“I think he’s saying it’s time to find some chow,” Chase said, kneeling down and rubbing her dog’s neck. She quickly removed her hand.
She couldn’t suppress a smile when she heard Chase’s stomach growl. “Are you speaking for the dog, or for yourself?” He stared up at her, and Sarah took an involuntary step back. The smoldering look in his green eyes sent a shiver down her spine. He blinked, and the look was gone. Her skin tingled as if she’d been scorched. She rubbed at her arms, and turned to pick up her horn bow.
“I’ll see what I can find,” she murmured, eager to put some distance between them.
Chase darted after her. “Wait up, I’d like to go with you.” He grinned when Sarah’s eyes widened. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say something. “You’ve done all the work so far. I’d like to help out, he explained.
He pondered his own words. Suddenly it seemed important to impress her. He wanted her to see him as a man capable of taking care of himself. What had she said to him earlier? She thought he acted like a little boy and needed a good switching. Those words stung now, but he knew she was right. Something had happened when he held her in his arms, something he couldn’t explain. A stirring deep within him that he couldn’t quite define. He only knew that Sarah’s impression of him mattered a whole lot all of a sudden.
“You told me you didn’t need to know how to hunt where you come from,” Sarah said, her eyes narrowed. “Are you giving up your search for your time portal? Obviously you haven’t found it.”
“No, I’m not giving up. I just don’t know what it is I’m even looking for. I know I can’t stay here. I’ll have to figure something out.”
She studied him, her head tilted slightly to the side. An overwhelming urge to pull her in his arms and hold her swept over him. He wanted to run his fingers through her hair, watch her eyes shimmer while he…..He clenched his jaw. You’re loosing your mind, Russell. Girls like her are not for the likes of you. Sarah was tough as nails when it came to living in this environment. She hadn’t turned into a hysterical female, even while hanging on for her life earlier, but she was a naive young woman when it came to men. She’s the exact opposite of the type of woman you’re used to, Russell. His type was the good-time, experienced party girl, the kind that didn’t come with strings attached. Compliment them, pretend to listen to their problems, then walk away after a night of fun. Sarah was the forever kind of girl. And he wasn’t staying here forever.
“Chase!”
“Huh?” He startled, unaware she’d even spoken to him.
“I said we can hunt for another whistle dog, but you look tired.” She scrutinized his face.
“No, just something on my mind,” he answered. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Ok, let’s hunt some whistle dogs.”
Sarah led the way to a different spot along the canyon rim. She pointed to an area where a lot of boulders piled on top of each other.
“They live among the rocks, and they’re rather easy to kill.”
Chase scanned in the direction she pointed. Several small furry creatures darted around among the rocks. They were no larger than a cat, with brown fur. To him, they looked like hamsters on growth hormones.
“Let’s see how good you are with that ax,” Sarah whispered. “Move slowly, and pick one. Then you can try and hit it to stun it. You might have to get closer.”
Chase grinned. He could hit one of those things easily from where he stood. They were closer than that tree he’d used for target practice. Watching the creatures for a minute, he singled one out that seemed to be sunning itself on a flat rock. He reached for the tomahawk in his belt, and aimed. A split second later, the furry thing lay splayed on its side. The rest of the group made loud whistling noises and darted into the crevices among the rocks.
Sarah stared at him in silence. Her eyes opened a little wider, and he could swear that her lips curved in a slight smile. She nodded her head in apparent approval.
“Now go get it, and if you haven’t killed it, use your knife and slit the throat.”
Chase picked up the limp pile of fur, reasonably sure that it was dead. He stuck his tomahawk back in his belt, and together he and Sarah headed back to camp.
“You’ll need to skin and clean it, and it’ll be ready to put over the fire.”
He glanced at her. “You’re enjoying this way too much, angel. How about I let you do that part. But I’ll watch and learn.”
She nodded. A slow smile lit up her face, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her. This new awareness of her was going to kill him.
Sarah averted her gaze. She reached out for the fur ball in his hand, and sat a ways away from the fire, pulling out her hunting knife. Quickly and efficiently, she slid the knife down the center of the animal’s underside from neck to tail. She pulled out the insides, which she threw to her eagerly waiting dog.
This was a lot different than dissecting a frog in biology class, but Chase was not about to turn away now. He could tell she was pleased with his newfound skill. In no time, she had the skin pulled off, and the meat skewered and hung over the fire. He observed her every move, determined to do this himself next time.
Next time? What are you thinking, Russell. You need to find a way home pronto.
“So what will you do now? Do you plan to go back down the canyon tomorrow?” Sarah asked, as if reading his thoughts.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t even know what I’m looking for.” He toyed with a stick, darting it at the ground, picking it back up, and repeating his actions.
She peered up at him from across the fire. “You should come back to the valley. Wait for my parents to return. They will know what to do.”
He looked up at her. “Oh yeah? They’ve met other people who’ve come through here in some time portal?”
What the hell was he going to do? He couldn’t sit around here by the canyon, that much was clear. But going back with Sarah to her home? That might not be such a good idea. He was still trying to sort through these crazy feelings she evoked in him. Since coming back out of that canyon, he couldn’t get his mind off her. If she knew what he’d been thinking, she’d probably run for the hills.
“Chase?”
“Sorry. What did you say?” He was turning into an absent-minded fool.
Her eyebrows were drawn together in a frown. She held out a portion of meat to him. “Mah-duh-k.”
“What?”
She smiled. “Eat.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled.
Sarah slowly picked pieces of meat off the bones, offering Grizzly a bite for every one she took. The dog sat patiently at her side, waiting for his share. The sun had nearly disappeared behind the mountains to the west, and the clear night sky revealed countless stars. The crickets chirped their loud nocturnal song. She tried hard not to glance at Chase sitting across from her, but her eyes seemed to have a will of their own.
He sat with his head down, and ate in silence. His mind seemed to be far away. Was he thinking about home? She’d suggested he come back with her to the valley without any forethought. What was she thinking? She had hoped to keep these last few days from her parents’ knowledge, and now she’d suggested he wait for their return.
Her father would know what to do. He’d be able to find Chase’s companions, she was sure of it. But it would be at least another month before her parents returned from rendezvous. And they would not be pleased with her.
I can’t just leave him here, though!
His ability with the ax was definitely a surprise. Given time, would he learn the skills needed to survive in these mountains? Sarah chastised herself mentally. He doesn’t want to be here. He’d already said so many times. He wants to go home.
Chase finished his meat, and threw the bones to the dog. With a loud moan he stretched out on his back on top of his blanket. He crossed his legs at the ankles, and clasped his hands behind his head, staring at the night sky.
Sarah watched him. He was such a strong man. He had man
aged the strenuous journey yesterday without faltering. Today he had climbed into the Yellowstone canyon, then rescued her, and climbed back out. He was a man made for this environment. A warm feeling doused her. She sighed quietly, then her eyes followed his line of vision and gazed up at the stars.
“I never tire of looking at the stars. It’s a beautiful night,” she said softly.
“Yeah, it sure is.”
She peered over at him. He wasn’t looking at the stars. Their eyes met.
Her heart must have skipped a beat, and her mouth went dry. She quickly averted her gaze. Trying to divert his attention, she looked at the sky again.
“See those stars up there?” She pointed straight up. “They form almost a square, and a tail coming off one side? It looks like a pot with a handle. My mother calls it the Big Dipper.”
“Big Dipper.” Chase said simultaneously.
Sarah’s eyes widened, and she stared at him. “How do you know this?” Several times already, Chase had used words and phrases that only her mother would use.
“Isn’t it commonly called the Big Dipper? The Greeks called it Ursa Major, the big bear. But I don’t see a bear in those stars.” Chase propped himself up on his elbows.
“I don’t know,” Sarah shook her head. “Perhaps you are from the same place my mother grew up. She also comes from a big city. She tells different stories than my Tukudeka relatives.”
“You’re part Indian?” Chase looked her way, his eyebrows raised.
Her own eyes narrowed. “Would it matter if I was?” She couldn’t disguise the anger in her tone. Was he one of those white men who despised the Indians?
“No, I was just curious. If you call them your relatives, that implies you’re related.”
“My father was raised by them as one of their own. We consider the Tukudeka our relatives.”
“Okay.” He shrugged. There was no hint of disdain in his voice. Sarah relaxed. She added more wood to the fire.
“So, what kind of stories did your mother tell you?” He rolled to his side, facing her, his head resting in his hand.
Sarah closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the long winter nights when she and her brothers would sit in the cabin, a roaring fire blazing in the hearth. Her mother would entertain them with tales of a magical world. Sarah would snuggle on her papa’s lap, rolled up in a blanket, and they all listened in fascination. Her mother had a wonderful imagination.
She smiled at the memories, then cleared her throat. “Well, she would tell us of a magical place where the sky was filled with giant birds, and people rode inside the bellies of these birds, and flew all around the world in a day. And people could speak to each other, and even see each other, even if they were great distances apart. And men walked on the moon.”
On the other side of the fire, Chase jumped up suddenly. He slid down on the ground on his knees in front of her so quickly, she pulled her knife in surprise. He gave it no notice, and grabbed her by the shoulders.
“Where did you say your mother is from?” His face was inches from hers, his intense stare startling her.
“New….New York,” she stammered. Squirming, she tried to break away from his grip. “You’re hurting me, Chase.” His mouth relaxed, and his eyes softened.
“I’m sorry.” He released his hold on her, but his hands lingered on her arms, his thumbs rubbing the fabric of her shirt up and down her skin. Warmth spread throughout her body, and her skin tingled from his touch. She forced her breathing to remain steady.
Chase sat back on his heels. “How did she end up here in the wilderness?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Sarah shook her head, her eyebrows narrowing. “I think my father just… found her.” Her voice trailed off. She’d never asked or questioned her parents about that. It was just as natural as breathing that her mother and father should be together. How that came about had never been important.
“He just found her here, in the wilderness?” Chase repeated her words.
“Why is this important?”
“Sarah,” his eyes bored holes right through her, “the stories your mother told you, the magical place, it’s real. The things she told you about are real. They exist in my world…in my time.”
Her head shook more vigorously. How could that be true? She laughed. “Those are just children’s stories.”
“No, they’re not, Sarah.” He ran his hand up and down the back of his head. “Are there any other stories? Did she ever mention other magical things? Cars, maybe?”
“No.”
“Okay, maybe she didn’t use that word. What kind of transportation vehicles do you have in this time?” He wasn’t directing the question at her. Sarah had heard him think out loud before.
“I’ve seen horse-drawn buckboards in St Louis,” she offered.
“Okay, has she mentioned stuff like that, only they aren’t pulled by horses? People ride in them, and can go real fast. Anything like that sound familiar?”
Sarah’s stomach dropped. It did sound familiar. Even her father had added to the stories and talked about colorful monsters that moved at incredible speeds on smooth roads. Her eyes met Chase’s stare, her mouth slightly open.
“Your mother is from the future, Sarah. She’s from my time.” He sounded absolutely sure of himself.
She could only shake her head. How could this be true? Her mother knew things that no one else seemed to know. She talked differently, too. Chase used similar words.
“There’s no other explanation how she could know all this stuff. You know it’s true, don’t you.” Chase leaned towards her. “I can see it in your eyes.”
“I……I don’t know,” she whispered softly.
Chapter 11
“I have to talk to your mother, Sarah.” Chase couldn’t believe what Sarah had revealed. She was clueless, but to him it was as obvious as day and night. No one could make up stories as accurate as what Sarah described. If her mother had time traveled, perhaps she knew how it was possible, and it would get him home. But why did she stay in this time? A sinking feeling came over him. What if it was a one-way ticket? Had she been stuck here, too? Without any other recourse, had she married Sarah’s father out of necessity. Chase frowned. As difficult as it was for him to be here, he couldn’t imagine what it must have been like for a modern woman, stranded in the past. Marriage to a man from this time was probably her best option. Chase had to have some answers.
“Can you take me to this rendezvous place?”
Sarah’s eyes widened. “No, that’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because I am not allowed to travel there on my own.”
Chase frowned. “I’m going with you. You wouldn’t be alone.”
“The way leads straight through Blackfoot country. Any white man, especially one traveling alone, will put his life in danger. The Blackfoot are a hostile tribe.”
He shook his head, his eyebrows drawing together. He didn’t get it. “But your parents are white,” he argued.
Sarah laughed. “My father trades with them as well as all other tribes in this region. My mother is a skilled healer. If anything happens to them, the wrath of many other nations will descend on the Blackfoot, and they know it. They would not harm my parents.”
Chase sat on the hard ground, the chill of the earth seeping up into his body. The fire crackled loudly. Sarah’s features danced in the shadows, illuminated by the flames. He held his head between his hands.
One month.
Somehow he had to convince Sarah to take him to her parents sooner. He didn’t want to be here that long. He needed some answers now. He glanced at her. She sat quietly, stroking her dog’s neck. Her fingers moved slowly through the mutt’s fur. Chase pictured her hand in his hair, stroking him . . . Irrational jealousy swept over him. You’re insane, Russell. Jealous of a dog?
These feelings for her confused, and scared, the hell out of him. All the more reason he needed to get home.
“Alright.
I’ll go back to Madison with you,” he blurted out. “I hope your mother can give me some answers.”
Her blue eyes stared at him from a few feet away. She nodded slightly. “Then you’d better get some sleep,” she said softly. “The trip back is not any easier.”
“We can take our time. I’m not in a rush now.” He got up and moved to his blanket on the opposite side of the fire. For a long time, he gazed at the Big Dipper.
*****
An animal howled in the distance, the ominous sound reverberating through the trees. Chase woke with a start. His breath created whitish swirly patterns above him each time he exhaled. The gray sky held no hint of sunshine in the early dawn. With a groan, he rolled onto his side. His back ached from lying on the hard ground. The campfire crackled loudly, and the flames eagerly consumed the wood that looked like it had been freshly added. The flames were just beginning to envelop all the branches. He raised his head. Sarah’s blanket was empty. Did this girl ever sleep?
He sat up and rubbed at his stiff neck. Reluctantly, he pushed himself off the ground. How many nights had he been here in the past now? Yesterday he’d hoped to be home again. Today he would return with Sarah to her home. Memories of the day before came back to him. The way she’d trembled in his arms, and the tears in her eyes. Her vulnerability had stirred something in him unlike anything he could remember. Would it really be so bad to spend some time with her?
No, Russell. You can’t get involved with her. She’s not that kind of girl.
He had to figure out a way to get to this rendezvous place, and find her mother. She had to know how to get back to his own time. But what if she didn’t? What if she’d come here the same way he had? It was unthinkable for him to remain here.
“Okay. Just take it one day at a time,” he said out loud. He looked around between the trees. He had no intention of walking up on Sarah again the way he’d done yesterday.
“Sarah,” he called. His voice traveled through the trees. A few birds chirped in the canopies of the lodgepoles, announcing the new day. Sarah’s dog barked in the distance. He called her name again, and followed the barking. Pushing through the trees, his eyebrows raised in surprise. Sarah was perched precariously on one of the lower branches of a pine tree, a stick in her hand, swinging it at some of the higher branches above her head. What was she doing? Chase laughed.
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