Portals of Time

by Vicky McCracken

  “Back when I was a young man, one of my first jobs was working in a newspaper office. We had to make sure everything we had, including pictures, were real and true before we printed it. I learned a lot about the trade,” Bo said smiling.

  “You never told me,” Lori said.

  “You never asked about what I did before I came here.”

  Lori smiled back at the older man. “No, I guess I didn’t. Nor did dad.”

  “Okay, it may take me some time. Anyway, we need to tell you what happened at the museum yesterday,” Bo said.

  Lori leaned back in her chair. “What happened?”

  Jessie took a breath. “It was after the museum on the way home. You see my watch,” he handed the watch to her as he spoke, “look at the picture on the outside.”

  Lori looked at the watch. “This is the one your wife gave you when you were married?”

  Jessie nodded. “It was passed down for three generations of wives from Missy’s grandmother to her mother to her. We could never figure out what the picture was until yesterday when I saw it on the big thing.”

  Lori was studying the picture. Both she and Bo said at the same time. “Texas Motor Speedway!!” “But how,” Lori asked.

  “I can’t figure it out Miss Lori. Texas Motor Speedway didn’t begin construction until 1995 and all this happened in the eighteen hundreds,” Bo said shaking his head.

  “There were no tracks or speedways. I don’t even know what it is,” Jessie said.

  “Bo will show you a race track on television later,” Lori told him. “This is strange,” she had turned back to the papers she had in front of her.

  “What is it,” Bo asked her.

  “Someone had traced our family tree on my mother’s side of the family and look who I found, this is crazy.” She was pointing to the paper. Both Jessie and Bo came to see what she was talking about.

  “My Missy,” Jessie said, for there on the paper, back several generation’s was the name Missy McCoy, her date of birth and the date of her death. “What does this mean,” Jessie asked puzzled.

  “From what this paper says Jessie, your Missy was a direct ancestor to our Lori,” Bo said.

  Lori looked more closely at the paper in her hand. “It says here that Missy had a baby girl named Mary when she was sixteen.”

  “My Missy,” Jessie asked.

  “Yes, it’s right here,” Lori said. “I’m sorry Jessie.”

  “She had a baby before I met her and she didn’t tell me. Why? Why would she not have told me she had a baby before we met?” Jessie fell into a chair in the corner. His mind was racing. Could this be true? Why would Missy not tell him who the father was? He needed to go back to talk to her family. Maybe they knew something. Aloud he said softly, “I need to go back. I have to find out what happened.”

  Lori went back to looking at the papers in front of her. She saw where Missy’s Grandmother had been the first to give the watch to her husband on their first Christmas. Aloud she said,

  “Jessie, can I see your watch please?”

  “What are you thinking Lori,” Bo asked.

  “I think even back then, it was meant for Jessie to come to this time. I know it sounds crazy but check this out Bo,” she handed him a couple of papers she had been looking at.

  “Strange,” Bo said after reading some of what was on the paper. “Missy’s Grandmother had bought the watch from an old lady claiming to be a gypsy and could tell the future.”

  Lori was quiet for a minute then she said to Jessie. “Tell me, slowly, everything you remember about the other day from just before you came here until you realized you were here.”

  Jessie was still for a minute then he began to speak. “I had gone out to check my traps and when I was about a mile away from where you found me the other day, I heard the Indians. I pulled my horse behind a clump of trees and climbed down. Everything was fine for a few minutes then my horse snorted. I jumped back into the saddle and kneed the horse because the Indians had found me. They chased me across the field when suddenly from out of nowhere there was a thunderstorm. I thought it was strange because we never had a thunderstorm in April. It is so warm in this time, you probably get them all the time in April now. There were still about two inches of snow on the ground. I thought the lightning had hit my watch, for it had come out of my pocket. I started to put it back when another streak of lightning seemed to hit the watch. This time I managed to get it back into my pocket and kneed my horse faster to run deeper into the forest. After only a few minutes I realized the weather was a lot warmer and the trees were gone as well as the Indians. That’s when I knew something had changed.”

  “Okay,” Lori said. “Here’s what I think. It was meant for you to come into this time. Maybe not at that minute but sometime. I also think it is your watch that brought you here.”

  “There’s something else I remember,” Jessie said. “When I was sitting by the creek the other day, I pulled out my watch to see what time it was and I remember thinking the things on the outside of it had moved a little.”

  “The cars on the track,” Bo asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Which way, do you remember?”

  “Forward I think.”

  “That’s it,” Lori said. “Has to be it, if the cars go forward then you go forward into the future but I believe you were going to be here at one point anyway. There has to be a way to understand this and go back and forth to whichever you want when you want.”

  “Then there would have to be a portal somewhere on the ranch,” Bo said.

  Lori sounded deep in thought as she spoke slowly. “Yes, but it could be anywhere. We have to find it but I don’t know where to start.

  Jessie was listening closely to what Lori and Bo were saying, then he spoke,

  “What is a portal? What do you mean about the picture on my watch? I was going to come to this time anyway? I don’t understand,” he was shaking a little.

  Lori came over to him. “I’m sorry Jessie. Sometimes I forget. Okay,” she held his watch out to him. “See the little cars.” She was pointing to the tiny cars on the track as she spoke. “When you were sent here, these cars moved forward on the track. I don’t know how yet, but I will figure it out.”

  “So for me to go back home, we need to make the cars go backwards,” Jessie asked.

  “Yes, I think that’s right, but something makes them move. I don’t know what yet.” Lori leaned over and took his hand. “Please don’t be afraid. Bo and I will be with you and we won’t let anything happen to you.”

  Jessie was holding lightly to both her hands. “What about you, you are having a child. Someone needs to watch out for you. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I’ll be alright,” Lori said. “Now women hardly ever die in childbirth. I will be fine as long as I go to the doctor when I should and when I do I will find out how far along I am and in a month or so we will know if it’s a boy or girl.”

  Jessie’s eyes filled with tears. “Missy had a boy. He is dead but he was a boy.”

  “It’s okay Jessie. Now let me tell you what a portal is. It’s a creation that is used for transporting from one time to another. Most people don’t believe they are real but I think we have proof of this one.”

  Jessie took all this in. He turned loose of Lori’s hands and wiped his eyes. “I must get back as soon as possible.”

  “That’s easier said than done Jessie,” Lori told him. “First we have to find the portal. Then we have to figure out exactly how the watch got you here and how to go back to the right year and not jump into the future again or further back into the past than you were living.”

  Jessie sighed. “I’m going back to my room. I need to think on all this.” He stood up and Lori stood also.

  “It’ll be okay Jessie. Even if we can’t get you back, you can stay here at the ranch with us.” She reached up her hand and touched one side of his face gently.

  “Thank you Lori. You and Bo have help
ed me so much. I don’t think I could have made it this far without you.”

  Lori moved away from him as he walked slowly out of the room. She turned to Bo. “I’m really worried about him Bo. He doesn’t understand what’s happening but then, neither do I.”

  “I know Miss Lori. You really like that young man, don’t you?”

  “I do Bo. Somehow I seem to be drawn to him. Do you think this is part of the reason he was brought to this time?”

  “Maybe. While we are on this wild stuff, what if you were Missy reincarnated. It’s just a crazy thought. Now let’s try to get the rest of these bills paid and see what we can do about running this ranch.”

  The two of them worked in the office all afternoon until it was time for dinner. There seemed to be a stiffness in the air at the dinner table. Jessie was quiet as were Lori and Bo but Trace was babbling over with fun and laughter. He had the men laughing and Lori thought it was the loudest dinner table she had ever eaten at. After dinner, she and Bo retired back into the office and Jessie went back to his room. After a while though, Lori and Bo decided if they kept losing animals they would have to let some of the help go until they could find out what was killing the animals. Then they spent hours going over all the workers from the ranch and the house help. It took a while for them to decide how many and whom they would let go if need be. They were almost finished when a knock came on the office door. It was Trace.

  “Hey, sis, we haven’t gotten to talk any since I came. What’s up? Still checking me out?”

  “No, but we did check you out. It’s just ranch business Trace. Sorry, but business comes first here,” Lori said.

  “You sound like dad, all work and no play.”

  “Kind of how we keep this ranch running, son,” Bo told him.

  “Come on. You have to take time to relax and enjoy life,” Trace smiled. “Even you, old timer.”

  Bo came up in the younger man’s face. “Son, if you call me old timer again, I’ll show you just how young old is and I’ll send you packing a lot faster than you came here. Do I make myself clear?”

  Trace sobered. “Yes sir, sorry sir.”

  “Bo is second to me here. Anything he tells you, I will stand behind, and yes you may very well be my brother but I call the shots when it comes to this ranch and the running of it. Do you understand that?”

  “I do, Lori, sorry. I guess I will see you tomorrow. I’m, going into town tonight. I’ll see you later.” Trace turned and left the room.

  “You told him Miss Lori, good for you. He may be your brother but I don’t think I like that young man much.”

  “I’m not sure I like him either, Bo. I do know he’s not going to come on to this ranch and get everyone to go out and play with him.”

  “Good. Now, do we have the names of the ones we will let go when the time comes,” Bo asked.

  “Yes, it’s all set. I’ll call a meeting before breakfast in the morning. At least everyone will know what is going on and if things keep going as they are, what to except.” Lori said.

  “I agree, Miss Lori. Now if you don’t need me anymore, I am going to have a bath and go to bed.” Bo sounded tired as he spoke.

  “You do that Bo, and I will see you in the morning,” Lori kissed the older man’s cheek. “Good night. Will you check on Jessie?”

  “Yes. Good night,” Bo left the office and Lori followed locking the door behind her.

  * * * * * * * *

  Jessie sat in his room going over and over in his mind all the things Bo and Lori had told, but he still couldn’t understand why Missy wouldn’t have told him about the baby she had two years before they had met. After all, it had been before they met but he still felt as if she should have told him. It was something important in her life and who had raised the little girl that was kin to Lori. All this was so strange. He wasn’t mad at Missy for not telling him but she had always been so honest with him about everything.

  After a long while, Jessie laid down and tried to sleep. He didn’t sleep well at all and at one point he dreamed of Missy again. They were out riding together and somehow she had ridden off ahead of him when suddenly he heard her scream, “Jessie, help me, I’m falling.”

  He rode quickly toward her voice and saw her in a pool of quick sand slowly going down. “Don’t worry Missy. I’ll save you.” He grabbed the rope from his horse and threw it out to her. Once she had taken hold, he pulled with all his might. As he pulled, he could hear her crying and as he pulled her to safety she threw her arms around him. “I knew you would save me.”

  He held her close. A strange feeling came over him. He held her at arm’s length and said, “Lori, how did you get here?” For the woman he was holding was now Lori not Missy.

  Jessie awoke shaking. What a strange dream he had. Missy had turned into Lori. He shook his head realizing it was morning and hearing all the men outside talking, he opened his door and asked,

  “What’s going on?”

  “Lori and Bo have called a meeting before breakfast. It can’t be good,” one of the men said. “You better hurry.”

  “Yes I will,” Jessie closed his door again and decided to try the shower thing. Maybe it was quicker. After his shower, he decided he liked this better than a bath even though it had scared him a little at first. He made it to the main house just in time for the meeting. Lori and Bo were outside. He stood in the back and listened as they explained how they may have to let a few people go. If it happened, the ones being let go would be called into the office to receive their last pay check one by one.

  Breakfast was quiet and Jessie wondered where Trace was. When he saw Bo, he asked where Trace had gone.

  Bo smiled. “He went off into town last night and didn’t come back. Maybe he will stay there.”

  Jessie smiled back at the older man. “I think I will go for a ride.”

  “Be careful. Remember, the land isn’t like it used to be and you could get lost.”

  “I’ll be okay. See you later.”

  Jessie walked slowly to the barn and saddled his horse, talking to it as he worked. When he was finished, he patted the horse gently before climbing into the saddle. Slowly he rode across the ranch not realizing where he was going until he suddenly saw the oak tree. He stopped and a sense of calm came over him. He jumped off the horse and tied it, then walked to the place his cabin had been and sat on the ground. He felt so close to Missy here as if she were right beside him.

  “Jessie, are you asleep?” He heard the voice and realized he had dozed off. He shook his head to clear it and he looked up to see Lori on her horse in front of him.

  “Seems like we had the same idea this morning,” she said. “Riding calms me and I needed to calm down and think.”

  Jessie asked her, “Should you be riding in your condition?”

  Lori laughed. “I’m okay Jessie, I haven’t even been sick this morning. Having a baby is a natural part of life. Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

  “Okay, if you say so,” Jessie went to his horse and climbed into the saddle. “Where should we ride?”

  “Let’s go this way,” Lori pointed.

  “That’s the same direction I took to check my traps.”

  “Then it’s a good one. I’ll race you.” Lori was laughing.

  They raced off across the ranch laughing when suddenly the sky grew dark. “It’s going to rain,” Lori said laughing as she looked across at Jessie who was neck and neck with her.

  “Won’t slow me down,” Jessie said as he kneed his horse ahead of hers.

  He could hear her laughing behind him just before a loud clap of thunder followed a streak of lightning. Lori was ahead of him now and he heard another clap of thunder and lightning which struck a tree directly in front of them. He could see it begin to fall as Lori rode close.

  “Lori, look out,” he came close enough to her horse and swung her off her horse, falling off his own horse, to save her from the tree. He didn’t see but he heard Lori’s horse as the tree struck it. He landed
on the ground beside Lori as the thunder and lightning came so close together it seemed to appear to be in the same second. Another flash of lightning showed him the fallen tree and Lori’s horse lying dead under it. That was all he remembered before darkness came over him.

  Chapter 6

  Jessie could feel the ground hard beneath him, cold, making him feel cold. He moved his left hand and made a fist. Snow, he had a hand full of snow. Shivering, he opened his eyes. He was laying in at least six inches of new snow. Where was he? Sitting up slowly, he brushed some of the snow off his shirt and britches. What had happened? In a flash it all came back. He and Lori had been riding, racing their horses across the ranch, when a thunderstorm came up, just like when he had met Lori. He stood up and looked out across the snow. He saw some tree limbs and looking more closely at them, he could see horse hairs and realized one of their horses or maybe both hadn’t come through with them. He began to realize all this looked familiar to him. Home, he was back home. Happiness rushed over him and suddenly he thought of Lori. What had happened to Lori? He began to panic, “Oh God,” he thought to himself. Where was Lori? Maybe she wasn’t here with him. Maybe she was still back on her ranch. As he walked around, it began to snow again.

  “Jessie, where are you? Jessie, are you here?” Lori’s voice was a welcome sound.

  “Lori, I can’t see you.”

  “Where are we?” Jessie could hear the fear and cold in her voice as he followed the sound of it.

  “Here I am,” Lori said as Jessie saw her sitting in the snow.

  “You alright,” he asked as he knelt beside her.

  “Yes, I’m fine, just cold.” She was shivering and Jessie helped her to her feet and she began to rub her arms. “Where are we,” she asked again.

  “We’re still on the ranch but I’m not sure where. This is my ranch,” Jessie said.

  “You mean we traveled back in time to 1888?”

  “Yes, I think so. I can take you to my cabin and we can get warm. Come on. Your horse died and I don’t know if mine came with us or not.” He whistled loudly and heard a horse snort. He whistled again and saw his horse coming toward him.