"You know it doesn't always work that way, Grandmother," she said. "My guess is that she didn't get a warning because everything was going to work out okay. It did, you know. I wasn't hurt. I'm fine."
"But you said you'd be able to tell if Cinda needed anything," her Grandmother protested.
"That's different. It's true we can usually contact each other mentally. If she needed me for anything, she'd let me know. I could have called for her, too. But she wouldn't have been able to do anything to help today. So I didn't call her. Do you understand?"
They were still in the midst of explanations when Sam arrived at the farm. After assuring himself that Sarah was unhurt, the sheriff had taken Billy Clyde back to town to join his brother.
"What happens now?" Jordan asked.
"Billy Clyde goes back to Oklahoma for parole violation," the sheriff said gruffly. "I don't have anything to hold Lenny on. But I'll put the fear of the righteous in him. Don't think he'll stay around, either."
It was better, Sam explained over Jordan's protests, to send them back to Oklahoma. But the authorities would be alerted. And the next time Jackson was released, Sarah would be told.
Sam had been able to piece together most of the circumstances surrounding Sarah's near-accidents. Jordan was unable to suppress a shudder when he discovered how large a part chance had played in the summer's events.
Billie Clyde had discovered where Sarah lived, and on several occasions, including the trip to Monte Ne, had actually followed her from the farm. The brother had also tried to follow her and Jordan to Eureka Springs. He'd lost their trail temporarily then spotted them later when they were on their walking tour of the town.
But, according to Sam, the two most dangerous incidents, the trip across Bald Mountain with T.J. and the incident at the rodeo had both occurred when the brothers spotted Sarah by accident and taken advantage of the circumstances. It couldn't be proven, Sam admitted, not without a confession, but he was satisfied that was what had happened.
Jordan clenched his teeth at the thought of how closely Sarah had escaped serious harm. Jackson would never get near her again, not if he had anything to say about it.
Dusk had fallen when the explanations were finally finished. T.J. left shortly after Sam, taking Jimmy Joe with him, hoping to distract the boy from the day's excitement with the promise of a movie.
The grandparents excused themselves a short time later, finally leaving Jordan and Sarah alone. Sarah moved to the old-fashioned swing on the front porch, an apprehensive Jordan following. She had welcomed him on the hillside, but he wasn't sure she was ready to accept him back into her life as easily. She would have to. He wasn't giving up. He needed her.
"Jordan, I'm sorry," Sarah said, her voice shaking with trepidation. "I should have listened to you."
"It doesn't matter. You're safe now. I'll admit those two were unlikely," Jordan said. "Even with the pattern, it was hard to recognize. The motivation was there, but not easy to identify. After putting it all together, coincidence played a big part in the attacks. I can understand—"
"No," Sarah interjected. She had to make him understand. "I didn't mean that. I'm talking about that day at the cabin. The stories. I should have listened to you then. I was—"
Jordan didn't wait to hear any more. He pulled her against him, resting his cheek on the top of her head. "Thank God," he whispered. "I was so afraid, just talking on and on because I was afraid to ask if you could ever forgive me for hiding my—"
"No," she protested. You were right. I should have trusted you."
"Hush sweetheart," he said, pulling her closer. "It doesn't matter now. I love you."
Sarah leaned against him, almost frightened to be so happy. He loved her! He'd never said that before. Only a few short hours ago she'd believed she'd never see him again. Shaking, she buried her face against his chest.
Jordan held her tightly, his arms trembling. "You have to marry me, Sarah. I can't imagine my life without you."
Sarah's breath caught in her throat. She couldn't speak, but her answer was in her eyes. Her look of happiness made Jordan catch his breath. He captured her lips with his in a passionately tender kiss that promised forever.
Sarah wound her arms around his neck, holding him as she'd never thought to hold him again. Even her dreams, the dreams that had tortured her because she'd thought she'd lost him, faded in contrast with reality.
Jordan explored her face with his lips, kissing her eyes and each freckle across the bridge of her upturned nose before, once again, capturing her lips.
He raised his mouth, drew a ragged breath and lifted her into his lap. "How soon, Sarah? Later this week? How long does it take to get a license in Arkansas?"
Sarah looked at him, dazed, still caught in the whirlpool of sensation he created each time he touched her. "This week? But Jordan, I have to be in St. Louis in two weeks."
"I know, love. If we get married this week we should be able to squeeze in a week's honeymoon. I've already got a hold on a large apartment. I'll think it'll do. It's not far from your school. But if you don't like it, we'll find another one."
Sarah looked at him, disbelief, then wonder, showing in her expressive eyes.
He groaned. "Am I going too fast? Do you want a big wedding?" He sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to bulldoze you. I like your family. I want them to like me. It's just—I want you so much and I don't think they'd approve of us living together without making it legal. But if you want more time, or a big wedding, somehow I'll manage to wait.
"I don't care about a big wedding. But how about you?" Sarah couldn't suppress the doubt in her voice. "You'll be off on another story somewhere. I'm committed to teaching next year."
"I'll be staying with you. In St. Louis. Dear heaven, do you think I'd let you out of my sight after what's happened? Sarah, you are the most important part of my life. I've always traveled because I had nothing better to do. Now, I do."
"But—but what will you do? How can you work if you stay in St. Louis?" Sarah held her breath.
"I've got a book contract that will keep me busy for most of the year. After that we'll plan what to do next. Together. We'll also have the year to build our house. It will always be here, waiting for us to come home no matter what else we decide."
"Here? We're going to build a house here? In Mountain Springs?" Suddenly she understood. "You! You bought the Caldwell place!"
"Of course I did. It was the perfect solution. We get our dream house. Aunt Cinda gets her new cabin. T.J. gets his horse ranch and—"
Sarah tried to understand what he was saying, but too much was happening too fast. "Cabin? You mean—"
The cabin down by the main road. That's okay, isn't it? I thought it would be close enough to keep an eye on her and yet she'd have her privacy. Didn't she tell you?"
"Tell me?" Sarah was now completely bewildered. "You mean she knew? But how? She described her new cabin at the picnic. I thought that was the first time you met."
"It was. Aunt Cinda dreamed up her cabin without any help from me. But after she described it, it seemed like a good idea. I went to see her after we got back from Eureka Springs."
"You were awful sure of yourself."
Jordan raked his hand through his hair in the nervous gesture she'd come to recognize. "No, I wasn't. I was desperate. And I knew what I wanted. You."
He rushed on, afraid to give her a chance to interrupt. "I hoped, if I showed you I could help you, it would count in my favor. The cabin's a business proposition—it and the half-acre lot in exchange for Aunt Cinda's forty-acres. With the timber, that's a fair exchange. She'll be close to family, but still have her own place complete with porch swing, and a bright red front door. It's designed as low-vision friendly, no steps, lots of build-ins and I've ordered a voice activated telephone system for her. I don't know about a cell phone. I know you don't have cell coverage on the farm. T.J.'s paying a fair price for his horse ranch too. Please Sarah, don't be upset. I was only trying to help."<
br />
"Upset! Oh, Jordan, it's perfect." She stretched to find his lips. "I love you," she whispered against his mouth. She felt the leashed hunger in his touch as once again she lost herself in the magic of his kiss. She had a fleeting moment to wonder if Jordan had any idea how large a wedding her family could arrange in three days.
It was the last coherent thought for a long, long time.
The End
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WINGS OF TIME
Excerpt from
Wings of Time
by
Carol Duncan Perry
WINGS OF TIME
Reviews & Accolades
"...an entertaining, well written story that catapults the heroine, and the reader, into the world of Al Capone and Bugs Moran, speakeasies, and 'Yes, Sir, that's my baby'.
~Author Meg Chittenden
"...4+ Stars! A top-notch time-travel romance with a delicious 'duel of hearts' between two strong-willed lovers."
~Romantic Times
"...enthralling from the first page. Excellent!
~Rendezvous
After a day spent mostly in bed, in a borrowed nightshirt, Libby decided it was time to investigate this new world. Besides, she was tired of dragging a blanket around with her every time she crawled out from under the covers.
Once dressed, she wandered into the parlor and, surprised to see Shamus still home reading the paper, started to retreat. As she stepped backwards, he looked up to see her in the doorway. She felt the heat rise in her face as his eyes traveled over her, resting briefly on the stretched front of her borrowed shirt before traveling slowly down her breeches to her brightly polished bare toenails.
"That won't do," he said gruffly. "You can't go out of the house like that, not wearing trousers."
"As it happens, I don't feel like going out of the house," Libby said, "but at least it's better than a night shirt. Besides, it's your fault my blouse is ruined."
She took a deep breath. "You ought to be ashamed, you know," she began, "getting mixed up with a bunch of gangsters. And that reminds me, whatever made you tell the doctor I was your cousin?"
"I had to give him some reason for you to be here," Shamus said, the expression in his eyes testifying to his discomfort. "Nice girls don't—I mean... Well, Saints help me, ladies don't stay in a gentleman's home. They don't go around flying aeroplanes or getting shot, either," he added in what seemed to Libby to be an afterthought.
"Humph," Libby snorted. "Since I am here, and I do fly airplanes, and I was shot, I guess that means I'm not a lady, right?"
"I didn't say that and I didn't mean... Oh, hell, I mean heck. Look Libby, you know this isn't exactly a usual situation."
"Never mind," Libby told him. She hadn't meant to get sidetracked onto that conversation anyway.
"So," she said, "did you get your misunderstanding with Zeke cleared up? What does he have to say about losing his airplane? Does he know you have a bunch of bootleggers after you?"
The surprise on Shamus's face would have been comical if the look in his eyes had not been so fierce.
"How did you know about Zeke? Or maybe you were working with him. Is that why you turned up at that field so conveniently?" He took a step toward her.
Libby unconsciously retreated a step. Dear heaven, what had she said to make him so mad?
He covered the space between them and had a restraining hold on her arm almost before Libby realized he was moving.
"Oh, no, you don't. No running away. I want to know how you knew about Zeke."
Libby rarely lost her temper. Right now she knew she was very close to doing so. She stiffened under his hold, letting her eyes drop to his hand on her arm for a moment before looking angrily into his face.
"You told me, you big oaf," she snapped. "Almost the first thing you asked when you jumped on my wing was, 'Did Zeke send you?' Now let me go."
Wings of Time
by
Carol Duncan Perry
~
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Wings of Time
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Carol was born in the foothills of Smoky Mountains and spent her childhood and early teenage years in Eastern Tennessee. By chance or serendipity, she has always lived near mountains—the Pacific NW Cascades, Colorado's Rockies, the Arkansas Ozarks and Southern California's Costal Range—for most of her life. Each mountain range created its own distinctive images and memories. She claims she's proof positive that "You can take the girl out of the mountains, but not the mountains out of the girl."
Carol fell in love with books at an early age. She discovered the love of writing as a newspaper journalist in high school, and later worked as a professional newspaper journalist until trading in her Press Pass to chase three rambunctious, pre-school age sons instead of fire engines and shady politicians.
When her husband challenged her to write a book instead of reading so many, she did. She claims her first novel was a learning experience including the proof that she could finish a novel length project.
Her second attempt at fiction, Stranger on the Shore, a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist, was published in 1989 and is now available as an eBook. An eBook of her second published novel, Wings of Time was also recently released. Both are available in most venues including Nook, Kindle, Kobo, Sony and Apple devices.
Table of Contents
Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Excerpt from WINGS OF TIME by Carol Duncan Perry
Meet the Author
Stranger on the Shore Page 22