10 Timeless Heroes; A Time Travel Romance Boxed Set

by P. L. Parker, Beth Trissel, L. L. Muir, Skhye Moncrief, Sky Purington, Nancy Lee Badger, Caroline Clemmons, Bess McBride, Donna Michaels

  “Then, they found me a job with a friend of theirs in Dallas so I’d be far away from Brendan. I didn’t understand what they’d done at the time, only that Brendan agreed to go with them. It broke my heart. At the same time, poor Brendan thought I chose herbs over him and he was hurt. They used both of us to gain control of him.”

  “But you’d just lost your husband, and then they took your son.” The cruelty of people existed everywhere, but it shocked Deirdre to see her new friend so hurt.

  “It was almost a year before Brendan and I realized what they’d done and were reconciled.” Blossom wiped a tear from her eyes. “Oh, they were hard, cruel people. No wonder my darling Trey resented them.”

  “They didn’t deserve a fine daughter-in-law like you nor a grandson like Brendan. Did you not see him at all?”

  “He came for two weeks in the summer and when there were holidays from school. It wasn’t long before he realized what they’d done, but I told him to let them educate him at the finest schools and then he’d be set to do whatever he wanted in life.” She smiled an almost-smile very like her son’s. “He said he wanted to be a policeman.”

  “So, he studied to be a...a policeman?”

  “Not then. He has fine degrees, dear. What a wonderful student he was, finishing school early and going on to the university. He was the best at whatever he tried.”

  Deirdre didn’t understand. “When did he learn to be a policeman?”

  Finally, Blossom burst out with her familiar laugh. “After he graduated with MBA honors from Yale University. That’s a very expensive school in the eastern United States with an impressive reputation. His grandparents expected him to fall into their life. Brendan told them he was entering the police academy just as he’d always planned.” She laughed again. “Oh, they were fit to be tied.”

  “Hmm, why am I thinking they had you fired?”

  Blossom looked surprised. “How did you guess?” She patted Deirdre. “You’ve seen a lot of hard people, haven’t you? Yes, they did, but I found another job right away, a better one in fact. Brendan lived with me and attended the police academy in Dallas.

  “But when did he buy you your shop then?”

  “No matter how people plan and manipulate, no one lives forever. Brendan’s grandparents died within weeks of one another while Brendan was training to become a policeman. Except for a few bequests to servants, Brendan was their only heir and inherited their entire estate.”

  “It was a great lot of money then?”

  Blossom’s laugh trilled like silver bells. “Oh, yes. More than you can imagine. Brendan gave a lot to charity, bought me the shop and my house, and bought his own town house. But he still has a large fortune plus all the interest it’s earning.”

  They’d reached Radford Crossing’s shopping mall and Blossom pulled into a park near the entrance. “So don’t worry that he can’t afford the money we’re spending today, dear. He’ll never miss it.”

  “If you say so, but I don’t like being beholden more than I already am. Especially to a man who mistrusts me.”

  Blossom patted her arm as they walked into the mall. “Now don’t worry, dear. He’ll come around. He’s not a trusting man, thanks to the training of his grandparents. But he’s my son as well and he’ll soon see you’re a lovely person worthy of his trust.”

  Deirdre doubted it but she didn’t argue.

  ***

  After his mom and Deirdre left, Brendan slipped into the guestroom Deirdre was using. Once more, he looked through her things for clues. He opened a drawer and found the leather bag. The damn cat meowed his protest at the violation of his owner’s possessions.

  “Stop glaring at me, BadCat.” Brendan spilled the pouch’s contents onto the bedspread.

  Two gold coins were alike, four in silver were of two different designs, and the fifteen in copper were spread among six types. He examined each one, but had never seen any of them before. Selecting one of each, he dropped the rest into the bag and replaced it. Those he’d chosen, he dropped into an envelope to take with him to town.

  Thirty minutes later, he stepped into the shop of the man reputed to be Radford Crossing’s most respected coin dealer. “Hello, Mr. Westman.”

  Doug Westman was a small man with a hunched appearance that made him appear turtle-like. Brendan wondered if years of bending over his coins had caused the posture. Westman’s thin gray hair stood up in wisps, and he frowned when he recognized Brendan. They’d met last year when some valuable coins had been stolen from a well-known local collector.

  “Detective Hunter, may I help you?”

  “No need to look worried, sir. This is a personal visit.” He pulled out the envelope. “A, um, friend, inherited these coins and wanted them authenticated and appraised.”

  “Certainly.” Westman took the envelope to his bench and opened it. “Oh, my. My, my, my.” When he looked up, his face beamed excitement. “Would your friend consider selling them?”

  Brendan shrugged. “I doubt it. But a value for insurance purposes would be helpful.” And helpful for investigating his houseguest.

  Westman held one of the small copper coins reverently. “I never thought I’d get to see one of these. Only a few hundred were struck and this one is near mint condition.”

  “But it’s not even a proper circle.”

  “It’s irregular because it was hand struck. I’ve only ever seen this one in books. In this condition, it’s worth six thousand.”

  Surprise poleaxed Brendan and he lost his voice for a moment. “You mean for that one little coin? I had no idea it would be so valuable.”

  “They’re all valuable, from the groat here”—he tapped one of the copper coins—“to this Bank Of Ireland six shilling token. It’s a rare pleasure to see them.” He took a form from a pigeonhole above his bench. “I’ll list them out for your friend’s insurance agent, but please pass on my offer to purchase them.” Westman began writing with such concentration that Brendan knew he’d been forgotten.

  Back in the car, Brendan slid the envelope of coins into his pocket and stared at the appraisal slip. The total sum was twelve thousand dollars, and he’d only brought a portion of Deirdre’s coins. Were they stolen? If not, how the hell had she come into possession of them?

  He looked at the dates Westman had listed, 1600 to 1835. Nothing newer. Each was minted prior to the time Deirdre claimed to have jumped off the cliff.

  Damn, what did that mean? Prickles spread across the back of his neck. Surely her preposterous claim couldn’t be true? No, there had to be a logical explanation.

  Didn’t there?

  Chapter Eleven

  Deirdre was too busy to worry about what Brendan thought, what with looking around the huge space at the islands of flowers amid all the shops and the people rushing every direction. So many colors and smells, so much movement swirled around her. She stopped and closed her eyes to block some of the sensations.

  “You’ve gone all pale. Are you faint, dear?” Blossom took her hand and led her to a wooden bench beside bright red flowers.

  “Not exactly. There’s so much activity and the hum of hundreds of voices. It overwhelmed me for a moment.” How could she explain the effect the emotions of so many people had on her as an empath? Fear, joy, despair, envy assaulted her senses as if they pounded against her mind.

  Blossom pointed to a large doorway nearby. “See there, we’re heading for that store. Should I get you something to drink or eat while you sit here?”

  Deirdre armed her defenses. Her lightheadedness passed and she stood. “I’m fine now. I just didn’t know what to expect. We’d best get a move on or Brendan will worry.”

  Blossom laughed. “He never worries when I’m shopping. He knows I usually get carried away.”

  In spite of Deirdre’s hesitance, Blossom’s enthusiasm was contagious. Happiness cracked through Deirdre’s foreboding and she looked forward to her new experience. Sure and couldn’t she use her own pair of britches and a top? />
  “First stop, we’ll get you some underwear.” Blossom led her into a store. “When you’re feeling steadier, we’ll move on with clothes and then look for shoes to match.”

  Deirdre dragged behind, gaping at all she saw. “I’ve never seen anything like the things in the window. Who wears those scandalous pieces of lace?”

  Blossom smiled. “You will, dear. I’ll explain it all to you as you try them on. Oh, look, they’re having a sale.”

  What would Ma have thought if her daughter wore things fit only for Jezebel? Surely Delilah wore more than this to tempt Samson.

  Deirdre gasped at an elaborate red and black silk creation. “You’re never thinking of making me wear a corset, are you?”

  “Dear, that’s a bustier. I don’t think you’re ready for one of those yet.” Blossom scanned stacks of lace and picked up a black piece. “I think this pair of panties would fit you.”

  “I can see right through it. Why can’t I get the same type you loaned me? They feel nice and there’s little enough to them.”

  “You won’t want granny panties. Let’s try these.” Blossom chose another pair of sheer panties, this time in red.

  “There’s not much to them, is there?”

  Blossom smiled. “It all depends on your perspective. Compare these French cut to this thong.”

  “A slingshot? No one could wear that.”

  “Ah, but they do. Not my taste, but it takes all kinds.”

  “I’ll try the first ones then. None of the thong things, though, please.”

  “And bras to match as soon as we decide on the panties.” Blossom searched through racks, making one selection after another.

  “Oh, look, here’s the ones like yours.” Deirdre grabbed a package of what Blossom called “granny” panties. “I’ll have these, please.”

  “If you wish, but we’ll also take these. I’ll signal the sales person.” Blossom raised her hand and beckoned.

  “May I help you?” a lovely and well-dressed woman asked.

  “My friend needs to be fitted for a bra. She’s not sure of her size.”

  The woman surveyed Deirdre as if she were a statue instead of a person. “Certainly. Step into the fitting room and I’ll get my tape measure.”

  Blossom led Deirdre to a group of curtained off closets in a side room. “Here, this dressing room is large enough for both of us. Now, take off your top.”

  Deirdre gasped. “Here?”

  Blossom grabbed the bottom of her shirt and pulled it over Deirdre’s head.

  Deirdre crossed her arms over her bosom. “Ma cautioned me that no one save whoever became me husband could see me undressed. You’ve already seen me when you helped me shower, but I don’t think this strange woman should.”

  “It’s all right, dear. She’s only going to measure you, not touch you in an inappropriate way.”

  The sales woman popped into the closet that Blossom called a dressing room—but by this time Deirdre was not dressed. The woman carried a yellow tape measure in her hand. She quickly slid the tape around Deirdre just below her breasts. “Mmm, 34, just as I thought. Now let’s see the cup size.”

  Blossom leaned near the sales woman’s ear, but Deirdre heard her whisper, “She comes from a very conservative upbringing, and was raised to wear clothes more like the 1800’s than ours.”

  Shocked as she was with her own behavior, Deirdre suppressed a smile. Clothes exactly like the 1800’s would be more like it. She wondered if this store carried pantaloons like those she was used to? What would this strange woman think if she asked for them?

  The sales woman nodded then turned to Deirdre. “Um, could you hold your arms out from your body?”

  Resigned to the indignity, Deirdre complied as the woman placed the tape across the peak of her nipples.

  “Fine, that’s a 34C. Did you have a particular type in mind? Underwire, front fastening, push up?”

  “Oh, I hardly think push up is necessary. Maybe she should try with and without underwire. We’d like bras to match these undies.” Blossom passed a handful of wispy creations to the sales person. She held one back and removed a ticket from it which she passed to the woman. “We’ll keep this pair for her to wear now.”

  When the sales clerk had gone to search out the coordinating bras, Blossom insisted she try on the remaining pair of panties.

  “There’s no sides to them.”

  “I think French cut will be good. Later on, you may want to try something more daring.”

  Deirdre couldn’t suppress her shock. “No, nothing more daring. Sure and I’ll never need so many. Or all those colors. Isn’t white all a body needs?”

  Blossom couldn’t be distracted. “You’ll see, dear. Believe me, someday soon you’ll be glad to have these.”

  Three hours later, Deirdre and Blossom were loaded with purchases—most of them for Deirdre. Blossom opened something she called a trunk at the back of her car, and they stacked all their purchases inside.

  Once they were seated in the car, Blossom said, “Now, dear, let’s move on to the most important part of our day. We’re going to get those papers you need.”

  “B-But Brendan said it’s impossible.” She recalled he’d cautioned his mother. Against what?

  “You remember my neighbor, Tom Whitley? Lovely boy, hardworking and so helpful. He arranged for us to meet with a friend of his.” She opened her purse and took out a sheet of paper. “Read this to me, will you? The directions start here at the mall.”

  “Go west on Main Street for two miles. Then—“

  “That’s enough for now. Wait until I tell you we’ve driven almost two miles to tell me the next part.”

  Following Tom’s directions, they arrived at a large red brick building and Blossom drove into the parking lot. It must be a place where many families lived, but nothing like the fine house where she stayed with Blossom or the smaller one where Brendan lived. A sparse lawn bordered the building, and scrawny bushes grew beneath a few windows. A couple of spindly trees barely cast shade and there were no flowers. The sign at the street read University Apartments.

  Deirdre thanked the saints she lived where she did and read the last sentence of instructions. “Go to apartment ten and ask for Bill. Remind him I sent you.”

  Blossom parked near a door bearing the number ten. “This looks like the right place. Let’s go in, shall we?”

  “Blossom, are you sure this will be all right. Brendan said I could cause you a lot of trouble if I tried for a job. Much as I’d love working in your wonderful shop, sure and I don’t want to cause problems between you and your son or for you with the government.”

  “Now don’t worry.” With a pat on Deirdre’s arm, Blossom said, “Brendan is overly cautious and takes himself way too seriously. Comes from the time he spent with those awful grandparents.”

  “Were they so mean to him then?”

  “I tried to train him properly, but they wanted to turn him into a Nazi. Thank goodness he turned out fairly well. I tell you, dear, raising a son is not easy.”

  “What’s a Nazi?”

  “Never mind, dear, let’s take care of our business here. Everything will be fine, you’ll see.”

  Deirdre bit her lip and wondered what she should do. She could hardly refuse to go with Blossom, yet common sense told her she should insist they leave. Then she weighed living as a permanent guest forever against working and earning her own way. She gathered the courage to do whatever it took to make working possible.

  When Blossom knocked at number ten’s door, a young man answered. He was thin and wore thick glasses, and he looked rumpled. And wary.

  “Are you Bill?”

  “Yeah?” He held the door open only enough for him to look out. A chain crossed the opening level with his chin.

  “Tom Whitley sent us. I’m Blossom Hunter, and this is Deirdre Dougherty. I hope you can help Deirdre.”

  “Okay.” He closed the door. When he reopened it, the chain was gone and he stepped asi
de for them to enter. Deirdre looked around curiously. The few pieces of furniture appeared old and sadly used, except for a computer similar to the one on Blossom’s desk.

  Bill sat in front of the computer. “You know I don’t do credit cards? Just IDs.”

  Blossom nodded. “I have plenty of credit cards already. My friend needs identification for a job.”

  He looked at Deirdre. “So what do you need?”

  Blossom answered for her. “A birth certificate. Driver’s license. Oh, and a social security card.” She looked at Deirdre. “Hmm, and a high school diploma.”

  “Tom tell you what it’ll cost you?” The young man appeared to assess first Blossom, then Deirdre.

  Blossom pulled her wallet from her purse. “Yes, and I’ve come prepared.”

  Some of the wariness left Bill’s face and he appeared to relax. He picked up a pen and held it over a piece of paper. “Give me names and dates.”

  Blossom rattled off the information and Bill took notes. Then he opened a drawer and displayed an array of documents. “This will take a few minutes.” He pointed to a spot in front of a screen and looked at Deirdre. “Stand on that X marked with tape.”

  She stood where he indicated

  “Look at me and smile.” He flashed a light at her.

  She blinked and walked back beside Blossom.

  Blossom leaned near and whispered. “That was a camera, dear, even though it’s not like mine. Bill took your photo for your driver’s license. I’ll explain all of this later.”

  Deirdre wanted to ask more questions, but decided to wait for Blossom’s details.

  Bill pointed to a lumpy, brown sofa then resumed pecking at his computer keyboard. “You ladies may as well have a seat. This takes a few minutes.”

  When Blossom and she sat, Deirdre thought their weight would send them through the springs to the floor. She poked some loose stuffing into a worn place on the sofa’s armrest. There were no lovely paintings on the wall as at Blossom’s home. And these walls were a dingy white.

  Soft drink cans and a half-empty bag of corn chips sat on the rickety table in front of them beside a stack of books. Deirdre would have expected Bill to live in a nicer place and to be older. This young man wasn’t much past the age of the teens she and Brendan had talked to yesterday.