She looked down at him, questioningly. "I didn't do anything."
"You came back, honey. Through the door. Through time. You came back to help me."
"I had to. What else could I do, Jake? You were hurt. It's what you do when—" She glanced away.
Was that all there was to it? He watched her closely as she stopped whatever she'd been about to say, choosing different words.
"It's what you do when you care about someone."
"Care…is that what you call it in your time?"
She nodded, obviously trying hard to hold her emotions in close rein. "Well, you've been so kind to me…"
He propped himself up on his left elbow, reaching for her with his right hand. Slowly, he wrapped his fingers in her hair and pulled her to him. As his lips touched hers, he felt the way she leaned into him, her hand reaching to cup his cheek. Lightning sizzled through his veins, and he was certain it had nothing to do with her being from a different time. Love was recognizable in any century.
He pulled back from her, searching her eyes, finding what he needed to see. His lips curved upward in a satisfied smile.
"Kindness be damned. I love you, Robin Mallory."
* * * * *
"Oh…Jake," Robin whispered. How she longed for that pledge to be true! This was a dream she would awaken from at some point. That fear kept her from repeating his words back to him.
"What are you afraid of, little one?" Jake brought his hand around to Robin's cheek, his eyes warm with reassurance.
"My own heart," Robin managed to stammer. "And…having you ripped away from me."
It was a hard admission, but she wanted him to know. What was to keep them together here?
"Couldn't that happen anywhere? Any time? There are no guarantees, Robbi – not in love."
"But it's a mistake!"
Jake laughed, leaning back down to the floor. "Ending up in 1864, or falling in love?"
"Both."
"It's no mistake, Robbi. Love will happen, no matter the century."
She met his eyes again, the sincerity in his tone melting her. "I do love you, Jake."
"You wouldn't have come back if you didn't, medicine or no."
"The question is," a voice said from behind them, "what are you going to do about it?"
Chapter Ten
General Watie approached them, carrying two bowls of stew. He stood beside them for a moment before gracefully going to his haunches.
"In case you weren't aware, there's a war going on, of which we are a part." He handed Robin one of the steaming bowls.
"Yes," Robin answered cautiously, taking the bowl he offered. "But it will be over soon."
"I know. In April. Though mine and my troops' part won't be over until June."
At her look, he smiled. "You are not the first person to come through the portal, my dear. And although I don't know everything – details and such, I know what will be told in history." He set the other bowl down beside him, then turned a speculative gaze on Jake. "I promised Miss Mallory I would see her to safety, Lieutenant. Have you any ideas as to how that might be accomplished?"
Jake quirked a brow at Watie. "Plenty of them. Sir."
Watie gestured for him to continue, and Jake shifted his leg, letting his breath out on a sigh as he moved slowly to sit up. He leaned his back against the cave wall. "Obviously, as you pointed out to me earlier, she can't travel with us. Living as we are having to right now – it's rough—"
Watie nodded, finishing his thought. "It's no way for a lady to live, I agree. Even for another few days, much less another six months."
His look became thoughtful. "You have a place not too far from here, don't you, Jacob?"
Jake nodded, keeping his expression bland. "Yes, sir. Close to Tahlequah."
Watie turned to look at Robin. "I assume you plan to accept Lieutenant Devlin's suit, do you not, Miss Mallory?"
Robin colored at his brash conclusion, her breath hissing inward in surprise as she tried to formulate her response.
"You…wouldn't have returned, otherwise, would you, my dear?"
She shook her head. "No, but I – Jake hasn't even asked—"
Watie swiveled to look at Jake. "Make it so, Jacob."
Jake grinned. "I intended to, General. I just haven't had the opportunity."
"If you are waiting for moonlight and roses, Lieutenant, might I remind you December is upon us?" He waved an impatient hand. "Never mind. How long 'til you think you can ride, with that leg of yours?"
Jake tested it, bending his knee. It throbbed, but not as painfully as he'd expected it would. "Feels pretty good. I think maybe one more day."
"Tomorrow?"
Jake nodded. "Yeah. I think so. But what about Robin?"
"Excuse me," Robin interjected sweetly. "While you all are discussing what's to become of me, I'd like to have a little input."
Jake shook his head, ignoring her outraged look.
"The only way I see to keep her safe," Watie continued, handing Jake the bowl of stew, "is for you to take her back to your place and make it livable again."
"That could take weeks. Months." What he wouldn't give to ride northeast, back to the small homestead that he'd abandoned two years earlier. To start living the dream he'd held dear for so long.
"Hmm. Yes. You're right." Watie fell silent, then seemed to come to a decision. "Still, it's the only solution, it seems. And a workable one, at that. Miss Mallory can't travel alone, not in these dangerous times. She will need an escort, and who better than her husband?"
Jake cast a glance at Robin, gauging her reaction. Her gaze locked with his, telling him silently she'd do whatever needed to be done.
"It'll take some recovery time for that leg, Jake," Watie was saying. "I wouldn't want to take any chances of it getting infected again. I…think it might be in the best interests of all concerned if you mustered out a few months early, and went back home to heal."
"General, that isn't—" Jake started to argue, but broke off when he saw the spark of amusement in Watie's eyes.
"Never argue for something you don't really want, son." The general's voice was low. "You're one of the best men I have, Jake, but your heart has never been in this. You and Miss Mallory need to start your lives together. She's come an awfully long way across time to be with you."
Jake had known Stand Watie long enough to read what he wasn't saying as well as what he was. There was a cryptic note in the tone of his voice, as well, that had Jake wondering.
He focused on eating the stew. Robin was strangely quiet, and Jake was surprised that she didn't have something to say about the General's edict. She glanced up at Jake, and he clearly read her thoughts in her expression. It was obvious she'd come to the same conclusion he had. The general knew more than just what was told in the history books of the future.
"I'm anxious to do that, General. But I don't want you to think I'm running out on you. Are you certain that I won't be needed in the next few months?"
Watie nodded. "I'm certain. Miss Mallory can tell you, we are fighting a losing battle. And, there are other matters that will – require your attention." He leaned closer to Jake. "Think you could stand up long enough to say your vows? I hate to leave anything to chance, now that you and I are in agreement. That doesn't happen very often. You might say this was meant to be."
Jake met his gaze directly, setting the bowl down. "Anything you want to share with us, General?"
At that, Watie shook his head. "No." He looked at Robin and smiled. "I think in your time, the expression is, Have a nice life."
* * * * *
Four days later
Jake's arm tightened around Robin's waist as they cleared the top of the small rise. Robin felt the tension in his muscles. He'd been more worried than he'd ever let her know. She smiled to herself. She'd known, anyway.
The cabin still stood. The fences and corral, though in need of repair, still held the ground they'd been built for. A light dusting of snow remained on the
rooftop, like sugar on a gingerbread house.
Relief flooded her as the stiff set of Jake's shoulders relaxed. He kneed the horse forward again, down off the hill toward the cabin, stopping as they neared the porch.
"Thank God," he muttered. "I thought maybe someone else might've tried to move in."
"You've done a lot of work here," Robin said softly. "It's beautiful."
He gave a soft chuckle close to her ear, nuzzling her neck. "It's probably not nearly as grand as what you're use to, Robbi."
The apologetic note in his voice broke her heart. She turned in the saddle to look up into his face. "Jake, it's all I could ever want."
He laughed outright. "Not yet, it isn't, pretty girl, but once we get to work on it, bring in a few horses—" He nodded as if he could see it already in his mind's eye. "It'll be a good place. You won't be disappointed, Robbi." His eyes met her. "I'll always see you have the best I can give you."
He seemed to search her features, and it occurred to Robin that he was wondering if she thought she'd made a mistake – staying here – now that she'd seen the cabin. She gave him a reassuring smile. "I'll never regret my decision, Jake. It's not every day a girl gets to choose her future."
He pulled a wry face. "I'm sure we'll have our times—"
She put a finger against his lips. "Not that many."
He kissed her finger. "You're going to miss your truck. And driving."
"A fair trade, I think, for all I'm getting in return."
Jake dismounted carefully, then reached up to help Robin down. She moved into his arms as they stood at the bottom step of the front porch.
"And just what are you getting, ma'am?" he teased, pulling her close to him.
"You, Jacob Devlin, and our life together – the very best Christmas present ever." She tilted her face up, to receive the late afternoon sunshine and Jake's light kiss. His eyes reflected the joy that filled her soul. "There's no doubt, it was meant to be."
The End
About the Author:
Cheryl Pierson is a native of Oklahoma. She lives in the Oklahoma City metro area with her husband. The mother of two grown children, and pet-sitter on occasion, she is always busy. A romance author who loves to read, Cheryl also teaches novel writing classes and is co-owner of West Winds Media, an editing/teaching business for writers. She writes short stories that have been published by Adams Media, Western Fictioneers, Western Trail Blazer, Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery, and Victory Tales Press, as well as Chicken Soup. She has four published novels to her credit and is always working on "the next one."
Her novel, Fire Eyes, (available through Western Trail Blazer) was an Epic Award Finalist.
Cheryl's Western/Time-Travel/Romance novel, Time Plains Drifter, is now available from Western Trail Blazer. She received the PNR PEARL Awards Honorable Mention as Best New Paranormal Author of 2009 for Time Plains Drifter, and she placed third in the San Antonio Romance Authors (SARA) Merritt Contest with her newest novel manuscript, Gabriel's Law.
The first two novellas of her new western series, Kane's Redemption and Kane's Promise, are available through Western Trail Blazer. The third and final book of the series, Kane's Destiny, will be released in the fall of 2012.
Look for her other Christmas novelettes, Homecoming, Scarlet Ribbons, Meant To Be, and A Night For Miracles, available from Western Trail Blazer.
White Christmas, a contemporary holiday novelette, is available from Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery. Other novelettes available from PbRJV are: To Make the Magic Last, The Last of Her Kind, A Heart for a Heart, and Always and Forever.
To learn more about Cheryl and her exciting books, visit her at www.cherylpierson.com/
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