Sally was mixing something in a bowl. “Your grandmother had a good outlook on life.”
A striking redhead entered, but she also wore men’s clothing. No, her emerald green pants and matching top were obviously tailored for her. “Hello, I’m Penny Knight.”
Bart entered with her cases, rain dripping from his hair and shirt. “Penny, this is Eleanore St. Eaves. I found her up the road where she’d fallen into the ravine.” There went that odd tone of voice again.
Penny’s eyes widened but she smiled and sat across from Eleanore. “Lucky Bart was driving by, wasn’t it? I hope you hadn’t been there long.”
Ellie set down her glass. “To be truthful, I’m not sure. Guess I passed out when I fell.”
She giggled. “I must have been a spectacular sight. I was sitting on my luggage when I overbalanced. I rode them like a sled to the bottom of the ditch where I bumped my head and ended bottom side up.”
Penny reached across the table and touched her hand. “Oh, my, I hope you’re all right.”
“Yes, but I really need to iron my shoe laces.”
Everyone stared at her so she explained, “Visit the lady’s room.”
Sally gestured behind her. “You can use my bathroom.”
Penny nodded toward the sheriff. “Bart, please call Jake while I show our guest the way.” Penny stood. “May I call you Eleanore?”
“My friends call me Ellie.” She followed Penny to what looked like an apartment and then to a bathroom.
Except, this one was different than any she’d seen. The shower was separate from the tub and had a clear glass door. The tub had holes in the sides of the interior but they didn’t go all the way through. Weird.
“I haven’t seen a toilet like this one before.” She peered around it. “How do you flush it without an overhead tank and pull chain?”
Penny touched a silver handle. “You push down this lever. I’ll wait in the hall and then there’s something I need to show you.”
While Ellie took care of business, she heard hushed voices in the hall. She tried the lever and, sure enough, the toilet flushed. Wasn’t that the caterpillar’s kimono? At least the wash basin handles, though ritzy, worked the ordinary way.
Ellie straightened her new dress, regretting the stains she’d received in her sledding incident. She should have brought her purse in here so she could comb her hair and apply lip rouge. No other choice, she would have to change clothes before she went into town.
When she opened the door, she found four people waiting. The newcomer must be Bart’s brother because the resemblance was unmistakable. Plus, he had one arm around Penny and a hand on the black and white dog that sat beside them. A faint odor of wet fur surrounded the animal.
Penny took Ellie’s hand. “This is my husband, Jake Knight, who is Bart’s brother. This is Rascal, our dog. We hope you won’t mind coming into the study with us.”
Ellie shrugged. “Sure, that’d be swell.”
In a room that obviously functioned as an office, there were three desks, a fireplace, several chairs, a couch, plus a lot of things Ellie didn’t understand.
Penny led her to a wall of photos. Those she understood. Ellie also understood when Rascal trotted to a dog bed and curled up.
Penny nodded toward the wall. “We’re trying to collect copies of all the photos of the ranch and the people who’ve lived here.” She pointed at a chair nearby. “Ellie, why don’t you sit here?”
When Ellie was seated, Penny continued. “This photo was taken in 1895.” She took a deep breath and tapped the face of the woman in the picture. “That’s me.”
Ellie scrunched her eyes and tried to focus. “I thought you said it was taken in 1895. You mean that woman was an ancestor.”
Penny shook her head. “There’s something unusual about the place where you fell. People, apparently those who fall there, go forward in time. I mean the woman in the photo is actually me before I fell into that same ravine as you when my horse threw me during a lightning storm.”
Eyes wide, Ellie could only stare at Penny. She’d thought the woman nice but quickly changed her opinion. “That’s hokum. Phonus balonus. You can go tell that story to Sweeney.”
Penny’s patient smile lent credence to her words. “Afraid I’m quite serious. I lived in this house from the time it was built in 1890 until 1896. Then, I arrived here in October of last year after I fell in the same place you did.”
Ellie peered at her surroundings, at the things she didn’t recognize. The world closed in on her and everything went black.
***
Bart was standing beside the newcomer and caught her as she toppled from the chair.
His brother looked at him and had the nerve to smile. He stood with his hands in his jeans’ pockets. “This one’s yours.”
Bart cradled the woman in his arms. “Very funny. Someone help me wake her. She may look light but she’s getting heavier by the second.”
Sally shook her head. “Poor girl. Better put her in the guest room.”
Penny picked up the navy felt hat that had fallen from their guest’s head and led the way. “We’ll come with you. She’s going to be terribly upset when she finds out what’s happened.”
Bart carried the gorgeous blond. “She’ll be more upset when she finds out she’s never going to see that new car again and learns what it’s worth today.”
Jake trailed behind. “Yeah? What kind of car was it?”
“A fresh off the floor 1921 Kissel Gold Bug Speedster. While we were waiting for you, I Googled it on my phone. Only a few still around and a restored one is worth about three hundred grand.”
Penny looked over her shoulder. “Believe me, Bart, her car will be the least of her concerns. I wonder about her family and friends.”
“She’ll need her luggage. I’ll get it.” Jake turned back.
Sally said, “Good idea. She’ll want to rest and then change clothes. I hope I can get the dirt stains out of that lovely dress.”
In the guest room, Penny turned down the bedcovers. “You can leave her to Sally and me—unlike when I arrived here.”
Bart gently laid his charge on the bed and turned to his sister-in-law. “After all this time, how can you still glare at me? I thought we’d covered this and were done with it.”
“Think what you like.” Then she giggled. “Had you going, didn’t I?”
He shook his head. “I like you women better when you’re not family.”
Followed by his dog, Jake set two suitcases inside the room and snapped his fingers. “Come on, Rascal, we don’t belong in here. Ladies, I leave the luggage and our new guest in your care. I’m going downstairs.” He turned and was gone in an instant.
“Right behind you, big brother.” Bart bolted from the room.
Chapter Three
Ellie opened her eyes as a warm, wet washcloth brushed her face. “What happened?” She looked around and her eyes filled with tears. “It can’t be true. What year is this?”
Penny held her hand. “Today is April 5, 2018. You’ve had a bad shock, so just rest where you are. I’ll stay and answer any other questions you have.”
Sally patted Ellie’s foot. “I’d better get downstairs and prepare supper. I’ll let you know when the food’s ready.”
Ellie fought for clarity. She scanned the room. Pleasing colors in shades of blue would have been calming in other circumstances.
“I don’t understand. Even the thought of what you’re inferring gives me the heebie jeebies. How could such a thing happen?”
Penny’s soft smile reassured her. “No one knows. That little ravine is the same place where I fell. We think it must be some sort of time portal. We don’t know if travel through time has happened to others. Probably so, but who knows where or when?”
Ellie sat up and swung her legs to the floor. “I don’t need to stay in bed. I’m not sick… at least, I don’t think I am. Have I lost my mind?”
“I understand how confusing this must
be because I went through the same thing. This was my home before I fell. But, when I woke up and walked here, I found other people living here. I was convinced Jake and Bart were trying to confuse me to steal my ranch.”
Ellie couldn’t quite picture that situation. “What did those two men think?”
Penny laughed. “They thought I was crazy or had amnesia. But someone was causing problems on the ranch and Jake thought I might be involved. For that reason he let me stay here. It was a while before I could convince him I’m who I said I am.”
“But now you’re married to him so I guess he believes you.”
“Yes, but it took a while.”
Ellie put a hand on each of her cheeks. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. What will I do, where will I go? I don’t understand how this could come about or what I’m supposed to do now.”
“The first thing you have to do is get established here. You should remain with us for a while until you have a chance to get used to your surroundings and the changes time has brought.”
Ellie wiped at the tears that came to her eyes. She’d no doubt lost everything except what she had in her suitcases. She’d been wealthy before but now she had nothing.
“How will I survive? I don’t know exactly how much money I have in my purse but it’s not enough for a new start.”
“Don’t worry about that now because you’re our guest. Just let us know what you need and we’ll see you have whatever it is.” Penny patted her arm. “Would you like to rest for a while or are you going to come down for supper?”
Panic closed in on Ellie. “Don’t leave me… please. I don’t want to be by myself right now. This situation is too much to face alone.”
Penny took her hand. “I understand. Come with me. You’ll find this family is very nice and supportive. I’m so fortunate to be part of them.”
Ellie allowed Penny to lead her down the stairs into the kitchen. The two men and Sally were already there. Rascal waited under the table, making Ellie wonder if someone slipped him food scraps.
Sally set a large plate of sandwiches on the table. “Oh good, you’re here in time for supper. Ellie, I apologize that it’s only sandwiches but we had a large lunch and we’ve had a busy day.”
Ellie noted the sandwiches were thick and filled with ham or roast beef. “I’m hungry and this looks like enough food for anyone.”
Sally nodded toward Bart. “Your turn to give the blessing, Bart.”
Although it was brief, hearing the man who’d found her say a prayer, reassured her. Perhaps these people really were as nice as they seemed. That didn’t help Ellie as she fought to come to grips with her situation. She realized she could have been in serious trouble if another type person had found her. Perhaps that was the rainbow of this situation.
Penny set down her glass of tea. “Ellie, tell us about yourself.”
She welcomed a distraction but couldn’t focus. “I don’t know where to begin.”
Penny asked, “How about starting with how you happened to be on the road to the ranch?”
“I’d been to a wedding in San Antonio. My best friend, Mattie, married another friend, Freddie Colgate, yesterday. I was their maid of honor. The ceremony and reception were the gnat’s elbows.
“Today, I was driving my new car home to Kerrville. I decided to come through Terry Springs because that’s where Mattie and Freddie are going to live after their three-month honeymoon. Your ranch road appeared to be a shortcut.”
Jake nodded and swallowed. “Actually it is faster but we don’t get much through traffic since it’s a narrow road.”
“When I had the blowout, I was wishing I’d stayed on a main highway so there’d be someone to help me.”
Sally shook her head. “You never know who might stop today. Although Bart makes certain our county is a place of law and order, you’re safer right here with us. More importantly, you’re among people who understand about time travel.”
Bart shook his head. “Naw, I don’t understand about it. I just know it’s possible because it happened to Penny.”
Sally refilled Ellie’s tea glass. “Now don’t worry, Ellie. We’ll see you’re safe and fed until you figure out what you’re going to do.”
Terror clawed Ellie’s insides. “I have no idea what I can do.”
Penny looked at her. “What had you been doing in your other life?”
The term other life sent goose bumps up Ellie’s arms. “Mostly I went to parties and lunched with friends and went shopping. I served on several committees to raise funds for various charities.”
She pressed fingers against her temples. “That doesn’t sound as if my days and nights were full or worthwhile, but they were. Still, I didn’t really do anything. My parents died in 1915 and left me quite wealthy and my guardian was completely agreeable for whatever I wanted to spend. Do you suppose my fortune is lost now or can I recover my money?”
Bart set down his glass of tea. “You may as well kiss your money goodbye.”
Sally frowned it Bart. “Bartholomew Knight, couldn’t you be more sensitive to Ellie’s feelings? Imagine how you’d feel in her circumstances.”
Bart looked like a little boy who’d gotten caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “Sorry, Ellie, I didn’t mean to sound harsh. But, it’s true that whatever assets you had are long gone.”
Jake said, “Lucky you had your suitcases so you have clothes. From the weight and size, you have a lot of your things with you.”
Penny patted Ellie’s hand. “The problem is they’re out of style.”
Sally appeared to assess Ellie. “She’s about your size, Penny. Maybe you have something she could wear.”
Penny’s smile reassured Ellie. “I’m sure I do. After supper we can go look through my things.”
The pounding in Ellie’s head had not lessened. These people seemed like good eggs but she still didn’t understand how it was possible she’d traveled through time. She subtracted in her head.
“You’re saying this is ninety-seven years later than when I left San Antonio this morning?”
Bart nodded around a bit of sandwich. “That’s right.”
They weren’t feeding her a line—looking around forced her to accept their claim. Too much evidence confirmed their assertion. The sheriff’s odd car. The kitchen’s large silver refrigerator with ice popping from the door. The clothes the women wore.
Bart threw down his sandwich and stood. “Whoa! She’s turning too pale.”
Strong arms caught her as her body became liquid and flowed from the chair. She struggled to remain conscious. “I-I’ll be all right. Taking in all you’ve told me isn’t easy.”
His face was close to hers. She recognized concern in his deep blue eyes. “Are you sure you don’t need to go upstairs and rest a while longer?”
She reluctantly pushed out of his comforting arms and back to her seat. “I need to figure out how I’m going to survive.” She brightened. “Say, do you suppose if I go back to that ravine I might return to my time?”
Bart shook his head. “Right now it’ll be a creek. Guess it wouldn’t hurt to try once the soil dries. That won’t happen for several days.”
Jake nodded. “Hate to be the bearer of bad news but more rain is expected day after tomorrow.”
Penny smiled at her husband as if she thought he’d invented weather then met Ellie’s gaze. “You’d better plan to remain with us for a while.”
“Not that I don’t appreciate your hospitality, in fact, you’ve been swell. Only I was headed home but now I suppose I haven’t one. I’m trying not to be a wet blanket but this news has been lousy.”
Ellie peered around the room. “I don’t suppose you have any giggle water to dull the shock, do you?” When blank stares greeted her, she added, “You know, hooch, gin?”
Bart grinned. “We have beer if you’d like one. We don’t drink much alcohol.”
She rolled her eyes. “I forgot you’re a big cheese with the law and probab
ly raid the local speakeasies and stills. I’ll bet you don’t make bathtub gin either, do you?”
Bart laughed. “I have big news. Prohibition ended in 1933. You can legally buy liquor nowadays.”
“Say, that’s darb. You’re a good egg, Sheriff.” She fished in her purse and brought out a cigarette holder but no cigarettes. “Nertz. Anyone have a gasper?”
Sally shook her head. “Hard to believe we speak the same language. If you mean a cigarette, none of us smoke.”
“Really?” She paused to take in that information and stuck the holder back inside her purse. “Well, I don’t enjoy it that much. Only started because my friends accused me of being a wet blanket.”
Penny pushed back her chair. “What you have on is lovely. If you’d like to come upstairs with me, we can look through my clothes and find you something more… um, current to wear.”
Ellie stood. “Copacetic. Lead the way.”
***
When Penny and their guest had gone, Bart exchanged gazes with his brother. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”
Jake raised his eyebrows. “Not as much as with Penny. Makes you wonder if this is going to be a frequent occurrence, though.”
Sally patted Bart’s shoulder amid clearing away the dishes. “She’s very lucky you came by and not someone else. Who knows what could have happened to her?”
Jake said, “She’d have ended up in the loony bin more than likely.”
Bart raised his eyebrows at his brother. “She looks like a million dollars but she talks like someone out of an old grade B gangster movie.”
Sally loaded glasses into the dishwasher. “I don’t understand everything she says. What do you suppose ‘darb’ means?”
Bart frowned when Sally took the glass from his hand. “Judging by the way she used it, I’d guess something good.”
Jake stood. “I get the feeling we’re not needed here. Guess I’ll go to the study and check some things on the computer.” He stopped and turned back to Bart. “You’re really going through with the purchase of that apartment complex?”
“Yeah, I’m gonna do it. Paid the earnest money and picked out my apartment. The one I showed you on the second floor.”
Texas Rainbow Page 2