by Kit Morgan
He smiled. “You’re awful quiet.” He glanced at the table and back. “Would you like a sandwich?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He went to the table, fetched two and handed her one. They bit into them at the same time as their eyes locked. It was warm by the stove, but his gaze was warmer. There was something magical in that moment. Did he sense it too?
He swallowed and smiled. “Did you look around the place yet?”
“No, I spent the entire time talking with the Wallers.”
He nodded. “Uh, I could show you around if you like.”
Her heart leaped in her chest. Perfect! “That would be nice. I’d love to see it.”
He grinned. So did she. They were so busy smiling at each other, they didn’t notice the others staring at them until Logan cleared his throat. “Ahem. Jefferson, shouldn’t you be getting Grandma and Doc back to town?”
Grandma waved him off. “Oh, let them look around – this place needs to have folks move around in it. Besides, someone should check the rooms and make sure no critter’s been making a nest where it shouldn’t.” She smiled at Lorelei.
Lorelei smiled back as a tingle went up her spine.
“She’s got a point, Logan,” Doc said.
“Hmmm, very well. Take a look around and make sure nothing’s homesteading in here. We’ll let Sheriff Tom know, and he can tell Cutty and Imogene. I hear they’re in town for a few days to watch the play and visit. That’ll save them having to check on it themselves.”
“Best we do it now,” Jeff said. “Logan’s right, I do need to get Doc and Grandma back before it gets too late.”
They finished their sandwiches and began the tour. “Amon Cotter came to Clear Creek some years back. I couldn’t tell you where he’s from – Logan or Doc might know.” They reached the staircase. “Anyway, he lived at the men’s camp.”
“I’ve heard that mentioned before,” she said. “What exactly is it?”
“Well, when Cyrus Van Cleet built his hotel, before I was born, he brought wagon trains of supplies from Oregon City to Clear Creek – lumber, tools, everything, including the workers.”
“Wow.”
He smiled. “Cyrus also had the men build themselves a big bunkhouse outside town. When the hotel was done, some of them stayed and worked around town or on the farms, wherever there was work to be had. That’s when folks started calling it the men’s camp. It was a place a man could stay while he worked in the area, saved himself some money, and got his own place or moved on.”
She smiled. “What a great idea.”
“It worked out for everyone. The place is still in use, though there’s only a few men there now.”
“Fascinating.” She looked up the stairwell. “What’s up there.”
“I’ll show you.” He glanced at the other end of the long room before he took her hand and led her up the stairs.
When they reached the second floor, she felt nervous, but it quickly disappeared when Jeff gave her hand a squeeze. She breathed a sigh of relief. Being in the cabin wasn’t going to mean she’d suddenly be back in the 21st century. It had probably been a silly thing to worry about, but then, a month ago she would’ve said time travel was impossible. You never knew.
“There’s just bedrooms up here.” He went to the nearest door and opened it. “See?”
She peeked in. This wasn’t the same room she’d woken up in nearly two weeks ago. “And no one else has lived here but Amon?”
He joined her in the doorway, turning slightly so they’d both fit. “No one,” he said softly.
She turned and looked up at him, so close she could smell his scent – leather, wood smoke, fresh air, evergreens and him. She drew a shuddering breath. “Why … doesn’t anyone live here now?”
He looked at her. “I told you. Amon owns it. The Jones family might use it now and then, but it’s his to do with as he pleases.”
She swallowed hard. Had he gotten closer? They were touching now. She realized one of his arms was around her, the other moving to join it. “Jeff?”
“Lorelei,” he whispered. “I … I’ve been meaning to …”
“Me too!” she blurted.
He drew back. “What?”
“Talk to you. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.” Her heart was racing so fast it was becoming hard to breathe. The man was intoxicating! She hoped her knees didn’t give out. She’d seen enough romance movies to know it could probably happen in real life.
“You want to talk to me?” he said, looking worried.
“Yes … but maybe you should go first.” Maybe he’d tell her he just wanted to be friends. But if so, why did he have his arms around her, and why was his face drawing closer to hers?
“Lorelei, I don’t know how to say it, so …”
When his lips touched hers, it was like getting hit by lightning. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. She could only exist and receive. It was the sweetest, most wonderful moment of her life. Her first real kiss.
She didn’t know how long it lasted. She didn’t care. All she knew was that in that moment, Jefferson Cooke had managed to tell her everything she needed to know, and what she wanted to tell him too.
He broke the kiss, his arms drawing her closer. “I’m not sorry I did that.”
“Neither am I,” she replied, not holding back her enthusiasm. Wow – this put every movie lip-mash she’d seen to shame!
He gazed into her eyes and smiled. “Did you like it?”
She nodded vigorously.
“Me too.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I’ve had that kiss penned up for a long time. It’s been screaming to get out and find you. I couldn’t keep it from you any longer, Lorelei.”
Tears filled her eyes. It was the most romantic thing she’d ever heard. “I’m glad you set it free.”
He smiled. “So am I, honey.”
Her smile faded as a tear slipped down her cheek. “So what do we do now?”
He stared at her a moment then smiled. “Well, I’m not right sure. I mean, I think you know how I feel about you now.”
“And you know how I feel about you. If I didn’t have to be a lady, I’d kiss you until I turned blue.”
Jeff’s eyes went wide, and he blushed magenta. “Oh my … really, honey?”
“Sorry. Lost my cool there.”
“Lost your …?”
“I, uh, went loco for a second?”
“Oh, okay. Yeah, I understand that.”
She looked into his eyes and her heart skipped a beat. Whatever was connecting them tightened another notch. Oh, Jeff …
“I heard that,” he said softly.
Her jaw trembled. “I know. I … felt it in my heart. I’m sorry, that’s the closest I can come to describing it.”
He drew in a shuddering breath. “That’s a good description. It … doesn’t happen in our heads. It’s here.” He pointed at his chest.
She nodded. “Like our hearts are speaking to each other. You just … know what’s being said.”
He nodded as his eyes fused with hers. And in that moment, it was as if his heart was joining with her own at the same time. Lorelei closed her eyes and let her heart speak to him, just to see if it would. Is this as strange for you as it is for me, talking like this?
Yes, it is. But I like it.
She opened her yes. Me too. She drew him in for another kiss, and there was no more to be said for a while by heart or voice. Jeff pulled her closer still as he took the kiss and added some variations on it. Her knees went weak and she tightened her arms around his waist to keep from falling. Not that she would the way he was holding her, but no sense taking chances.
When he broke the kiss this time, his breathing had picked up and he looked at her like a starving man looks at a sandwich. He’d had a taste of her and clearly wanted more.
Jeff …
We have to stop, I know. Someone’s going to come looking for us. He made a face as if bracing himself, then l
et go of her and stepped back into the hallway.
“Ouch,” she said, and she wasn’t kidding. When he stepped away, she felt like someone was trying to rip her sternum out for a second. The need to hold him again was overwhelming. Wow, it’s true.
He tilted his head. What is?
She looked into his eyes. It was now or never. Love really is powerful.
He grinned. Do you mean that, honey?
She was back in his arms in an instant. Jefferson Cooke, I LOVE YOU!
I knew it! I knew it! He picked her up and swung her around. And I love you too, Lorelei Carson!
She looked into his eyes once, then kissed him, hard. This is crazy, just crazy.
Maybe it is, but I still love you.
But I’m not even from this century!
I don’t care. You’re here now and that’s all that matters to me.
But … That broke the spell, and the kiss. “But if the MacDonalds …,” she began hoarsely, using her voice again.
There was steel in Jeff’s eyes now. “If they try to take you away from me, I’m going to fight them. I don’t care how big he is or how powerful they are – they’re not taking you away from me.”
That knocked the breath from her lungs. It was the kind of declaration women dreamed of – he was really ready to go to war for her. “Same here,” she finally whispered.
“I’ll speak to Father after Christmas.” He let go of her, took her hands in his and kissed them both. “As soon as we have his blessing, I’ll speak with Preacher Jo and we can be married.”
She looked into his eyes and smiled. “Christmas is only two days away.”
“Yes, honey. And it’ll be the most wonderful Christmas of my life. Because you’re here, Future Girl.”
She smiled again. He loved her! He really did. And that nickname … it made her feel so special. Not like a freak, but like a priceless treasure. He knew her secret, and he reveled in it.
Still, what if that blasted Scotsman showed up in the meantime? That was a problem no matter how she looked at it. But at least she was sure of one thing: she and Jeff were in love. She’d enjoy it and worry about the rest later. “And I’m glad I’m here with you, my Old West cowboy.”
To both Jeff and Lorelei, that seemed to call for another kiss. And this one was the sweetest kiss yet.
* * *
Lorelei couldn’t keep the smiles from coming on the trip back to town. Doc and Grandma turned into chatterboxes, telling about the day they met and their subsequent attempts at seeing one another. Grandma had been sort-of-engaged to another man – well, she was being hounded by her mother to marry him. It was the stuff of romance novels. Which only served to make the cloud Lorelei was walking on bigger and fluffier.
But there was still another cloud, a black one, looming over her: what would happen when the MacDonalds showed up? She still wasn’t sure why she was dumped here by them in the first place, but if they dropped her off, they meant to pick her up. That was one reason she liked Jeff’s plan so much – if she and Jeff were already married, it might be harder for the time travelers to take her away from him.
Harder, but maybe not impossible. Like the Wallers, she was afraid to ask herself too many questions when it came to the MacDonalds. Because if they could travel through time, what else were they powerful enough to do?
Jeff took her hand as they neared the outskirts of Clear Creek. Once they dropped Doc and Grandma off, they’d be alone. She smiled at the thought. But Logan and his boys would also be passing by town on their way back to the Triple-C. Would they stop and wait for them so they could drive home together?
Sure enough, that was exactly what they did. But no matter – they could have a private conversation even if someone was sitting right next to them, or in this case, keep their voices low. “This has been the best day ever,” she sighed.
“I agree. And more good days will come, you’ll see.”
“Jeff? Are you sure your father will give his blessing?”
“Let me deal with Father. He’s not like my Uncle Harrison – he doesn’t worry so much.”
“And your uncle does? What if he tells your father we shouldn’t marry?”
“Uncle Harrison won’t be home until shortly after Christmas. By then we might already be married.”
Well, that was a thought. Uncle Harrison the worrywart might have to just accept it and cope. Still, she was from another century – who knew how that would affect things? “Say your father gives his blessing but wants to wait until the MacDonalds come back to tell them our plans? What if they interfere?”
Jeff went silent. That black cloud was still hanging over them. Finally, he said, “They’d better not.”
He sounded so sure of himself, though he had no idea what he’d be up against. Then, neither did she. But like him, she’d fight like a wildcat to stay with him. The thought of losing him hurt more than any idea about what the MacDonalds could do.
For now, Lorelei just wanted to enjoy the next few days, spend Christmas with the Cookes and soak in the joy of being with Jeff. That was enough to think about for now.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Decorating a tree in 1879 wasn’t the same as in 2019 - no untangling Christmas lights, replacing bulbs, plugging the mess into a wall and hoping it didn’t trip a circuit breaker. At Bob and Patsy’s house, tripping the breaker was a holiday tradition. But in the Cookes’ home, things were much simpler.
“Parthena made that one,” Jeff explained as Lorelei held up a pretty angel made from twigs and white feathers. It reminded her of a fairy more than an angel, but the workmanship was astounding.
“It’s very pretty,” she said. “Where should I hang it?”
“Anywhere.” He pulled a star out of the small barrel he’d been digging through. “Ah, here it is.”
She smiled. It was amazing how something like Christmas bound people together through the centuries. She felt so at home here, as if she’d lived with the Cookes forever. “Does your father put it on the tree?”
“No, we take turns. It’s Sam’s job this year.”
She remembered getting a black eye from Erwin one year over who would put the tree topper on. Was she twelve, thirteen? She couldn’t remember. What she did remember was Bob breaking up the fight and putting it on himself. She didn’t want to go back to that kind of life, not ever. Instead she’d focus on how to keep this one. She pushed the thoughts aside and began to hum – humming always calmed her. She’d been so discombobulated since she came here, she hadn’t thought to sing to herself.
Jeff smiled. “You have a pretty voice.”
She blushed and reached for another ornament. They were all simple and delicate. “Thank you.” She felt comfortable enough to keep humming, though usually she only did it when she was alone.
“What’s that song? I’ve never heard it before.”
She stopped. “Oh, um, it’s … well, it’s from my time. You wouldn’t know it.”
“I like it, though.” He turned to her as Parthena and Thackary entered the parlor. “Hum it some more.”
“What?” Parthena asked.
“Lorelei is going to teach us a song,” Jeff said with a grin.
Lorelei almost dropped the ornament. “Oh, uh, no, I really shouldn’t.” She glared at him for emphasis.
He took the cue. “Okay, maybe not.”
That set the younger ones off. “Aw, I want to learn the song!” “Pleeeeease?”
Lorelei hung the ornament, while thinking furiously. “No, I only know, like, half the words …”
Jeff handed Thackary some ornaments to distract him. “Put those on the other side of the tree.”
Thackary headed that way. “You sure you won’t sing it for us?”
“Maybe another time – if I can remember the rest of it.” She sent Jeff a pleading look.
Thankfully Jeff understood and nodded back. He handed some ornaments to Parthena. “You go over to the other side.”
Lorelei sighed in re
lief. Maybe it wouldn’t have done any harm to teach the kids “Mary, Did You Know?” a hundred and some years in advance, but she really didn’t want to take any more risks with her secret. She looked over at Jeff, who was watching her boldly. “Like what you see, Cowboy?” she mouthed. Was it okay to flirt in the 1870s? Who knew? As long as they didn’t get caught.
“Yes, I do,” he mouthed back and smiled. “I can’t wait to make you my bride.”
Her heart melted. He looked so happy, so in love – and good enough to eat. She’d have to be especially careful – 21st-century girls were clearly more aggressive than their 19th-century counterparts. She wanted to wait until after the wedding anyway, but around here it was absolutely required by society. She couldn’t afford having anyone think she was hot to trot.
Lorelei took a deep breath, mimed fanning herself with her hand, and got a chuckle from Jeff for it. Yes, she’d be all right, provided she exercised some self-control – and the MacDonalds didn’t nuke the whole thing when they returned.
* * *
It was all Lorelei could do not to fidget as Owen and Jeff took their position on stage. She wasn’t up there, but she was still invested in their performance – and that of their costume. But there had been no split seams since they added the extra fabric to the neck, so she was cautiously optimistic. “There are so many people here,” she whispered to Annie King.
“Yes, it’s a full house every year. We even get the folks who live a half-day’s ride from town – they’ll either stay at the hotel or camp out in their wagons for tonight. And the Joneses and Holmeses often go to Amon’s cabin and spend the night there.”
A chill went up Lorelei’s spine at mention of the cabin. “I see.”
“Well, I need to get to work. Enjoy the show.” Annie left the pew and went to the edge of the stage, while Lorelei joined Belle a few feet over. Everyone was in place, even Cyrus Van Cleet. Parthena, Sam and Thackary stood around him to help him keep his balance on the chair. He was a wiry man with wispy white hair and a kind smile. She’d met him and his wife Polly during play practice. If she ever did make it back to 2019, she’d never look at the Van Cleet Library the same again.