by Tia Dani
Matthew straightened and grinned at both of them. "I thought you two said it was leaning too far to the right a few minutes ago? Now you're telling us it's leaning to the left."
James nodded. "It was leaning right, now it's leaning left."
Joseph stood and dusted his hands. "You three are gonna hafta figure out for yor'selves which way is straight. I promised Harriet I'd be home by dark." He grinned at Matthew. Being married sure makes a difference, don't it? Never thought the day would come I'd be worried about getting home on time."
Matthew nodded. "It sure does. But..." He walked over to where Libby sat and squeezed her shoulder. "I wouldn't trade places with a single man for the world."
Libby reached up and touched his hand. Tears misted her eyes and she rubbed her chin along his fingers. They had married the day after they had arrived home. Doing so had helped Libby deal with Theo's returning to the 20th century without her.
Though she missed her father terribly, she had Katherine to help fill the loss. Libby glanced at the woman sitting beside her and smiled. From the moment she had met Katherine she'd felt a closeness to her.
Now three months later, they were truly mother and daughter. It was as if the years apart no longer seemed important. Only one other thing mattered more.
She and Matthew were together forever and ever.
* * *
Epilogue
Western Kansas, 2003
"Careful, Uncle Theo, watch your step. The ground's uneven here."
"Dang it, Jenny, I've been walking across this land all my life. I know what I'm doing." Theo Strammon waved off his niece's hand and strode spryly across the plowed field under his own steam. He knew she was only concerned he might fall, but enough was enough. After all, he wasn't that old. He had years ahead of him. Why, his daddy lived to be ninety-nine, and his granddaddy before him lived to be a hundred and one.
Looking over his shoulder, he located Jenny's youngest, a fifteen-year-old daughter, dressed in faded jeans and a t-shirt with Kansas University written across the front. She was following in his footsteps, carrying a lawn chair.
"Libby Ann," he bellowed. "Did I ever tell you the time when I got bit by one of the biggest rattlesnakes known to man?"
"Sure did, Uncle Theo, hundreds of times."
"Well, did I tell you how the granddaddy of all tornados picked me up right here in this very field and carried me for miles without harming a hair on my head?"
"Yep."
"Naw!" He stopped and waited so she could catch up. "You must have been thinking about the time, I fell down the well and almost drowned."
Libby Ann grinned. "You never fell down a well in your life, and you know it." She looked around and asked, "Where do you want your chair?"
"By the big tree, and...the well, of course."
"Of course." Libby Ann headed for the tree, opening the chair as she went.
"Don't put it too close to the well now, you hear?" He hollered out after her. "I don't want to fall in or nothing."
At her burst of laughter, Theo chuckled and turned to watch the others emerge from their cars or trucks. Baskets of food, chairs, and coolers, anything a person would need for a picnic was being hauled over the field to the deserted way station. The entire family and all his close friends were there. Everyone he loved was here on this beautiful morning to help him celebrate his 91st birthday. It had been thirty plus lonely years without Libby since the faithful storm.
Theo's smile slipped a little, and he looked toward the way station. His eyes misted, and he found himself blinking so the tears wouldn't show. Everyone was here, he repeated sadly. But one.
"Uncle Theo, are you all right?" Libby Ann stood beside him, looking up with concern.
At his nod, she slipped her hand into his and gave it a squeeze. "Your chair's ready for you, whenever you want to sit down."
"Thanks, sweetie," he said in a whisper. Looking into her face, Theo recognized another, and his heart twisted in pain. Today, out here at the way station, it seemed especially strong. Libby Ann was so much like her. The family resemblance between Libby Ann and his own Libby was uncanny.
"You're thinking of her again, aren't you?"
"Yes, I am."
"I'm sorry she died. Mom told me how much you loved her and all."
"Did she?"
"Uh huh. But, you know what I think?"
Heading for his chair underneath the tree, Theo smiled. Libby Ann's face was so serious he had to work at not laughing out loud. He waited for her to join him before he responded, "What do you think, Libby Ann?"
"I don't think she's dead. I think she's still here."
"What?" Theo straightened his chair and stared at her. A strange feeling pulled at him. "What did you say?"
"I don't think she died. I believe part of her is still with us, especially today." Libby Ann waved her hand around the area. "Oh, I know she was carried away by the tornado, and her body was never found, but I believe her spirit is still here." She gave him an almost pleading look. "Does that sound stupid to you?"
His grandniece was someone special. She had the gift of sensing the unknown. He answered her softly, "No, it doesn't."
Sighing with relief, Libby Ann reached over and gave him a hug. "Good, I've been worrying about this, ever since Mom said we were going to come out here for your birthday."
"You have?" Surprised to hear she had been thinking about Libby like he had, he leaned forward and whispered. "Have you been dreaming?"
She stared at him in amazement. "How did you know?"
"Because," he said, leaning back with satisfaction. "I, too, have had dreams of Libby. I think she is trying to give us a message."
"Wow. That's tight."
Libby Ann's exclamation of excitement happened to be overheard by her father. He was walking past them, carrying a shovel in one hand and a large bag of charcoal over his shoulder. Several yards away, where the old corrals used to be, men were digging the pit for the bar-b-que. He stopped and turned. "What's tight, Libby Ann?"
Theo winked at his niece and answered for her. "Nothing much, Richard, we're just talking."
Libby Ann grinned back at him. "Yeah, Dad, just talking."
"Well, don't talk too long. You have to help your mother."
As soon as Richard walked away, Theo leaned closer to his grandniece. "Tell me about your dream."
"I'm standing in a dark room, you know covered with cobwebs and stuff and I see this woman, in old-timey clothes, walk past me."
"Uh huh."
"She goes to this corner, way far behind lots of chairs and things, and sets something down on the ground."
"What is it?"
"I don't know." Libby Ann frowned at him. "It's funny, every time I think I know what it is, I wake up."
"Can you describe it?" Theo leaned closer. "Think hard, honey, this is important."
"We...ll, it's like a big lunch box, with flowers all over one side and—"
Theo stumbled to his feet, knocking over his lawn chair. It was the same. She described the box he'd seen in his dreams for the past month. He knew what the box was, but, not until now, did he know what it meant. Libby Ann's dream told him the rest.
"Come on. You and I are going to do some hunting."
"Where?" Libby Ann grabbed his hand and walked beside him, her emerald green eyes sparkling with excitement.
"In the cellar."
Fifteen minutes later, Theo's hands shook as he lifted the aged first aid kit that once belonged to him and carried it from its hiding place. It was exactly where Libby Ann had seen it in her dreams. He unlatched the dust covered lid and opened it. "Hold the lantern high, Libby Ann."
When she did as he instructed, both of them gasped. Inside were old photographs, drawings and other items. But it was the book on top attracting Theo's attention. He lifted it and caressed the smooth, yet perfectly preserved, leather bound volume.
Libby Ann peeked over his arm. "Hey, it's got your name on the cover, Uncle Theo."
Theo nodded. "It's a diary."
"Wow." Libby Ann's voice sounded as awed as he felt.
Slipping a finger underneath the book's cover, Theo opened the diary and, with tears in his eyes, he read out loud.
"Dear Dad...."
About the Author
Tia Dani is the multi-published writing team made up of good friends Christine E. Jones and Beverly Petrone. Together they create endearing and realistic characters, humorous dialogue, and unusual settings. And…best of all…they’re having the time of their lives.
Storytelling has been a passion for Christine since childhood when she regularly enthralled the neighborhood children with make-believe fairy tales and wild adventures.
Always the lover of a good romance, Beverly’s goal is for you to step into the shoes of her heroine, fall head-over-heels in love with her hero, and most of all believe in the magic of love.
Tia Dani happily calls Arizona home where they play in the sunshine and dance in the twilight of the beautiful Sonoran desert. Tia Dani loves to hear from readers and they are always eager to chat about their books or any other subject that might come up.
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