But not in 1838.
His nerves on edge, he parked and hurried to the front desk, knowing it would do no good to hurry. If his money was stolen, there was nothing he could do about it at this point.
“I’m Bradley Becquerel. You have things from my room.”
He didn’t recognize the girl behind the counter. “I’ll check,” she said. A couple of minutes later she rolled his suitcase around the counter and parked it at his feet. “You need to check out.” She said.
“You have my credit card for the nights I was here,” he said.
“Right, but you never checked out, so we extended your stay.”
“What? You went into my room and gathered up my thing. You knew I wasn’t here,” he said.
“Let me check,” she said again and disappeared to the back.
Bradley tapped his fingertips on the counter, forcing himself to not open his suitcase right there in the lobby.
A few minutes later, the manager followed her out. “Hey, man,” he said. “I’m glad to see you’re alive.”
“I haven’t been here in a week,” Bradley said, tapping his suitcase. “It looks like housekeeping brought my stuff down. I just need to pay for the nights I was here and be on my way.”
The man tapped on the computer. “We checked you out yesterday after you called.”
“But I wasn’t here. I haven’t been here since the night of the storm.”
“Where were you then?”
“I was with a friend.”
“Hey, man. It’s New Orleans. People decide to stay and drink all the time. We don’t force people out. We just extend the stay.”
“But I wasn’t here,” he said. “You can’t charge me for nights I wasn’t here.”
“Hey, if you’re off drunk and hooked up somewhere, we don’t kick you out of the room. We just extend the stay.”
“You’ve got to be kidding.” Bradley realized he was not going to win this argument. “Just charge it my credit card,” he said.
“It’s already done,” the manager said. “Tell you what, I’ll waive the fee for an unauthorized extended stay. Just plan on telling us next time.”
“There won’t be a next time,” Bradley muttered to himself as he took the printout of the exorbitant charges to his credit card.
It doesn’t matter, he told himself. I just need to see if my money is in the suitcase. Looking at the charges, he stopped as he walked toward the door. Deciding since they’d charged him so much, they needed to hear about it if anything was missing. He hefted his suitcase on a counter and went through it. His faded money was stuffed in there as well as the sack of coins. He didn’t bother counting them. He wasn’t sure how much he’d started with anyway.
Satisfied that he had what he came for, despite being severely overcharged for the room, he tossed the suitcase in the trunk of his grandfather’s car and headed north. He checked the clock. He should be back by Midnight.
What he wouldn’t give for an airplane right now, but it was oh so very much better than the steamboat.
Bradley had been traveling east about thirty minutes on Interstate ten when he heard a ringing sound that sounded vaguely familiar.
He laughed aloud as he realized he had discovered a cure for cell phone addiction – time-travel. He pulled over on the side of the road and opened the trunk. After rummaging around in his suitcase, he found his cell phone. Fortunately, he had left it charging and since housekeeping had unplugged it only yesterday, it still had a full charge.
As he got back into the driver’s seat, his friend Mark’ face popped up on the screen. “Hello,” he said.
“Bradley, is that you?”
“Of course.
“Where the hell have you been?”
“I was out of pocket,” Bradley said, saying the first thing that came to his mind.
“There’s a girl,” Mark said.
“You got me,” Bradley said, allowing Mark to make assumptions that required little or no explanation, unlike the truth.
“That explains it. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
“What’ up?”
“We have a meeting in Ft. Worth today at 5:00 with Noah Worthington of Skye Travel.” When Bradley didn’t immediately respond, Mark continued. “THE Noah Worthington.”
“I know who he is.”
“You have to be there. We’ve been trying to get an interview with him since we were in college.”
“I’m driving.”
“Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.”
“I’m just east of New Orleans on Interstate ten.”
“I’ll pick you up at Ryan Field.”
The Baton Rouge airport was on his way. “I’m supposed to be at my grandfather’s house in Natchez tonight,” he said.
“Call him. Tell him you’ll be there tomorrow. He’ll understand. Why are you driving anyway?”
“It’s a long story.”
“This is a life changing interview,” Mark said. “You have to be there. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Mark was right. Working for Noah Worthington would be better than even working for a major airline. More control over his schedule and destinations. Well, maybe not at first, but eventually. And even more money. His friend’s words began to sink in. This had been his goal from the outset. Since before he’d even earned his pilot’s license.
“Okay,” Bradley said. “Pick me up at BTR.”
Camille and Erika walked down the stairs and along a shaded path away from the house. It was the opposite direction from the cotton fields and the servants’ houses.
Erika explained that this was the way to the guest house and as well as the garçonnière. When they passed by the bachelor’s quarters, Camille giggled.
“What’s funny?” Erika asked.
“I was just remembering my brother’s garçonnière. We had so much fun there!”
“At your brother’s garçonnière? I thought the whole point was to keep the boys away from their sisters.”
“Ah,” Camille said. “That’s hog wash. We were so excited when my father moved them out to their apartment.”
“Your mother let you go?”
“Oh course. I spent all my time with my brothers anyway. When we weren’t studying, of course. Or practicing the piano.” She wrinkled her nose.
“I take it you weren’t a big fan of piano.”
“Not at all. Horses were much more exciting,” Camille said offhand, as they turned and walked along another path. “Why does Vaughn live so far away from the main house?
“It’s a rather long story, I’m afraid,” Erika said.
As they approached the house with its little picket fence, a little shiver ran down Camille’s spine. She was reminded of Madame Laveau. She’d said there was a woman in Natchez who could travel through time. Camille shivered as the words came back to her. The woman is able to move freely about through time. The spell, some say, passed to her grandchildren.
As Erika raised a hand to knock on the door, it swung open and an elegant older woman beckoned them inside. She drew Erika into a hug, then invited them into her parlor.
“Grandmother,” Erika said, “I’d like you to meet Camille.”
Camille thoughts froze. Grandmother. Vaughn. The illustrious Vaughn was Erika’s grandmother? That meant Vaughn was also Bradley’s grandmother. Oh. My. Madame Laveau had been right.
“It’s lovely to meet you Camille,” Vaughn said, her expression serene. “Please, sit on the sofa.”
Camille sat on the sofa, while Erika and Vaughn each sat on chairs.
Erika sat on the edge of her chair and appeared to be about to burst with her news. “Grandmother,” she said. “Camille is Bradley’s friend.”
Vaughn’s face paled. Seconds passed.
Vaughn’s expression shifted to one of concern. “Bradley,” she whispered.
She shifted to sit on the sofa next to Camille and took her hands in hers. Vaughn had bright green eyes. Eyes that seemed to
peer into Camille’s very soul. “How do you know my grandson?” she asked, her hands squeezing Camille’s.
Camille glanced questioningly at Erika. Erika nodded. “Tell her,” she implored.
“Bradley came into my tavern. In New Orleans.”
“What year?” Vaughn interrupted, urgency in her tone.
“This one,” Camille said.
“Go on.”
“I thought,” she swallowed. The intensity emanating from the two women was almost overwhelming. “I thought he was a ghost at first because he disappeared. But then Madame Laveau said he couldn’t possibly be a ghost because I knew he had blue eyes.” Now that she’d started, she wanted to tell them everything.
“He didn’t come back for awhile and I thought he was gone for good, but then he was back. Madame Laveau said he should come to see you. And Bradley wanted to see Erika. He didn’t know you were here. He thinks you’re… Anyway, so I came with him. My father doesn’t know. He’ll be furious if he finds out.”
“Where is he?” Vaughn turned to Erika.
“He was here, but I only saw him for a few seconds before he was gone.”
“You’re certain it was him?” Vaughn asked.
“Absolutely,” Erika said.
“He disappeared?”
Erika and Camille both nodded. “He was only inside the front door for a few minutes,” Erika said.
“The butler asked us to wait while he went to get Erika,” Camille said.
“But as soon as I spoke to him,” Erika said. “he was gone.”
Vaughn pulled away, holding her hands together in her lap. She stared straight ahead in silence as the seconds ticked past.
“It was too much,” she said, turning to Erika. “Seeing you was too much for him.”
Erika looked like she was going to cry. “It’s my fault.”
“No,” Vaughn said. “I must think. Go. Leave me. I’ll summon you in due time.”
Chapter Twelve
Noah Worthington was legendary in the flying world. Bradley was pleasantly surprised that he lived up to that image in real life.
But Bradley couldn’t help but believe that he owed a huge chunk of his success to his wife Savannah. He’d even named his company after her. Her maiden name was Savannah Skye Richards. His company was Skye Travels. The honor was well-deserved. She had a smile that lit up the room and a kindness that made everyone feel welcome.
They met in Ft. Worth at the Saint Emilion restaurant and were instantly ensconced in an upscale cozy atmosphere.
Noah and Savannah sat at a table, their heads bent in conversation. The host took their names and after consulting with Noah, led them over to his table. Noah stood as introductions were made.
“Was your flight uneventful?” Noah asked.
“It was quite pleasant, actually,” Mark said.
After they settled in, Savannah sipped her wine and turned her attention on Bradley. “How long have you two known each other?”
“We met in school,” Mark said.
Savannah kept her eyes on Bradley. “You fly together often?”
“Not lately,” Bradley said, “but in college we flew together a good bit,” he said, glancing at Mark. Mark was obviously struggling with letting Bradley take the conversation.
“Why Skye Travel?” she asked.
Did she have to ask? Bradley glanced at Mark, but Mark just shrugged. It was apparent that Savannah was focused on Bradley. “Skye Travel is legendary. Even before I sat in the cockpit, I knew I wanted to fly for Skye.”
She tilted her head, smiled, and waited for him to continue.
Bradley shifted his feet, then caught himself. It was valid question. “You treat your people like family,” he said. “At least that’s what everyone says. And you take the time and effort to mentor. Working for Skye Travels is more like an apprenticeship than a job. An apprenticeship that pays. Not to mention the opportunity to invest in the company. Some say you’re thinking about starting to franchise.”
Noah grinned at him. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Bradley took a deep breath. He felt a flash of guilt. Mark had been the one to set this meeting up. And here Bradley was stealing the show. He’d been under the impression that they would be hired as a team.
When Savannah turned her attention on his friend, he released a silent sigh of relief.
“Mark, tell us about the most dangerous thing you ever did in an airplane.”
Mark blanched. Nonetheless, he was quick on his feet. “I never take chances in the air. There are no old pilots with stories of daredevil chances.
Bradley eyed his friend quizzically. He knew Mark was lying. He knew there had been a low pass last month. Could Noah possibly know about that? Of course, he could. Noah knew everything about the pilots he interviewed.
“Is that something you’ve decided through experience or something you were taught in the classroom?” Noah asked.
Bradley was thankful that hadn’t been his question. He couldn’t think of a good answer. Mark was dead-meat no matter which answer he gave. Noah, he decided, definitely knew about the low pass.
Mark fumbled his way through that question and a few others. Bradley hated seeing his friend squirm. Mark had been more excited about the interview than Bradley. Until this moment Bradley had been ready to ditch life as he knew it and travel back in time to be with Camille.
Watching Savannah and Noah together brought back memories of Camille and their own easy relationship. A relationship like that could only come naturally. He knew that relationships took work, but there had to be something to build on.
Realizing someone had called his name, he blinked and saw that all three of them were watching him. “I was just wondering how you manage to do it all.” He grinned at Savannah.
She laughed. “It’s not easy. Not with a toddler at home, a company based out of Ft. Worth, and studying.”
Three hours later, Noah and Mark had agreed on terms and had agreed to meet at Noah office downtown the next morning. Bradley wasn’t sure, but he had a feeling he’d carried Mark through the interview. A low pass could be a career breaker. Mark had gotten a lucky break.
Noah had insisted they stay the night at a nearby hotel, so for the first time since Mark had picked him up in Baton Rouge, Bradley had time to think about something other than flying.
Camille.
He pressed his fingers against the bridge of his nose. He was still in awe that he had seen his sister, even if only for a brief moment in time. He now had an image of her alive and well instead of thinking of her as dead.
Tomorrow he would take the job. He had to. Everything he’d worked for up to this point led to this job with Skye Travels.
If he couldn’t get back in time, he couldn’t just be homeless. He had to have a job. He leaned against the window sill and watched the cars, no more than Matchbox toys from this distance, and contemplated how much the country had changed.
He laughed at himself. Most would want to put him in an insane asylum. He was a successful pilot with a bright future. A man whose thoughts were focused on two centuries in the past. And a woman who lived there.
A police car, its bright lights flashing and the muted sounds of its sirens blaring caught his attention below. He felt far away as though watching something that wasn’t real, amplifying his feeling of being disconnected from modern life.
A text came in from Mark. Are you coming down to the bar for a drink to celebrate?
Was Mark seriously going to drink the night before starting a new job with Noah Worthington? Bradley didn’t have the energy to argue the point. Flying tomorrow. Need to sleep.
Leaving the window and the hustle and bustle of the modern world, he climbed into the bed and powered on his computer. He started by googling Natchez 1830s.
Camille bent and picked a tiny blue wildflower as she walked along a path away from the house. She chose the woodsy path over the fields. The air was warm. Only a few degrees more, and she
’d have chosen to sit in the shade instead. The sky was a clear, spotless blue. There was no rain on the horizon.
She stood, twirling the daisy between her fingers and searching the sky. Her thoughts were on Bradley. She replayed the feel of his lips on her palm. On her cheek. Closed her eyes and imagined what his lips would feel like on hers.
An unfamiliar roar filled her ears and her eyes flew open. The roar disappeared. Perhaps she had imagined it. She searched the sky. Searched for… something, but she didn’t know what.
Since his sudden disappearance, she watched for Bradley. She expected him to be standing there at any turn.
She shook her head. Watching the sky for him had no logic. It wasn’t like he was going to fly in like an eagle.
She walked a few steps, then stopped and closed her eyes again. But this time she only heard the soft twittering of birds in the old oak tree.
Erika had been more than kind and welcoming to her. She’d wanted to know everything about her brother and she’d told Camille some things about Bradley. Like how one of his favorite toys as a child was a red and blue kite. He’d spent hours keeping it in the air. Erika told her that Bradley had become quite proficient at flying his kite. So much so, that by the time he was fifteen, he had a collection of about ten kites. After that, he’d taken up other games that Erika merely described as things boys liked to do.
Camille had only seen a kite once. One of the neighbor’s boys had one, but when her brothers visited other boys Camille didn’t go. The boy had brought it over and her brothers had gone crazy for it. Camille smiled at the memory. Boys were so easily entertained. Perhaps it was Bradley’s love of kites that had her thinking of him when looking skyward.
To be truthful, though, he was in her mind all the time. Her thoughts were full of him.
Camille couldn’t stay here. There was a strong likelihood that Bradley would never return here. If it hadn’t been for his sister, Erika, she would have begun again to believe that he was an angel. People didn’t just disappear like that. No one else traveled through time. It truly was preposterous to even think such a thing was possible.
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