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“Alice? What’s wrong?” She lay on her back with her eyes closed. Her face was pale and covered with a sheen of perspiration, and her hands were grasped tightly in front of her chest.

“We’ve called for the ambulance. We think she’s taken something and had a reaction. Blood pressure is through the roof. Do you know who she is?” The younger of the two men looked at him and his eyes widened as he recognised David.

Before he could answer, Alice’s eyes fluttered open. “Davy? Is that you? Don’t leave me. Come with me?” Her voice was weak and she struggled to catch her breath. “Please? I’m scared. Don’t let them take me away from here.”

David reached out and took her hand between his. “Of course I won’t leave you. I’ll look after you, don’t worry, Alice.”

The flashing red lights of the ambulance reflected on the side of the stage. David looked up and groaned. Not only was he going to be late getting back to Megan, but he was missing out on the meeting with the agent, Mick Rothman.

But he wouldn’t leave Alice. There were too many things that could go wrong if he let her go to the hospital by herself.

Too many explanations that may be needed.

God, Alice, please don’t die on me.

“I’ll be back in a minute.” He looked across at the paramedics who were placing an oxygen mask over Alice’s mouth and nose. “Please wait for me.”

Pushing through the milling crowd who were waiting for the next band to come on stage, he tore around the front of the stage and up the stairs, holding onto the flimsy hand rail as he took them two at a time. Mick Rothman frowned as he spoke to Bear and Slim. When David pushed past him and picked his T-shirt up from the floor, the agent smiled.

“Ah, at last.” He stood back and waited for David to join the group.

“Sorry guys. They’re taking Alice to hospital and I have to go in the ambulance. Whatever you think, just take the deal and I’ll agree with whatever you decide.” He held Bear’s gaze with his. “As long as you take the deal tonight. Okay?”

The burly drummer slapped him on the back as he headed back towards the stairs. “That’s cool, Davy. Look after the old lady. Give her a kiss from me.”

“Keep an eye on my guitar, please guys?” David pointed to his black Fender on the floor where he’d put it before he’d run to see if Alice was alright. Already it was getting lost amongst the equipment as the next band set up for their performance.

“Sure thing.” Slim strolled over and picked it up as David headed back down the stairs.

Alice was already in the back of the ambulance covered with a white blanket. When David climbed in the back and sat beside her, she reached out and gripped his hand.

“Thank you, David. I’m a bit scared. They’re taking me into Taunton hospital.” Her eyes were wide and her hair had fallen from her braid over her face. “I’ve never been anywhere but Glastonbury. “Now I mean.”

“I know what you mean.” David squeezed her hand as he glanced across at the ambulance driver. “Neither have I. We’ll do it together.”

He spoke confidently to keep Alice calm, but inside his thoughts were churning. He had no idea what would happen if they ventured too far away from the time slip and coming up with an ID for Alice was going to problematic. If they looked up her records, they’d find that she should only be about thirty years old.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Megan summoned up the courage to walk along the road into the village in the mid-afternoon. She gave the fields a very wide berth and was relieved when the bell on the shop door chimed as she pushed it open. Crazy Jules greeted her with a smile and Megan let out the breath she’d been holding.

“So how’s your water, then, dear?”

“Fine, thank you.” She grinned at the woman, who was wearing brightly patterned tights beneath a lime-green apron today. “Solstice fixed it just as you said it would.”

Not to mention the sexy rock star who fixed my pump. But she’d go along with the woman’s story.

Picking up a basket, Megan wandered around the dim store, collecting the ingredients for a meal to have ready for David late tonight. Tomatoes, dried herbs, some bacon, and a jar of cream, as well as a packet of pasta, all went into the small plastic crate. She’d venture into the little cellar and raid Alice’s wine stash, too.

She daydreamed as she poked about the store.

A pretty tablecloth and some flowers from the garden.

“Do you have any candles?” She placed the basket on the counter and began to unload her purchases.

“To take to the festival?” Jules turned around to a shelf behind the counter and picked up a small torch. “Safety wardens won’t let you light candles there. Here’s a torch for you, luv.”

“Thanks, but not for the festival. For a romantic dinner.”