A Witch in Time

by Catherine Kean

  But finding a place for an injured man who might be either delusional or a time traveler would be impossible. The notion of Colin being from another time seemed preposterous, yet so did a lot of things she’d seem in Cat’s Paw Cove.

  Luna unlocked the door and went in ahead of Colin. “Here we are.”

  When she switched on the overhead light, he gasped. “Forgive me,” he said. “I am unused to such…wondrous feats.”

  Hecate, who was curled up on Luna’s sofa, lifted her head for a moment then returned to her cat nap.

  Luna hung her keys on the hook by the door and slung her shawl over the back of a chair. “I’ll nuke something up for us to eat.”

  Colin gave her a blank stare. In the light, she was reminded just how handsome he was, even in his dirty, tattered clothes.

  “I’ll cook dinner,” she clarified. “And I’ll find dry clothes for you.” Hurrying to the guest room, she grabbed a pair of Leo’s jeans, a T-shirt, and some sneakers then returned to the living room.

  Colin stood at her altar, his eyes wide. Pointing to the incense burner that was a statue of the maiden, mother, and crone, he shook his head then gestured toward the athame. “Are these tools of witchcraft?”

  “They are. But don’t worry. We don’t sacrifice anything unless the moon is full.”

  He gasped.

  “Kidding,” she said.

  Those mahogany eyes blazed. “Do you know what they do to witches where I come from?”

  She remembered all too well the history of how witches were tortured and burned alive. Her mouth grew dry. Not that she feared he’d hurt her, she just hated for him to think badly of her. “Witches like me only try to do good in the world. We use herbs, oils, and crystals to bring about positive results.”

  “You mean like a magic spell?”

  “Exactly.” A little of the tension in her shoulders eased, but Colin looked even warier. “Witchcraft has nothing to do with the devil or with hurting anyone. We’re healers and teachers and nature lovers.”

  He backed away from the altar.

  “Think of it this way,” Luna continued. “A spell is merely a prayer with props.”

  Colin nodded thoughtfully. “I think I understand. You must be careful, though. If anyone sees these trinkets….”

  “It’s okay.” She touched his arm and handed him Leo’s clothes. “You’re a little taller than my brother, but these should fit you. I’ll wash the clothes you’re wearing, although I can’t promise you they’ll survive the washing machine.”

  “Washing machine?” Colin shook his head, then unlaced his shirt and pulled it off.

  Oh, my. She’d had no idea how muscular his shoulders were. She licked her lips. “Um, why don’t you change in the bathroom. This way.”

  She led him down the hall and opened the door for him. “Would you like me to run you a bath?”

  His gaze darted around the small room. “Aye, that would be good.”

  After she’d turned on the faucet and stopped the drain, she grabbed a towel from the shelf and set it on the sink. Standing so close to Colin, heat suffused her cheeks. Which was surely just the steam from the hot water. She shut off the faucet, cleared her throat, and backed toward the doorway. “Um…I’ll be in the kitchen…if you need…anything.”

  Outside the room, she cringed. The man was even more unavailable than her past boyfriends had ever been—he was delusional at best, or a married man from the past.

  Chapter Four

  Colin dropped his shirt on the counter to his left and rolled his stiff, aching shoulders.

  As he touched a large, purplish bruise on his side, his gaze shifted to his image reflected in a mirror that resembled a wood-framed window. This mirror wasn’t warped or blotchy like the ones he’d used before.

  He’d never seen such a clear reflection, except in still water. He could easily see the bluish shadows under his eyes, the dark stubble on his jaw and chin, as well as the sand clinging to his damp, stringy hair.

  Was the crisp reflection also part of Luna’s witchcraft?

  Unease gripped him, even as her words echoed in his mind: Witches like me only try to do good in the world…. We’re healers and teachers and nature lovers.

  While his rational mind was still suspicious of her words, his heart believed she’d spoken the truth. Colin had learned to trust his instincts. They’d warned him, when he’d tried to negotiate with the men to whom his late father had owed money, that they intended to make him suffer for his parent’s recklessness. They’d destroy him—not just take every last penny but besmirch his title as well, making it impossible for him to earn a living, get a loan, or make connections in society. All of England would shun him and his family, and he couldn’t—wouldn’t—allow his innocent wife and child to be caught up in such a situation.

  His decision to flee the country had brought him not just to this strange land, but to Luna. Of all the folk he could have encountered on the beach tonight, he’d met her. He had to believe there was a reason why they’d been brought together. While he didn’t understand the reason yet, his gut told him it was more than reuniting him with Evelyn. A matter to ponder further when he wasn’t so bloody weary.

  Colin stripped off his breeches and grimaced as sand showered onto the tile floor. Thankfully he had the clothes Luna had given him to wear—as long as he could figure out how to put them on.

  He turned to the waiting pool of water. A bathtub, Luna had called it. It didn’t look at all like the round tub made of wood in which he usually bathed. Nor had servants heated the water and hauled it to the room, a process that had usually taken a while. Steaming water had just poured out of the metal spigot, as if by magic.

  More of Luna’s witchcraft? No. More likely, servants were out of sight behind the tiled wall, heating the water and putting it through the spigot.

  He leaned toward the wall and tapped on it with his knuckles. “Anyone there?”

  No reply. He didn’t hear any unusual sounds at all from behind the tiles.

  Perhaps they’d heated as much water as they thought was necessary and had gone to attend to other duties. That must be it.

  Determined to make the most of the bath before it got cold, he stepped into the tub and sat. Savoring the glorious warmth, he groaned and closed his eyes. How easily he could lean back and fall asleep, but he mustn’t. Luna was waiting for him in the kitchen.

  He picked up the oval-shaped soap nearby. It had a flowery fragrance that took his mind back to when he’d put his mouth close to Luna’s ear to warn her of the pirates. He brought the soap close to his nose and inhaled deeply, vividly recalling the silky brush of her hair against his forearm and the protectiveness that had surged within him when he’d thought she was in danger.

  Strong feelings, when he’d known her less than a day.

  A grin tugged at his mouth. He remembered, too, how Luna’s face had turned scarlet when he’d removed his shirt. She’d seemed nervous as well. Had she never seen a man’s bare chest before?

  Perhaps a man removing his shirt in front of a woman had significance in this land? For all he knew, it could be against the law. At some point, he should ask her about it; he didn’t want to get her in trouble.

  Colin lathered the soap. What a marvelous consistency—far gentler on the skin than what he was used to. Her soap made excellent bubbles, too. Fascinated, he lathered up a frothy handful then scrubbed himself from head to toe, washing away the sand and sea. He rubbed some in his dry hair too and leaned back to rinse it.

  The water had turned a bit filmy, but he had yet to use what was in the bottle in the corner of the bathtub. Luna had called it poo. Something poo. An odd name, but she’d said it was to wash his hair. Since he was in the tub, he might as well. After finally getting the bottle open, he poured some of the glossy liquid into his hand then slapped it on the crown of his head.

  Was that it?

  He sat, water dripping from the ends o
f his hair. There had to be more to the process. He set his palm atop the poo and scrubbed. Ah, more bubbles! He used both hands and more poo until his whole head was one giant frothy mass. He submerged again and rinsed. He was liking this large bathtub more and more.

  Sitting up, he swept water out of his eyes. How much better he felt than he had a short while ago.

  Colin rose and reached for the towel Luna had left out for him. He had no doubt Evelyn would enjoy such a bathtub, too. He must look into getting one once they’d found a new home in Barbados.

  Hearing the bathroom door open a few minutes later, Luna glanced down the hall and found Colin coming toward her with a towel around his waist. Before she could catch herself, she skimmed her gaze over his body. The fact that he had a killer body shouldn’t matter to her, not one bit. Swallowing hard, she gestured toward her bedroom. “You can get dressed in there, first door on your right.”

  “Thank you.” He headed to her room.

  Luna’s phone vibrated in her pocket. She took it out and found a text from Leo.

  “Staying with Melissa tonight.”

  Who? Oh, his current girlfriend, Luna reminded herself. She texted back. “Have fun.”

  Seconds later, someone knocked at the front door. Hmm. It was late for anyone to stop by, and she had no clue how to explain Colin to anyone. But the visitor persisted, so Luna opened the door a crack and peeked outside.

  Chuck stood there, holding a casserole dish. “I thought you’d be tired after the Founders’ Day event. I’d have come earlier, only I ended up working late.”

  Heart pounding, she pasted on a smile. “That was very thoughtful, Chuck. I am tired. Exhausted, actually.”

  “Leo’s not here, hmm?” He glanced past her then grinned at her. “So we’re all alone.”

  Not really. And in truth, Luna had no desire to spend one-on-one time with Chuck, not yet. “Leo and whats-her-name made up.” She feigned a yawn. “Yeah, I’m pretty wiped out.”

  He lifted the casserole higher. “You’ve got to eat. It’s vegetarian. I found the recipe online.”

  Her stomach chose that moment to loudly growl. She resisted an eye roll. “Um, thanks. I’m not really up for company now, though.”

  As she opened the door wide enough to take the food, a loud crash exploded from the back of the house. She froze, gulped.

  “Call the police, Luna.” Chuck shoved the casserole at her and marched past her.

  “No, stop!” When he did, she pursed her lips and huffed. “That was probably Hecate. She…got into a cabinet and clawed a bag of cat food. She’s done that before. It’s fine.”

  He folded his arms over his chest. “Hecate is on the couch. What’s going on, Luna?”

  She could hardly tell him that she had another guy in her bedroom. Not that she and Chuck were even dating, although he’d made his interest plain. “I…I brought another stray home.” Not a lie, really.

  “Another cat?”

  She set down the casserole and shrugged. “I’ll take him to the café tomorrow.”

  Chuck huffed. “Okay. I’ll leave. If you’re sure you’re all right.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She patted his arm. “Thanks, Chuck.”

  The second he left, she rushed down the hall and knocked on her bedroom door.

  Colin muttered a curse.

  She went in. Her television, casting its indigo light in the room, was on the floor. “What happened?”

  Colin looked even more handsome in Leo’s clothes. “I don’t understand things here. When I sat on the bed, this box fell.” He showed her the TV remote. “I accidentally stepped on it, and that window lit up like ten candles. And there was a ship in the window.” He scratched his head. “Which wasn’t a window at all.”

  Luna took a better look at the TV screen. A scene from Moby Dick was frozen there—Gregory Peck’s Captain Ahab on the deck of his ship. She picked up the television and returned it to the dresser. “You’re right. It isn’t a window. It’s….” How could she explain television to him? “It’s more like a painting that comes to life.”

  “But how? I don’t understand.” Colin squeezed his eyes shut then sheepishly lifted the T-shirt a few inches to show her the open fly of his jeans. “And I don’t know how to fasten these breeches.”

  “I promise I’ll be gentle.” Face heating, she moved closer and showed him how the zipper worked.

  “Thank you,” he said. “I might need your help with that again.”

  Luna grinned. “Is that right?”

  Colin shrugged. “I suppose I could do it from now on.”

  She held back a smile.

  Their gazes met and held. A zing of heat ricocheted between them. Mouth dry as dust, she backed away and cleared her throat. “Let’s eat. We need to talk, Colin.”

  At the small table in the dining area, Colin practically inhaled the macaroni and cheese casserole while Luna picked at hers. She researched the early history of Cat’s Paw Cove on her phone, so she would be sure of her facts. “So your wife’s name is Evelyn Wilshire?”

  “Aye. Evelyn Grisham Wilshire.” He shoveled another bite of pasta into his mouth and groaned with pleasure.

  “You remember what we discussed earlier, right? That hundreds of years have passed since that shipwreck you spoke about.”

  He stopped eating and frowned. “Aye. But it’s so difficult to fathom.”

  “It sure is.” Mating her fingers, she explained what she knew about the original settlers of the town. “Somehow, you’ve traveled to the twenty-first century. This is America—Cat’s Paw Cove, Florida, to be exact. I have no clue how you happened to get here, but this town is quite a magical place. Anything’s possible.”

  “But how…I don’t…Evelyn, our child. What happened to them?”

  Her heart ached for him. “Most of the passengers survived the wreck then settled here, eventually establishing this town. We can head over to the Shipwreck Museum in the morning. Maybe you’ll find more answers to your questions there.”

  Colin buried his head in his hands, and said nothing for several minutes.

  Luna cleared away their plates to give him time to absorb what she’d told him. When she returned a few minutes later, he was sitting on the sofa petting Hecate.

  “There were cats on the ship with us,” he said.

  “I’ve heard that. Hecate is descended from those original Sherwood cats.”

  “Really?”

  She nodded but decided not to mention that most Sherwood cats possessed a magical gift of some sort. Why lay even more on poor Colin. Besides, Luna hadn’t yet discovered if Hecate had a magical side.

  Colin leaned his head back on the cushions. Luna went to fetch him a glass of water, and some wine for herself. When she returned, Colin was fast asleep.

  She picked up the afghan from the rocking chair and draped it over him then turned out the lights.

  What in the world was she going to do with him?

  Colin woke to a soft tap on his cheek. His eyes still shut, he sighed and waved his hand to shoo away the moth that had brushed his skin. The pests had stowed away in his and Evelyn’s clothes, but they’d find a way to get rid of them once they reached Barbados.

  Savoring the quietness of the ship’s cabin, he listened for the creaks and groans of the vessel that had become familiar to him, as well as the shouts of the crew on deck. The sea must be calm today.

  He snuggled deeper into the pillow beneath his head. There was no rush for him to get up. Evelyn must still be asleep, and he didn’t want to wake her—

  Tap.

  Tap-tap.

  A persistent moth…or it wasn’t a moth at all.

  Turning his face, he cracked his eyelids open, just in time to see a cat rise up and bat his face with a front paw.

  Hecate.

  All that had happened the previous day rushed into Colin’s mind. He abruptly sat up, wincing at the pains in his body, to find he was stil
l on the couch in Luna’s living room. Beyond the coverings over the nearby window—Luna had called them blinds—it was still dark outside, but he heard the sound of drawers opening and closing from her bedroom.

  With a playful brrtt, the feline darted backward, spun, and raced off down the hallway.

  At least someone was in high spirits this morning.

  Colin leaned forward, set his elbows on his knees, and plowed his hands into his hair. Luna had spread a curious-looking blanket over him while he’d slept and the top half of it was now puddled in his lap.

  It isn’t 1645 anymore.

  More than three hundred seventy years have passed since then.

  His eyes stung as he remembered Luna’s words. His former life was gone. All that he’d known just yesterday had been gone for hundreds of years. It seemed impossible. But it wasn’t.

  What was he going to do? He didn’t have any money, didn’t know anyone apart from Luna. He didn’t understand how a small box could turn a TV on and off. Luna had called it modern teknolagee, whatever that was.

  The enormity of his situation threatened to drown him, but he focused on regaining control of his emotions. He hadn’t explored all of his options yet. Luna had told him Cat’s Paw Cove was a magical place and that anything was possible. Perhaps there was a way for him to go back to his own time. Maybe Luna would use her witchcraft to send him home; a somewhat unsettling thought, but she’d been kinder to him than folk in his own time, and so, he’d continue to place his trust in her.