Her plan went horribly awry. As a child, she’d dogged his steps until he scolded her and sent her on her way. As a teenager, she’d mooned after him, watching him and Lilly even though it broke her heart. When she thought he was dead, she determined never to marry and refused every young man who came calling. Funny, it wasn’t until she finally gave up her dreams and began to make some serious plans for her future that Morgan returned. He invaded her life like a twister, tossing her emotions every which way until she didn’t know what she wanted.
Now she was going to be his wife, it didn’t seem possible. She would belong to him, body and soul, as he’d been in possession of her heart always. Remembering the delicious things he’d done to her body, she shivered and hugged herself. It felt like she’d waited a lifetime for him.
“Can we come in and help you dress?” Fancy called after knocking on the door.
As soon as Callie Mae opened the door, the girls tumbled in. A whirlwind began, filled with tittering laughter, blushes, curling rods, and perfume. An hour later she stood before the mirror and stared at her reflection, smiling. Oh, it was going to be a glorious day!
Morgan had an early breakfast with his brothers as Emma flitted around the kitchen.
“Come on, no lolly-gagging,” she insisted. “There are tables to be set up and a host of other chores to do before the guests arrive.”
“Don’t think just because you’re the groom you’re getting out of the work, Morgan,” Matthew said, shoveling fried potatoes into his mouth.
Morgan snorted. “I think we know who we have to keep an eye on around here, don’t we, Mead?”
“I’m afraid I can’t agree,” Mead sighed, pushing his plate away. “I’m the one who’s not much use.”
“Nonsense,” Emma called as she headed into the parlor. “It’s only been three days since you were shot. You can’t expect miracles. In time you’ll be back on your feet.”
“I guess I better get busy,” Matthew said, wiping his mouth. He looked at Morgan and shook his head sadly, avoiding Mead’s eyes as he hurried out the back door, letting the screen door slam behind him.
“Poor kid, he doesn’t know what to say to me,” Mead said with a sigh. “I think we all know that I’ll probably never get out of this chair.
Morgan got up and carried their plates to the sink. “Let’s go outside and get some fresh air,” he suggested. “There are a few things I’d like to discuss privately.”
Mead nodded and Morgan wheeled him out the back door, stopping at the farthest corner of the porch. Sitting down he rolled a cigarette, offering one to Mead who shook his head. He knew he was taking a big risk. If his brother didn’t believe him, things would never be the same between them again. If he did, they could have the same outcome. Taking a deep breath, he told him everything.
“I know it sounds like something out of a book, but I’m telling you the truth. You can take my place, Mead, go back instead of me. They have the technology to replace that knee and anything else Doc Brubaker didn’t find.”
“Morgan, I hate to say this, but you sound like you’re the one who needs to go to that hospital and have your brain examined. What did you say the name of it was?”
“Johns Hopkins, and it’s a real hospital in Maryland. Unfortunately, compared to the medical options available in my time, it’s obsolete.”
“So let me get this straight. You’re from the future and you traveled back to 1880 and you want to stay. You say your name is truly Morgan Whittaker and that somehow you’re a descendant of the Whittaker family. What happened to my brother, my real brother?” Mead asked.
Morgan sighed, fighting against the pain in his chest. “He’s dead, Mead. According to the records available, he never returned from his last stint with Sheridan. I’m sorry. I know I’m a piss-poor replacement for you, but…”
“Morgan, I didn’t say that,” Mead replied, placing his hand on Morgan’s shoulder. “My brother and I were never close. He was a bit of a loner, a drifter who frequently disappeared for long periods of time. Missy adored him, Matthew worshiped him, but he and I didn’t agree on a lot of things. I resented the way he’d take off and leave all the responsibility on Ma and Pa. As the oldest he should have been more concerned with how they were getting on, especially as they aged. He knew Pa was sick when he signed up to fight the last time. I tried to talk him out of it, but he was damn stubborn. You’ve been the brother and son he should have been.”
“Mead, I don’t know what to say. I feel like this is my family. I love you all and Callie Mae is the icing on the cake. I don’t think I could leave any of you.”
“We wouldn’t want you to. It would kill Ma and now that I’m in this chair she’ll need you more than ever. So, tell me again what we have to do.”
Morgan blinked away a few tears and sighed in relief. Mead believed him. His life here would be so much easier because he now had someone to really talk to who didn’t think he was crazy.
“We tell everyone you are going away with Callie Mae and I on our honeymoon trip and that we’re going to Maryland so you can receive treatment. Sunday mornings are usually the day I leave a message for Cara, and I’ll do that, telling her I’m coming back on Tuesday.”
“What will she do when I show up instead of you?” Mead asked, a bit worried.
“There won’t be anything she can do. She won’t realize you’re not me until it’s too late, but her dedication will demand that she help you. After all, this program is her baby.”
“Callie Mae and I will go away for the two weeks and everyone here will think you’re with us. I’ll make it clear to Cara what time you have to be returned and we’ll be waiting for you.”
“This all sounds pretty farfetched,” Mead said, shaking his head.
“You think this is strange, wait till you get there. It’s an amazing time, Mead. They’ll probably ask you a million questions, but the important thing is they’ll fix your leg.”
“All right, but no leaving me until you know for sure I’m gone. I don’t want to be sitting out there yelling my head off, hoping someone hears me while you’re driving away with your pretty bride. God, I can’t believe I’m even having this conversation.”
