The Bride Star

by Piper Davenport

“Victoria?” Sam called again.

  “Sam, go downstairs. Everything’s fine,” she called back.

  Rayne was suddenly feeling a little cloudy again, so she sat in one of the chairs next to the fireplace and dropped her face in her hands.

  “Rayne? Will you try to give us the benefit of the doubt?” Hannah asked. “I know you don’t know us, but I promise we’ll do everything we can to help you figure this out.”

  Rayne frowned. “Where’s my bag?”

  Victoria retrieved it from the freestanding wardrobe and handed it to her. Rayne pulled out her cell phone and scrolled down to Shaye’s number.

  “It won’t work, Rayne,” Victoria said.

  Rayne concentrated on the screen. “Sure it won’t.” She pressed the call button, but nothing happened―the phone simply reverted back to the main screen. Rayne tried again and then shoved the phone back in the bag with a frustrated growl.

  “I’m sorry, Rayne,” Victoria said.

  “You apologize a lot… is that a southern thing?”

  “Sor–” Victoria bit her lip.

  Rayne squeezed her eyes shut. “How did you know to come to the jail?”

  “The man who came to get Sam said shiny black breeches.” Victoria smiled. “I figured all was not as it seemed.”

  Rayne forced back tears of frustration. “How do I get home?”

  Hannah took a deep breath. “You can’t… from here.”

  “What?” Rayne snapped. “You said you’d help me.”

  “We will,” Victoria said. “We’re just not sure how to get you back.”

  “You mean, I’m stuck here?”

  Hannah shook her head. “No. It just might take a few days to sort out.”

  “No, no, no. I can’t be here. I can’t stay here. I have to go home.” Rayne rose to her feet. “I’m in the middle of a sold-out tour!”

  “We’ll figure it out. I promise,” Victoria said.

  “Can I ask a question?” Hannah asked quietly.

  Rayne shrugged. “Knock yourself out.”

  “Did you hire a dancer named Mark Battaglia?”

  Rayne nodded. “Yes. He’s my best dancer. He’s the one I partner with in my shows.”

  Hannah clapped her hands. “I knew he’d make it. We used to dance together on occasion.”

  Rayne refrained from voicing her opinion about the woman’s ill-placed excitement.

  “Sorry.” Hannah set Rayne’s boots in the wardrobe and then closed it.

  Victoria handed her a glass of water. Rayne took it and peered at it.

  “It’s not drugged, I promise.” Victoria smiled again. “Are you hungry at all?”

  “No.” Rayne sighed and took a sip of the water. “I do need to use the restroom though.”

  Victoria nodded toward the chamber pot back sitting on the bed.

  “You were serious?” Rayne gagged. “That means the bowl at the prison was…”

  Victoria frowned. “Yes.”

  “Disgusting!” Rayne hissed.

  “I’m really sorry, Rayne.”

  Rayne chewed the inside of her cheek. “I’m going to be sick.”

  Hannah handed her the clean bowl.

  When Rayne’s stomach calmed, she looked at the women. “What do I do now?”

  “For now, try to relax,” Hannah said.

  “Riiiight.”

  Victoria squeezed her shoulder. “We know it’s a lot to take in, but you’re going to be fine. Hannah and I will do everything we can to help you through this. You’re welcome to stay here, or at my place when it’s finished, for as long as you like.”

  Rayne glanced up at her. “This isn’t your home?”

  “No, it’s mine. Although, Victoria’s southern charm has taken over.” Hannah snorted. “She can’t help herself.”

  “Quincy and I are renovating our home a few blocks from here,” Victoria explained. “It should be done in a week or so. With indoor plumbing, I might add.”

  “Lovely,” Rayne droned.

  Victoria smiled. “Why don’t we leave you alone, so you can change? You really need to rest. If Jared put GHB in your water, you’ll probably be groggy for several hours.”

  “I didn’t think he’d do something like that. I’ve known him for years.” Rayne dropped her head onto the back of the chair.

  Victoria leaned against the mattress. “Would you like to take a bath?”

  “Showers haven’t been invented yet, right?”

  “Unfortunately, no.” Victoria sighed. “But, you’ll get used to baths. They’re kind of nice.”

  Rayne sighed. “I would like to get this make-up off my face.”

  Victoria chuckled. “I think it looks great.”

  “Thanks. It’s theater grade, though, and really heavy.” Rayne scraped her eyelid gently. “Plus, these eyelashes are driving me nuts.”

  “I’ll organize some food,” Hannah offered. “And have a bath sent up.”

  “Thanks,” Victoria said.

  Hannah left the room and Rayne smoothed her hand over her pants. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

  Victoria’s eyebrows puckered. “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing. Just forget I said anything.”

  “Tell me,” Victoria prodded gently. “You can be honest.”

  “In my line of work, people aren’t nice to me for no reason.” Rayne pinched the bridge of her nose. “There’s usually a catch.”

  Victoria cocked her head to the side. “I know a little about people stealing pieces of you, but you’re safe here. There aren’t any expectations.”

  “For now, perhaps.”

  Victoria smiled. “Take advantage of the fact that no one here knows who you are. You can reinvent yourself.”

  “I don’t want to reinvent myself, Victoria. I want to go home.” Rayne stood and began to pace. “I love my life. I love singing. I don’t know how to do anything else. I just want to go home.”

  “Well, perhaps we can find a way for you to go back.”

  A knock at the door brought the housekeeper with a tray of food. Victoria took it from her. “Thanks, Mrs. Putnam.”

  “Mrs. Butler wanted the bath set up in here, is now convenient?” the housekeeper asked.

  “Has Mr. Powell joined my husband downstairs?” Victoria asked.

  Mrs. Putnam nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

  “Good. Yes, please bring the tub now.”

  Mrs. Putnam nodded again, and with a glance of guarded confusion Rayne’s way, left the room.

  “I must look like an alien to her.” Rayne groaned. “Among other things much, much worse.”

  “I have an idea.” Victoria pulled a robe from the wardrobe. “Put this on. I should have had you do that earlier.”

  “Thanks.” Rayne slipped into the warm cotton. “I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone.”

  “Try not to think about it.” Victoria made her way to the door. “It’ll get better.”

  Rayne shrugged. “I suppose it can’t get any worse.”

  “Way to look on the bright side.” Victoria smiled. “I’ll check on the bath.”

  Victoria left the room and Rayne took care of her personal needs with disgust. She washed her hands and picked up a sandwich. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she bit into the soft bread. Grimacing, Rayne thought of how much she’d been doing to get her body ripped down to less than thirteen percent body fat. She worked out several hours a day, especially on tour and never, ever cheated.

  She looked at the soft bread she had just taken a bite out of, remembering her vow to eat nothing white or processed, and absolutely no sugar. She sighed deeply as she took another bite. This was heaven.

  Victoria returned with fresh towels and soap. “How’s the food?”

  “Amazing,” Rayne said.

  “Good.” Victoria laid her burdens on the bed. “The bath’s on its way.”

  Rayne nodded.

  Victoria pursed her lips. “I have a question to ask you.”


  “Of course you can have an autograph.”

  Victoria giggled. “Funny. Um, Sam has asked if you’d like a tour of the city tomorrow.”

  “Sam? The tall hottie with the killer blue eyes?” Rayne grimaced. “I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, you did.” Victoria smiled. “But all of it’s true. He is tall, he is a hottie, and he most definitely has killer blue eyes.”

  Rayne sighed. “I don’t know that I’m interested in a date, Victoria.”

  “Don’t look at it as a date.”

  Rayne snorted. “What am I supposed to look at it as?”

  “Something really unique and surprising.”

  “Oh, really? How come?”

  Victoria leaned against the bureau. “Because Samuel Powell does not date. He’s only ever courted one woman that I’m aware of, and even she wasn’t someone he was particularly into.”

  “Courted is dating, I’m assuming?”

  Victoria nodded. “Yes...more intense than what we deem dating, but similar.”

  Rayne sighed. “I don’t want to date anyone, Victoria. I just want to go home.”

  “And we’ll figure that out. I promise. In the meantime, would it hurt to spend the day with a gorgeous man and explore a city you’ll never see again?”

  Rayne raised an eyebrow at Victoria, but before she could comment, a servant knocked on the door and brought in a copper tub. A few of the male staff worked to fill the tub and then left the girls alone.

  “I wasn’t expecting such a large tub.” Rayne peered inside.

  “I figured you might want to relax a bit. I have some orange essence if you like and a great make-up remover. It’s from the future, so I have to keep it hidden, but I’ll get some for you.”

  Rayne smiled. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

  Victoria left the room and Rayne undressed and climbed into the tub. She sunk down in the warm water with a sigh and let her muscles relax from the stress of the night.

  WALKING BACK DOWN the hall, her arms full, Victoria saw Sam raise his hand to knock on Rayne’s door. “Samuel Powell! Get away from that door,” she hissed.

  He turned with a guilty look on his face. Clasping his hands behind his back, he took a deep breath. “I didn’t get an answer.”

  Victoria scowled. “For a law man, you certainly seem ready to break the rules.”

  Sam dropped his head.

  Victoria shifted the towels in her grip. “Look. She’s indisposed right now, not to mention it’s highly inappropriate for you to be harassing her in her bedroom. What’s your problem? I’ve never seen you act so… so out of character.”

  “You’re right. Forgive me. I’ll just wait here until she’s no longer indisposed.”

  “No, you won’t.” Victoria tried to physically turn him toward the stairs… hard to do with her arms full. “You’ll go downstairs and join the men, or you’ll go home.”

  Sam growled. “Victoria!”

  “Sam!” she mimicked. “Where does my husband think you are, by the way? He can’t possibly have sanctioned you bothering Rayne.”

  “He thinks I’m checking on my horse.”

  “Go!”

  Sam sighed. “Victoria, please.”

  “Leave, Sam! Now.”

  Sam turned as Quincy rushed up the stairs. “Sweetheart? I heard raised voices.”

  Victoria sighed. “I’m fine, Gus.”

  Quincy advanced on Sam. “What the hell is going on?”

  Victoria smirked at Sam and then turned to her husband. “Sam seems to think he has the right to see Rayne alone in her room.”

  “You said you were checking on your horse.” Quincy crossed his arms.

  Sam raised his hands in surrender. “I did check on him.”

  Quincy scowled at him. “Don’t make me hurt you, Sam.”

  Sam turned and made his way downstairs, an angry Quincy on his heels. Victoria knocked and let herself back into Rayne’s room when bid.

  * * *

  “What was all the shouting about?” Rayne asked.

  Victoria sighed. “You have an admirer.”

  “What?”

  “Sam didn’t want to leave without an answer.”

  Rayne frowned. “What?”

  “It’s okay.” Victoria handed Rayne the make-up remover. “Quincy forced him back down the stairs.”

  “Okay.” Rayne took a deep breath and focused on removing her make-up. She washed her face after removing her false eyelashes, all the while her thoughts consumed with Samuel Powell. “Should I go tomorrow?”

  Wrapping the make-up remover tightly in a towel, Victoria shrugged. “Would you like to?”

  Rayne shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t date, to be honest.”

  “Well, you couldn’t get a better man than Samuel Powell, that’s for certain. He’s kind and funny, and if you think you’d like to spend time with him, then yes, I think you should go. I trust him with my life, and I think you could trust him with your heart.”

  “I highly doubt we’ll get that far.” Rayne splashed water over her face.

  “You never know. In our circle, things seem to move quickly.” Rayne frowned, but Victoria chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. “No pressure, Rayne. Seriously. Plus, it’s a chance to see what the city looked like over a hundred years ago. You won’t get an experience like that again.”

  Rayne shrugged. “Well, I guess I’ll go then.”

  “I’ll let him know.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Would you like some privacy?” Victoria asked.

  “You’re fine.” Rayne chuckled. “I’m used to more than one person seeing me almost naked, particularly with changes between sets.”

  Victoria moved quietly around the room, putting things in drawers.

  Rayne slipped under the water and allowed the buoyancy to support her for a few blessed seconds. Pushing her body up, she leaned back against the copper. “Victoria? How did you and Quincy meet?”

  Victoria settled into one of the chairs. “My trip back in time was a little strange. I landed in the middle of a battlefield and Quincy was shot right in front of me.”

  Rayne turned her head in surprise. “No shit?”

  “No shit.” Victoria smiled. “But before he was shot, he threatened to take me to his superior officers.”

  “Why?”

  “He thought I was a confederate spy.”

  “What?” Rayne cocked her head. “Why?”

  “Because of my accent and because it was a battle in Virginia. It took a lot of convincing, and he was a bit of a grumpy Gus, but he redeemed himself and now “Gus” has a whole other connotation.” Victoria sighed. “In the end, I saved his life and made him marry me.”

  A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Victoria cracked the door open and Rayne heard Hannah on the other side. “I have dresses.”

  “Come in,” Rayne called.

  Victoria pulled the door open and Hannah slipped inside with a stack of material. “You and I are about the same size, so these should fit.”

  Rayne raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

  “Are you kidding me? Yes.” Hannah grinned as she laid the gowns on the bed. “I haven’t been able to wear them since I got pregnant. They’re gathering dust in my wardrobe. We’ll probably have to take the hems down a bit, but that’s relatively easy to do. Mrs. Putnam will take care of it.”

  “What about my hair?” Rayne pushed the wet strands away from her forehead. “I don’t have the typical hair for a woman in the eighteen-hundreds.”

  Hannah shrugged. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow. Don’t worry… I’m pretty good with bobby pins.”

  “Will you both promise me something?”

  Victoria nodded. “Of course.”

  “Will you help me figure out how to get home?”

  “We’ll try.” Hannah leaned against the bed. “It’s really complicated, because the facilitator of the portal is in Harrisburg, so I don’t kno
w how that works from here.”

  Rayne sat up. “You do know how to get back, right?”

  Hannah nodded and picked up one of the gowns. “In theory, yes. Madame Desmarais is a renowned seamstress in Harrisburg, and she’s the one who controls everything.”

  Victoria handed Hannah a coat hanger. “What I’m not sure about is whether or not you have to be there with her in order to go back.”

  Hannah shook her head. “I don’t think she does. But we will need to contact her in order to organize it. I can send a wire tomorrow, if you like.”

  Rayne nodded. “Yes. Please.”

  Hannah smiled. “Okay, we’ll leave you to relax. Holler if you need anything.”

  The ladies left her room and Rayne sat back in the tub to consider her options. Not entirely convinced she wasn’t in some kind of dream or drug-induced state, she figured if she approached everything logically, perhaps she could get through this without completely breaking down. She knew she couldn’t confirm whether or not she was in a different time until she could explore during daylight hours… her earlier trip through the mud and to the jail had been somewhat clouded by the drug flowing through her system.

  The fact that Hannah and Victoria knew there was the option to go back and were willing to help her was something that made her feel much better about the entire situation. She was looking forward to a guided excursion of a nineteenth-century town, especially since she’d been on tour for nine months and had yet to take a break. She figured she might as well use her forced vacation to relax and recharge before she went back to her busy life.

  Rayne chuckled to herself. Shaye’s sister, Ava, would be so proud. Rayne was a pessimist and somewhat melancholic, and Ava had nicknamed her Eeyore. Rayne was not good with change, particularly if she didn’t know it was coming, and would often shut herself away from people if she were sideswiped with unexpected stress. Shaye did her best to eliminate the stress on tour and was the soft place to land if Rayne found herself unable to cope.

  Rayne considered Shaye the sister she never had and realized that she may have taken her for granted over the past few years. When she got home, she’d rectify that and make sure Shaye knew just how appreciated she was.

  As she stepped out of the tub and dried herself off, Rayne felt much more at ease about the strange circumstances she found herself in. She’d sit back and let things play out for a couple of days. She put on the nightgown that Victoria had laid out for her and climbed into the bed, allowing herself to fall asleep without worry. The next day would be an adventure, and she was determined to enjoy it.