Strands of Love

by N. J. Walters

  Jace slowly lowered his blade. “Who is this sheriff?”

  “The law. Because I was missing, Tim probably called him.” She motioned to the vehicles in the distance. “They’re probably getting ready to search for me, thinking something happened.”

  Sam grabbed a rock and tried to dig a swallow hole, but the ground was hard and dry. She tossed the rock aside. “Just put them here, we can pile some hay over them. Lose the armbands too.”

  She heard a shout in the distance. “Hurry.”

  Darian and Jace shared a look and slowly unbuckled their swords and placed them carefully on the ground. They quickly tossed their arm- and wristbands beside them. Sam hurriedly threw some dried grasses over everything all the while praying no one would get nosy enough to find them.

  She straightened and wiped her hands against her leather pants. Damn, Tim was bound to notice she wasn’t wearing her usual jeans and T-shirt. Well, it couldn’t be helped. She’d figure out how much to tell him once she got rid of the sheriff and the others.

  “We’ll say you’re old buddies of John’s. That you stopped by on your way through Texas to visit.” She knew she was babbling, but they were running out of time to get their stories straight. “We spent last night swapping stories about my brother and lost track of time. Okay?”

  Jace narrowed his eyes, but nodded. “This is your world. We will trust you.” He glanced toward the men striding across the field. “But we will protect you if the need arises.”

  Sam threw her hands into the air and stalked off. She didn’t want to be anywhere near the hidden swords when she met with Sheriff Pritchard. Tim broke away from the group and hurried toward her.

  “Sam.” Tim called her name and she wanted to run to him and feel his strong arms around her. He and Mary were all the family she had left. But she forced herself to walk, trying to appear as normal as possible.

  “Hey, Tim. What’s all the commotion?”

  Tim grabbed her by the arm and thrust her behind him, leveling the rifle he carried at Jace and Darian. “Where the hell have you been and who the hell are these guys?”

  Not a good sign when Tim started swearing. Sam swiped a lock of hair off her forehead. “This is Jace and Darian Hunter. They served with John.” Sam carefully pushed the barrel of Tim’s rifle down until it was facing the ground.

  Before Tim could respond, the sheriff and the rest of the group joined them. Her two nearest neighbors were there, along with two deputies and, unfortunately, George Rawlins.

  “Told you she wasn’t hurt, Tim.” Sheriff Pritchard holstered his gun as he eyed Jace and Darian’s bare chests. Sam didn’t like the smirk on the sheriff’s face and knew what he was thinking. “In fact, looks to me like she was enjoying herself.” The sheriff chuckled at his own joke, but stopped when both Darian and Jace glared at him.

  Sam hurried to stand between the Hunter brothers, praying they wouldn’t do something stupid and land themselves in jail. “This is Sheriff Pritchard.” She turned to the sheriff. “I was just telling Tim that this is Jace and Darian Hunter and they served with John. They were passing through Texas and stopped to pay their respects. We were up late last night talking and I wanted to show them the farm before they left.”

  “You weren’t answering your phone,” Tim accused.

  “I dropped it out in the field and it smashed on a rock. I need to replace it.” She clamped her mouth shut before she started babbling and said too much. She never talked this much, was usually closed-mouthed about her business. The sheriff was nodding, but Tim was staring at her as though she’d grown two heads.

  George stepped forward and reached for her, but she took a step back and brought up solid against Jace’s chest. Jace’s large hands dropped on her shoulders. She wasn’t sure if it was to comfort her or simply to keep her there. Beside them, Darian shifted slightly, bringing him into a better defensive position. Both men were ready to fight if necessary. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

  George stopped in his tracks and his eyes narrowed. “Who did you say these men were again?”

  Sam had had enough. “That’s none of your damn business, George. I’m a grown woman and can invite whoever I want to stay at my farm.” George’s face grew red, but she ignored him and turned back to the sheriff and her neighbors. “I’m really sorry you were worried and I appreciate you coming out here, but I’m fine.”

  Both Seth Cutler and Burt Adams tugged on the brim of their hats. “Glad you’re okay, Sam,” Seth said before turning to the sheriff. “I gotta get back to work. Day’s a wastin’.”

  “Thanks for your help.” The sheriff individually thanked the men before they all headed back to their vehicles. Then he turned back to Sam. “You sure you’re okay?” The sheriff eyed the Hunter brothers, giving them the once-over yet again.

  Sam forced a smile. “I’m fine. Thank you again for your concern.” She wished they would all just leave so she could figure out what to do next.

  The sheriff started to leave, but stopped when he realized George and Tim were still standing there. “You coming, George?”

  George gave her his most winning smile, the one that had tricked her months ago when she was grieving. She saw it for the crocodile smile it was now. It did nothing for her. Come to think of it, neither did George. After being with Darian and Jace, she couldn’t even remember what she’d seen in George all those months ago. He was manipulative, greedy and grasping, nothing at all like the very blunt, honest Hunter brothers. She had to have been truly desperate to turn to him in her time of sorrow.

  “I’ll call you, Sam.”

  She gave George her best fake smile. “I broke my phone, remember? Might be a while before I get a new one.”

  Tim’s rather large hand came down heavily on George’s shoulder. “Thanks for the help, George. Appreciate it.”

  Sam wanted to giggle, but managed to stifle it. George had been dismissed and he knew it. He didn’t like it either, but there was nothing else for him to do but leave. He walked slowly to his truck, glancing over his shoulder several times.

  The four of them stood there, watching and waiting until the last vehicle pulled away. Then Tim turned to her. “You want to tell me what the hell is really going on?”

  Sam should have known better than to try to lie to Tim. He was too much like her father and always knew when she was telling an untruth. She raked her fingers through her hair, suddenly fatigued. “It’s a long story.”

  “I got time,” Tim informed her.

  Jace spun around and walked back into the fields, aiming straight for the spot where they’d left their weapons and belongings. He tossed Darian his arm- and wristbands before putting on his own. Jace picked up his sword and strapped it around his waist before grabbing Darian’s. He strode back and handed Darian his weapon. Tim’s eyes widened and his rifle came up again. He aimed right at Jace’s chest.

  “You might want to move your hands away from those fancy swords, boys.”

  Only Tim would call two warriors like Jace and Darian boys. She expected them to bristle beneath the command, but they moved their hands away from their weapons. And it wasn’t because they were afraid of Tim. She could see it in their eyes and so could Tim. No, what she saw there wasn’t anger or fear, but respect. Tim lowered the barrel of his rifle slightly, but she knew he could aim and fire in the blink of an eye.

  “Either of you boys want to tell me what’s going on since it seems like Sam isn’t going to?”

  Jace and Darian shared a look before Jace spoke. “You are the one who is like a father to Sam?”

  Tim gave a curt nod. “I am.”

  “Listen, why don’t we go up to the house and talk about this?” Sam would just as soon they didn’t try to explain what had happened. But none of the men were paying her any attention. “Or not,” she muttered.

  “I am Jace of Hunter Keep from the land of Javara.”

  Tim’s eyes narrowed. “Go on.”

  Sam held her breath while Jace expla
ined about the tapestry and Javara. Tim growled when Jace got to the part about the brothers both sharing her bed. He gave her a hard glare and she shrugged her shoulders, trying to appear as innocent as possible. When Jace was done, Tim turned to her. “This true, girl?”

  “Yeah.” She didn’t want to talk about it out here in the blazing sun. She was sweaty, thirsty and the house was so close. Sam decided if they wanted her opinion they’d have to follow her. She took a step toward it, not waiting to see who was coming with her.

  Tim swore and hurried to her side. “Sam, we need to talk about this. Maybe you need to see someone. A doctor or something.”

  Sam stopped in her tracks and glared at Tim. “I’m not crazy.”

  “Of course not,” he placated.

  Throwing her hands in the air, she released a sound of frustration and stomped to the house, leaving a trail of dust in her wake. The back door was unlocked and she sighed when she stepped inside. She heard the men come in behind her, but ignored them and went straight to the sink for some water. She filled the glass twice before facing them.

  “I’m getting out of these dirty clothes and into the shower.” She wanted to wear her own jeans and T-shirt, to feel more like herself again. “If you’re still here when I’m done, I’ll talk.” Sam left them in the kitchen and went up the stairs to her bathroom.

  Guilt ate at her with each step she took, but she ignored it. She’d had to manage in their world with their family and friends, now they could do the same in hers.

  She grabbed some clean clothes, went into the bathroom and stripped out of the leather garments. The woman staring back at her in the mirror looked outwardly the same as she had yesterday morning, but inwardly she’d changed more than she’d ever thought possible.

  Sam placed her two hands on the chipped vanity and stared. “You are in such big trouble.” As much as she wanted to deny it, she cared about both brothers. Deeply. She wasn’t quite ready to say she loved them. She couldn’t. It would hurt too much when they went home.

  But what if they stayed? A little voice in the back of her head whispered the words, but she ignored them. They wouldn’t stay. They had responsibilities back in Javara, not to mention family.

  But what if the tapestry never returned?

  Sam felt guilty for even thinking such a thing. The last thing she wanted was for them to be trapped here. This wasn’t their world. They belonged at Hunter Keep. Indeed, they were Hunter Keep. What would happen to all those people if they couldn’t go home?

  No, Sam was determined to help them find their way back. And if her heart broke when they left, it was a small price to pay for getting them home.

  Chapter Eleven

  Jace studied the older man standing by the table. He held a long piece of metal in his hand. A gun Sam had called it. He would have liked a closer look at the weapon, but knew better than to ask. Tim was a warrior. It was in the way he held himself, in his eyes. He would not relinquish his weapon to a stranger.

  “Now that we’re alone, I want the truth,” Tim demanded.

  Jace had already told him the truth. Problem was, the older man didn’t want to hear it. Obviously magic was not well-known or accepted in Sam’s world. “I have told you the truth. We are from Javara and want to claim Sam as our own. Never doubt that we will protect her with our lives.”

  Tim rubbed his hand over his bushy beard. “You don’t look like you’re lying and that’s the damnedest thing. I need to call Mary.” Tim took a small black object out of his pocket. It looked like the one Sam had that she’d always been checking. A phone she’d called it.

  Tim pressed buttons and then spoke. “Hey, Mary. I found her. She’s safe.”

  Jace glanced at Darian, but his brother was totally enthralled by the small box Tim was holding. It was obvious he was talking to someone. How was that possible? How could those of this world profess not to believe in the tapestry when they possessed great magic of their own?

  “No, I’m not sure what’s going on. She has company.” Tim paused. “No, I’ll explain later. I will. Okay. Bye.” Tim pressed a button and put the device back in his pocket. He realized both men were staring at him. “What?” Tim asked.

  Darian motioned to Tim’s pocket. “You spoke to someone through that box?”

  “Yeah.” Tim seemed confused by the question.

  “Yet you do not believe in the tapestry when you possess great magic?” Darian’s words echoed Jace’s thoughts.

  “You’re not kidding, are you?” Tim slowly lowered himself into a chair. “Okay, explain to me again about this tapestry and the world you’re from. And why the hell it came here and took Sam.”

  * * * * *

  Sam stepped out of the shower feeling refreshed. She should feel guilty. She hadn’t offered the brothers anything to drink and wasn’t sure they knew how to work the taps, although Darian probably did considering he’d played with them quite a bit on his first trip here.

  “Damn it.” She dragged the towel over her skin, wiping away the water before she dragged on her clean clothes.

  When she was wearing underwear, jeans, a T-shirt and sneakers, she felt much more like herself. Her hair was wet, but she towel dried it and braided it. She really shouldn’t have left the men alone with Tim. No telling what Tim might do if he got mad. She knew in her heart neither Hunter brother would hurt Tim, but still.

  She slung the damp towel over the shower rod and hurried out of the bathroom. She could hear voices as she went down the stairs. They were still talking. That had to be a good sign. Right?

  Sam walked into the kitchen to find Tim sitting at the head of the table shaking his head at whatever Darian was telling him. They all turned to stare at her when she walked into the room.

  Determined to get through this as quickly as possible, she raised her chin and walked over to the counter. She turned on the tap, took down two glasses and filled them with water before handing one to Jace and the other to his brother. Both men offered their thanks before quickly downing the water, making her feel worse than ever for not offering it sooner.

  “Samantha Rose Calloway.”

  She flinched slightly when Tim used her full name, but faced him squarely. “Yeah?”

  “What kind of a mess have you gotten yourself into, girl?” Tim rubbed his hand over his bearded chin.

  She shrugged. “It wasn’t my fault. I was walking the fields, minding my own business, when I found them.”

  Tim sighed. “Don’t rightly know what to do or what to tell you.”

  She frowned at him. “What’s to do? I’m home now.”

  Tim pushed to his feet and came around the table to stand in front of her. “From what I understand, you still have a choice to make. You can go home with them when this tapestry returns.”

  “If it returns,” she muttered. She didn’t look at either brother. She felt awful for even suggesting such a thing.

  “There is that,” Tim agreed. “Of course, either of these men could choose to stay here. Or even both of them could stay if they were so inclined.”

  Even as her heart jumped at the possibility, Sam was shaking her head. “Their mother would be devastated. Plus, they have a lot of folks depending on them.”

  “And what do you have here, Sam?” Tim asked in a gentle voice that made tears well in her eyes. “Your parents and John are gone and you’re struggling every day to hold on to the farm. It’s a hard life for a woman alone.”

  “What are you suggesting?” she cried. How could Tim even propose such a thing? This was her home. Where she belonged.

  Tim pulled her into his strong arms and hugged her. He smelled slightly of the same soap her father had used and Sam closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and, for a brief moment, pretended it was her father holding her.

  “I’m not suggesting anything, Sam. I’m telling you to weigh your options and really think things through before you make any decisions. Whatever you decide to do, I’ll support you.”

  Sam’s head was spin
ning. Tim was actually suggesting she leave her home, her only connection to her family, take a leap of faith and go back to an unknown world with two men she’d met less than two days ago. The implications were staggering.

  Tim released her and took a step back. “Think about it. If you want to talk, come on over to the house.” He collected his rifle and turned a hard gaze on the Hunter brothers. “You take good care of her. You hurt her and it won’t matter if you’re in another world. I’ll find you.”

  Jace inclined his head. “You have our word.”

  “Good enough.” Tim rubbed his hand across the top of her head. “You think on what I said, little girl. You know where to find me if you need me.” He handed her his phone. “You said you lost yours. You call Mary’s number if you need me.”

  Tim departed, leaving her alone with Jace and Darian. She wasn’t ready to face either of them at the moment. She was so confused. Mostly, she missed her family—her father, her mother and her brother. She missed her father’s gruff voice, the way her brother teased her mercilessly and the way her mother always smelled of honeysuckle soap.

  The last two days had rocked her world. First, there was the threat of losing the farm and everything her family had worked for if she couldn’t manage to turn things around. Then there was the whole tapestry thing and the trip to Javara. Was it any wonder she was feeling so emotional?

  Sam knew she couldn’t hold it together much longer. She had to get away before she broke down and started crying like a baby. “There’s food in the refrigerator if you’re hungry.” She gestured toward the twenty-year-old, white refrigerator so they’d know what she was talking about. “I’ll be back.”

  She walked toward the back door and pushed it open. Tim’s truck was a cloud of dust in the distance. Sam blinked as the image wavered. Just dust in her eyes. That’s all.

  Darian called her name, but she ignored him and hurried toward the barn as fast as her feet could carry her. It was empty now, but still carried the scent of the horses that had once lived there. Practically running now, she pushed the door open and stepped into the cool shade.