“Would you like my jacket?” He stopped the buggy and proceeded to remove it. Her hand fell lightly on his arm, halting him.
“No, I’m not cold. I just experienced déjà vu.”
He narrowed his brow. “What a peculiar saying.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I meant it felt like we’ve done this before. It gave me a chill.”
“We have, the other night when I took us into town.”
“I guess.”
They continued the journey in silence, Lance deep in thought. He was trying to decide when would be the right time to tell her he loved her and wanted to marry her. The ride home wouldn’t be appropriate for such a declaration. Maybe he could do it at the dance instead, wait for an appropriate break in the festivities, take her outside, and propose then.
Why was this so hard?
By the time they arrived at the community hall, the building was buzzing, music was playing, and couples had taken to the dance floor. It looked like the whole town was in attendance.
After they handed over the buggy to a young man waiting at the entrance, Raven slipped her hand in his. His heart flipped on contact and his skin had an unusual prickly sensation running up his arm and through the rest of him. He looked down at her and smiled.
He chest swelled and he raised his head just a little higher, knowing he was the escort of the loveliest girl at the dance. Lance proved to be popular as almost everyone they passed stopped to shake his hand. He shifted his hand from her elbow to her waist, staking his claim, as he saw many of the young men giving Raven a second look.
He moved her to a bench at the side of the hall mainly occupied by woman, although there were a few men standing close by, watching some of the giggling females.
“Would you care for some refreshment?” he asked, and she nodded. “Sit here, I’ll be right back.”
Lance looked at the array of drinks on offer. His gaze landed on an alcoholic beverage made with strawberries and crushed ice. He took a cup, smelled it, then took a sip. It was refreshing, and he couldn’t taste the alcohol. He felt sure Raven would like it, it was deep pink and pretty, with a twist of lime. He got a whiskey for himself and walked back to where he’d left her.
The vein at the side of his head threatened to burst as he stared at Brad Stolfi talking to Raven. He might be the best horse dealer in the business and an excellent ranch manager. But right now, he was between him and his lady, and Lance wasn’t standing for it.
He took a deep breath, he had to stay calm. Raven would get mad if he showed how he was feeling and ruined her night. All he had to do was hand Raven her drink and slide into the middle, breaking this party up. He didn’t want to fire Brad, but he would if he had to.
“Nice to see you, Brad,” he said, almost choking on his words and positioning himself neatly in the middle of them.
He handed Raven her drink and turned his back on Brad, who took the hint. Lance didn’t look at him, but knew he must have tipped his hat at Raven. He said Lance’s name, and he grunted something unintelligible in return as the other man went on his way.
He smiled at Raven as she took a sip of the drink he’d brought her.
“Do you like it? It has alcohol in there, but I couldn’t taste it. I thought as you said you didn’t like the taste of alcohol and didn’t drink; this would be all right for you. I can take it back if it’s not to your liking.” He knew he was flapping, but he couldn’t stop. Seeing her talking to Stolfi had unsettled him.
The rest of the night went well, they danced, laughed, and talked. Raven liked the strawberry drink and had several cupfuls. He pulled the brakes on her strawberry intake when she became giggly, and the mayor asked him if he had any future plans to marry. She’d slapped the mayor on his chest and told him everything was “cool” between Lance and her, and she was working on it.
After some confusion over the term cool, Lance was happy and more than a little embarrassed. He’s thought she meant things were icy and distant between them but she’d meant they were good.
“I think it’s time we called it a night, little lady.” He took her outside and told the boy to fetch their buggy. As he tried to help her up, she threw her arms around him and kissed along his neck. He thought he would die there on the spot.
He pulled her arms away and looked around him, then pushed her up by her behind onto the buggy, slid her across with his own, and snapped the reins.
She rested her head on his shoulders, and slid an arm around his waist. “I know where Ryder’s gone.” She grinned up at him.
“You do and where would that be?”
“Back to the future.” She pursed her lips.
“To where?” He needed her to repeat it, sure he hadn’t heard correctly.
“To the future. He’s in Heartsbridge in the year 2017, same as me.”
He sighed. It was the drink talking. “But you’re not in 2017, you’re here with me, and the year is 1880.”
“For now I am but Cissie says I have to go back soon.”
He thought he was going to throw up. “Go back to where?”
“My own time, silly. I have to go back to the year 2017 and you can’t come with me. Nope, you have to stay here.”
Lance felt hot. He rubbed his forehead. Were the stories that Ryder used to tell him true? He had to know if it meant he was going to lose her too, he had to believe what she said. Although he wasn’t sure she even knew what she was saying.
“How do you know that’s where he is?”
“He left me a letter with Cissie.”
Then again, maybe she did know what she was saying. Only one way to find out. “Tell me about the future. Is it different from here?”
“Lord yes, we have machines that do all the hard work. We have television, telephones, computer games, the Internet, everything you can think of. Well, probably not you.” She laughed at her own inside joke. “Lots and lots. You don’t have anything here.” She nestled her head against his chest.
Lance’s chest tightened, some of the words she used he remembered from Ryder, who had forever been telling him about automobiles and records. He’d sat and listened in wonder as Ryder talked for hours.
“Raven, what’s an automobile?”
“That’s easy, it’s a horseless carriage that runs by an engine.”
Lance rubbed his hand over his face, sure his head was about to explode. She used almost the exact words Ryder had. He was confused and hurt that Ryder hadn’t tried harder to make him believe him. Now he was gone without even a farewell.
Raven’s snore pulled him out of his reverie. He’d let her sleep for now, but had every intention of waking and sobering her up as soon as they got back to the ranch.
She wasn’t going anywhere, if he could help it. He didn’t give a hoot, what Cissie had to say. What did it have to do with her anyway?
Chapter 25
By the time they got back to the ranch, he was seething. He carried her to the loveseat on the porch and went to take care of the horses and buggy. When he returned, she was still asleep where he’d left her. He sat next to her and rocked her gently, calling her name, but she wouldn’t wake up. He looked to the skies. It was a beautiful full-mooned night with a million stars.
It would have been a romantic night to propose to her, if he didn’t have a mind to drown her in the well out back. How long had she known where Ryder had gone and hadn’t told him?
That was the worst of it. The idea he’d gone back to the future was a ridiculous one but what other logical explanation was there for his disappearance? It wasn’t possible for both Raven and Ryder to share the same fantastical fantasy. It had to be true. For all those years, Ryder had made him think he was making it all up.
But how was it even possible?
Vexed, he pulled Raven to her feet and made her walk, ignoring her protest. “Wake up, I need to talk to you.”
“Go away, I’m tired. Where’s my bed?” She pulled herself free and spun around on unsteady legs. Her hair had fallen out
and was a messy, yet alluring heap on top of her head. He shook his head, he had to focus. He guided her to the water pump.
“Come here, you need to wake up. I have questions.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
“Did Ryder give you a letter?”
“Yes,” she said, trying to shake him off her.
“Then we’re talking.” He pulled her to him and held her head under the spout and began pumping water over her head. She screamed and began to fight him. He let her go, and she spun around and pushed him hard in the chest. Lance lost his balance and fell. Seeing him on his rump must have sobered her a little. She reached for him, to help him to his feet.
“Are you still drunk?” he asked.
“Nothing a few cups of coffee won’t fix. What’s with holding me under water? You could have drowned me.”
“I’m sorry, it was all I could think of to wake you up.”
“Well, you got my attention, and not in a good way.”
“I need to know if what you said about you and Ryder is true?”
“Why, what did I say?” She wobbled away from him, squeezing water from her hair, and made her way back to the house without waiting for him to answer or looking back to see if he’d followed.
Raven went inside and headed for the kitchen. After putting the coffeepot on the stove, she grabbed a towel from the clean linen stacked on the table, sat on the bench and began to dry her hair, shooting daggers at him.
He moved around her and out of her line of vision, took two cups and poured them both a coffee. Maybe he needed to sober up too. Holding her under the pump wasn’t the smartest of ideas. He placed the cup in front of her, but held on.
“You’re not going to throw this at me, are you?” She didn’t answer him, but he decided it was a no and removed his grasp. “You said Ryder left you a note. Can I see it?”
“It’s in my purse. I was going to show it to you.”
He held up her purse. “May I?”
“Help yourself, I’ve nothing to hide.”
He furrowed his brow, unfolded the note, and sat opposite her.
* * *
Dearest Raven,
* * *
It seems I’m heading for 2017. Any tips? I joke. By the time you get this, I will already be gone. Take care of Lance for me. He’s going to need somebody to watch over him. He’s his own worst enemy. I only plan to be away for a week or two. But if you’re reading this, it means I didn’t make it back. And if that is the case, tell Lance I’m sorry. I should have said good-bye properly. Well, I’m not one for writing so I’ll end it here. I hope you do decide to stay. You’re the best thing that’s happened to Lance in a long time.
* * *
Ryder
* * *
Lance rubbed his eyes and stared at her. “So you can stay if you want to?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to?”
“What, and have you drown me again?”
“I’m serious, Raven, I need to know,” his voice broke, and he closed his eyes and looked away. The weight on his lap made his eyes fly open. She stroked the side of his face, and he leaned into her palm. His heart began to beat out of his chest. He couldn't breathe. Her scent filled his lungs.
“Tell me why I should stay.”
“Because you’re my air. I can’t breathe without you. If you leave me I will die. I can’t bear to lose someone else that I love.” He buried his face in the crease of her neck.
She drew away from him and lifted his face toward her by his chin. “Say that again.”
“What, that you’re my air?” He frowned.
“No, although that was hot.” She pumped her brows. “The end bit.”
“I love you.”
She smiled and kissed the tip of his nose.
“Yes, that. Say it again.”
“I love you, I love you with everything that is in me. Stay with me.”
She kissed both his cheeks and his nose, her chest heaving. “I love you too.”
Their lips met, their kiss warm and sweet, holding so much promise of things to come. Lance never wanted it to end. She was his, and he was hers. As long as he had breath, that’s how it would always be. She placed her hands on his shoulders and murmured, “I just had a marvelous idea with how I can help Ryder.”
“We can talk about that later. Kiss me.” He drew her to him but she held him back.
“Wait.” Her brow creased in thought. He could almost see the wheels turning. “I have some letters to write, I don’t want to forget, and could you take me into town in the morning?”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and desire, making him want to ravish her here and now. Was she teasing him about the letters? He couldn’t be sure. What he did know was, she liked to have her own way.
He smiled into her eyes. He had other plans for her, and putting his foot down on the one thing he was sure of. “Your letters can wait, I’ll remind you. Tonight I intend to brand you with my love.” He kissed her, and she melted into him as he lifted her into the air.
“Goodbye 2017, hello 1880,” Raven whispered, laughing as her arms circled his neck.
Never in his life would he have thought that sentence would make any sense or be the sweetest words he’d ever hear.
I hope you enjoyed Timeless Whisper…if you could head back to Amazon and leave a review, it would be greatly appreciated!
Keep reading for an excerpt from the next book in the Timeless Hearts Series - Timeless Spirit by Kay P. Dawson.
Timeless Spirit Excerpt
Chapter 1
"You look like you just lost your best friend. Can I get you a piece of pie...on the house of course, to go with your lunch?"
Noah offered the stunning redhead a slight smile, the most he could muster at this time. She couldn't possibly know just how close her words were to the truth. He may possibly have lost his best friend—on top of everything else.
"I'd love a slice of apple pie, if you've got some. Thanks." He’d been raised a gentleman. So he knew he should be polite and accept her kind offer, even if he’d rather not have to make small talk with anyone at the moment.
She smiled warmly as she turned and reached into the cooler behind her, pulling out the largest slice of pie he'd ever seen. He raised an eyebrow as she grinned, placing it in front of him.
"That's an awful big piece. Not sure I can handle it."
She shrugged and grabbed the coffeepot from the counter, then poured it in his cup. "You look like it might have been a while since you'd had a good piece of home-baked pie. I don't like to brag, but I've been told I make the best pie in Texas."
He nodded, and pulled the top bun off his burger to put some ketchup on. "I'm sure I'll enjoy it then."
She was right about one thing. He hadn't had a good piece of pie for a long time, moving from place to place and eating whatever was available.
She seemed to understand his need for solitude, and smiled at him once more before moving down the counter to help the other customers. He noticed her looking in his direction a few times as she went on with her duties.
He bit into his burger, feeling the rush of flavor to his taste buds. And absently thought about how he’d normally be working his charm to get the lady's number. She wasn't hard on the eyes, and her red hair was stunning, even pulled back into a ponytail.
But he wasn't in the mood to try being charming today. He just wanted to eat in peace and quiet, then get back on the road. He still wasn't sure where he was going, but he’d figure it out along the way.
The last few days played in his mind, and how he'd ended up in this small diner in the middle of nowhere.
It had only been him and his sister for a long time—since his grandfather passed away. Well, to be truthful, he did still have a mother, but as far as she was concerned, she didn't have any children.
She'd remarried within a month of his father's death when Noah was just ten-years-old. His sister had only been seven, so he'd had to
be the big brother and try to be strong for her. Their stepfather wasn't a nice man, and had beaten Noah on more than one occasion. He'd known it wasn't a safe place for his sister, and convinced his mother to let them go live with his grandfather on his ranch.
As time went on, the visits became fewer and further between. But Noah had thrived on the ranch, finding a purpose. He’d spent every waking moment alongside his grandpa learning everything about ranching. He'd always told Noah that someday it would be his, so he needed to learn.
When his grandfather had a heart attack and died doing chores one day, Noah had been devastated. He was only eighteen, and nowhere near ready to run a big spread on his own.
It hadn't mattered anyway. His mother had sold the ranch and everything on it, so her new husband could use the money to open his own business. Noah wasn't even sure what it was, and had never bothered to ask.
He'd begged his mother not to sell it. But since his grandfather had never changed the will, most likely believing his daughter would do the right thing and pass the ranch to Noah—it was all perfectly legal and her right to do so.
He'd taken Charlotte, or Charlie as she was always called, and started driving until they ran out of gas. That first small town they'd stopped in was where they spent the next few years while she finished school. Noah had made sure she kept going, while he worked as a farmhand on one of the local ranches. He'd managed to save a little money over the years working with his grandpa, and he'd been able to find them a small apartment, making sure they always had at least some food to eat.
It had been tough, but he'd done what he had to do.
They'd spent a few years after that, moving from town to town, finding work for him. Working as a ranch hand wasn't a secure job, and he'd had to keep moving to where he was needed.
Eventually, Charlie had wanted to settle down, and started dating a man who Noah hated. But she wouldn't listen to him, and the more Noah tried to tell her he was no good for her, the more she'd pushed him away.
Timeless Whisper (Timeless Hearts Series Book 1) Page 10
