by Bess McBride
She saw rather than heard the train arrive, a tower of black smoke billowing from the engine. Moments later, she watched it leave again but felt nothing, which surprised her. Goodbye, train. She had no desire to run after it. Not unless Nathan was trotting along beside her.
They ended the meal with a cup of coffee, and Amanda savored the taste of the strong coffee which must have been percolated...not dripped.
“Nathan! Amanda! There you are!” a cultured male voice said behind them, some emotion evident in the voice. “Where have you been?”
Chapter Eight
Nathan jumped up, almost knocking over his chair.
“Robert, thank heavens! I thought I’d never see you again! Any of you!” He embraced Robert who responded with an uncharacteristically vigorous hug.
“I thought never to see you again either, Nathan,” Robert Chamberlain whispered near Nathan’s ear. “Where have you been?” he repeated. He patted Nathan’s back and pulled away, dropping his eyes to look at Amanda. He turned to her with a broad smile.
“Amanda!” Robert said. “Ellie will be so pleased to know you are safe. I am pleased to know you are safe. We have been so worried.”
Amanda’s eyes widened, and Nathan recollected himself.
“Robert,” Nathan began. “Amanda does not know us. It’s complicated. Please sit down.” Nathan pulled out a chair, and Robert, a concerned frown on his brow, hesitated before seating himself. He shook his head in confusion and avoided staring at Amanda.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked.
Nathan threw Amanda a reassuring look, and he lowered his voice. “It’s a long story, Robert, but to summarize—when Amanda and I traveled forward in time, we…I must have done something wrong, for I lost her. We found ourselves separated in time. She traveled to a time which preceded our meeting. I found her again only last night at the Spokane train station where I am sorry to say I accosted her, but she did not know me. The Amanda you now see has no memory of any of us or of traveling back in time as she has never done so before now.”
“The Amanda you now see?” Amanda murmured. She nodded. “I told you,” she said cryptically. Nathan knew what she meant and regretted his choice of words.
She offered a tentative hand to Robert who took it.
“Amanda Cartwright. I’m pleased to meet you. I’m sorry if I don’t remember you.”
“How could you,” Robert said with a gentle smile, “if you have never met me before, Miss Cartwright? This is quite an interesting turn of events.”
“Interesting would be one way to describe it,” Nathan said in a wry tone. He tore his eyes from Amanda’s face and looked at Robert. “It is so good to see you, Robert. What brought you here? My telegram? Did the bank staff alert you? I wondered if they would. How is Ellie? The children? My grandfather? Have you seen him?”
The questions erupted from him, and Robert attempted to answer them as they rushed out.
“Yes, the bank manager alerted me last night as I had a notice placed on your account in the event someone...anyone...attempted to withdraw funds. I hoped it would be you, and not some kidnappers. I was able to hop aboard the train this morning.” Robert smiled. “Ellie is well. She was absolutely distraught when you and Miss Cartwright disappeared last year. As were Mrs. Sadler and Mrs. O’Rourke, and Stephen and Rory. Everyone has suffered, especially in the absence of information, but not as much as you have apparently. Your grandfather is well. He took your disappearance very hard, and I have not told him we heard from you. I thought it best you do that.”
Nathan nodded. “Yes, thank you. I think that would be best as well. I do not want to jolt his heart unnecessarily.”
“You look well, Nathan. The twenty-first century seems to have agreed with you.”
“Just so you know...he looks a whole lot better than he did, Robert. I’m not even sure he’ll tell you, but I think he’s been virtually homeless for the past year, or so he told me. He sure looked rough when I met him.” Amanda raised an eyebrow and threw a sideways glance at Nathan. “Well, maybe ‘met’ is not quite the right word.”
Nathan hung his head. Although he could remember his desperation when he saw her even now, he could not forgive himself for his brutal treatment of her. That she would have likely screamed had he approached her in the train compartment mattered not. His behavior had been inexcusable. The twinkle in Amanda’s eye did nothing to ease his guilt.
“Yes, that is not the correct word,” he muttered.
“Well, I would like a cup of coffee and something to eat,” Robert said smoothly, his eyes scanning their faces curiously. He signaled to a waiter. “And then you can tell me everything. I am all ears. Ellie is expecting a telegram from me to tell her I found you both.”
Nathan grinned. The irrepressible Ellie whom Amanda had adored, though she wouldn’t remember that. He had no doubt Ellie would work her magic on Amanda again when they returned to Seattle. If Amanda returned with him, that is. His throat tightened, and he turned to Robert to relay as much of the story as he understood.
Forty-five minutes later, Nathan leaned back in his chair, spent. He had given Robert an audited account of his life in the twenty-first century—he did not want Amanda to know how miserably lost and lonely he had been—and Amanda had told Robert some information about her life over the past year, albeit not in great detail. Robert was a stranger to her, as was he, in fact, and he did not blame her for her reticence. What she didn’t know was that, with the exception of the past year, Robert knew a great deal about her. Amanda had been more open and forthcoming about her life before, perhaps because she felt safe and comfortable under the umbrella of Nathan’s love. And Nathan wished to provide her that security once again. It broke his heart to see her anxiety once more, the same fears she experienced when she originally traveled back in time.
“You have continued your business of staging homes then?” Robert asked.
Amanda nodded. “I never stopped.”
“Yes, of course. I apologize,” Robert said. “Of course, you still continue your work. It is difficult for me to comprehend that you traveled forward in time, yet not as far forward as you had once been. I am a fervent believer in the concept of time travel, but I have always considered it a particularly linear transition. One either moves forward in time or moves back in time, not move forward but to an earlier date than before. I am thankful that Ellie only traveled through time once, to come here. And thankful that Dani Sadler and Annie O’Rourke no longer travel through time.”
“Had I to do it all over again, I wouldn’t risk it. It has cost us both too much,” Nathan said with a sigh.
A lump formed in Amanda’s throat. The grief in Nathan’s voice was unmistakable and it tore at her heart. She couldn’t, however, share the emotion though he had said it had “cost” them both. She didn’t suffer like Nathan did because she couldn’t remember falling in love with him and then losing him. But the thought of never seeing him again now certainly made her anxious, and she pushed it from her mind.
“Perhaps we had better leave,” Nathan said. “We have stayed in the dining room so long, I think they are readying themselves for tea.”
Robert rose. “I need to acquire a room for tonight and book a compartment on the train for tomorrow night. Shall I book three compartments?” He turned to look at them.
Amanda threw a quick look in Nathan’s direction, and he hoped he interpreted it correctly.
“I will book two compartments for Amanda and myself on the train two days from now. I promised her we would take a ride on the sternwheeler that plies the Columbia River. Would you like to join us, Robert, or do you need to return?”
Robert hesitated. “I am leery of letting you both out of my sight, frankly, in case you disappear again, but I must return home. The bank is undergoing some renovations, and I need to see to them.”
Nathan put his hand on Robert’s shoulder. “Two days and then I shall return, I promise.”
Robert nodded. “Ah!
Before I forget.” He withdrew a white envelope from his coat. “Some ready cash and a draft on the bank. I noticed a local bank across the street as I hurried from the train station upon the stationmaster’s directions. You can draw the funds from there.”
Nathan took the envelope and shook Robert’s hand.
“I can’t thank you enough for bringing this to me yourself, Robert.”
Robert smiled broadly. “Nonsense. Ellie would have it no other way. You know she would have come with me, but we do not tempt fate.”
Nathan nodded. “Which is exactly what might have happened. A wise decision. I will see her soon enough.”
“Will you join me here for dinner then?” Robert asked. “Are you staying in the hotel?”
“Oh!” Amanda said, and looked at Nathan. Her expression of dismay reminded him of their earlier commitment.
“No, we are not staying here. The stationmaster directed us to the hotel his wife manages, and we are staying there. As it happens, she has prepared a meal for us, so I think we had better dine there. She has been very kind to us. Please join us for dinner there, Robert. I imagine you might be more comfortable staying here though.”
“Certainly!” he said. “I would be happy to join you. I did not come all this way to sit alone in a hotel room or to sample the local produce.” He grinned and clapped Nathan on the back. “I think I should check into the hotel now and return to the station for my bag and to telegraph Ellie.”
“Give her my love,” Nathan said. “I imagine it would be best to explain the rest of our adventures and complications when you return.”
“I agree,” Robert said, turning to Amanda. “Miss Cartwright.” He bowed formally and took her hand in his. “It is good to see you again. I am so pleased to know you are well.”
Amanda’s cheeks turned rosy. Robert never failed to have that effect on women. Nathan had heard him called handsome, dashing and even debonair by women of his acquaintance. To him, Robert was a childhood schoolmate.
“Oh, please call me Amanda. Thank you, Robert.”
“We shall see you for dinner then, Robert.”
When Robert reached into his jacket to produce his wallet for the bill, Nathan laughed.
“No, let me. After all, you are the one who traveled all this way to bring me the means with which to pay.”
Robert smiled and nodded. “So, I did. Yes, you should cover the bill,” he murmured. “Until later.” He turned and left the dining room.
Nathan opened the envelope, pleased to find plenty of money to settle his accounts in town. He didn’t glance at the bank draft, knowing that Robert would have provided sufficient funds for anything he wished, even were he to buy Amanda a sternwheeler of her own.
He turned to Amanda. “I think I should accompany you back to the hotel so you can rest before dinner. You have had a trying twenty-four hours.”
Amanda shook her head. “Oh no, I’m going with you. I can’t imagine what I’d do in my room.”
Nathan inclined his head and held out his arm. He hid his smile at her response. He hadn’t wished to be parted from her at any rate.
“Very well. We’ll go together.”
They crossed the road and stepped into the National Bank of Wenatchee where Nathan presented his draft. As he had expected, the bank teller called his superior over.
“Mr. Carpenter.” The manager, a tall white-haired gentleman with a matching mustache, nodded a greeting. “Claude Barnes, I am the bank manager here. It’s nice to meet you.”
“A pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Barnes. This is...my wife, Mrs. Amanda Carpenter.”
“Mrs. Carpenter,” Mr. Barnes nodded. He scanned the paperwork and looked up. “Everything appears to be in order, Mr. Simpson.” He nodded to the small bespectacled gentleman before bidding them farewell and returning to his desk.
Mr. Simpson meticulously counted out the money, no doubt a large withdrawal for a small town bank. Nathan had wondered if they would have the funds available. As he had predicted, Robert had been very generous in the amount of the draft.
“Thank you, Mr. Simpson,” Nathan said as he took the cash, stowing half of it in his jacket pocket. He said goodbye to the clerk and maneuvered Amanda away from the counter, stopping just before the exit.
“Here, put this in whatever compartment of your clothing you feel is the most safe.” He handed Amanda the rest of the bills.
“What?” She looked down at the cash in his hand. “No! I’m not taking that. That’s your money.”
“Please, Amanda. Take it just in case you need the money. You might wish to revisit the clothing shop and purchase something else that was forgotten. You must have some funds at your disposal.”
“I don’t need anything else,” Amanda said, lacing her hands behind her back and eyeing the money with suspicion. “You bought me tons of stuff. I’ll probably never be able to wear it all.”
“I insist. You must have some ready cash on hand. What if something happens to me, and Robert has already returned to Seattle?”
She furrowed her brow and shook her head. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”
Nathan quirked a brow. “Remember the train? The past year? It is always possible.”
Amanda bit her lip and met his eyes with her hazel ones. “I’d forgotten already. I can’t imagine what you must have gone through, Nathan, and I don’t think I really understood how hard it must have been for you. Maybe I still don’t. After all, here I am traveling in time and some handsome man wants to hand me a wad of cash to go shopping. How hard is this?”
She opened her hand for the money. Nathan chuckled.
“Thank you for the compliment!” he said with heated cheeks.
She stuffed the bills in the pocket of her skirt. “Okay, got it. I’ll hold it for you. Where to now?”
Nathan looked at the clock on the bank wall.
“We have several hours until dinner. What would you like to do? Would you like to go down to the river and watch the sternwheelers again?”
Amanda nodded, and Nathan opened the door for her, allowing her to precede him onto the sidewalk.
She paused and looked up at him.
“Listen, Nathan, I’ve been thinking. About your grandfather. I really don’t know his health situation, but if he hasn’t heard from you in a year...if he thinks you’re dead, maybe you shouldn’t wait to send him a telegram.”
Nathan studied the troubled look on her face.
“In case something happens to me?”
Amanda shook her head vehemently. “No! Nothing is going to happen! But if it were me, and I loved someone who had disappeared, then I’d want to know right away, if not sooner. I mean, I don’t see how we can go hopping onto a sternwheeler floating down the river when your grandfather probably still grieves for your loss.”
Nathan nodded.
“I agree with you. As soon as I said ‘if something happens to me,’ I realized my grandfather might lose me all over again, even before he knows that I am alive. You are right. I will send him a telegram now.”
“Good,” Amanda said as she slipped her hand under his arm. The intimacy of the gesture reminded him of their courtship. She had often tucked her hand in his arm in such a way, and he had relished those moments of closeness. Maybe all wasn’t lost. Maybe she would be his one day again.
They returned to the train station. Mr. Spivey mentioned that Robert had been there and returned to the hotel, and Nathan took some paper and sat down on a bench to prepare a few words.
“I feel I must be so careful in how I word this telegram. I don’t want to shock him. I’m not quite sure what to say though.” He turned to Amanda, who had taken a seat beside him.
“Hmmm,” she murmured. “That’s a tough one. How do you explain in a few words where you’ve been for the past year? Shanghaied by pirates? Abducted by aliens? Deserted on a tropical island?”
Despite his preoccupation with the telegram, Nathan laughed.
Amanda smiled whimsically
. “I’m not trying to make fun. I just can’t imagine what you’d say in a telegram, especially since you said he doesn’t know about the time travel.”
“He adored you,” Nathan said, feeling the same way himself as he basked under the warmth of her smile. “Especially your sense of humor. He absolutely delighted in it.”
“Oh!” she replied as if nonplussed. “I keep forgetting he knew me.”
Nathan nodded. “Yes, he would have lost you, too. I have concerned myself only with my own reappearance, but even I need to be reminded that he lost both of us the day we left on the train.”
The stricken look in Amanda’s eyes was not what Nathan had intended. He took one of her hands in his.
“Don’t fret, Amanda. It isn’t something that either of us wished upon him. And he has friends. It’s not as if he was left completely alone.”
Amanda nodded. “Well, all kidding aside then, maybe you could tell him that you and I are alive and well, but that we couldn’t find our way back. Tell him that we’ll explain when you return. That will at least give you time to think of something else to say. Maybe the truth.”
“The truth,” Nathan murmured as he jotted down some words. “I can’t remember the last time I spoke the truth for a twenty-four hour period. You and Robert are the only people I have been able to openly confide in for the past year.”
“I’m beginning to know the feeling,” Amanda said. “This whole Mrs. Carpenter thing is making me very nervous.”
Nathan paused. His heart felt as if it had dropped to his stomach. He kept his eyes lowered.
“You find it difficult?”
“Well, I’m not married, never have been, so it sounds weird, but truthfully, I’m trying to figure out how long we’re going to tell people we’re married. I feel like we’re going to get caught up in this lie. People you know will think we got married in the year you’ve been missing.”