The Encounter

by Norman Fitts

  The door opened and Lawrence and Joseph entered the room. Margaret put her finger to her lips. She got up and joined them at the door.

  "She's asleep", she whispered.

  Joseph walked over and sat in a chair beside the bed. Margaret and Lawrence stepped out and quietly shut the door.

  Joseph watched her. She moved slightly. He wanted her to sleep. She settled back. This morning they were fighting over things that no longer mattered. He felt ten years older. She knew something this morning. The same way their mother had known things. She tried to tell them, but nobody wanted to listen.

  Margaret and Lawrence walked from the hall into what must have been some sort of waiting room. There were several chairs placed around, with a couch under a large front window. One of the street lamps was in front of the window. There were several people still milling around outside. Piano music and the usual commotion were coming from a saloon down the street.

  Margaret walked ahead and sat on the couch. Lawrence stood and looked out the window.

  She leaned back and watched him. "This wasn't part of the plan." His eyes never moved from the window. "Larry...?"

  Lawrence heard her say something, but his mind was on a different track. "You know, getting caught up in someone else's problems tonight almost made me forget how much trouble we're in." He glanced down, and then sat beside her on the couch. "Being here in a place that probably doesn't exist any more. Talking and getting involved with people that've been dead for eighty years...", glancing back out the window, "your sense of reality really takes a beating". He looked back at her. "You must be used to this."

  "No, not really." She pulled her feet up on the couch and laid her head on his shoulder.

  He looked down at her. He liked this small show of affection. "I just assumed you'd done this time travel stuff before."

  "It's not that. I've witnessed this planet’s past lots of times, but it's always been from the safety of a cloaked ship. And it's not the first time I've lived on other worlds, but this time I'm not in control and that scares me."

  Lawrence stroked the back of her head. "Walking around in anybodies past is enough to unnerve you."

  She raised her head. "At least it's your past and your planet. You're not trapped on an alien world. Larry, I know I seem to fit in here. I'm supposed to, but my family's countless light-years away. I want to go home. They're hurt and I need to be with them. Can you understand that?"

  "Maggie, I..."

  She continued. "I don't want it to end like this..."

  Their eyes were fixed on each other. He drew close and kissed her. The tip of his tongue touched her lips. She drew back from him. Kissing wasn't something her kind did to show affection. French kissing was definitely something that needed work.

  She put her head back on his shoulder. "I know this sounds selfish, but I'm glad you're here." She rose up and looked at him. "Don't get me wrong. If I could undo it I would. But..."

  "I know what you're trying to say. Don't worry about it. It's not all your doing. You were right. I didn't have to follow you."

  "There's something else... Something you need to know." She was speaking from her heart, not her head. What she was about to say could destroy her in a lot of ways, but she suddenly felt it was time to do something about it. Now, she had to find words he'd understand. "Larry, I think I've..." John and Erma entered the room. She stopped mid sentence and looked their way.

  Lawrence still watched her. "What?"

  She looked back at him. "Ah, we'll talk about it later." She looked at John. "How is he?" She swung her feet off the couch.

  "Not too good", John answered. "You folks known the McKenlys long?"

  "No", Lawrence said. "They had some trouble on the road. We helped 'em. They gave us a ride, that's all."

  "Why do you ask", Margaret asked.

  John hesitated, looked at his wife, then back to their guest. "There's a good chance their father won't make it through the night. His skull's fractured. He's broken up inside. There's very little I can do. Martin's a strong man, that’s what got him here, but it's just a matter of time."

  "They lost their mother two years ago", Erma added. "Now it looks like their father too. It would make it easier if there were someone... for a little while."

  Margaret didn't understand. There was a whole town here. "What about the people here. Aren't they part of all this? Can't they help?"

  John lived in the valley, but unlike most of the others, he had compassion for the mountain families. "The people from the valley don't have much to do with the ones from up there."

  "In the last few months all the other mountain families have sold out and moved off", Erma said. "Those kids gonna be pretty much on their own.”

  Margaret looked at Lawrence. This was not a decision they could make lightly. She could tell he wanted to help and he was the one who had the most to lose. If anything happened that affected his personal history he could cease to exist and all memory of his life would disappear with him. On the other hand, it could also save him from all of this by putting him in a different place, and a different time, to prevent their meeting.

  Lawrence was only thinking along the lines of extinction. To his knowledge no one in his family had ever had anything to do with Wyoming. Margaret nodded her willingness.

  He turned to the Cassidy’s. "Well, we're just passing through, but if the kids'll let us, we'd be willing to stay for a few days."

  Erma was pleased. "That's real nice of you folks. I'm Erma Cassidy; this is my husband, John."

  Lawrence did the formal introductions, "Lawrence and Margaret Casey."

  Margaret cut her eyes in his direction. That was the second time he'd introduced them as man and wife. She looked back at Erma. "What do you want, a boy or a girl?"

  Margaret had picked up the faint, fetal heartbeat when she was close to Erma in Sarah's room. What she hadn't figured on was Erma hadn't mentioned it to John yet.

  Margaret caught her mistake by the look on Erma's face and covered herself. "That is, when you decide to have children."

  Erma thought it was an off the wall question for a stranger to ask. "We don't care, as long as they're healthy? Do you have any children?"

  Lawrence took over. "No, not yet," what brought all that on, he thought?

  Erma figured it was time for everyone to turn in. "Well, come on with me. You folks must be tired. I've got a room for you."

  Lawrence and Margaret got up. "I need to get our things out of the wagon", Margaret said.

  Erma looked back. "I've already put them in the room for you."

  Lawrence and Margaret both registered the same thought. She must not have opened the bag or they'd be answering a lot more questions.

  They said their goodnights to John and followed Erma. She opened the door to the room next to the washroom. The lamp on the table was already lit. It afforded just enough light to get around. The small wood heater in the corner had begun to warn the room.

  Erma stepped back so they could enter. "You two get some rest. I'll come get you if anything happens. Otherwise, we'll see you folks at breakfast."

  Margaret entered the room. Lawrence thanked Erma for their hospitality, then followed Margaret in and closed the door.

  Margaret walked over and sat on the bed. Lawrence leaned back against the door. She was about to pick up where she left off. He apparently already considered them man and wife.

  Lawrence pushed off the door. "I know what you’re thinking." He started for the bed. "I just thought it would raise fewer questions if they thought we were a couple."

  That wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear. Maybe this wasn't the right time, she thought. She had to be sure how he felt. She'd wait. "Which side do you want?"

  "What?" He sat beside her.

  "Which side of the bed?"

  "I don't care. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea."

  "Sharing the bed?"

  "Not the bed. You said yourself; these guys chasing you might kill anyo
ne they see as a threat." He started pulling off his boots, "Seems to me, we just put this whole town in danger. Not to mention those kids."

  She followed his lead with the clothes. "They'll kill anyone or anything that gets in the way." She stood up and started loosing her pants.

  He watched her. "How far, you gonna go?"

  She looked back at him, and then realized he was talking about her clothes, "All of them, unless that bothers you."

  "No. Do whatever makes you comfortable."

  She continued disrobing. "My only reason for coming here at all was to get horses and supplies."

  He stood, dropped his pants and stepped out of them. He started unbuttoning his shirt and paused as she stepped out of her Long Johns. God, she was so beautiful despite her back and in his mind that just made her unique.

  "There're some caves northeast of here", she said, turning back the comforter. "They're perfect and there's no one to get hurt." She slipped into bed and moved over for him.

  He started to unbutton the Long Johns, then decided against it. He was having enough trouble controlling his manhood as it was.

  She noticed. "You can take 'em off if you want to. I'm not gonna bite you. It's actually better for me. It generates more body heat between us.

  It generated a lot more than body heat, but what the hell. He slipped out of the top half, and then pushed down the bottoms. He sat on the side of the bed and pulled his feet out. He slipped under the covers and settled back on the pillow. "What about the kids?"

  "Something I hadn't planned on. I guess we're gonna have to see how it plays out. Besides, my people may show up first."

  They were both quiet for a moment and the thought of rolling over and putting his arms around her really appealed to him. The thought of having them pulled out of his shoulders didn't.

  Her body was cramping. It was all she could do to keep from screaming.

  He broke the silence. "You bring any of those gold coins with you?"

  She caught her breath. "Yes, why?" Her voice was strained.

  He noticed and looked at her. "You feel okay?"

  She watched the ceiling. "I'm fine..." She was anything but fine.

  He watched for another second. "Are you sure? "Your immune system might not work as well here. You might've caught something."

  "I've had my shots, if that's what you're getting at."

  Well, something was bothering her, but if she didn't want to talk about it, that was okay. He'd change the subject. "Tomorrow I'll see if there's a bank or assay office or somewhere we can exchange 'em for currency."

  "I've already thought about that." She paused. "We'll need to purchase the horses and supplies."

  "And a dress."

  She rose up on one elbow and looked down at him, "A dress. For who?"

  "Who do you think? I can't have my wife running around in pants. It ain't decent."

  "You're crazy." She lay back down. "Get the light."

  He smiled, but inside he still felt there was something going on she wouldn't talk about. He leaned over and blew out the lamp. The curtain was drawn across the only window, leaving the room in total darkness.

  He felt her roll over on her stomach. He jumped when she put her hand on his stomach. He put his hand on her hand and closed his eyes. Quite frankly, he'd never seriously considered having sex with her until tonight. For her, the hand was more than just a show of affection. It was the only way she was ever going to be able to get to sleep.

  ***

  Ben Kramer was not a patient man. On the other hand, Ben Kramer's youngest son Josh had a lot of patience where it came to the McKenlys; Sarah McKenly that is. They had taken notice of one another more than a year ago. When they were in town, and away from their families, they enjoyed walking and talking with each other. Neither Ben, nor Martin, would've tolerated their friendship for a moment. They tried to figure out a way to attend one of the monthly town socials together, but Martin wanted nothing to do with most of the town's people. In the end they were afraid to try for fear of losing what they had.

  Ben, Josh, and Ben's older son, Frank, sat with Henry Morton at Henry's table in the hotel bar. The McKenlys were the topic of conversation.

  Frank downed the contents of his glass. "I don't see what the problem is." His speech was slurred. "I'll get some of the boys and we'll go up there one night and have a little talk with McKenly."

  Josh broke in. "If he doesn't wanta sell why don't you just pay him to cross his land?"

  "I've already tried that,” Henry said, "to put it in his words, that many cattle will graze my range to nothing."

  "I'm not paying that son-of-a-bitch anything,” Ben said, irritated at the thought of compromising.”I think Frank has the right idea. What he needs is a good talkin' to."

  Josh was afraid for Sarah. Frank had a natural mean streak and he knew what his father meant. "There's got to be another way. You can't just kill a whole family."

  Ben was looking over his glass. "Kill... Who's talkin' about killin' anybody? There are all kinds of things that can happen up on that mountain." He looked from face to face, settling on Frank's, "All kinds of things."

  Frank grinned a half grin and poured himself another drink. Henry drew on a freshly lit cigar. Josh knew no one was going to listen to him. He had to warn Sarah, somehow.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  It was time for Margaret’s people to make a decision. Her distress message had told them where she went and who was after her. The one anchor point belonged to the Vergon. Her ship was either damaged or she'd severed her tie to the present to slow down the pursuit. The odds were, she was lost in this world's past with no way back.

  The Star Ship would remain in close contact with the planet while an Assault Ship made a sweep back into Earth's past. They knew she would probably shut down everything but the cloaking device thus eliminating most of the energy signature. Doing that would sever her tie to the present. Once the link was lost you couldn’t get it back. That would leave her with nothing but the hope of being rescued.

  The Assault Ship had a possible advantage. They could follow the energy link to the pursuing vessel and remain cloaked and undetectable by the ship they were shadowing. If they were anything, the Vergon were relentless and sooner or later they would locate her.

  ***

  The bounty hunters would first have to locate their target in time. Scanning for the alloys making up her ship would only work if the ship were uncloaked. Cloaking the vessel would require power but they would have to be right on top of her to detect it. It would be like looking for a needle in the very large haystack of time.

  They also knew her ship’s engines were damaged from the particle stream it left behind. It was decided they would drift back through time until they stopped detecting it. They would then have to step back and begin sweeping the surface for her bio-signature.

  ***

  If for some reason the rescue attempt failed, the Star Ship would run an intercept and attempt to destroy them. Once they engaged their Star Drive propulsion system and entered the vortex, recovering her would be next to impossible.

  The Chancellor knew the fate that would befall his daughter if the bounty hunters escaped and delivered her. The hardest thing he ever had to do was issue the order to prevent her capture at all cost. Even if it meant the destruction of the ship she was on.

  ***

  Joseph was up at sunrise. Erma was in the kitchen. She tried to get him to eat something. He wasn't hungry. She made him take a biscuit anyway.

  He looked in on his father. Nothing had changed. The head wound was dressed and the bleeding had stopped. He stood at the foot of the bed and watched him. His father's eyes were dark and receded his breathing shallow. In the back of his mind he knew what the doctor hadn't gotten around to telling him. Last night, in his dreams, he'd relived the event over and over again. That horse had taken two people from him. His hate for the animal solidified itself. After spending a few minutes with his father he left the buildi
ng through the back door.

  The horses had remained hitched to the wagon behind the doctor's office all night. They needed to be fed and watered but first he had to see to the wheel. He walked around the team, pulling at the harness and rubbing the animals. He climbed up onto the seat. The back door opened. John stepped out and closed the door behind him.

  John and Erma had discussed Martin's condition last night and decided Joseph needed to know how things were. This was as good a time as any.

  "Good morning", John said, although he really couldn't think of anything good about it. Joseph nodded. He walked over and put his hand on the make-swift axel nut. "Pretty clever", he said. "You think of this?"

  "No", Joseph answered, “Mister Casey”

  “Clever.” John walked up front and put his hand on the wagon box. "I need to talk to you..."

  Joseph knew what was coming. "He ain't gonna make it." The words choked in his throat. "Is he?"

  "No, I don't think so", John answered. "He's hurt pretty bad." John could see the boy in Joseph trying to hold back the tears. "Your father's a strong man. That's the only reason he made it here alive. Now, you've gotta be the same for your sister. She's gonna be dependin' on you."

  Joseph set his chin. He picked up the reins and released the brake. "I gotta see to the wagon." He slapped the horses. The wagon jerked ahead.

  John understood. The man in Joseph needed to deal with this alone.

  ***

  There was a light knocking at the door. Margaret opened her eyes. Her nose told her it was Erma probably wanting them for breakfast. She'd been listening to movement in the house for over an hour. She didn't move. She was warm and comfortable pressed close to Lawrence under the comforter. The knock came again, harder. He stirred. She moved her hand up his chest. She wasn’t accustomed to all the hair. She pulled it. He flinched and his eyes blinked open. She took her hand away and rolled on her back.

  Erma's voice came through the door, "Mr. and Miz Casey, you folks up?"