Heart Healer

by Leslie Bowes

  “It does not matter. Christopher and Ryan are gone, and it’s all my fault!” she said, hardly able to speak through her grief.

  “No, Catherine! Blake lied to you. Christopher and Ryan are alive. They didn’t die like he led you to believe.”

  Catherine couldn’t hold back her tears of relief. So many emotions were running through her now. She was overjoyed that Christopher and Ryan were alive but the contempt she felt for Blake heightened to another level.

  “Are Christopher and Ryan really, all, right?” she asked.

  “Christopher is in a coma. He took some severe blows to the head and Blake shot him. Ryan is doing as well as can be expected. He is staying with Emma and Tyler but he is confused and upset.”

  “Oh, no!” Catherine exclaimed.

  “I promise you, Catherine, you will escape this place and I will always be watching over you and James.”

  With a flash of light, she was gone, and Catherine fell asleep dreaming of Christopher and planning her escape.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Christopher

  Christopher felt as though he was wearing a thousand-pound chain around his ankle that was pulling him farther and farther into the sea. He was drowning in the black waters when a huge wave crashed into him pushing him onto land. He took in a deep breath and then he heard the sweetest voice in the world.

  “Christopher.”

  He looked up and saw Catherine kneeling in front of him. She brushed his cheek with her fingers.

  “Catherine,” he whispered. His heart ached as though he hadn’t seen her in years. Their faces drew near to each other. He kissed her lips once and then twice before finally meeting them for good. He gently laid her down in the sand, burying his fingers in her hair. They made slow and passionate love to each other. Afterward, Catherine curled beneath his arm, lightly brushing his chest with her fingers.

  “I just want to stay here with you forever,” Christopher whispered with tears in his eyes.

  With tears in her eyes, Catherine quickly unclasped the chain on her locket and gave it to Christopher.

  “This locket will keep us connected when we are so far apart!”

  He pressed his lips to her and they kissed passionately.

  “I love you, Catherine,” he whispered.

  She reached for his fingers before kissing them one by one.

  “I love you too, Christopher. Please come back to me,” she whispered before she got up and began to walk away. Christopher wanted to go after her but he felt as if he were frozen where he was.

  “Catherine!” he called out. She turned around for a moment before a bright light swirled around her blinding Christopher.

  ****

  When the light cleared, Christopher found himself not on an island but in the hospital and a woman who looked like Catherine was standing at the foot of the bed.

  He tried to speak but tubes going down his throat prevented him from speaking. He started to become afraid.

  “There is no need to be afraid, Christopher,” the women said kindly. “I am Elizabeth, Catherine’s mother. Do you remember what happened?”

  The image of that night came flashing back to Christopher and his heart began to race.

  “It is all right, Christopher. Catherine is alive but Blake has taken her back into their time. Time is running out. You must get to her before it is too late! You will find the portal in the river at the place where you saved Catherine,” Elizabeth said before she disappeared as the doctor and nurse came rushing in.

  ****

  Emma and Tyler stepped off the elevator of the fourth floor in the hospital. They immediately saw Dr. Kennedy coming out of Christopher’s room. He was looking tired and frustrated.

  “Dr. Kennedy, what’s going on?” Emma asked when she approached him.

  “Christopher is awake, but he is determined to check himself out. I strongly advised him against it, but he is determined to do so.”

  Emma and Tyler rushed into Christopher’s room just as Christopher was getting the last of his things.

  “Christopher, what are you thinking? This is insane. You are not completely recovered from your injuries,” Tyler said trying, to stop Christopher from leaving the room.

  “I have to get to Catherine.”

  “Christopher, it’s too dangerous. You could relapse back into a coma and never wake up,” Emma said.

  “How long have I been in a coma?” Christopher asked.

  “Two months,” Emma answered.

  Christopher felt his heart in his throat. He now knew what Elizabeth meant that time was running out. God only knew what unspeakable things Blake had done to Catherine. Christopher started toward the door but Tyler stood in his way.

  “Get out of my way, Tyler!”

  “No.”

  “Blake has Catherine, and I need to get to her before it’s too late!” he cried.

  “We know and we have every cop in town looking for them.”

  “No! You don’t understand. He took her back to their time—the late 1800s—and if I don’t get to her now it’s going to be too late!” he said in desperation.

  “That’s what Ryan must have meant about a crazy man in strange clothes. Blake must have been wearing clothes from his time period.”

  “Please, Tyler, I can’t lose her!” he begged.

  “All right,” Tyler said, stepping aside.

  “I am going with you, Christopher. You might need a doctor,” Emma said.

  “If you are going, Emma, then I am too.”

  “I can take care of myself, Tyler.”

  “Believe me, I know that, but there’s no way I am going to let you two go off after this crazy whacko without me.”

  They quickly left the hospital before anyone could stop them.

  ****

  When they arrived at his house, Christopher jumped out of the car and raced down the path to the river. He didn’t stop until he reached the place where he had pulled Catherine from the river. Christopher jumped into the river with Emma and Tyler right behind him.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Catherine, Christopher, and Blake

  Catherine breathed through another contraction, clinging to her engagement ring that Christopher had given her. She had kept it hidden in the deep pocket of her gown and thankfully Blake had not discovered it.

  “Your daddy will find us soon, and then he will take us back home,” Catherine whispered to her unborn child trying to reassure herself.

  She felt another contraction coming and this time she yelled out in pain. She heard movement outside of her door. She heard the key turn and then the door opened. She prayed it was not Blake but then Blake opened the door.

  “Damn it, Rose! Why didn’t you alert me that our child was being born?”

  “I am not Rose, and you stay away from me! This is not your baby!” she yelled.

  ****

  Meanwhile, Christopher, Emma and Tyler surfaced from the river. Christopher kept saying Catherine’s name over and over again, praying that she was unharmed. He climbed up to the riverbank. He could see a large plantation house. Christopher hoped that was where he would find Catherine. When he saw Confederate soldiers guarding the house, he hid behind a large oak tree before one of them could spot him. He waited until one walked close to him and then he jumped him.

  ****

  Inside the house, Blake was shaking with rage.

  “Do not defy me, Rose, and make me punish you while you are in labor!” Blake yelled.

  Just then, there was a commotion outside and Blake heard his name called. He quickly left the room and a moment later Jessica, Catherine’s servant came into the room.

  “Don’t you worry, Mrs. Von-Clyer. Women have been having babies since the beginning of time.”

  Catherine felt scared and hopeless, because she knew that her daughter was coming at any moment and she couldn’t stop it. She didn’t want to think of what would happen after her child was born.

  ****

&n
bsp; Blake stormed into his bedroom and snatched his gun from the cabinet. He stormed downstairs just as Christopher threw open the front door. Blake stopped in his tracks. He was shocked to see Christopher standing in his home! Seeing the gun in Christopher’s hand brought him back to focus. He pointed his gun at Christopher.

  “I thought I took care of you,” Blake said.

  “Apparently not,” Christopher replied.

  “Well, what a shame that Rose cannot be here to see me kill her lover, but she is busy right now.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about, Blake. I have come for Catherine. You will let her go.”

  Blake looked at Christopher, then h glanced up the stairs.

  “Catherine! Catherine! She is not Catherine! She is my Rose!” Blake yelled.

  “Blake, I am not asking. I’m telling you to let Catherine go!”

  Blake laughed and then with a crazed look in his eye, he fired his gun at Christopher. A second later, Blake felt a sharp pain in his chest. In shock, he went to fire his gun again, but he felt dizzy and blackness clouded his vision.

  “No!” Blake gasped. “You have not defeated me! I will have my revenge!”

  Blake fell forward onto the floor.

  ****

  Christopher’s hands were shaking as he dropped the gun to the floor. He couldn’t believe that he had just taken someone’s life. He heard someone scream upstairs.

  Catherine…

  He ran upstairs calling out to her. Christopher rounded a corner.

  “Catherine!” he called out again.

  “Christopher!” he heard her scream.

  Christopher raced down the hallway as two soldiers came toward him.

  “Gentlemen,” he said before he suckers-punched them and they both went down to the floor.

  Christopher took the key from one of the unconscious guards. He unlocked the door before he turned the knob and went in. Time stopped as their gazes locked immediately. Christopher took her in his arms as though she was the only water that would quench his thirst. Catherine was sobbing uncontrollably. She wrapped Christopher in her arms, neither wanting to let the other go.

  But he wanted to look at her. He needed to see her face. He pulled back slightly and he saw that her face was covered with cuts and bruises. She was paler then usual and she was smaller than she had been before. Christopher knew that she was malnourished. But her eyes showed the most change. They held the horrible history of what had transpired over the last two months. Christopher wouldn’t let himself think about that now. He was just so grateful to finally be holding her again.

  As he shed his own tears of relief, he bent down and kissed every inch of her face—her cheeks, eyelids, and the corners of her lips. When he felt Catherine’s hand on his back he cried even harder. He wasn’t dreaming. Catherine was in his arms.

  “I love you, Catherine!” he whispered against her lips.

  “I love you too, Christopher!” she whispered back. But suddenly she screamed out in pain.

  “Catherine, what’s wrong?” Christopher asked worried.

  “Our baby! She’s coming.”

  “Emma!” Christopher called out to his friend. Emma and Tyler had just walked up from the river and entered the house.

  ****

  Catherine’s mind was in a state of confusion. She kept drifting in between the past and the present. She was aware that Christopher was holding her hand as she breathed through another contraction. Emma rushed in but Jessica stood in her way.

  “Excuse me, but I need to get in here,” Emma said in a no-nonsense tone of voice.

  “I was told by Master Blake to deliver Mrs. Von-Clyer’s baby. He will whip me if I don’t obey him, and I have three children to think about,” Jessica said, terrified.

  “Blake can’t hurt anyone ever again.” Christopher said. “He’s dead.”

  Catherine shook her head not wanting to know what happened. Blake Von-Clyer was dead, and in her mind, that was all that mattered.

  “What’s your name?” Emma asked quickly as Catherine felt another contraction coming on.

  “Jessica.”

  “Jessica, I’m a doctor and I promise Catherine is in good hands.”

  Jessica nodded her head and stepped aside.

  Emma examined Catherine and then turned toward Christopher.

  “This baby will be here soon,” she said.

  “Please, Emma! I can’t have my baby here!”

  “No, you can’t and you won’t. We all need to get out of here, now,” Christopher said.

  “We can’t leave without James!” Catherine cried.

  “Who is James?” Tyler asked.

  “James is Miss Catherine’s brother.” Jessica answered. “I will go get him.”

  “Jessica. Wait one minute. Would you like to come with us? Would you like to go to freedom?” Christopher asked.

  “What do you mean?” Jessica asked eyes wide.

  “Where we come from, there is no slavery,” Christopher answered.

  “Yes, sir, I would, but I can’t leave my children behind,” she replied.

  “You won’t have to. Take Tyler with you and get James and then quickly get your children and meet us at the river. Hurry!”

  Christopher turned back to Emma and Catherine. Catherine was having another strong contraction. She reached her hand out for Christopher.

  “Catherine, I need you to put your arms around me and hold on tightly. We have to get to the river now before it is too late.” Christopher said.

  Catherine nodded through her pain as Christopher scooped her up and held her.

  “Christopher, this baby could come at any moment! She can’t swim under the river! How are we supposed to get her home?” Emma asked worriedly.

  “By the grace of God!” Christopher answered. “Now come on!”

  They made their way out of the house, down the path and then they reached the river. Tyler, James, Jessica and her three children were waiting there.

  “Good. You all made it. Can you and your children swim, Jessica?” Christopher asked.

  “Yes, sir we can!” she replied.

  “James. Can you swim?”

  “Yes, I can swim,” James replied quietly.

  “All right. Good. Now we must get out here!” Christopher said urgently. “Emma and Jessica hold hands with the children. Tyler, I need you to help me hold Catherine.”

  “Right!” Tyler came over beside them.

  They all waded into the river. Suddenly Catherine screamed out in pain.

  “The baby is coming now!” she cried.

  “No! The baby will not be born here! I have to get you both back! Christopher yelled. “When I count to three, everyone holds their breath and start kicking until you reach the shore. Catherine, Tyler and I will hold on to your arms. Just hold your breath! We’ll be home soon!”

  “Christopher, I love you so much,” Catherine cried through her pain.

  “I love you too. It’s going to be all right. Trust me!” Christopher replied.

  “One, two, Three!”

  And they all disappeared into the river

  Epilogue

  Two years later

  Catherine

  Catherine ran around the yard, chasing Ryan and Caroline while James was on the porch listening to his iPod. She could not believe that it had been two years since that night when they had all jumped into the river to escape from her past and come home to her future. She remembered everything that had happened up to the moment when everyone jumped into the river. Then everything went black. She woke up in the hospital in 2015. The trauma she had suffered at the hands of Blake and then giving birth to Caroline had taken its toll on her. She was physically weak and emotionally scarred. All through her recovery, Christopher never left her side. Now, after everything she had been through, she finally began to feel at safe and at peace and she could thank Christopher for that.

  A month after Caroline was born, Catherine and Christopher were married. It was a s
mall, beautiful, private ceremony at the Sheldon Baptist Church. Ryan was the ring bearer, Caroline was the flower girl and James was the junior best man. She and Christopher honeymooned in Savannah, Georgia. On their first morning as husband and wife, Catherine lay in Christopher’s arms feeling warm and safe as they watched the sun come up.

  Christopher and Catherine soon settled into domestic bliss. Caroline was a healthy, beautiful child who walked and talked early keeping them on their toes.

  Ryan, like Catherine, was traumatized by what he had witnessed but time does heal all wounds. With lots of love and patience and the help of a wonderful therapist, he began to speak again and his nightmares ceased.

  James was doing remarkably well. It hadn’t taken him long to adapt to modern times. His memories of being in the 1800s and time traveling had faded. It was as though he had always belonged here with Christopher and Catherine. She and James could truly feel safe now knowing that both Blake and their father were no longer threats. Catherine had learned that her father had been killed during a card game in England. She and Christopher were telling people that James had come to live with them after his parents were killed in a car accident.

  Jessica and her children also gradually adjusted to living in modern times. They had been staying with Christopher and Catherine for the past two years. Jessica graduated from nursing school and was now working at the local hospital. She was very excited when she was able to buy her own house for her family.

  Catherine’s thoughts came back to the present moment when Christopher pulled into the driveway. His furniture business was booming. Stores in Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina carried his furniture, and they couldn’t keep enough of it in stock.

  Catherine felt her heart leap as Christopher got out of his truck. They were so in love but they were also best friends. Ryan ran up to Christopher with Caroline right behind him. She tried so hard to keep up with her big brother. Christopher hugged them both then walked up to Catherine and kissed her softly.