Summoned in Time: A magical, ghostly, time travel romance... (The MacCarthy Sisters Book 3)

by Barbara Longley

Charles shared a look with him, a look Daniel understood at once. Neither of them had any tolerance for such a lack of character.

  “Well, I’m off to bed, and so should you be, Oliver. We’ve a busy day tomorrow,” Charles said.

  “You mean you do.” Oliver smirked.

  “Nay, Oliver,” Daniel said, pinning the youth with a sharp look. “You’ll be working for your room and board. Meredith had a selfless motive for coming to us from the future. You, on the other hand, came solely to exploit our situation for your own personal gain.” He too rose from the table.

  “But … I don’t know anything about mining, and I have no intentions of learning,” Oliver grumbled.

  “Oh, that’s all right, boyo. I’m certain you can figure out how to push a wheelbarrow. If that doesn’t suit, there’s always cleaning and laundry to do. I’m sure you can manage those tasks.” Charles informed him. “The alternative is as I’ve already mentioned—you pull your weight and do your share, or leave. I imagine leaving might provide you with a different story altogether, a not so pleasant one at that.”

  Oliver sputtered, his face turned red, and his expression turned to affronted dismay. “I didn’t sign up for this to become anyone’s servant.”

  “As I understand it, you didn’t sign up at all.” Daniel scowled at him. “We don’t trust you, and that’s a fact. It’s only out of charity and concern for what would become of you that we’re allowing you to stay at all. Do you understand?”

  A sly look flickered through Oliver’s eyes, and he quickly averted his gaze. “I get it. Laundry it is.”

  Now he trusted the lad even less. He’d have to warn Meredith. She’d told him about the small fortune the Schultes had bestowed upon her. He’d have to convince her to keep it hidden or with her at all times. Perhaps she’d allow him to put all but a few coins in the bank in his and Charles’s strongbox. He preferred the latter. Keeping her money in the bank would deprive Oliver of any possible motive to do her physical harm in order to rob her.

  The thought of harm coming to Meredith had an instant and profound affect. His hands balled into fists, and his blood heated with the instinct to defend and protect her. His reaction had to be proof that they’d grown close in her era. He wanted that closeness back. Hell, he wanted … he wasn’t sure what, but he’d best not think overmuch about that at present, not if he was to get any sleep at all.

  “There are blankets and a pillow for you.” Daniel set about fixing a pallet for himself against the wall by the stove. He stirred the fire, added a few logs and closed the flue halfway so the logs would burn slowly. Once he’d readied himself for bed, he laid flat on his back upon the folded blanket, his head on a pillow and his hands crossed over the blanket covering his chest.

  Charles returned from his trip to the necessary, went through his nightly routine, and circled about the room extinguishing all but one of the lamps. “Don’t forget to pick up more oil for the lanterns while in town tomorrow.”

  “I won’t.” Daniel yawned. “It’s on the list.”

  “You’re going to town tomorrow?” Oliver asked from his makeshift bed on the floor. “Can I—”

  “Perhaps another time,” Daniel said. “After you’ve proven yourself trustworthy we’ll take you.”

  “I can walk to town whenever I want,” Oliver muttered. “I know the way.”

  Sighing, Daniel decided to ignore the remark. He closed his eyes, his mind filled with the events of the day, and of the brave, beautiful woman who cared enough about him to risk leaving her time to come to his. At this very moment, she slept in his bed, her lovely head on his pillow. The thought so aroused him he had to force his mind on other things, like reciting tomorrow’s shopping list over and over in his head.

  He fell into a fitful sleep, unfamiliar images flitting through his mind, flashes he couldn’t hold on to long enough to really see. At one point, he dreamed of Meredith wearing a shirt that clung to her feminine curves. Her eyes were filled with earnestness as she gazed at him.

  His savior, his love.

  His heart thudded hard enough to cause his ears to ring, and he sat up, disoriented to find himself on the floor. His love? Was he dreaming … or remembering?

  12

  Daniel harnessed the mules to the wagon, his gaze drifting frequently to the door of the cabin. With all the preparations for the trip into town this morning, he hadn’t had a chance to speak privately with Meredith about keeping her money safe. On top of that worry, he’d hardly slept last night. His eyes were gritty and his mind sluggish. Dammit, he wanted to be at his best today.

  The cabin door opened, and his heart skipped a beat as Meredith stepped out. She’d dressed more simply today in a dove-gray skirt, a calico blouse in blues, grays, and greens, and a short, dark-gray jacket that tucked in at the waist and flared at her hips. She’d done up her hair in a French braid, and as she stepped off the porch, she tied on a simple straw bonnet, embellished with a band of blue ribbon.

  A rush of something very pleasant chased away his weariness. Joy perhaps? The sensation seemed familiar somehow, and definitely associated with the woman before him. Meredith could wear a flour sack and still look breathtakingly lovely. “Ready?”

  “I am,” she said, walking toward him.

  Her eyes were very blue today. Today? Did her eyes change color, and was this something he’d observed while a ghost? As he reached out a hand to her, he noticed she also carried a wee drawstring purse; its tasseled cord hung from her wrist. He helped her climb onto the seat, which was a rough buckboard of pine.

  Shite, he should’ve thought to spread a folded blanket across the bench for her comfort. “I’ll be right back,” he told her, hurrying to the cabin. He burst inside to find Oliver gathering the bedsheets.

  Charles was off already, working in the pit mine this morning, chiseling silver ore, or perhaps he’d opted to pan for gold in the stream that cut across their claim. For safety’s sake, neither of them worked the goldmine alone. Plans were already in the works to expand the mine and hire help.

  “You know where the barrel with the ringer is, and the lines strung up for drying?”

  “Yep. While you were still snoring, Hannigan dragged me out to the shed to show me where everything is,” the lad groused. “I don’t suppose you’d bring back a pie or a cake from the Klein’s, would you? You did go on and on about Prudence’s skills as a baker.”

  “I’ll see if she’s willing to part with a pie.” He grabbed the blanket he’d used for his sleeping pallet and hurried back out to the wagon. “Here, Meredith,” he said as he folded the blanket. “Allow me to place this on the seat. It’ll make the journey a wee bit more comfortable.”

  “Thanks,” she said. As she stood, she gifted him with a sweet smile, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. “You do realize I’ve walked from Garretsville to your camp and back again several times. It’s not far.”

  “Still, it would be ungentlemanly of me not to think of your comfort.”

  “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” Still smiling, Meredith settled herself on the seat and smoothed down her skirt. “Will the people of Garretsville frown upon our being alone together? I’m not really sure about the social mores of this era.”

  Daniel grunted. “We’re not exactly in the center of the civilized world, lass, and definitely not among high society. This is the frontier. It’s rough, and folks have much more to worry about than who’s alone with whom. Customs and social mores are not nearly so stringent out here.”

  Her concern brought on a wry smile. What would she think once she’d caught a glimpse of the numerous saloons and whorehouses in Garretsville? He climbed onto the buckboard, took up the reins and released the brake.

  “Anyway, I plan to establish that you and I know each other well through Charlie’s extended family. Everyone knows he has kin out East, and that we stayed with his relatives for nearly a year while earning the funds needed to purchase gear and travel to Montana.” Slapping the reins lightly, Da
niel steered the mules to the well-worn track leading into town, allowing the pair to plod along at their own pace.

  “Speaking of being alone … while we have the chance, we should discuss what we’ll say to the sheriff,” she said.

  He studied her profile for a moment. “I was thinking we should invite him out to have that talk. You and Oliver can go over what you wish to say to him before then, and we’ll agree that Charles and I made the trip to Hellgate to pick you up … what, a few days ago?”

  Meredith bit her lip, and her brow creased. “Today is the seventh, right? Let’s say we arrived on Sunday, June fourth. We’d want to have some time to settle in after so much travel.”

  She’d arrived only yesterday, yet it seemed he’d observed that very same frown countless times. He sucked in a quick breath as images of her from another time flashed through his mind.

  “I had hoped to have a moment to talk before we left the cabin, but here we are.” He turned to face her. “I fear your unwanted traveling companion might be planning to steal from you.”

  “What makes you think that? Oliver is impulsive and immature, but I don’t believe he’s a thief.”

  “He has no money, and you did say the Schultes gave you a small fortune for your … journey.”

  “True but—”

  “I don’t believe Oliver would see it as theft.” He cast her a pointed look. “He strikes me as the kind of lad who would feel entitled to some of that money. The same way he felt he had a right to insert himself into your plans. Then there’s the way he believes he shouldn’t have to do anything in return while taking advantage of our hospitality.” He shook his head.

  “I’m certain he harbors some resentment toward the Schultes for not offering him a few coins as well. He was present when the treasure was recovered, aye?”

  She nodded. “He videotaped and photographed the entire undertaking for them.” She lifted the purse. “Maybe on some level I’ve been aware of the possibility, because I planned to keep a majority of the money with me at all times. I bound the coins together in a bandana I found in your room so the coins don’t clink. The diamonds are in a leather pouch in my pocket.” She sighed. “I also hid two twenty-dollar gold pieces in your room. I hope that’s all right.”

  “Of course.” He smiled back. “I was thinking you might want to keep a majority of your money in the bank. As long as it’s with you, Oliver will be tempted. If we let him know it’s tucked safely away then there’s nothing he can do, aye?”

  “Hmm.” Her brow creased again as she thought it over. “I don’t really want to open an account. I’ll only be here—”

  “I understand.” He understood all right, and he didn’t want to think about her leaving. Hell, she’d just arrived. “Along with our own personal accounts, Charles and I have a business-related strongbox at the bank. We keep our claim deed, partnership agreement, and personal identification documents there. If you wish, we can place whatever you want in the box until such time as you need to take it out.”

  “That makes sense. I’ll place all but the two coins I’ve hidden in your room in your box, along with the diamond I used to get here,” she said.

  “You could keep both diamonds in the box until—”

  “No. The one still holding magic is like a security blanket. I need to keep that one with me at all times.” She peered at him from under the rim of her bonnet. “In case of an emergency or something.”

  “I see.” His gut wrenched at the thought of her leaving, even more so that she might encounter any danger qualifying as an emergency.

  “Can I trust you with my money, Daniel? Right now I have a little over two hundred dollars with me.”

  Daniel brought the mules to a halt and turned to face her. “You can trust me with your life, Meredith MacCarthy, and that’s a fact. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe and sound.”

  Her sudden intake of breath, the color flooding her cheeks … he’d witnessed that numerous times as well, and more images flashed into his mind. Memories of his time with her in the future were coming back to him in snippets, like tiny pieces of the jigsaw puzzles he used to do with his family. Those bits were forming a picture, not only of his time with Meredith, but also of the anguish he’d endured as a ghost.

  Alpin’s warning about the capriciousness of the diamond method of time travel echoed through his mind, and Meredith had only the one remaining gem holding magic. What if something went awry when she attempted to return to her century?

  The enormity of what she’d risked slammed into him like a tidal wave. Barraged with worry, fierce longings, and the need to protect her … he had to look away. He didn’t want her to see the telltale glistening in his eyes. Between the fact that she’d come back for him, and the burgeoning memories of being a ghost, he could hardly bear the onslaught. “Aye, love. You can trust me with your fortune,” he croaked.

  “You don’t have to feel responsible for me, Daniel,” she whispered as if sensing what he was going through.

  He grunted. “You put yourself in peril by traveling through time and space to save me, my best friend, and possibly my family. You allowed me to take control of your physical body to write that letter, trusting me when I was naught but a wraith. I’m asking you to trust me now. It’s my turn to do for you. I beg you, grant me this privilege, Meredith.”

  “All right. We’ll stop at the bank.” Her cheeks bloomed a rosy color again, and she picked at the tassels of the bag sitting in her lap.

  Daniel reached for her hand, his heart in his throat for fear she’d reject him. She didn’t. Nothing in the world could ever compare to the wondrous feel of this woman’s hand in his. Hers was so soft and warm against the roughness of his. So very different, yet they fit together perfectly.

  He felt as if he might explode from all the feelings stirring within him. His chest swelled with pride that she’d come to the past for him. While at the same time, that she’d done so humbled him. Excitement and joy that they were together coursed through him, chased by anxiety for her safety, and sorrow that she might one day depart. All the opposing emotions expanded and contracted simultaneously. Yet one encompassed them all, an unexpected treasure worth more than all the gold and silver in the world.

  Aye, he’d do whatever it took to keep this woman safe and to make her happy. Meredith had stolen his heart when he’d been naught but a ghost. He didn’t intend to waste a single second of his time with her now that they were together in life.

  Meredith’s insides were a mess of flutters and flips. Daniel’s ardor, his piercing gaze and earnestness were too much, too intense to take in. And, as she’d suspected, her attraction to this living, breathing version of himself was off the charts. She pressed her free hand against her midriff. Gee, it would be nice if she could breathe.

  Finally he released her hand and took up the reins, lightly slapping the mules to get them moving again. It took several minutes of silence for her to calm down. She wanted to kiss him. Honestly, she wanted way more than kisses. How would this nineteenth-century man react if she took the initiative? She stared out over the stunning wilderness, not really seeing a thing.

  “Lovely day,” she said.

  “Hmm.”

  She glanced at him. He looked as if lost in thought as well. Could it be his mind was on the same path as hers? “If you think about it, we’ve actually known each other for a while now. You did say your memories are coming back.” She’d have to thank Alpin for that at some point.

  “Aye?” He cast her a questioning look.

  “The letter writing experience was …” Heat once again surged to her cheeks. She’d never been one to start the ball rolling, but then she’d never been the kind of person who willingly embarked on an adventure on her own either. “Well, being together that way was extremely intimate.” She glanced his way. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

  He brought the mules to a halt again and turned to face her. “Whatever it is you’re trying to say, lass … out with it
.”

  His eyes held a pleading, hopeful look that sent delicious shivers cascading through her. “All right, I will.” She grabbed the edges of his coat and tugged him close, planting her lips on his. He gasped, and then she found herself in his arms, his kiss tender and utterly, heart-meltingly sweet. She ached for more than sweet. Scooting close enough that their hips and thighs met, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Pressing against him as closely as she could, she sighed against his mouth.

  That did the trick. Daniel’s groan echoed all the way to her already throbbing core. He tossed his hat to the flatbed of the wagon and drew her close. Deepening the kiss, he touched the seam of her lips with his tongue, and she opened for him.

  The world was lost to her as he enveloped her in his strength and warmth. Surrounded by his unique scent, she melted against him. Desire surged through her in ever increasing ripples of need. Yes.

  Several blissful moments passed as her heart pounded and her blood reached a feverish pitch. His kisses became more demanding, and his hands began to wander. The sound and the feel of his heavy breathing filled her senses and fanned the flames.

  Finally, she did what she’d wanted to do since first laying eyes on him. She tangled her fingers in his hair. It was as soft and silky as she’d imagined, and she couldn’t get enough of the feel of his curls wrapping around her fingers. She couldn’t get enough of him.

  Daniel pulled back. She followed, not wanting to stop. This elicited a low rumble from deep in his throat as he placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “Whew … I never knew a kiss could be so … overpowering … all-consuming,” he whispered. “As much as I’d like to continue—and believe me when I tell you I definitely want to continue—we’ve things to do this morning.”

  “Mmm-hmm.” Meredith drew in a long steadying breath and let it out slowly. Her mind reeled. Passion had exploded upon contact with him, a conflagration of desire and overwhelming sensation. She’d never felt like this with anyone else before, and she doubted she ever would again. What were they going to do? More to the point, what was she going to do? Oh God, I’m head-over-heels in trouble.