Always and Forever

by L. A. Fiore

  The applause was almost deafening. Perhaps she shouldn't be sharing stories that hadn't yet been written but who didn't like a good fairy tale? Quinn looked on proudly as the children whispered in awe over the story she shared.

  After that, it hadn't taken long for the people of the village to drop their attitude of indifference and talk with her. It seemed as if they were eager to have a new and attentive listener with whom to share stories. Suddenly, the jubilation stopped and Quinn looked up to see Archer approaching.

  "Please don't stop on my account. I was hoping we could ask Miss Shaughnessy to share with us another one of her stories."

  His words were answered with shouts of agreement but Quinn's attention was solely on the man walking toward her. He could never be hers, no matter how much she wished it could be different, so with great effort she turned away from him and the feelings inside of her before she offered, "I may have another story or two."

  That night Quinn found herself retiring to the lady's solar with Lady Danvers and Katherine. For some odd reason she had been asked point-blank from Lady Danvers to do so. Quinn was all for avoidance but she wouldn't be intentionally rude. Well, unless provoked, but she thought sadly, the Danvers were being extremely courteous toward her.

  Lady and Miss Danvers chatted, mindlessly, while Quinn sat staring into the fire. She had learned, having been raised with loud brothers, how to tune people out but was doing such a good job that she didn't sense the change in the air until Katherine's harsh voice commanded her attention.

  "I don't know what game you're playing but he isn't yours and he never will be," she chided. "You're nothing, have nothing to offer him, and as a titled gentleman he deserves more than a commoner. You will only bring him ruin and disgrace. Who are your family? Likely poor Irish farmers. Would you have him ridiculed by his peers for marrying a woman so decidedly beneath him?"

  It wasn't the venom in Katherine's words that had Quinn's voice so soft in reply but the fact that they were true.

  "I've no intention of marrying Archer," she said just above a whisper.

  Quinn didn't see the surprised looks on her companions' faces since she was still looking into the fire. She felt a lifetime of regret fill her. If only she had been born in this time or he in hers.

  It was Lady Danvers who spoke next.

  "I'm proud of you, Miss Shaughnessy, for realizing that you are completely unacceptable for him. But since he appears to be smitten with your common appeal perhaps you should leave here and go back from where you came."

  As if she could, she thought. But even if it were possible, Quinn was not one to be warned off and especially not by two puffed-up bitches with no more sense than a plate of finger sandwiches. Quinn rose as her anger brought a heat to her cheeks. "I'll leave when I'm good and ready."

  Katherine sneered. "There are ways to make you leave."

  Quinn walked to stand over Katherine and leaned down so that they were nose to nose.

  "I don't scare easily."

  A flicker of uncertainty passed over Katherine's face which was enough of a response for Quinn as she turned and left the room.

  The following morning, Quinn went for her run, alone, and thought about the scene in the lady's solar the night before. It wasn't really surprising that Katherine and her mother wanted Quinn gone. As far as they were concerned, she was threatening their very livelihood. Or was she? Whatever the Danvers were up to, Quinn still didn't understand why Archer felt obligated to them.

  A movement in the trees caught Quinn's attention and she slowed her run to quietly investigate. As she approached, she was greeted by the sight of the Viscount, Edwyn, burying something in the soil. What the hell was he up to? Quinn was careful to stay out of sight as she watched him dig a hole, drop a small sack into it then cover it up again mindfully marking his treasure. She waited for him to leave, watched as he made his way back into the house, then waited a bit longer after that before moving to the disturbed soil to dig up what he had buried. Outrage filled her when she opened the sack. Edwyn was stealing from Archer, collecting some of the more valuable pieces from the house and burying them! She knew, in that moment, that the Viscount and Derek were one and the same. How he was doing it, moving through time, she didn't know but she damn well was going to find out. In the meantime, she needed to protect Archer's property but not tip off Derek that she was on to him. She looked around to see just how busy he had been and saw four other hiding places.

  A plan formed but she was going to need help.

  Two hours later she, Thaddeus and Nickie started back to the house pulling Nickie's wagon, which looked to be filled with dirt, but really was filled with Archer's stolen possessions. Filling the sacks with rocks had been easy. No one questioned as they loaded rocks being used for the construction into the wagon, especially after they created a wall with some of them to use during a mock battle they staged. Well, it started as a mock battle but Quinn found it very enjoyable tossing pine cones at Thaddeus and, based on the grin on his face, he enjoyed it too. After, they disappeared into the woods to switch out the sacks.

  Thaddeus was an obvious accomplice but they needed Nickie for their little espionage since two adults carting around rocks would look odd. She knew Nickie would love the adventure but she felt guilty about exposing him to Edwyn's deception and further tainting Nickie's poor opinion of all the Danvers. It was unfortunate but unavoidable.

  "We can't bring this into the house. We need to find somewhere else to stash it," Quinn offered.

  "We should just go to Arch and tell him," Thaddeus suggested, the disgust in his tone clearly evident.

  "We can't though because Edwyn would deny it. Or worse, he'd blame one of the staff which would put Archer in a terrible position."

  Thaddeus seemed to think on that for a minute before he conceded, "You're probably right, but the audacity of that man. When Arch finds out, it is not going to go well for Edwyn."

  "He's a douche bag and whatever Archer does to him, he has it coming."

  Thaddeus and Nickie both stopped and looked at Quinn as they repeated in unison, "Douche bag?"

  Oops. Quinn looked down at Nickie. "That is a very bad word. I shouldn't have used it. Please don't repeat it."

  "What does it mean?" Thaddeus asked.

  "Not going there. Trust me, it isn't nice."

  Quinn could see they both were not satisfied with her answer but thankfully Thaddeus had moved to the next stage of their adventure.

  "I know where we can stash this," he chimed in suddenly.

  As they approached the unfinished building, Quinn felt the past and present colliding since in the future the building before them stood almost as it does now.

  "There are a few secret spots that Archer planned into the building's design. We can use one of those." Thaddeus led them to the fireplace and a part of the stone trim that moved to reveal a hollow space large enough to stash the sacks. Derek had been quite discriminating in his selection, going for the smallest items, that might not be missed, but of the highest value. Once everything was safely hidden, the three of them returned the wagon before heading to the stables.

  Majesty, Loki and Champ were saddled before they took off on a ride that had them seeing most of Whispering Winds' landscape and, to Quinn, it was a little piece of heaven. They climbed from their horses when they reached a large field of wildflowers and walked among the brightly-colored flowers.

  "I've never seen a woman ride a horse astride before. You are quite good," Nickie offered. Quinn looked down at him, "Coming from such a fine rider, I am honored by the compliment."

  His smile, in response, went from ear to ear. Quinn looked into his little face and thought how much he looked like his father. She couldn't help think of a younger Archer who was probably very much like Nickie, but instead of receiving love and encouragement from his father he received only rhetoric on duty. How much Archer had missed out on and yet deep beneath his Earl facade she still caught a glimpse of that hopeful little
boy.

  It was one of the many things she loved about him. And she did love him, as crazy and impossible as that was. It wouldn't be a piece of her heart lost to him when she returned to her time but all of it, to the man she logically shouldn't know but would never forget.

  "What is that mind of yours thinking now, Quinn?" Thaddeus' voice pulled her from her thoughts as she turned to him.

  "Have you ever ridden bareback?"

  He didn't let on if he was surprised by her question and answered, "Yes. Don't tell me you have?" And there it was, the throwing down of the gauntlet.

  Quinn was preparing to do the trick she'd been doing since she was a child so she didn't hear the sound of the approaching horse.

  When Archer arrived and saw Quinn, he wasn't sure what emotion he felt more, fury or fear, because there in the meadow was delicate Quinn standing face to face with his beast of a horse, Loki; an animal who was barely tamed and only allowed Thaddeus and himself to ride atop him.

  Upon further inspection, a sharp pang of jealous stabbed through him when he realized that his Quinn, for in his heart he thought of her as his, was only wearing her chemise.

  And then fear again gripped him as he watched her whistle to stir his horse into action. Loki galloped right towards her. Archer wanted to kick his own mount into a run but terror held him frozen as he watched what he believed was the death of the woman he loved. The terror brought on a fury that had him kicking his horse into a gallop. He knew he wasn't going to reach her in time and this knowledge almost had him howling his anguish to the heavens until he saw Thaddeus standing off to the side watching Quinn like a simpleton. Why wasn't he trying to stop her?

  Just before Loki collided with Quinn she moved quickly and grabbed his mane, pulling herself up and onto his back. It was only then that Archer realized his horse wasn't wearing a saddle. A reluctant admiration filled him because Quinn was riding his monster of beast, bareback, with far greater skill than most men of his acquaintance rode with a saddle. It didn't take long for him to remember the terror he felt only minutes before and his admiration slipped away. How dare she perform such a dangerous stunt? Especially in front of his son. He steered his horse toward Quinn and whistled a command that stopped Loki in his tracks awaiting his master. In one smooth move, Archer wrapped his arm around Quinn's waist and pulled her from her mount to his.

  "Take Nickie home, Thaddeus," Archer all but roared before his horse continued forward seconds before they were lost amongst the trees. It took him a moment to control his temper as he brought his horse to stop but when he looked down at her beautiful and bewildered face, his temper flared again.

  "What the hell were you thinking?"

  There was patience and understanding in her gaze and for some reason that just further enraged him as he slid from his horse and stalked away from her so he wouldn't put his hands around her lovely neck and wring it.

  "I was completely safe, Archer, I've been doing that particular stunt for quite a few years."

  Archer swung around and there was no denying the anger burning in his gaze but there was something else there too but before Quinn could identify it Archer all but shouted, "But not with that horse!"

  Satan, her horse in the future, was every bit the animal that Loki was but Quinn decided now was probably not the best time to point that out so instead offered quietly, "I apologize for making you worry."

  Nope, not the right thing to say as she watched as Archer turned a deeper shade of red and then he bellowed, "Worry me? You ignorant child, you could have broken your fool neck. Did that ever occur to you? Not to mention pulling such a brainless stunt in front of my son ...and in your undergarments no less."

  Quinn's temper started to burn through her. Yes, he had a good point regarding Nickie and her lack of clothing but calling her an ignorant child, oh no, he didn't. Amazingly before she could knock him down one, he continued on, "It's amazing that you've lived to the age you are considering your complete disregard for everything. Social courtesy, common sense, decorum all completely escape you as you tackle life with wild abandon. Your father should have taken you over his knee years ago to discipline the recklessness out of you."

  It was only after Archer had vented most of his fear through a rampage of angry words that he realized Quinn had gone very quiet. He hadn't meant anything he said to her. In truth, it was her carefree nature that drew him to her, but in the midst of his fury he had channeled his father and knew first-hand just how biting what he said would be to someone like Quinn.

  He opened his mouth to apologize but she took that moment to start toward him and eager to see what she was about to do, he remained silent. He didn't exactly know what he expected her to do -- maybe throw herself into his arms and declare her undying love -- but he most definitely did not expect the right jab that she landed squarely, and rather painfully, on his jaw.

  An odd calm settled over her as she walked toward him and she knew from the look of him, he had no idea what was coming. That made it all that more satisfying when her punch finally connected. Yes, she probably broke every bone in her hand but the look of shock and disbelief on his face made it worth it.

  Quinn understood that Archer was speaking through fear but even so, what he was saying to her was completely unfair. It was his last ranting that made her think of his father and what he, as a little boy, must have had to deal with. He had been so defenseless and that made her so angry. Since the father wasn't there to receive her displeasure, she'd take it out on the man who was.

  Quinn turned and walked away with as much dignity as a woman barely clothed could muster. She hadn't gotten very far when Archer's strong hand wrapped around her arm and turned her to him. Before she could protest, his mouth came down hard on hers.

  There was no anger in him as his lips moved over hers and she didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his neck to pull him closer. His arms came around her waist locking her to him as he pulled her up against the length of him, all the while making love to her with his mouth. He moved from her lips to her neck, kissing her in just the right spot that made her knees go weak.

  "Tell me to stop because I can't," he pleaded.

  Right or wrong, she was a goner. She wanted him so desperately that when she answered it was barely a whisper, "Don't stop."

  The look of unbridled passion that passed over his face was not one she was ever going to forget. He moved, pressing her up against a nearby tree, and she gave herself over to him and their magical, impossible moment.

  Sleep wouldn't come as Quinn lay awake staring at the ceiling. She felt guilty behaving as she had, but honestly when Archer's mouth came down on hers she was lost to him: lost to the emotions that only he could stir in her. She had guilt, yes, but she wasn't sorry for the few hours they had shared because she knew the memory of it would stay with her always.

  Of course, she had slept with Archer so would there be consequences in the future for her moment of weakness? She wasn't arrogant enough to believe that her dabbling in the past would have far reaching effects on the future but would her individual future be altered? She wouldn't know until she returned, but even if she had altered her world she wouldn't take back a single second of her time with him.

  Quinn believed now that her suspicion about Derek was right, especially after witnessing him burying treasure. In the future, he was forever finding treasures that most didn't even know existed so obviously he had found a way to travel through time to steal rare finds and bury them then later dig up in the future. Yes, it sounded all very sci-fi but how crazy a notion was it when she, a 21st century lady, was in the past? So again Quinn had to wonder how Derek met Katherine and Lady Danvers since it was impossible for them to be related.

  Quinn had noticed the infatuation that Katherine had for Archer but if she was working with Derek, working a con on Archer, what was in it for Katherine? Money? A hot guy? Archer clearly didn't feel as Katherine did so even if she married him she wouldn't get his love. But she would be in line
to get his money. Based on what Jack, the barkeep in the future, had shared with her, Quinn believed that Archer and Nickie met with foul play. Was it possible that since Katherine couldn't have Archer's love, she settled for his money? The only way to ensure not only access to the money but complete access would be to kill both Archer and Nickie. Would the death of the Lord and his son create enough of a taboo against the place to have people avoiding it? Quite possibly but even more so if people witnessed what Thaddeus had, a person appearing or disappearing into thin air, they would be crossing themselves and staying as far away from the place as possible.

  She needed to learn everything she could about the Danvers, including why a man like Archer would have agreed to an engagement with a woman such as Katherine. If there was con, the Danvers would need a way to guarantee the engagement, but how? Was it a coincidence that his mother and sisters avoided Whispering Winds since his betrothal? There was one way to find out.

  Quinn needed to get herself to London.

  Chapter Five

  "Are you mad? You want to sneak away to London? Have you lost your mind?"

  Quinn only raised her one brow at Thaddeus' questions but he didn't seem to notice as he continued on.

  "I won't be indelicate and state the obvious but do you think it's wise to sneak away now after what you and Arch shared in the woods?"

  She couldn't help the blush. Whether it was a reaction to the fact that Thaddeus knew how Archer and she had spent their time in the woods or to the memory of what Archer's clever mouth and body had done to her, she couldn't say.

  "We've tiptoed around the big elephant in the room, Thaddeus, so I'm just going to say it. You know I just appeared out of thin air the day we met. You saw what I was wearing and you know I am not from around here."

  "Yes, I know," he agreed.