BREE CHANGED HER MINDa million times while waiting for her arm to heal. During the days she pushed all thought of Horland out of her mind and ignored the growing ache in her heart.
She kept busy looking after Laura when Garrett wasn’t there and tending the gardens. Using the work to improve the strength in her arm, she increased the load she put on her muscles every day, pushing and pulling rakes and pruning larger and larger branches, first with shears until finally she was able to use a hedge shear for the privet hedge between the main garden and stables.
She hoped the physical work would tire her enough to sleep. While she worked, she would decide to change the orb settings and go back to live like father and daughter with Garlain as only she could if she looked like his daughter and not his sister.
But as she lay alone in her bed and sleep finally claimed her, she would think of Horland, how his arms felt around her, his smile, his teasing, and yes, his kisses. The thought of never feeling those emotions again had her crying into her pillow. If only she had gone back to the right time in the first place, she wouldn’t have to go through the grief of losing someone while never knowing if they might have had a future together.
Two weeks later, she awoke to find her arm pain free. The bruises were an ugly fading yellow, but they were beautiful to her.
She stretched her arms high overhead and sighed. She was glad she was back to her healthy self, but that, of course, had a weight pushing on her chest. It was time to make up her mind.
She threw the covers off and had a quick shower. Once dressed, she tied her hair back in a ribbon and frowned at her reflection. “What are you going to do?”
She shook her head and grimaced. “Maybe I’ll toss a coin.” But then, she though some fresh air would clear her head.
Making sure the way was clear, she hurried down the stairs and out the back door She didn’t want Garrett or Laura to see her before her eyes returned to normal. They had stopped asking about her swollen red eyes, but she couldn’t stand the pity on their faces when they saw her. She knew it must have been hard for them, to see her hurting and unable to do anything about it, so it was easier to just not see them.
She stopped and took in the beautiful day. The sun was shining, the sky was clear and the air cool but not cold. Shemeandered through the garden, past the stables and into the small tree forest. It was colder in the shade and she shivered as she followed the horse path up the rise. Coming out into the sun, she paused and let the warm rays wash over her for a moment before continuing to the large flat rock. She sat down and gazed over the open field that stretched to the mountains in the distance.
Her gaze alighted on the old bristlecone pine tree that indicated the border of the property. How she used to love riding over the field and climbing to the top of that gnarled tree. She rubbed her arm as an old memory of pain had her smiling. She’d climbed the tree so often, she was overconfident and not concentrating, misplaced her foot and fell awkwardly on a large, raised root.
Luckily, Garrett and Max were with her that day and they helped her into her saddle and led the horse back to the house. Aunt Di wasn’t happy because she’d told Bree not to climb the tree. Bree let out a laugh. Her aunt and uncle had banned her from ever going near the tree again, but of course, once it was Spring and her arm had healed, she was back up on the very top branch looking out over the field of wildflowers again.
She sighed. When had she stopped taking risks?It’s time.
Leaping up onto her feet, she jogged back to the house and hurried down to the basement.
She decided a new dress was in order and chose a deep purple dress from the wardrobe but kept the black cloak. It had all the pockets, and she might need them. Once she was ready, she sat at the bench with the orbs before her. “Okay Mom, Dad wins.”
She sucked in a noisy breath. “Right then, this is it,” she said, and leaving the location alone, she reset the black orb to the year 702. She did the same to the white orb and wentback to double-check the black time device’s settings. However, the black orb had changed back to the year 682.
“Huh? I just changed you.”
Taking a quick look at the white orb, she saw it had done the same.
She changed them again and again they changed back. “What’s going on here?”
Every time she changed the date, it just went back to 682.
She tried again. “Stop it.”
While she sat glaring at the orbs, a shimmer in the corner of her eyes had her snapping her head around.
Uncle Mark and Aunt Di stood before the open wardrobe door.
Bree’s eyes widened, and she gasped, but soon regained her wits. “Thank goodness you’re here. These darn things won’t change their settings.”
Dianne smiled, but the discomfort in her eyes had Bree standing and facing them fully.
“That gown is perfect on you,” Aunt Di said.
Her lips quivered when she smiled, or at least Bree thought her aunt tried to smile.
Bree narrowed her eyes at her aunt. “What’s going on?”
“We are so sorry,” Aunt Di said.
“For everything,” Uncle Mark said.
