Colin’s head began to pound; he reached up, his fingers skating over the bandage. “When will that be? Later today? Days from now?”
“Well, we’ll need to find out when the museum will reopen.”
“How can we find that out?”
Luna pushed aside strands of hair the sea breeze had just blown across her cheek. “The Historical Society runs the museum. We can check their webpage for an update.”
“This society,” he said. “Would they know what happened to the people I was traveling with on the ship?”
“They might.”
Ah. Some good news.
“They would also know if things…were found on the vessel?”
“What kind of things?”
He shrugged, reluctant to discuss his drawings with her just yet. “Items that belonged to passengers.”
“I did hear that the society has some artifacts from the Guinevere in their collection. I expect those will be on display. To be honest, though, the Guinevere’s restoration team didn’t release much information to the general public. It was all kept very secret.”
While traveling on the ship, Colin hadn’t become aware of any reason that would have warranted a need for secrecy. Had the pirates that had lurked on the horizon before the storm somehow known of the secret? Had the captain and crew been paid to deliver riches to Barbados, but not told the others on the vessel? “Did the restorers explain their reasons for the secrecy?” he asked.
“No. I heard through the grapevine, though, that they expected to find treasure.”
Luna listened to grapevines? He hadn’t realized they talked; he’d thought they just grew grapes. “The riches were concealed on the ship?”
Luna nodded.
“Gold? Jewels?”
“No one really knows. Even the site in Florida where the boat was being restored was kept secret. The specialists didn’t want people breaking in, using metal detectors, or prying up floorboards and causing more damage to the vessel.”
Had the restorers discovered the wooden tube Colin had hidden in the cabin ? It seemed the only explanation for what he’d seen a short while ago: a bicycle.
Knowing that his idea had been viable left him in awe. But, his sense of wonder was tainted by the knowledge someone had taken his invention, claimed it as his own, and profited from it.
That invention was to have supported Colin’s family.
He had to know if his sketches were still where he’d left them, as soon as possible.
How, though, did he get past the two burly officials who were now eyeing him as though he was under suspicion?
Sheriff Higgins came over. “Who’s your friend, Luna?”
She gulped. “G’morning, RJ. This is Colin. He’s…a history buff. He was so looking forward to exploring the ship.”
The sheriff leveled a wary gaze at Colin before returning his attention to Luna. “A history buff.”
She nodded.
“Someone broke into the museum earlier this morning.” Narrowing his eyes at Colin, he folded his arms over his broad chest. “You know anything about that, Colin?”
“I know that I need to get on the ship. You have to let me through.”
RJ stood taller. “No, I don’t.”
Luna shored up the protective energy she’d raised around Colin. “He’s just…traveled a long way for this. Any idea when it will reopen?”
“After we finish our investigation,” RJ replied. “Which we’ll do as fast as we can.”
“Thanks, I understand.” She waved to the sheriff then pulled Colin away. “I’m as frustrated as you are, but this is out of our control.” Although part of her was a tiny bit relieved. What if Colin found out that his wife had also time traveled? Or if he found some way to return to his time on the vessel? Despite only knowing him for one day, she’d already grown to like him. She had no right to her feelings. He belonged to Evelyn, and to the seventeenth century.
Colin gritted his teeth. “I need answers.”
“I know.” She took his hand. “And I promise that I’ll help you find them. Let’s go back to my place for a little while. Hopefully, they’ll be able to reopen the museum soon.”
After several beats, he finally acquiesced. “Fine.”
A few minutes later, she parked her car at her house. Colin hadn’t said a word during the short drive, but his irritation was clear.
Inside the cottage, Luna powered up her laptop and opened the same website Colin had found so fascinating earlier. “I’m going to bake something.”
“I thought you’d finished your work.”
“I did.” She sighed. “Since I was a kid, baking has always been sort of an outlet for me. I pour everything into it—stress, anger, you name it.”
His expression softened. “Did you have a difficult childhood?”
Her insides knotted with a familiar pain. “It could have been worse, but I wish it had been better.”
Colin motioned for her to join him on the sofa.
She sat down and grinned at him. “Are you my shrink now?”
He furrowed his brow. “Are there people who can shrink others now?”
Laughing, she shook her head. “It’s an expression.”
“Tell me why you needed an outlet for your feelings when you were a child.”
“We just moved around a lot. Mom was a lot like my brother is now. She went from lover to lover, always putting them before Leo and me. I guess that’s why he is the way he is.”
“I’m sorry.” Colin draped his arm over her shoulder. “It’s good that you had your brother, though.”
“That’s true.” It was nice having Colin comfort her. For longer than she cared to admit, Hecate had been her only confidante.
Luna glanced around the room for the cat. Hmm. Hecate spent every morning in the living room, curled up in the sliver of morning sunlight on the window seat. The hair on the back of Luna’s neck stood on end. She got up and started searching for the cat. “Hecate? Hecate? Here, kitty, kitty.”
“What’s wrong?” Colin followed her into the kitchen.
“I can’t find her.”
“I’m sure she’s here somewhere.” He opened each cabinet and looked inside.
Luna’s fear ramped up. Her temples throbbed. “She always comes when I call her.”
But after a thorough search of the cottage and yard, Hecate still hadn’t turned up. Tears stung Luna’s eyes. She went into the bathroom to grab a tissue and froze at the sight of the open window. “Oh, no!”
Colin was there in an instant. “What?”
She pointed to the window.
“Oh, God,” he said. “I opened it last night after my bath. I must have forgotten to shut it. I’m so sorry, Luna.”
A sob rose in her throat.
Colin grasped Luna’s shoulders. “We’ll find her, I promise.” He pulled her into his arms and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
His embrace felt way better than it should—as if she was where she’d always belonged. But now wasn’t the time to indulge in useless fantasies. Hecate was missing, and Luna had to bring her home.
Colin held her at arms’ length. “Can you do a spell to bring her back?”
“Good idea. I can try.” Why hadn’t she thought of that? She backed out of Colin’s arms and felt suddenly colder for the loss of contact. “Would you bring me Hecate’s food bowl from the kitchen?”
Colin nodded and left the room.
Luna had never done a spell in the presence of one of the town’s regular folks, or ‘Regs’ as the local Magicals called them. But she’d already told Colin what she was, so she opened the drawer under her altar and took out a green candle and her Book of Shadows, where she wrote down all of her spells. Then she grabbed Hecate’s favorite toy mouse from the basket next to the sofa.
When Colin returned with Hecate’s bowl, she took it from him. “If you’d rather leave while I do this, I’ll unde
rstand.”
He hesitated only a second before shaking his head. “I want to be here for you. And for Hecate.”
Although he didn’t touch her, Luna felt him wrap her in comfort. “Thank you,” she whispered. Then she set the green candle inside Hecate’s bowl and lit it. Drawing a deep breath, she closed her eyes and called up an image of her cat. “Oh, great goddess, I call upon you. My little Hecate has gone astray. I wish for her return today. Keep her safe from harm, and return her now back to my arms.”
Opening her eyes, she stared at the candle. “Please, goddess, bring back my Hecate.” Luna concentrated all her magical energy on her kitty.
A knock on the door startled her.
“Shall I?” Colin asked.
Holding her breath, Luna nodded.
Colin opened the door, and Fiona Bell stood there holding Hecate.
“Hi,” Fiona said. “Is Luna here?”
Relief rushed through Luna as she brushed past Colin. “You found her!”
Fiona handed the cat to Luna. “I was walking on the beach, foraging for beautyberry and seagrape when I saw her walking toward me.”
Luna snuggled Hecate’s white fur and breathed in the smell of the beach. “You had me so worried,” she told the cat.
“I didn’t realize that she was yours,” the blond said. “So I took her to the café. I figured Jordan would know if she was a stray or if she belonged to someone in town.”
Luna gave Fiona a one-armed hug. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“Jordan immediately recognized her, of course,” Fiona said. “Oh, and Jordan told me to tell you that she knows Hecate’s magical power now. I guess they had a conversation.” Fiona glanced at Colin. “I’m sorry, we haven’t met, have we?” She offered her hand. “Fiona Bell.”
Colin shook her hand. “Colin Wilshire.”
“Wilshire?” Fiona lifted an eyebrow then met Luna’s stare.
Luna nodded, but she wanted to hear about Hecate’s magical gift. “What did Jordan say?”
Fiona took a few steps closer and lowered her voice. “Can I say it in front of…?” She tipped her chin toward Colin.
“Go ahead,” Luna said.
“Well,” Fiona started, “your cat—being a Sherwood—has the gift of being able to find portals to other times. She was heading to the Shipwreck Museum when I found her, although Jordan couldn’t get Hecate to explain why.”
Colin’s jaw dropped.
Luna gulped. Was her kitty’s power the reason that a sexy time traveler had walked into Luna’s life? If so, Hecate had the power to send Colin back to the seventeenth century.
Chapter Six
Hecate could find portals to other times.
He could return to 1645. To Evelyn.
Colin’s throat tightened as he met Luna’s gaze. Her shocked expression revealed she’d had no idea of her feline’s special ability. His gut instincts told him she wasn’t acting right now; that if she’d known before of a way to send him back to his own century, so that he’d find happiness, she would have told him about it. Her generous heart wouldn’t have let her keep such a secret.
He could only imagine the emotions Luna was experiencing, and what the cat’s ability might mean for a witch who wanted to help other lost souls in Cat’s Paw Cove. He doubted her shock related to him being able to go home. They’d only known each other for such a short while; she’d most likely be relieved to be rid of him, a burden who depended on her for so many things.
As though sensing his thoughts, Luna looked back at Fiona. “I can’t say how much it means to have Hecate home. Thank you.”
“Happy to help.” Fiona’s intrigued gaze shifted back to Colin. “So, did you come to town for the reception?”
“Reception?” he asked
“Yeah. The special event the Historical Society put on a few days ago.”
Judging by her puzzled gaze, Luna didn’t know what Fiona was talking about, either.
“Unfortunately, I missed it,” Colin said.
“Now that you mention it, I do vaguely remember something about a reception.” Luna set struggling Hecate down. “I was so busy prepping for yesterday’s celebrations, though, I didn’t keep track.”
“It was by invitation only,” Fiona said. “The society volunteers tracked down as many relatives of the original Founding Families as they could and invited them to preview the museum before it opened to the public.”
“A nice idea,” Colin said.
“Very nice. Some of the guests wore historical clothing. Some even flew all the way from Europe to attend.” Fiona sighed. “There were several Wilshires there that night. I would have thought you’d have been invited, Colin, since you’re a Wilshire and also named after one of the original passengers.”
If only she knew he was one of the original passengers. Fighting a smile, he said, “I must have missed the invitation.”
“With luck, there will be another reception sometime. Maybe when they find the treasure that’s rumored to be on the Guinevere, right?”
He managed a laugh. “Right.”
“I’d better be on my way.” Fiona glanced down the driveway to the street. “I need to get back to my foraging. Hopefully the police will be finished at the museum.”
“Did you hear any news of the investigation?” Luna asked.
“Only that someone broke in. Minor damage, thankfully. RJ did tell me nothing was stolen, which seems kind of weird. I mean, why break in and not take anything?”
“That does seem odd,” Luna murmured, glancing at Colin.
“Any idea what was damaged?” he asked.
“RJ didn’t say, but I’m sure the Cat’s Paw Cove Courier will have an update in tomorrow’s paper.” Fiona stepped backward and waved. “Gotta run. I’ll come visit you at the café soon, Luna.”
Colin waited until Fiona had reached the sidewalk, where the sounds of a neighbor mowing his lawn and cars driving by would muffle his and Luna’s conversation. “I have to get on the ship.”
Luna closed the front door and folded her arms. “You can’t. Not when there’s an active investigation.”
His mind raced. He mustn’t be reckless, especially when he didn’t know the laws of this time. If the police found out about his debts in 1645, would they arrest and jail him? He’d never get back to Evelyn then. “I wonder…. Do you know anyone in the Historical Society?”
She gnawed her bottom lip. “I do. Some of the ladies visit the café.”
“Could you contact them? Tell them that regrettably, I missed the reception but would love a private viewing of the museum?”
“I can try.”
He touched her arm. “Thanks.”
His touch obviously affected her because she drew in a breath and pushed back her shoulders. “The woman I’m going to try first loves cinnamon buns. I’ll sweeten the deal by offering her a few boxes. I’ll make sure it’s okay for me to bring Hecate, too.”
His heart constricted. Luna expected that once they got to the ship, and the cat located a portal, Colin would be going through. They might never see each other again.
What he would give to have different choices before him. But, he couldn’t abandon Evelyn. He had to believe she and their child survived the storm, and that she would be trying to find him. He couldn’t bear to think of her pregnant, alone, and likely injured. She might have lost the few possessions they’d taken on the ship, which left her vulnerable in ways he couldn’t bear to contemplate. He’d vowed on their wedding day to be faithful to her; to love, care for, and protect her; and that’s what he must do.
Still, he couldn’t deny he cared for Luna, too. His eyes burned as he released her arm. “Having tasted your baking, I’m sure the woman won’t be able to say no.”
Luna nodded and walked away. Colin went to the living room and sat, waiting, stroking Hecate who’d jumped up beside him on the sofa. A moment later, he heard Luna talking. She must be using the devic
e she’d called a cell phone.
She returned and smiled at him. “It’s all set.”
He quickly rose. “Really?”
“The police should be finished at the museum by two o’clock. It will remain closed until tomorrow, but my friend Roberta will meet us there and let us in.”
Anticipation and regret tangled within him.
“She said she couldn’t resist, what with you being a Wilshire and the cinnamon bun bribe.”
He chuckled. “I will be sure to thank her myself.”
Time seemed to crawl by as they waited until ten-to-two, the time Luna had said they’d leave the house. They’d agreed it would be better for Colin to be wearing the garments he’d had on when she’d found him on the beach, not Leo’s T-shirt and jeans.
At some point over the past day, she’d washed Colin’s clothes. He hadn’t seen her scrub and rinse the garments, but somehow, she had—and very thoroughly, too.
“How did you get my shirt so white?” Colin had never seen it so clean. He brought it to his nose and inhaled the crisp, fresh scent and wished everything he wore could smell that good.
“My washing machine’s fairly new, and I threw in some vinegar and borax.”
Washing machine? Borax? He thought to ask, but was there really any point? He’d soon be hundreds of years in the past again.
He sat beside her, his arm behind her along the back of the sofa, while she mended the tears in his clothes. He’d told her not to bother, but she’d insisted, perhaps to keep herself busy while they waited. Her blue hair gleamed in the sunlight from the nearby window, some strands tumbling forward over her shoulder.
He yearned to brush those strands out of the way for her. He longed to sink his fingers into her tresses and tilt her face toward him so he could kiss her. He ached to taste her lips, slowly and deeply, so he could remember that treasured kiss for the rest of his living days. But, he didn’t dare.
“There.” She set the needle in a pincushion and shook out his breeches. “Not the greatest sewing job, but it will do.”
“You’re very kind to have bothered.”
She cast him a sidelong glance. “I’m sure you’d like to be presentable when you meet Evelyn again.”
A Witch in Time Page 7
