Sequel to When Kat's Away
Forever Eva
Eva grew up knowing her mother came from the future. When Timothy Canders holds the family at gunpoint in an effort to make them summon the time-portal, she’s accidentally pulled in with him. But when she arrives in 2014, Timothy is nowhere to be found.
Tony and Zach investigated when two women disappeared from Hamilton two years ago. Imagine their surprise when a young woman, dressed like the old west, comes walking out of the old, broken down saloon.
Eva falls in love with her two rescuers but doesn’t realize a policewoman on the force will do anything to keep Tony for herself. When the young policewoman finds evidence tying Eva to the disappearance of the missing women she has to find a way to get back to her own time, or face a lifetime in prison. Will the portal allow the men to travel back with her, or leave them behind?
Genre: Historical, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Time Travel
Length: 58,180 words
FOREVER EVA
Sequel to When Kat's Away
Missy Martine
MENAGE AMOUR
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Amour
FOREVER EVA
Copyright © 2013 by Missy Martine
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-040-4
First E-book Publication: June 2013
Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
I’d like to send a big “thank you” to all my fans on Facebook. Their constant encouragement and suggestions helped develop Eva’s story. You guys are the greatest.
Also, I’d like to give thanks to all the park rangers, and state workers that watch over our historical sites. Do yourself a favor and visit your local historic sites whenever possible. My hubby and I spent a great deal of time in Hamilton, Nevada, in preparation for this series and it was fascinating.
FOREVER EVA
Sequel to When Kat's Away
MISSY MARTINE
Copyright © 2013
Chapter 1
1899
Evalina Katarina Bennington-Martinson, known as Eva to her friends, slowly pumped water into the bucket and then placed it on top of the black, wood-burning stove to heat. She glanced around the messy kitchen and sighed, unhappy with the way her life was turning out. She was twenty-three years old, and for all intents and purposes, an old maid. There were no young, eligible men in Hamilton, least ways none she’d give the time of day to. The few friends she’d had eventually succumbed to pressure from their families and married one of the miners. “There’s no way I’ll ever do that. I wanna travel and see the world. That’s the only way I’ll ever meet my prince charmings.” She giggled and grabbed the broom. “Two’s my lucky number.” She closed her eyes and began to hum as she twirled around the room holding the broom close, her petticoats swirling around her feet.
“We need to talk, daughter.”
Eva stopped when her mother grabbed her arm. Anna Bennington-Martinson was still a beautiful woman at the age of fifty-two. Only an inch taller than Eva’s five-and-a-half-foot frame, her red hair carried only a few gray streaks. Mother and daughter were especially close with so many men in their family. Anna had been on vacation with her best friend in the year 2012 when she’d had an accident and woke up to find herself in the cellar of the Silver Rush Saloon in the year 1871. There she’d met the owners, Beau Martinson and Zeke Bennington, and it had been love at first sight. They’d lived in their unconventional relationship ever since with Anna giving birth to two children. David, Eva’s brother, was twenty-eight years old, while Eva was twenty-three. The final member of their family was her adopted brother, Winter Warrior. When his Shoshone parents were killed in a massacre, they’d taken the boy in and raised him as their own.
Eva nodded, propped the broom against the wall, and took a seat at the table. “What’s wrong, Mama?” Anna’s green eyes reflected pity.
“Honey, it’s unlikely you’re gonna find yourself in a relationship like mine. What your dads and I have is unusual for these times. Most good, decent men are gonna be looking for what they think is a normal relationship. One man and one woman. They’re not gonna understand what we have.” She reached over and took Eva’s hand between her own. “You need to let yourself be willing to accept that kind of love if it comes your way. I’ve seen you turn down man after man the past couple of years, and not all of them were bad.” Anna reached up with one hand and caressed the side of Eva’s face. “Don’t you wanna find love and maybe have a family of your own one day?”
“Of course I do, but you’re wrong, Mama. I know there’s something better for me out there. I just have to wait for it and not settle for second-best.” Eva pulled her hands back and propped her chin on them, her elbows resting on the table. “I’ve always known I’d have a love like yours. My prince charmings are out there, somewhere, waiting for me to find them. And then I’ll get my happily forever after just like you.”
Ann
a stood and pulled Eva to her feet, wrapped her arms around her waist, and hugged her tightly. “I hope you’re right, little girl. I want you to be happy.” She leaned back and studied Eva’s face. “I love you, and so do your fathers.” She hesitated a moment and then grinned. “I’ll talk to them about letting you go east for a few months. It’ll give you a chance to see a little more of the world and maybe find what you’re looking for.”
Eva hugged Anna tightly and squealed, jumping up and down. “Thank you so much, Mama. You won’t regret it. I just know they’re out there waiting for me. I just know it. Now that David and Win have Kat, it’s my turn for the happily forever after.” Anna’s best friend, Kat Evans, had found her own way through the time portal and ended up in the Silver Rush Saloon twenty-five years after Anna arrived. Now, she was in love with both of Eva’s brothers.
Anna smiled. “Wait here for me, daughter. I have something for you.”
Eva watched her race down the hall and into her bedroom. In less than a minute she was walking back down the hall holding up a gold chain with a locket hanging from it.
“I think it’s time I give you this, Eva.”
“But that’s your grandmother’s locket.”
“Yes, but it’s time to pass it on to you, just like my mother passed it on to me.” She opened the shiny gold circle and held it out for Eva to see inside. “You see this little coil of hair?”
Eva peered closer. “Yes, ma’am.”
“This is a lock of hair from my grandmother. She had it cut and put in this locket on her deathbed.” She ran her finger softly over the small, silver strands. “She told my mama that as long as she wore this locket, she’d know there was someone up in heaven helping to make her dreams come true.”
Eva swallowed and stared at the gold circle. “I can’t take that. You’re still here, and she’s still making your dreams come true.”
Anna cupped her hand under Eva’s chin. “Honey, all my dreams came true when I married your fathers and my children were born. I want her watching over my baby now and making your dreams come true.”
Eva licked her lips and stared down at the silver, braided curl of hair. “Are you sure?”
Anna held the locket firmly with her thumb and forefinger and lightly kissed the braid of hair. She whispered, “Grandma, watch over my baby girl.” She closed the locket with a loud click and then placed the gold chair over Eva’s head, the locket falling to rest against her chest. “Now, maybe all your dreams will have a chance to come true.”
Eva’s fingers closed over the warm, gold locket. “Now I know I’ll find my prince charmings.”
Anna smiled and stepped back. “We still haven’t heard anything from David or Win. Beau said they’re probably staying out at the cabin and I shouldn’t worry, but something just doesn’t feel right. I told your pa I want you to go and wait at the Silver Rush until they get home and then come let us know that everything’s all right. I’d do it myself, but we promised the Winters family we’d be out to their place today to do some work. Mrs. Winters is sick, and her husband needs help with a horse that’s foaling.” She moved toward the door. “Can you do that for me, baby?”
“Sure, Mama. I don’t mind.”
“Are there any borders there now?” When David and Win took over running the Silver Rush, they’d turned the upstairs into a boarding house.
“No, ma’am. The upstairs is empty, and I’ve already been over there this morning and stripped the bed and cleaned the room where Mr. Ramsey stayed last night. Everything’s ready if somebody new shows up.”
“Will you be okay there alone? I don’t know when David and Win will be back.”
Eva pushed her mother toward the door. “I’ll be fine, Mama. I like the quiet when everybody’s gone. It’s peaceful compared to our house.”
“Okay, but you lock up when you get there and get yourself on home as soon as they get back. Make one of your brothers walk you home. I don’t want you out too late by yourself.”
Eva groaned. “Mama, it’s not that far. We’re only a few houses away. What could possibly happen in that short a walk?”
Anna snorted and opened the door. “I thank the Lord every day that you don’t know the answer to that question.” She stepped out onto the boardwalk and glanced back over her shoulder. “Mind me, girl, and get yourself home as quick as you can tonight.”
Eva smiled. “Okay, Mama. I’ll hurry on home as soon as they get back.” Anna nodded and walked away, her shoes loud on the wooden boardwalk. Eva glanced down the main dirt road of Hamilton. All the hitching posts were empty except the ones in front of the mercantile at the end of the street. The clang of an iron hammer drifted through the large double doors of the livery, competing with the barking of a dog somewhere behind the building. Grinning, she closed the door and then pulled the brown curtains across the room’s only window. “Mama’s wrong. I know there’s a pair of men out there that destiny is saving just for me.” With a lightened heart, she clasped the locket between her fingers and headed back to the kitchen.
* * * *
Timothy Canders watched Kat with a feeling of hatred. He had a leather belt rolled around his hand, leaving an eight-inch strip hanging down. His father had been a disgrace to their family. Bart Canders had set fire to the Belmont Mill to destroy the proof he’d been stealing from them, and then left one of his painted ladies there, beaten and helpless, to get rid of her. Anna had somehow found out and been there to stop him, alerting the town before the fire could get out of control. When he’d kidnapped her to find out how she’d known about the fire, he’d discovered she came from the future. She’d escaped from his clutches, and he’d been hanged for his crimes, but not before he’d told his family about the woman from the future.
Timothy had tried for several years to get close to the family by courting Eva, but she wouldn’t have anything to do with him. When Kat had suddenly appeared, saying she was a friend of the family, he knew she had to be from the future, too. He’d kidnapped her and brought her to a remote cave, determined to make her tell him everything she knew.
“Now, I’m gonna ask you again, but it’s the last time I’m gonna ask nicely.” He took a step closer, hitting the strap against his palm.
Kat struggled to her feet, her hands tied with a rope in front of her body. She took a couple of steps back and came in contact with the wall of the cave.
“How did you and Anna travel here from the future?” He began walking steadily toward her.
She shook her head and sobbed. “I swear to you I don’t know. We were vacationing in Hamilton in our time and went to check out the old saloon. One minute we were knee-deep in cobwebs, and then this glowy red thing sucked us in and dropped us in the basement at the Silver Rush. That’s all I know, I swear.”
“So you’re telling me something in the Silver Rush’s basement is what brought you here.”
“I don’t know for sure. I just know that’s where both of us ended up.”
“That actually explains a lot. I’ve often wondered why Anna and her men didn’t move away from this dead town years ago.” He smiled. “She wanted to be close to the Silver Rush to wait for you.”
“You’re wrong. She didn’t have any way of knowing I’d follow her.”
“Then she’s been staying close so she could go home when she got tired of being here.” He looked up and down Kat’s body and smiled, then narrowed his eyes. He raised his arm and dramatically slapped the belt against his own thigh, the pop echoing in the small cavern. “Now, Miss Evans, I wanna know how to make this glowy red thing take me back to your time.”
“I don’t know, I swear. Don’t you think I would have gone home by now if I knew how to make it work? It’s like it has a mind of its own and only brings certain people here.”
Timothy raised his arm, the leather hanging menacingly down. “Last chance, Miss Evans. Are you gonna tell me what I wanna know, or do I give you a good strapping?”
“I’m telling you the truth,” she
sobbed. “I can’t tell you what I don’t know.” She screamed when he brought the leather strap down hard against her lower leg. She screamed again when he pulled back for another blow, the belt slicing across the back of her thigh. Dropping down, Kat curled into a ball, covering the top of her head.
Timothy turned, his breath catching in his throat, when he heard a warlike cry. His blood turned to ice when Win rushed into the cave. He glanced toward his gun belt lying on the rocks near the small fire. He lunged toward the belt at the same time Win tackled him. They fought, rolling across the ground over the small blaze. He didn’t feel any burn it was so fast. They pummeled each other with fists, but Timothy couldn’t get the advantage.
“David,” Win called out.
Timothy knew he had to get away before David arrived. He raised his arm and punched the side of Win’s head. The Indian’s grip loosened, and Timothy slipped away.
“I’m coming in, Win,” David yelled. “Don’t shoot me.”
Timothy jumped to his feet and raced toward the hidden opening and darkness at the back of the cave.
* * * *
Eva unlocked the door at the Silver Rush and went inside. The room was dark, with only one window to let in light. She’d checked off and on all day watching for her brothers, but now it was getting dark, and she’d decided to go and get some food ready for when they got home. She took a moment to light the small lantern on the bar and turned sharply when she heard a noise coming from somewhere in the house.
Forever Eva [Sequel to When Kat's Away] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 1
