Straight ahead, not more than a hundred feet, a carousel glimmered, its horses and menagerie animals chasing each other round and round the platform. It wasn’t hard to pick out the lead horse, for he rose high above the rest, his mane and tail flying, one leg raised as he proudly stepped forward in all his midnight glory.
“It’s your horse.” Her voice was urgent. All the ghosts from hell had risen up and fluttered very close by.
Nicholas steadied her as he set Cassandra down and asked Amanda to watch her. He turned to her, and she frantically searched his face for the reassurance she needed. He didn’t fail her; just as he hadn’t any time before. His shoulders back, his feet braced, he exuded confidence. But it was his gaze that held her, for in his sweet, silver eyes she saw love — enough to last a lifetime and beyond.
“That horse is our destiny, Jaci. I promise you it will be all right.” He took her hand and stepped toward the carousel. She jerked back. He turned, taking her chin in his hand and forcing her to focus only on him. “Do you love me, Jaci Westbrooke?”
“Yes, you know I do.” Her answer was automatic.
He grinned at her rapid response. It was a game they played, whenever she became over-anxious about her fate. “How much?”
“With my life,” she answered, and saw his love shining in his gaze. A great burden of worry seemed to lift from her shoulders.
Nicholas lifted Cassandra to one hip, took Jaci’s hand in his and began walking towards the carousel. “Then trust me.”
Jaci grabbed Amanda’s hand. She felt she needed all the anchors she could manage.
When the carousel stopped, a group of riders got off. Nicholas sat Cassandra on his replica of Wind Dancer and gathered Jaci and Amanda close. Jaci kept her gaze focused on Nicholas, holding her breath each time the platform jiggled.
“I thank God daily for seeing fit to send you to me,” Nicholas told her quietly, “and believe me, our love will surmount any obstacle.”
He held out his hand and when she placed her hand in his, encircling Cassandra, their fingers brushed the mane of the horse. An electric shock raced up Jaci’s arm, but she remained next to her husband.
Before the carousel began to move, a photographer called for their attention. Nicholas and Jaci laughed together, their daughter squealing in delight over riding her papa’s horsie, and the photographer’s camera flashed.
* * *
Dallas, Texas — present day
“We didn’t find anything, Miss Eastman. Witnesses said it looked as if your sister dropped down into the middle section of the carousel to help the old man.”
Mandy Eastman shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t understand. You mean she simply disappeared?”
“We’ve put out a missing person report,” the detective explained. “It’s the strangest, damn thing. I guess the gears on that merry-go-round weren’t adjusted right or something. Apparently once the children got off and the operator fell against the lever, it spun so fast some of the poles actually bent outward with the centrifugal force. But, that doesn’t help you any, does it? We’ll check back at the park later today and see if anything’s been reported.”
The police detective turned to leave. “Oh, I almost forgot. Your sister’s camera was still at the scene. It must have been set on an automatic timer, because the roll of film had been completed used. I took the liberty of having the film developed, for clues, but didn’t find anything out of the ordinary. Just photos of the carousel and some people.”
Mandy thought it odd that the detective said there were people in the pictures, because Jaci had wanted only the horses for her magazine layout. However, she thanked the police and closed the door behind them.
It had been five days since her sister’s disappearance, and nothing was known. Wearily she sat down on the couch, opening the envelope and spilling the pictures out on the coffee table. She smiled at the sight of the horses, seemingly so alive through her sister’s photographic ability.
One picture caught her eye, and when she picked it up, she gasped, for here was the horse she clearly recalled from earlier photos Jaci had taken. There was a blur of some sort behind the horse, and Mandy quickly shuffled through the other pictures looking for something similar. When she found it, she began to cry.
Standing behind the magnificent, black carousel horse was the man Jaci had originally photographed. Through her tears, Mandy saw Jaci standing beside him, their hands clasped around a darling little girl; another girl next to them. A smile touched her lips as she looked lovingly at her sister.
It was no wonder the police hadn’t recognized her picture. Her face was older, reminding Mandy of a faded photograph she had of their mother. Jaci’s hair was longer, worn in a bun no less, and she had on ruffles and lace that Mandy swore she’d never wear today. It was the expression on Jaci’s face, though, that set Mandy’s heart to rest.
The police would take their time to determine exactly what had happened that day at the carousel, and now Mandy wondered if it would ever be explained. To her, though, it no longer mattered. For whatever reasons there might be, her sister had found true love. From the look on her face, they were, indeed, living happily ever after.
The End
Barbara Baldwin books also published by Books We Love
Lost Knight of Arabia
Prospecting for Love
About The Author
Barbara was born in California and now resides in the midwest. She loves to travel and explore new places, which usually means each of her novels is set in a different locale. She has been published in formats from poetry and short stories to full-length fiction. She wrote and co-produced a documentary on state history which won state and national awards, but she really loves writing romance, whether it be contemporary, historical or time travel. Just for fun, each year she writes a Christmas short story for family and friends—some heartfelt and others whimsical — but always a gift from her heart. She has an MA in Communication, has taught at the college level and has made over 100 presentations at state and national conferences. She also loves to create art through pottery and fused glass, candles, baskets and quilts. Visit her website at http://www.authorsden.com/barbarajbaldwin.
Author’s Note
The first Kentucky Derby actually was run on May 17, 1875. I tried to stay as close to the truth as possible, but of course had to allow Wind Dancer to win because Jaci had promised to marry Nicholas.
Aristides won the race that day, ridden by Oliver Lewis. Aristides’s owner, H.P. McGrath, received the purse of $2,850.
The Kentucky Derby has been held consecutively every year since 1875, and although it is now on the first Saturday of May, it has been run on every day of the week except Sunday. Originally a mile and a half, it was changed to the current one and a quarter miles in 1896.
Books We Love, Ltd
Spinning Through Time Page 29