Keeper of the Key

by Barbara Christopher

  “Is everything okay, baby?” Michael asked.

  She snapped back to the present and nodded. Michael lowered his head and kissed her.

  When she didn’t respond to his kiss, Michael tensed, and pressed his mouth to hers again, probing fiercely, almost violently, with his tongue.

  Becci jerked back. She’d made a mistake, a big one.

  “What’s the matter? There’s nothing wrong with a little kiss on the dance floor,” Michael said.

  A little kiss? He’d nearly attacked her. “I’m sorry. I . . . I don’t think it’s proper,” she replied.

  “Then let’s go some place where it is proper,” Michael said. He brushed his hands from her shoulders to her hands. “I stole one of Lilly’s pies. It’s in the car. How about you and I get out of here and share it at my place?”

  Becci cringed at the thought of fighting off his advances. He’d never really attempted more than a few kisses, but tonight he seemed different. She knew instinctively he wanted more than kisses.

  “No,” she answered a bit too hastily. “I’m not ready, Michael. You promised you wouldn’t push.”

  “We’re engaged, baby, and this is the twenty-first century. Nobody goes into a marriage without sampling the goods.”

  A flash of anger sparked inside her. “I’m not ‘goods,’” she snapped. “I’m a person. And I don’t want to fight. Not tonight.”

  “Okay. I’ll forgive you this time and take you home. You do look tired.”

  She and Michael had always had a quiet relationship. A kiss or two here or there while they discussed her finances had marked the extent of their passion. Even their dates had been easygoing and, she suddenly realized, boring. Becci stared up at Michael. Aunt Lilly was right. She didn’t love him.

  And it wasn’t just Caleb’s kiss that had made her see the truth. It was that every time she saw Caleb she had the same reaction—her heart raced, her breath caught, and the desire to touch and be touched flooded her.

  Her response to his kiss this morning had not been a fluke. She wanted Caleb Harrison like she’d never wanted another man, and in the most intimate way.

  She had to tell Michael tonight that their engagement was off. She would invite him in for coffee and try to explain.

  THE SUN DROPPED below the horizon as Lilly left the shed. Caleb smiled to himself as his gaze followed her trek back to the house. Lilly hadn’t been near as closemouthed about Becci as he’d thought she would be. She’d answered most of his questions. Now, he needed to learn about all the changes that had taken place over the last hundred and sixty years. Lilly said she was exhausted and asked him to wait until morning. But he didn’t want to wait.

  Once Lilly entered the main house, Caleb started opening the boxes he’d set at the foot of his bed. Lilly said the boxes contained a whole set of encyclopedias like the one he’d been reading when Michael arrived, and she told him they were books on the history of the world.

  He’d just about given up hope when he found them. Using two boxes as bookends he lined the books against the wall in order and ran his index finger over the raised letters on the leather binding. There was so much to learn—so much Rebecca and the others from his time would never believe. The information he would gain from these books alone would be tremendous.

  If he went back he would have to be careful with whom he shared the knowledge, however. People in his time would proclaim him crazy and lock him away for the rest of his life. But if he didn’t go back, he would need to know everything in order to survive.

  Caleb turned away from the books and removed his boots. He stripped off his pants and drawers and hung them on the nail beside his hat.

  Slowly he picked up the first volume, dropped onto the cot and draped the blanket around his hips. He flipped through the book, glancing at the strange pictures. Suddenly, his gaze locked on a picture that filled the page. An automobile.

  His heart raced. Becci had one of these contraptions. He’d seen it out front. Ascott had one, too. He’d watched Becci and Ascott get into it and leave.

  As a new wave of jealousy hit him at the thought of the two of them courting, Caleb shook his head in disgust. He didn’t have time for such feelings. He had a lot to learn, and the current mode of travel was just the beginning.

  Settling back, he read the entire article. He returned to the first page and looked at the strange pictures. Times had changed more than he wanted to admit, but he could easily picture himself in one of the horseless carriages with Becci at his side.

  He shut the book and reached for the second one, only to stop when he heard the crunch of gravel and the deep-throated roar of Ascott’s automobile.

  Caleb rolled out of the cot. Hurriedly, he shrugged into his shirt, tugged on his britches and boots, and slapped on his hat.

  He caught the thin material covering the window and eased it back. His hands shook at the sight of two round, eyelike lights. They vanished suddenly, leaving the yard black.

  Michael and Becci had indeed returned. A small light inside the enclosed compartment of the oddly shaped carriage clearly illuminated them.

  Becci tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and made several motions with her hands while she spoke. She didn’t look too happy. Michael nodded as if agreeing with what she’d said.

  Caleb took a deep breath of the shed’s musty air. Would Becci agree to teach him about this new mode of travel? He wanted a closer look at it. This had to be an automobile, although it didn’t resemble the pictures he’d seen.

  He decided that when Becci and Michael got out he would sneak up close and peek inside. What harm could there be in getting a better look?

  He watched them open the sides of the automobile and slide out. He waited until they entered the house. Slowly, he eased out the shed door, and he jumped when the machine beeped twice and the lights flashed. Caleb hesitated, but it made no other noises. Silently, he crept toward it.

  BECCI OPENED THE window above the sink and glanced toward the one behind the table. Even though the sun had gone down hours ago, the humidity had turned the kitchen into an oven.

  She retrieved the mocha-flavored coffee out of the freezer and measured enough for a full pot. Michael hated the flavored brews, but this pot was for her not him.

  “It’s hot,” Michael grumbled. “Let’s shut the window and door and turn on the air conditioner,” he suggested as he reached for the doorknob.

  “No, leave the door open. I like the fresh air, and it costs too much to cool this place.”

  “What difference does that make? You’ll have plenty of money once you sell the house.”

  “But the bill will come before I sell, so unless you plan on forking over the hundred I paid for tonight’s banquet, leave the door open,” Becci said, frowning at the realization that he’d seemed to have forgotten the Ascomp grant.

  “You’ll get your money. I just don’t happen to have it right now.”

  “Fine. The door stays open,” she repeated

  Michael paused in the entryway. What little air filtered in around him fluttered the red-fringed edge of the tablecloth. Becci sighed. She’d left the door open for two reasons. The first being she hoped Michael would take the hint and leave. He didn’t.

  Her second reason made her heart thud so hard she could barely breathe. She’d seen Caleb’s shadowed figure outlined against the white shed and knew he’d seen them. She had hoped he would follow them inside. He hadn’t.

  She shook her head. When would she ever learn not to trust a man? Both Caleb and Michael frightened her, but for different reasons. Tonight Michael had an air of controlled anger that made her feel physically threatened. Caleb’s easy going nature threatened her emotionally. His quiet confidence only added to his allure.

  She silently cursed. She didn’t need either of them at the moment. She needed m
oney.

  UNDER THE COVER of darkness, Caleb crossed the yard and eased closer to the sleek, black carriage. He touched a fingertip to the roof. He’d seen them touch it, and neither of them had feared it so surely it wouldn’t harm him.

  Cautiously, Caleb flattened his hand on the roof and traced a line over the contour of the cold slick surface. One step at a time, he moved around to the back. A row of silver letters spelled out M-u-s-t-a-n-g.

  A smile tugged at his lips. This was definitely a horse of a different kind. Black and cold as ice, but just as slick as a well-groomed stallion. Caleb rubbed each of the letters and continued to examine the outside. Becci had looked good sitting on the seat, but the area seemed too crowded for two people.

  Curling his knuckles, he brushed the surface lightly and rounded the end. There was a seam in the side then it became smooth again, but only for a short distance. The back of his hand dropped into an indented area.

  The beat of his heart echoed in his ears, and sweat trickled into his eyes. With his free hand, Caleb swiped at the moisture. Easing a step away, he traced the area around the small hollow. There seemed to be a separation there. This part had opened to let Becci out. He turned his hand over and let his fingers slide into the cavern. It felt different.

  Slowly, he tugged upward. With a sharp snap, the section popped open, and Caleb gasped in alarm. Lights flashed and a shrill noise split the air.

  Jerking free, Caleb hit the ground. What had he done? His heart pounded in competition with the noises surrounding him. He rolled as far away from the automobile as he could and scooted under the bushes out of sight.

  A SHRILL BLAST shook Becci out of her internal debate.

  Dear Lord, that’s Michael’s car. What has Caleb done now?

  And she knew Caleb was the cause of the commotion, whether intentional or not. She sure hoped he at least had enough sense to hide.

  “My car! Damn it, I knew I should have locked it.” Michael shouted, whirling around. “Call the police.”

  “Michael, wait. Don’t go out there.” Becci caught Michael by the arm and kept her voice calm. “Let’s get a light and look around. Then we can decide if we need to call the police.”

  Purposely, she opened the wrong drawer. She had to stall and give Caleb enough time to get out of sight.

  “Will you hurry?” Michael snapped.

  Becci snatched the flashlight out of the drawer and scooted past Michael. As they rounded the corner of the house, she scanned the yard with the light and saw a booted foot disappear beneath the shrubbery. Hopefully, Michael hadn’t seen it.

  When would Caleb learn to ask questions before he took action? She shook her head, instinctively knowing the answer. Never.

  This morning Aunt Lilly had introduced Caleb to indoor plumbing. Becci smiled as the image of Caleb standing in the bathroom drenched from head to toe came to mind. He’d shoved his hands under the faucet trying to hold back the flood of water, and he had ended up drenching himself and the bathroom before her aunt had turned off the water.

  Such a performance couldn’t be feigned twice. No matter what she had thought before, Caleb’s response could only be explained in one way. As insane as it sounded, he must be from the past.

  Becci fanned the area with the flashlight, avoiding the row of bushes behind them. “Whoever opened the door is long gone by now. Maybe next time you should consider locking your car.”

  “Yeah. And if you’d known where you stored your flashlight we might have caught the culprit.”

  “I’m sorry,” she lied.

  Michael leaned Becci back against the car. “At least they didn’t get the car. This baby can’t be replaced,” he said reaching over Becci’s shoulder to trace a line along the car’s roof. The adoration in his eyes rivaled any that she’d ever seen. He’d never looked at her like that.

  Becci rested one hand on his chest to push him away, but he held her firmly in his grasp.

  “We’ll talk tomorrow,” Michael said. “I hate to keep bugging you, but my buyer wants an answer. He won’t wait forever, so I’ll need your decision when I call.”

  “Michael, what about the financial aid from Ascomp that we’ve been working on? Until I hear something about that I can’t give your buyer an answer.

  “You don’t need a damn nursery, and I don’t have time to waste on such a foolish project,” he snapped.

  Becci’s temper flared, but she bit back her retort and calmly said, “Ascomp won’t decide who gets the money until after the party, and that’s three weeks away. I need that time, Michael.”

  He pressed his lips into a tight line. For a moment she thought he would refuse. “All right. I’ll find a way to make my client understand, but it’s imperative I have the signed contract in my hands that night.”

  “Caleb says I shouldn’t sell.”

  “What does he know? He’s a backwoods carpenter who doesn’t know how to turn a buck.”

  “Carpenter? How did you know Caleb was a carpenter?” She hadn’t told him anything about Caleb, and when she’d entered the kitchen earlier everyone had been so tense that she was sure that neither Caleb nor her aunt had told him.

  “I didn’t know for sure, but I know his type. He certainly isn’t a man who can give you sound financial advice. Use your head, baby. I’m your friend and your personal consultant, and I’m going to marry you.”

  Becci glanced toward the shrubbery and flicked the flashlight on and off. She needed time to think about what Michael had just said. Even if she wasn’t going to marry Michael, she did trust his financial advice. Would she be better off selling? She might get enough money to open a better, more modern nursery somewhere else instead of sinking a fortune into this money pit of a house. And if she broke off her engagement with Michael right now, she might lose the seller he already had lined up. Who knew how long it would take to find another buyer.

  She felt torn, knowing she should tell Michael she didn’t love him and wouldn’t marry him, but she had to think about her aunt. Would it really be so wrong to wait another couple of weeks before breaking their engagement?

  Before she could come up with an answer, Michael curled a finger beneath her chin and turned her face toward his. Lowering his head, he brought his lips to hers, stopping a breath away.

  “Forget Caleb. I know what’s right for you,” he whispered, brushing his lips against hers.

  Becci turned away from his kiss and saw a flicker of anger in his eyes as he cupped his palm to her cheek and forced her to meet his gaze.

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you cared more about that bum than you do me. You wear my ring, Becci. Not his.”

  She couldn’t reply. The solitaire on her left hand seemed to tighten. If she had any sense at all she would give his ring back and tell him to get out of her life, but what would she do without his financial advice? Who could she trust to handle the sale of her property? No one else had presented an offer that promised as much as the one he’d given her.

  “I think you’d better leave now. It’s late, and I have to work tomorrow.”

  “Okay, Rebecca, but we will settle the issue of the house within the month.” He lowered his head and ground his lips roughly against hers. She hadn’t expected such a harsh kiss, and when he raised his head, the only sparks she felt had to do anger not passion. How dare he try to force her to make a snap decision on something so important! Her anger veered toward panic at the sound of Caleb’s muttered curse coming from the bushes.

  Damn it, Caleb, shut up. What if Michael hears you?

  “You’d better go,” Becci said, hoping she’d covered Caleb’s mumbling as she shrugged out of Michael’s grasp.

  “We’ll talk, tomorrow,” he assured her again, his voice clipped and his expression hard.

  Michael slid behind the wheel, and Becci breathed a
sigh of relief as she watched his car disappear behind the row of trees that blocked the view of the busy highway. The moment the car was out of sight she turned toward the shrubs.

  “Caleb Harrison, get in the house. Now!”

  Ten

  BECCI PACED AROUND the kitchen. Her head pounded, and her muscles ached from all the tugging and lifting she’d done over the last two days. Having Caleb sit at the table with his hat pulled just low enough to give her a shadowed glimpse of his sparkling blue eyes didn’t help.

  His cockeyed half-smile gave him a mischievous but confident aura. The room seemed to shrink in his presence, and her pulse started tapping out a rhythm that she’d never felt before Caleb’s arrival.

  “Men,” she rasped. “I don’t need this. I don’t need Michael, and I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.”

  She watched his mouth twitch. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” she said as she took two glasses from the cabinet and slammed them onto the counter. “Didn’t you see the flashing light on the console? You had to know the alarm was set.”

  The minute she spoke, she realized how ridiculous that statement must have sounded to him. She lifted her hands in exasperation and slapped them against the counter, making the glasses clink together.

  “Of course you didn’t,” she stated, expelling a sigh. “You didn’t even know what a car was until tonight.”

  He shoved his hat back and gave her the full impact of his mischievous smile and glistening blue eyes. “It sounded worse than a drunken band of river ruffians after a long night of carousing.”

  Caleb rocked back in his chair. “I had a mustang, once. Well, it wasn’t exactly mine. The man who took me from the orphanage to work his fields owned him.” His expression slipped into a distant stare. “I thought I’d found a home, but it didn’t work out.”

  “What happened?” She watched the sparkle drain from his eyes, replaced by a deep sadness. She wished she hadn’t asked. The memory obviously wasn’t a good one.