“If what Haram said is the truth, and we have no reason not to believe him, yes.”
“So the only way we will ever encounter him again is if we go forward in time,” she said.
“Yes. And we no longer have any reason for going forward. We can stay in this time and live our lives as we have always wished.”
Thunder rumbled. The clouds thickened and the sky darkened until day resembled night and the rain began falling harder.
She slid her arms up his back, feeling the hard muscle underneath the sodden shirt. “I do not wish to stay in this time, whenever it is. I want to go back to the time before. I want to be among those who know about us. Who know and are willing to befriend us anyway. Who know and accept us as we are.”
“I wish we could as well, my love.”
Lifting her face, she stared up at him. “Why can we not?”
“Can we what?”
“Go back. Together.”
“You know we can only go forward.”
“But you can send us back.”
Cayn shook his head. “I can only send you back. Not myself.”
“But what if I hold onto you?” she insisted. “We have never thought of doing that. And remember when Goen stopped time at the sheriff’s office? His ability affected even the normal humans! We never knew that! We never knew that! So how do we know that if I keep my grip on you, and you send me back, that we will not go together? The same as when we jump, and we are connected, we go together?” Her arms tightened around him. “What do we have to lose? If you send only me back, I will come find you, and we will make our lives together here. In this time. But we will do so knowing we tried.”
Cayn slowly nodded. “You are right. We have to at least try.” He brushed his lips across her forehead. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“I love you to the depths of my soul, Juda dar Di Plesh.”
“I will see you again soon, beloved.”
Pressing his hands to her back, Cayn focused, concentrated, and pushed.
Miracle
“I would like to get those renovations started as soon as possible, John.”
John Bettners nodded as he jotted down some figures on his notepad. Sheriff Conroy waited until the construction manager was finished before continuing. Closing his pad, Bettners slipped it inside the breast pocket of his shirt and looked up at the sheriff, when his attention was diverted by something over the man’s shoulder. Chuckling, he pointed.
“It would seem someone is still having trouble getting used to driving a clutch.”
By this time, Conroy could hear the rumble and squeal of the approaching truck. He turned around and laughed as the vehicle eventually came to a stop by the curb, but not before the right front wheel bounced up onto it.
“I’ll catch you later after I run those numbers,” Bettners said.
Conroy waved in acknowledgment and slowly walked over to the truck just as the driver’s side door opened. “One of these days, hopefully you’ll eventually get the hang of it.”
“You have such high expectations for me,” Cayn quipped as he climbed out of the cab. “I only hope I can live up to them.”
The two men shook hands on the sidewalk.
“So how’s it working out over at the feed and seed store?” Conroy asked.
Cayn nodded and smiled, pointing to the truck. “As soon as I become more proficient with that mechanical beast, Mr. Christianson wants to put me in charge of the deliveries.”
Conroy blinked. “Wow. That’s some promotion. Have you told Juda yet?”
