“I liked her.”
“You were in her world. What’s not to like when you suddenly had every modern convenience, and it was all new to you? She was probably on her best behavior.”
“I didn’t tell you this before because…well, I didn’t think you needed to know. When I arrived, so did Micah, at least for Cara. Her future changed drastically. Suddenly, she was overcome by memories of things she didn’t recall doing.
“She passed through some kind of ‘time warp’ is what she called it. Cara expected you and got me. Witt appeared at her side. He, of course, recalled every detail of their lives together, while she frantically tried to put the pieces together.
“Thankfully, as time went on, she was smart enough to figure out what had happened. You were here in 1880 for a few months. Her life covered a span of several years. I believe she would have lost her mind otherwise. I swear the shock of it almost took her down.”
“Really? I had no idea. So, Micah Whittaker didn’t just appear. She met and fell in love with him after I was gone.”
“Exactly, and she truly loves him. When things changed and we didn’t know what had happened, I thought Cara would die of heartbreak. There were times I worried she would do something to herself,” he sadly informed his brother.
“Cara? She’s tough as nails,” Morgan scoffed.
“No, she’s not. She’s a brilliant woman who is consumed with guilt and fear. I believe she blames herself as much as she blames you.”
“And she should blame me,” he admitted. “She warned me over and over not to mess with the fabric of time. ‘Don’t make waves. Stay low key and observe if you like, but don’t get emotionally involved.’ Then, when I sent her the questions regarding information into Callie Mae’s future, Cara was furious. Now, looking at the damage I’ve caused, I can’t say I blame her.”
“It’s not just you, Morg. Callie Mae would have brought the girls in any case, and the trouble seems to be in knowing exactly who Micah Whittaker’s great-great-great grandparents are.”
“My head is beginning to ache,” Matthew said, taking his Stetson off and rubbing his forehead. “I don’t understand any of this.”
“Never mind, Matt, there’s a lot we don’t understand either,” Mead offered. “In fact, we’ve been trying to figure it out since I got back from…um, Maryland. When I was in the future, Micah disappeared for a time. Cara and I were frantic with worry. I wasn’t even sure I would get back to my real life. Then, suddenly, he reappeared so something changed back to normal here.
“Morgan is convinced it was during the time Lilly was planning the girl’s abduction. If that’s the case, then the crisis was averted by the quick action of Fancy. Which would mean that one of those girls is destined to be the missing ancestor.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Think about it. If Lilly’s plan had worked, the girls would have vanished. Maybe we could have recovered them, maybe not. In any case, if his theory is correct, that was why Micah began to fade out of Cara’s circle.”
“So, what’s the answer to this puzzle? You’re going to marry Marilee, and Ty Wainwright is going to marry Annalise. That leaves Fancy, who wouldn’t settle here permanently on a bet, and Jane, who can’t behave for more than five minutes. And another thing! Who’s the lucky groom? Morgan is already married, and Marilee has your heart. Who does that leave as Micah’s granddaddy?”
It took a while for it to dawn on him as Morgan and Mead waited quietly. Finally, it hit him, and he let out a roar.
“Oh, hell no! It’s not me, it can’t be. I love Miss Laurie and I aim to have her! Either of you try getting in my way, I swear I’ll kick both of your asses to kingdom come, or better yet right back where you came from.”
Without another word, Matt spun his horse around and gave its sides a kick.
“Wait,” Morgan yelled. “We think we…have an answer,” he continued, his voice trailing off. Matthew was heading to town, hell bent for election, and there was no point in wasting his breath.
“Well, that went well,” Mead remarked as he slipped his letter to Cara into the pouch and added a disc. “She’ll have this right away. I’m sure she’s waiting for word.”
“Explaining this to Matt was not going to be easy, and we already knew that.” Mounting his horse, he waited for Mead. “At least he seemed to be open to listening.”
“Yeah, he listened all right,” Mead answered, leaving the grove at a trot. “He’s probably in Hank’s office by now, asking him to get us off the street and into a cell before we completely lose what little sense we still have.”
“We’ll talk to him again later. Once we tell him we think it’s Laurie he needs to marry her right away, he’ll settle down.”
“Nah, he’ll still believe we’re as crazy as rabid raccoons. Still, we’d better get to town and see if we can appear as normal citizens.”
“We are normal,” Morgan argued.
Mead laughed.
“There is one good thing to consider. Hank doesn’t have any empty cells.”
“Real funny, Mead.”
