The Bride Star

by Piper Davenport

  * * *

  Rayne, able to keep a positive outlook for less than a week, was convinced she was losing her mind. She was now certain she was in fact in a different time, the proof irrefutable, but that didn’t make her feel any better… or make her want to stay.

  Christopher had sent the wire as promised… or so he said… but as each day passed without an answer, Rayne’s worry and irritation grew exponentially. Hannah assured her that she would be able to go home, it just might take some time.

  Sam visited every day and his visits were something Rayne looked forward to. He never did anything forward and always treated her with the highest level of respect, which both irked her and endeared him to her.

  This morning she paced the parlor, having gulped down breakfast and dressed faster than any quick-change between shows, with the anticipation of seeing Sam for a ride. She refused to admit she was forming an affection for him, but her heart raced and her palms sweated, and when a knock at the parlor door had the housekeeper announcing he had arrived, Rayne nearly jumped up and down with excitement.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Putnam. Send him in.”

  He strolled in the room, a wide grin on his lips. He lifted her hand and gently kissed her fingers. “Good morning.”

  She smiled up at him. “Good morning.”

  “Are you ready?”

  Rayne nodded.

  “I thought we’d go for a drive to my favorite refuge and have a picnic.” He released her hand. “Is that acceptable?”

  Rayne narrowed her eyes. “Isn’t it too cold for a picnic?”

  He leaned down and grinned. “I brought blankets.”

  She felt heat creep up her neck. He did that to her with just a look and she was confused by her reaction. “Sure.”

  “Excellent.”

  Sam escorted her to his buggy and she found warm bricks for her to place her feet on, plus a heavy fur to cover her legs. She refrained from commenting on her animal-rights opinions, knowing that at this time in history there wasn’t the option of synthetic fibers as an alternative.

  They arrived at what looked like a small park and Sam lifted her down then reached inside the buggy and pulled out a basket and blankets. Grabbing his heavy coat from the back, he guided her to a secluded area where he laid out the blankets.

  Rayne sat as elegantly as she could and then waited for Sam to sit next to her. He opened the basket and pulled out a wool-covered canteen, tin cups, sandwiches, bread, and assorted cheeses. She raised an eyebrow. “How hungry did you think I’d be?”

  “I wanted to be certain we had an assortment.”

  Rayne chuckled. “Well, you certainly achieved that.”

  “Hot chocolate?”

  Rayne nodded. “Yes, please.”

  He poured her a cup and then began to slice the bread and the cheese.

  “This was really thoughtful, Sam. Thank you.”

  “My pleasure.”

  They ate in relative silence, although it was comfortable. Sam cleared his throat and set his cup on the ground. “Will you be going to Harrisburg with everyone for Thanksgiving?”

  Rayne raised an eyebrow. “Who is everyone?”

  “The Butlers, the Simmonds, and the Maddens.”

  “Who are the Simmonds and the Maddens?”

  Sam smiled. “Andrew and Gwendolyn Simmonds. Gwen is Christopher and Quincy’s sister. Clayton Madden works with Christopher and his wife is Emma.”

  “Oh. Um, I don’t think so.” Rayne stared off into the distance. “I hope to be home by then.”

  “Home? I thought perhaps you might stay for a little while.”

  She tried to make her smile genuine as she glanced toward him. “No, my plan is to leave as quickly as possible.”

  He went back to his food—briefly. “Where is home?”

  Rayne sipped her chocolate. “Originally or currently?”

  “Both.”

  Rayne hesitated before answering. “Originally, California. I moved to Seattle when I was seventeen, and that’s where I’ve been since.”

  “Where is Seattle?”

  “Washington State…” She stalled, realizing he may not know where that is. “It’s on the West Coast.”

  Sam studied his cup. “You were married?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  “Did you move with your husband at seventeen, or your family?”

  “Married at seventeen?” Rayne let out a snort. “That’s absurd.”

  “Well then, with your family?”

  She shook her head. “I moved alone.”

  “I don’t understand.” Confusion played over his face. “How is that possible?”

  Quickly realizing she may have said too much, Rayne backtracked in an effort to divert his attention. “Um, you know, I feel really uncomfortable talking about that time in my life. Could we talk of something else, please?”

  Sam stared at her for a few very tense seconds before he gave a quick nod. “Of course.”

  Rayne could tell he wanted to ask more and noticed his effort to censor himself. Her agitation grew as the minutes ticked by. She needed to get home. She couldn’t be stuck in this century. “On second thought, would you mind taking me back to Victoria’s, please?”

  “Is everything all right?”

  Rayne nodded. “I’m just very tired.”

  Sam didn’t say anything as he put the food back into the basket and then stood and assisted her to her feet. They walked back to the buggy and continued in silence to the townhouse.

  True to form, Rayne began to obsess. Having to explain about her life would most certainly alienate her from polite society in this century. By the time they arrived, she was nearly in tears. She jumped out of the buggy and ran up the walkway.

  “Rayne!” Sam called.

  Rayne flew through the front door and nearly ran into Victoria.

  “Rayne?”

  Rayne rushed up the stairs.

  * * *

  Victoria turned when Sam stepped through the door. “Sam? What’s going on?”

  “I have no idea, but I’m going to find out.” He started for the stairs.

  Victoria grabbed his arm. “No, you’re not, buddy. I will find out what’s wrong.”

  Ascending the stairs quickly, Victoria knocked on Rayne’s door and opened it before she was bid. She found Rayne sobbing on the bed. “Rayne? What’s the matter?”

  “I want to go home, Victoria. Please. I need to go home.”

  “Did Sam do something?”

  “No, he didn’t,” she grumbled.

  “You can tell me if he did.”

  “He didn’t.” Rayne punched the mattress. “He was perfect. As usual.”

  Victoria sat down on the bed next to her. “Okay. So what happened?”

  “Nothing. Nothing happened.”

  “Did you want something to happen?” Victoria prodded.

  “No! Maybe. I don’t know! All I know for sure is that I want to go home.”

  “Rayne. Look at me.”

  “Why?”

  Victoria chuckled. “Because I have something important to say.”

  Rayne groaned as she turned to face her.

  “It has been a week without word from Madame. We don’t even know if she’s here… in this century. What would happen if you couldn’t go home for a while? Would it be the worst thing in the world?”

  “I’m in the middle of an international tour!” Rayne snapped as she quickly sat up. “I can’t stay here, Victoria! I need to go home.”

  Victoria smoothed her hand over the comforter. “What if Sam would like to court you?”

  Rayne held her palm up. “No way. Not gonna happen in a million years.”

  “Why not? I think he really likes you.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” Rayne shook her head hard enough to dislodge her hat from her head. “When he finds out I’m not from this time, he’ll run for the hills.”

  Victoria slid off the bed, picking the hat up from where i
t landed and laying it on the bureau. “I think you’re wrong. He’s really open-minded. Look at who his best friend is, for Pete’s sake.”

  Rayne sighed. “Who’s his best friend?”

  “He’s Native American. Laughing Crow.”

  “Oh.” Rayne shrugged. “Still, having a time-traveling girlfriend’s a lot different, don’t you think?”

  Victoria shook her head. “Right, well then by all means, let’s put words in Sam’s mouth, shall we? We’ll assume he’ll freak out and run. Maybe he’ll put you in stocks in the town square and write ‘Crazy Time-Traveling Lady’ on the cross beam.” Rayne snorted and opened her mouth to retort, but Victoria grabbed her hand and squeezed. “Let me finish!”

  Rayne crossed her arms. “Sorry.”

  Victoria dropped her hand. “Okay, if Sam wants to court you—I highly doubt it would matter to him where or when you’re from—but if it did, then good riddance.”

  Rayne frowned. “Easy for you to say.”

  “Do you do this at home?” Victoria asked exasperated.

  “What?”

  “Decide what everyone is thinking and assume you have all the answers?”

  Rayne shrugged. “Usually I’m looked to for all the answers.”

  Victoria giggled. “Does anyone ever say no to you?”

  “Just Shaye,” she admitted, running her hands through her hair.

  “Poor Shaye.”

  Rayne smirked. “Yes, poor Shaye.”

  Victoria smiled. “Okay. Let’s cross one bridge at a time. I have no idea where to go from here with the whole finding a way home thing, but I promise I’ll continue to try to help you. I will send a wire to Sophie…”

  “Who’s Sophie?”

  Victoria sighed. “She and her husband, Jamie, live in Harrisburg. They’re from the future as well. She’ll be able to find Madame and then let us know what the deal is.”

  Rayne nodded. “Can you figure out how to keep Sam away?”

  “Nope. You’re on your own with that one.”

  “What? Why?”

  Victoria groaned. “Because I have a feeling you might be up a creek with him.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  Before Victoria could answer, the door opened. “May I speak to Rayne?”

  Victoria growled. “I’m about to open a can on you, Samuel Powell.”

  He frowned. “I have no idea what that means, but I’d like to speak with Rayne.”

  Standing, Victoria made her way to him and pushed at his shoulders. “You can’t just walk into a lady’s room like that! Go downstairs and she’ll receive you in the parlor. With the door open.”

  “I don’t want to receive him in the parlor,” Rayne interjected.

  Sam frowned. “You don’t?”

  “No, I don’t.” She straightened her shoulders. “I think you should leave, Mr. Powell.”

  “I’m not leaving.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.

  Rayne groaned. “Sam, I’ll be going home soon, so there’s really no point in us conversing further.”

  “I disagree, so it’s either here or in the parlor, but I’m not leaving until we speak.”

  Victoria once again moved to force him out the door. “Parlor, Sam. Now.”

  He left the room and Victoria closed the door. “Talk to him, Rayne.”

  Rayne shook her head. “And tell him what, exactly?”

  “Whatever you feel comfortable telling him.”

  Rayne threw her arms in the air. “Which is nothing.”

  “Then tell him that.”

  Rayne huffed.

  Victoria shook her head. “Okay, Rayne. Your choice. I’ll leave you to decide what you want to do.”

  * * *

  Victoria left the room and closed the door. Rayne knew Sam wouldn’t leave until they spoke, so she climbed off the bed and made her way down to the parlor. She found him standing by the window. His back was to her and he appeared to be lost in thought. Even from behind he was a stunning man. She cleared her throat and forced out, “Sam.”

  Turning quickly, he strode to stand in front of her and clasped his hands behind his back. “Did I do or say something to offend?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Then why were you so upset? Are you afraid of Lyle Spears?”

  Rayne shook her head. “No. It’s more complicated than Scarface.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Rayne bit her lip. “Never mind.”

  He frowned. “Does that mean you won’t tell me?”

  “There are things about me you wouldn’t understand.”

  Sam laid his hands on her shoulders. “Will you not give me the opportunity to try?”

  Shrugging out of his grip, Rayne stepped over to the fireplace and made a point of warming her hands. “I’m going home, Sam. What would be the point?”

  Sam slipped his hands into his pockets. “Perhaps the fact that we’ve spent a week together and I enjoy your company.”

  “A week is a really long time,” she said sarcastically.

  “Long enough to know that I want to spend more time with you.”

  Rayne shrugged. “Well, I’m going home.”

  “Where’s home, Rayne?”

  She studied her fingernails. “I told you already.”

  Sam crossed his arms. “Somehow, I wonder if that was the whole story.”

  She focused on the fire again. “I can’t tell you the whole story.”

  “If I’m to court you, Rayne, you should know you can trust me.”

  “Court me?” Turning so quickly her skirts swung around her legs like a bell, she jabbed a finger at him. “Are you insane? We haven’t known each other very long.”

  Sam shrugged. “Long enough.”

  “Long enough?” Rayne snorted. “Seriously? How could you possibly expect me to tell you everything about my life?”

  Sam stepped closer to her. “You can trust me with anything. I would never betray your trust.”

  “It takes a hell of a lot longer for me to arrive at that conclusion about people.”

  Sam reached out to touch her, but she deflected him.

  “Then give me the time to prove it to you, Rayne.”

  “I can’t give you time.” She felt the prick of tears and turned away from him. “I need to try and find my way home.”

  “Would there be a reason why you couldn’t go home?”

  Rayne fisted her hands at her side. “Sam, I can’t explain any of this to you right now.”

  “So you’ve said.”

  “Stop!” she snapped and headed for the window. “You’re driving me crazy with this!”

  He took an audible breath. “Could we compromise?”

  Rayne shrugged. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I’d like to spend time with you, at least until you leave.”

  She glared at him over her shoulder. “We have spent time together.”

  He leaned against the back of one of the sofas. “Well, I’d like to spend more time together.”

  She shook her head. “Why? You don’t even know me.”

  “I would like to get to know you.”

  Crossing her arms, she turned to face him. “Why would you think that’s a good idea?”

  Sam rolled his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I think it’s a good idea?”

  Rayne stomped her foot in frustration. “Because I’m going home.”

  Sam closed the distance between them. “What if you don’t?”

  “I’m going home, Sam. You can bet on it.”

  “Be that as it may,” he said slowly, “I would like to spend time with you until you leave.”

  “You’ve said that… you sound like a broken record right now.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  Rayne shook her head. “Never mind. Just tell me why.”

  “It’s possible that you may be the most vexing woman alive,” he said somewhat under his breath.

  She waved a hand in the air. “A per
fect reason for you to cut your losses, buddy.”

  He grabbed her hand and gently kissed her palm. Her stage fright resurfaced—with a vengeance. His eyes sparkled almost as bright as the lights in a stadium. “Spend time with me, Rayne.”

  She smiled. She couldn’t help herself. “You won’t give up, will you?”

  Sam shook his head. “No, I won’t. It’s not in my nature.”

  “All right, we can spend time together.” She tried to pull her hand away but he wouldn’t let her. “But I am going home, Sam.”

  “Would you like me to help you find your way home?”

  “No, thank you.”

  His eyes widened. “Why not?”

  Rayne sighed. “Because that would create a new set of questions that I’m not sure I can answer right now.”

  He stared at her for a few tense seconds and then sighed. “Fair enough. We’ll spend time together until you leave.” Glancing at him, Rayne knew she didn’t have a choice… didn’t really want one, either. He wore the crooked smile that she was becoming somewhat fond of, and his eyes glinted as he raised her hand to his lips again. “Since our picnic was cut short, would you like to go for a walk?”

  She shook her head. “I actually have plans with Victoria.”

  “Oh? Would you like company?”

  Rayne shook her head. “No, I think we’ll be fine.”

  Just as she pulled away from him, Victoria knocked on the open door. “Hi, everything all right?”

  “Yes.” Rayne smiled. “Are you still up for our engagement?”

  Victoria nodded. “Yes, if you are. Hannah has a change of clothes for you. Will we see you later, Sam?”

  Sam nodded. “Yes. Crow and I will both be here for dinner.”

  “Excellent.” Victoria smiled. “Rayne, I’ll see you upstairs in a few minutes.”

  “Okay.” Distracted by Sam’s thumb stroking the center of her palm, Rayne closed her eyes briefly before trying to pull her hand away from him… he wouldn’t relinquish it. “I have to go.”

  He leaned down to gently kiss her cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

  Rayne nodded. “Thanks for the picnic.” She made her way up the stairs.

  WHEN SAM WALKED into his office thirty minutes later, he found Crow sitting in one of the chairs, his hat on his lap, staring into the fire. Sam removed his own hat and sat at his desk. “What’s wrong?”