Always and Forever

by L. A. Fiore

  "You've been through quite a bit, love, you are more than likely just exhausted," Archer said softly.

  "You're probably right. I must say I really do like you carrying me about."

  He held her more tightly against him. "Not as much as I enjoy holding you."

  Archer dismissed Sara when they entered Quinn's chamber and acted as her maid with the removing of her gown. He could tell that she was in great pain so he was very gentle with her, having a moment of regret that he couldn't spend the night worshiping her beautiful body. He lowered her night rail over her head watching as it fell in a wave of silk to the floor. He shifted the covers on her bed as Quinn climbed in then he pulled them up over her shoulders. Once she was comfortable, he settled on the edge of her bed.

  "How's your head?" he asked.

  "It hurts, a lot, but I'm a bit of a baby when it comes to headaches since I rarely get them," Quinn admitted.

  "I wish there was something I could do for you."

  "Maybe you could stay with me until I fall asleep?"

  Archer brushed a rogue curl from her cheek and he smiled tenderly, "I would love to."

  She was standing on the river bank looking up at the castle just as Archer and Nickie appeared. Nickie was riding his dad's shoulders and both of them were laughing. They waved when they spotted her before they started down to her. She moved to meet them but as soon as she took her first step she felt herself being pulled away. She saw their smiles fade as Archer took Nickie off his shoulders and started to run toward her. She knew he wasn't going to make it, that her hand wasn't going to feel the warmth and strength of his, that she would never see Nickie grow to a man, that she would never again be with the man she loved. Her hand reached out to his as a scream tore from her throat.

  "Quinn!" Archer was at her side shaking her awake and when she realized it had just been a dream, she threw her arms around him.

  "I was taken from you. You and Nickie were there but I couldn't reach you and I watched as you both faded away. I can't bear the thought of leaving you."

  His arms came around her and held her tightly against him.

  "Marry me, Quinn."

  Quinn pulled back at that. "What?"

  "Marry me. We may not get a lifetime but I want you as my wife. I want my ring on your finger; I want you to belong to me as I want nothing more than to belong to you. Marry me."

  Pure joy settled over her and his perfect words had her answering with a quiet confident, "Yes."

  It was only then that Quinn noticed that Archer was still dressed in his evening clothes. And though she somehow knew that he had spent the night watching over her, she asked anyway, "Didn't you sleep?"

  He didn't reply and instead reached into his pocket. "I commissioned to have this made for you and when it was completed I found myself carrying it around waiting for the opportunity to give it to you."

  He pulled out a small black box and opened the lid to reveal a ring of gold with an emerald resting in the center. Tears blurred Quinn's vision as she realized what she was looking at.

  "I've seen this before." She looked up into the face of the man that she had crossed through time for and saw his look of confusion.

  "This is what brought me to you. That day in the future when I saw you, this was lying in the grass in the spot where you disappeared. As soon as I touched it, I found myself here."

  "How's that possible if I only just had it made?"

  "I don't know but what if I touch it now and it takes me away from you?"

  He cradled her cheek in his strong, warm hand. "It didn't take you away from me. It brought you back to me."

  A smile spread over her face as his words hit home. "You're right." And without a single doubt she held out her hand to him so he could slip his ring onto her finger.

  "It's beautiful," she whispered as she admired her hand.

  "You're beautiful."

  She wanted him, at that moment; she wanted him more than she wanted to take her next breath. And clearly he felt the same as he reached for the hem of her night rail and lifted the gown over her head.

  "God, you are exquisite," he growled as he gently guided her back against the pillows, lowered himself on top of her and took her mouth in a hard, demanding kiss. She felt boneless and when he lifted his head, a wicked grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. "This is going to take a while." His hot mouth touched her neck, branding her, as he worked his way slowly and with great care to detail, down her body.

  The following morning, Archer sent a letter to his mother and sisters informing them of his betrothal to Quinn. He requested they come to Whispering Winds to help Quinn plan the wedding. Then, having been gone as long as he had been, he departed early with his steward to see to estate business. His mind wasn't really on his work though since he couldn't seem to stop thinking about the night he shared with Quinn. He'd do well to not think of it now as he shifted on his mount and forced himself to put all thoughts of her aside. But that was far easier said than done and by the time he returned home he was on fire.

  Quinn heard the sound of an approaching horse and looked up to see Archer barreling toward her. At the last minute he reared his horse and dropped to the ground, took Quinn's hand and pulled her along after him. He said nothing, but then he didn't need to since desire for her was stamped all over his face. He took her through a door, down a hall and up the spiral stone steps into the circular room then slammed and locked the door. He didn't offer a verbal greeting as his mouth settled over hers and in the pleasurable hours that ensued, Quinn learned exactly why she had such affection for that room.

  Later, they walked hand and hand through the gardens. Archer was oddly quiet since their fabulous interlude in the circular room. Quinn was going to ask him what was on his mind when he looked down at her and asked, "Why do you think you're here, with me, in this time?"

  Quinn was thoughtful for a minute before she replied, "Why I was chosen I don't know. How is it you dreamt of me and when you thought of your wife it was my face you saw? How did I see you by the river's edge when you couldn't possibly have been there and the ring? How could I have seen something in my time when it only came to be because I went back to yours? I can't answer any of that but I do believe I'm here so that in the future you and yours will be remembered. If what I believe is true then what became of your family was because someone from my time came back and screwed up history. I'm here to correct it. And, I think we have, Archer, because now you're wise to all of Katherine's plans that created the gap between you and your family and the bond between you and Nickie grows stronger every day. In the future this place won't be thought of as a cursed place but one blessed with generations of Scarcliffs, a family who lived and loved within these walls. But I think there's one last step we need to take."

  Archer ran his finger along her jaw. "Meaning?"

  "The villagers in my time fear you. But I think we can fix that now, create a bond between you that will hopefully span across the generations to come."

  "And how do we do that?"

  "A fair."

  Archer grinned. "Don't tell me they have fairs in your time as well."

  "Oh yes, funnel cakes, dunking tanks, pie eating contests. I say we show the villagers that the Scarcliffs are a rather fun lot."

  "Whatever you require is yours but only if I can help you arrange it."

  "Sweet."

  A week after he sent the letter, Lady Scarcliff, Rosalind and Cecilia arrived at Whispering Winds. Quinn stood back and watched as Archer welcomed his family home, saw as little Nickie was passed between all of them. She knew with certainty that when she returned to the future, the place with its hallowed halls would be hallowed no more. A family lived and loved here and their legacy would not be tarnished. The Scarcliffs would be remembered and, with hope, would live on. But Maude's warning played in her head. You may just find what you're looking for but all magic comes with a price. She had found what she was looking for. She found who lived in these halls, and fell in
love with them in the process, but she'd pay the price when she lost them all again.

  "I do hope you plan to stay on for a while," Archer offered as he led his mother over to Quinn.

  "Indeed. We closed up the townhouse. Our family is here and here is where we shall stay. Hello, dear Quinn."

  Quinn hugged Lady Scarcliff and felt tears welling, "Hello, Lady Scarcliff."

  Lady Scarcliff pulled back and pish poshed Quinn. "I do believe you should call me mother."

  "With pleasure, mother."

  Quinn took Lady Scarcliff's arm and she led her into the castle. "I know we need to plan a wedding but let me tell you what we're planning first."

  The fair idea was met with much enthusiasm from Archer's family. Lady Scarcliff and Archer's sisters were working with Mrs. Hamston and Cook to prepare much of the food for the day. Mr. Tilward and a few men in the village were working on creating a sort of dunking tank. Archer and Thaddeus were coordinating with the villagers on the booths that would be setup. Cook was intrigued with the idea of funnel cakes and though they didn't taste quite like they did in the future, they were still delicious. Women in the village all contributed pies for the pie eating and pie smashing contests. Pony rides, sack races and face painting were just a few of the activities planned. The response from the village was even better than Quinn hoped.

  The day of the fair she walked hand in hand with Nickie as he stared wide-eyed at all the activity. He rode a pony, got his face painted, and then they made their way to the dunking tank where Archer was sitting in the hot seat. Thaddeus came up next to her and grinned, "How did you manage that?"

  Quinn smiled sweetly, "I asked."

  "He's clearly smitten," Thaddeus said with a laugh.

  "The feeling is mutual. However, he is the lord of the manor so I felt he should demonstrate the game."

  "And you should be the one to throw the ball, why?" Thaddeus probed.

  "Because I'm the only one who's ever played this game, silly."

  He laughed out loud at that. "I, for one, am looking forward to Archer taking a swim."

  Quinn's grin was wicked, "Me too."

  Archer did take a dunk on the very first throw and the laughter, in response, was loud and uproarious. Lady after lady pulled their men up to the tank so they, too, would have a chance to make their honey take a soak.

  Later in the day, Quinn sat around a bonfire with children and adults alike and told stories, anything from ghost stories to nursery rhymes. When it was full dark, mothers and fathers carried their sleeping children back to their homes. As she waved goodnight, Quinn felt a sense of peace knowing that this was just the first of many activities this community would share.

  Archer and she walked through the gardens later that night as the glow of the moon lit the path before them.

  "Thank you for today, Quinn. It was a truly wonderful day."

  "I was happy to help and it really was a great day. I still can't believe Thaddeus won the pie eating contest. Where on Earth does it go?"

  Archer didn't hesitate to answer, "A wooden leg."

  Archer couldn't tear his gaze from her as he watched how her joy was reflected in every part of her face. His heart ached because he knew when she left he was going to be devastated. The thought of losing her, of living out the rest of his days without her, made him stop abruptly.

  She turned to him as concern marred her features. "Archer?"

  "Promise me, in the future, when you visit a fair you will think of me."

  "I promise. But Archer I will think about you every day, remembering you, loving you, missing you. It won't even be a conscious choice because you are apart of me now, as I am apart of you."

  He pulled her to him. "I can't bear the thought of you leaving me. But I know you will be missed by more than just me because you've touched us all." He stepped back and took her hand before he said, "Come with me."

  "Where are we going?" Quinn asked.

  "You'll see."

  They reached a clearing where a man sat with an easel, torches were lit illuminating him and the vacant chair that sat just before him. Archer led Quinn to the chair and helped her to smooth her skirts.

  "I want to have a miniature painted of you so you'll be with me always."

  Quinn's heart twisted painfully in her chest as she whispered, "I want one of you."

  "I hoped you'd say that. It's already done," Archer announced proudly.

  And so when the miniature was painted the artist captured a woman looking with love at her gentleman.

  A few nights after the fair, Mr. Grant arrived at Whispering Winds and with him came upsetting news of Katherine.

  "I couldn't find a last name for Katherine but she was hired by the man we know as Edwyn Danvers to orchestrate the ruin of Lord Scarcliff's sister. It was as you thought, Miss Shaughnessy, he didn't care if they actually got married; he just wanted access to Lord Scarcliff's home. It was Katherine who wanted the marriage and from the way she was howling in her prison cell, it wasn't just about the money."

  "Her prison cell?" Quinn asked shocked.

  "Apparently the real Lord and Lady Danvers arrived home earlier than scheduled to find Katherine and Beatrice, the other actress posing as Lady Danvers, in their home with a man who is a known criminal. When he was arrested, he admitted that Katherine was hiring him to kill not only Lord Scarcliff and his son but you also, Miss Shaughnessy."

  Quinn gasped but Archer reached for her hand. "You stopped it, Quinn."

  "What about Edwyn?" Thaddeus asked.

  "After an extensive search the police found nothing; no evidence that he was ever there at all. Both women are currently locked in the local jail pending sentencing. As you know, crimes against the peerage are handled most severely. And plotting the murder of an Earl and his heir, well, the end is a foregone conclusion."

  Quinn gulped at those dire words, "Meaning?"

  "They will hang."

  "Oh my God."

  "You said there was no sign of Edwyn?" Thaddeus asked but he was looking at Quinn and clearly he knew exactly where the man went.

  It was all going to be different, the past had been righted and the future had most definitely been altered. Archer and Nickie would be remembered, Whispering Winds would no longer be a ghost town, and a family was brought back together. But what of Derek? He was back in the future, but what he was doing was still a mystery. And he was still a potential threat to Archer, but Quinn wasn't through with him, not until she stopped him. Sadly, she knew she'd get the opportunity to question Derek soon because she could feel that her time here was coming to an end.

  The following morning, Archer asked Quinn to accompany him into the village but he didn't mention where they were going until a small cemetery appeared over a rise. A black iron fence surrounded the sprawling space and the stones all looked rather new. They walked along, hand in hand, until they reached the marker with Morgan O'Cuinn on it.

  "Do you suppose that this is still here in the future or are people of your time not so concerned with the spirits of the dead?"

  "Graveyards are still sacred in my time."

  Archer turned to Quinn. "I have loved two women in my life and soon I will have lost them both. Morgan died bringing my child into the world and I mourn the loss of her, but losing you is going to feel as if my very soul is being torn from my body. This is real, Quinn. I so fear when you go back you'll forget and believe it was all an impossible dream. That's why I want to leave something for you here, protected by the first woman I loved for the last woman I'll love. It is you, Quinn. For me it is, and will always be, you."

  Quinn wiped at her tears and held his gaze. "For me, it's you. I came across time for you."

  Shaking, Archer lifted Quinn's hand, and took the betrothal ring from her finger. When she looked up in puzzlement, she saw his tears.

  "I think we both know that you and I will never stand before an altar and declare love before God and family." He looked down at her with love before he continued, "
But I stand before you now and pledge myself to you and only you. Even across time I will love you."

  She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his neck. "I love you and I will miss you every day for the rest of my life." She held him closer as her tears turned into sobs.

  "Oh, Quinn, don't cry, love."

  "How am I supposed to go on knowing when I go back you will be gone, lost to me, forever?"

  He pushed her away gently and framed her face with his hands. "By knowing that I will spend the rest of my days loving you and when my time on this Earth ends I will be waiting for you, Quinn. We will find each other again."

  "I'll be looking, Archer, every day," she whispered and he nodded sadly as he reached for the small iron box in his pocket.

  "I had the blacksmith make this specifically so it would stand the test of time." Archer slipped the ring into it accompanied by a small oil-cloth wrapped miniature then closed the lid and locked it. With a shovel left from the grave keeper, he dug a hole by Morgan's headstone and settled the box into it. He started to brush the dirt back over it when Quinn stopped him.

  "Wait," she said reaching for a rock that was turned up from the digging. Then she bent down and carved into the metal: A.S + Q.S.

  "What does that mean?" he looked confused.

  Quinn looked up into his beautiful face. "It means love."

  The walk home through the village was bittersweet as they realized it would be their last one.

  The following day Quinn, Archer and Thaddeus sat Nickie down to tell him that Quinn wasn't always going to be with them. Their situation was hard enough for adults but trying to explain it to a child was close to impossible.

  "Why can't you stay? You can, you just don't want to," Nickie screamed as tears stained his cheeks.

  Quinn longed to hold him in her arms but she knew he didn't want that, he needed to understand. It was Thaddeus who spoke as he shared the story of how he first met Quinn. Nickie seemed doubtful at first but by the end he was staring in wide-eyed wonder at Quinn.