Bev sounds like quite an instigator. Surely your Dave’s not so bad?”
“No, he’s just a little closed-minded. You know, a brilliant scientist?” Looking at her hand on the ground, she broke off a few strands of grass and shrugged. “Only he shuts his mind off to possibilities. I tried to tell him about my time travel, but he scoffed at the idea. I’m sure he thinks I’m delusional. Now I’m not certain if I want to marry him.”