Authors: Susan Macatee
He drifted away from her, down a long, dark tunnel. Wanting desperately to find his way back, he tried to shake himself, to force his way.
His eyes opened, her beautiful face the first thing he saw. Tears glistened in her blue eyes. The generous mouth he’d thought never to see again, curved into a smile.
“You’re back!”
He tried to form words, but his parched throat wouldn’t allow even a croak. Pressing her fingers against his lips, she said, “No, darling, don’t try to talk yet.”
She moved aside. Doc leaned down to examine him.
“His fever’s broke,” he said aside to Erin. “Reckon he’ll be all right.”
“Thank God.” She kissed his face and lips. “I love you so much. Don’t ever leave me again. I couldn’t bear it.”
He longed to reach up, take her in his arms, and promise her he never wanted to be parted from her again. He managed to lift his right hand toward her. Taking it in hers, she lifted it to her face kissing and rubbing it against her smooth cheek.
“I love you,” she said again.
I love you
, he mouthed.
Seeming to understand, she smiled. Holding his hand, she reached her other hand toward Doc, who stood behind her.
“Thank you for taking care of him,” she said. “For keeping him alive.”
“You’re the one who brought him back,” Doc answered. “You’re the reason he fought to live.”
****
Days later, after receiving constant care from Erin, Will grew stronger. She’d sent her companion, Brody, back to York with the message she’d be staying in Petersburg a bit longer. She’d refused to leave Will’s side.
He could drink, eat, and sit up. He had every intention of getting back on his feet and had a ton of catching up to do with the woman he loved.
She told him all about her time with the Quaker family, her trip to Pennsylvania, and the colonel, who knew her as a Yankee spy.
“I put on an Irish brogue, so he wouldn’t suspect anything was up.”
Will laughed. “I’d be liking to hear that, now, lass,” he said, in a very bad imitation of a brogue.
Erin shook her head and continued talking about the boarding house, her job at the
York Dispatch,
and Mrs. Driscoll.
“She knew I’d come from the future. She also told me I could go back, but if I did, you’d die.”
“You gave up your future life for me?”
“You’re my life now. What kind of existence would I have had back there without you?”
The extent of the sacrifice she’d made overwhelmed him. No one had ever done so much to protect him. He’d always felt he had to protect others, but this woman had shown him what love really meant.
“I also know,” she went on, “that I’ve lived this life before. But the first time, I allowed you to die...and regretted it for the rest of my sad, lonely life. I was reborn in the future but couldn’t find love there. I had to come back here and fix my mistake.”
“You really believe this?” After all they’d been through, he was inclined to accept anything she said. As long as she stayed by his side.
“I know the whole thing sounds fantastic.”
He traced a finger along her lower lip. She shivered in response. “If you say it’s true,” he said, “I believe.”
“So, what do we do now?” Her eyelids narrowed mischievously.
“We go home...and get hitched.”
Her blue eyes widened. “Married?”
“If you don’t plan to ever leave me, I reckon that’s for the best.”
She smiled. “I’d like nothing better than to marry you, Captain Montgomery.”
“Erin Montgomery...I like the sound of that.”
“But wait...what about my new job at the paper?”
Will frowned. “My family is quite well-off. You don’t need a job.”
“But I like that job. I want to keep it.”
“Whatever for?”
“It gives me meaning and purpose.”
He reached for her, gathering her soft form into his arms. “I thought I gave you that.”
“I’m serious. I feel a little bit like my old self when I’m working on a story.”
“But you said it was in York...that’s Yankee territory.”
She shrugged. “The war is over. We can live anywhere we want.”
Will sighed. Erin would not be a compliant woman like Anne, who’d been content to live in his parents’ home. She was his new love, the woman he wanted to marry. He loved her spirit and outspokenness. If he wanted to keep her, he’d learn to accept her wants and needs. After all, she’d given up so much for him.
“Marry me,” he said, “and we’ll make our own way, our own space.”
She nodded. “We’ll live the life we were meant to have...the first time around.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
Will was home again. He stood outside the parlor in his parents’ house in Mason, surrounded by family. He adjusted his cravat and frock coat and nervously prepared for his wedding day.
Kevin appeared at his elbow, beaming. “I’ve never seen you so flustered, Captain, even when we faced Yankees on the battlefield.”
“We’re in-laws now, and you’re the father of my niece or nephew-to-be,” Will said. “Call me Will.”
“Yes, sir...I mean, Will.”
“That’s better.” He glanced toward the staircase where Erin would descend once his mother and Tillie, who’d taken her to Jenny’s bedroom, had properly prepared her for the ceremony.
He’d asked Kevin to stand as his best man. Erin had asked Jenny to stand for her. Will’s sister had been busy, crafting both Erin’s wedding dress and a rose-colored sack coat to wear over her own dress to hide her advanced state of pregnancy.
And Amanda had been more than excited to be the flower girl. Throughout the entry way, she’d practiced spreading petals from the garden’s flowers. Tillie had scolded her for making a mess, but his mother—so unlike herself—had only smiled.
When he arrived home with Erin, Will had been surprised when his parents welcomed them. Since they’d had to accept Kevin and Jenny’s union now that she carried his child, his parents seemed to have mellowed. He suspected having the entire family together again was part of their transformation, as well as what the nation had just been through.
Last night, his father had asked to speak to him in his study. Will had expected a lecture or talk of the mess the government was in since Lincoln’s assassination a month ago. But his father surprised him by extending his congratulations and blessings on the coming union.
“I believe you’ve chosen a fine woman.” His father puffed on one of his cigars.
“I always thought you disapproved of Erin, because of her questionable background.”
“I know she’s had a hard life, but she’s overcome a great deal. Amanda loves her.”
“As do I.”
“Of course you do, son.” His father blew smoke rings above his head. “And that’s all that matters.”
So, although the war had been lost, Will had won. He had the woman he loved, who’d come to him from the future; his daughter now had a mother who loved her, and his family was accepting, at least for the time being.
He hadn’t yet mentioned his plans to move north. But that news could wait for another day.
****
Erin brushed her hands over the skirt of the beautiful silk apricot gown Jenny had made for her. Will’s parents had bought the material.
At first, she’d protested. She knew Southerners, even well-off ones, had a way to go to recover what they’d lost during the war. But Will’s parents assured her they wanted and were able to do this. The acceptance of his family had made everything easier. While she still thought wistfully of the life she’d given up in the future, she knew she never would have been happy knowing Will had died.
“This is for you to wear, dear.” Madeline presented Erin with a delicate silver-chain necklace from which a single sapphire stone dangled. “This is very old. It belonged to my grandmother.” Erin leaned over so the shorter woman could reach around her neck to fasten the chain. She then moved to stand before Erin and admire how it looked.
“The stone is perfect for you. It matches your eyes,” Madeline said.
“And,” Jenny added, “it’s old and blue. Your dress is new. So, all we need is something borrowed.” She held out an embroidered hanky. “This is mine. Will it do?”
“It will be just fine.” Erin’s eyes stung when she accepted the handkerchief. Tears of happiness threatened to spill over.
This was the day she’d lived for her entire life, although she’d never known it. How could she have ever believed she’d have to travel one hundred and forty years into the past to find the man she loved?
Amanda pranced around in her short forest-green dress, trimmed in ivory lace. Her auburn hair had been arranged in ringlets falling past her shoulders. She also wore green and ivory ribbons in her hair and carried a basket of rose petals to spread in the hall after Erin descended the stairs.
Jenny had arranged Erin’s hair in an intricate braided design. She’d also strung together a wreath of daisies for Erin to wear with long ribbons that matched her gown and trailed down her back.
Jenny adjusted the wreath and handed her a small nosegay to carry. Amanda beamed impishly at her.
“Miss Erin, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you, Amanda. So do you.”
Turning to Jenny, Erin said, “I think I’m ready. Is it time?”
“I do believe it is.”
Mrs. Montgomery tapped Erin’s shoulder. “Tillie and I will go downstairs. I’ll send Mr. Montgomery up to escort you.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery,” Erin said, “for everything.”
“No need to thank me. You just take good care of that boy of mine.”
“I will. I promise.”
Madeline and Tillie left. A few minutes later, Zachary appeared in the doorway. He made a distinguished figure with his white hair and beard and impeccable black suit, gray vest, and white cravat.
“Shall we, my dear?” he asked.
Amanda and Jenny moved from the room. He waited until Erin took his arm. The small group moved to the head of the stairs. Jenny slowly started down. Amanda fidgeted at the top apparently impatient to perform her task. Once Jenny reached the bottom, Amanda pranced down. At the bottom, she glanced up at Erin and her grandfather, then spread rose petals from her basket across the hall to where her father and the others stood.
At the top of the stairs, Erin trembled.
“Nervous, my dear?” Zachary asked.
“A little,” she admitted. “But mostly, I’m very happy.”
After Amanda crossed the hall, Zachary said, “Shall we?”
“Yes, sir.”
As she slowly started down the stairs on Zachary’s arm, she caught Will’s admiring gaze. A remembrance of the first time she’d descended these stairs came back to her. She nearly giggled at the thought of tripping down the stairs in her wedding gown.