A Tumble Through Time (22 page)

“Yes. It’s a strange story, but one I’d like very much for you to hear.”

She shifted her feet, pushing away her uncomfortable thoughts. “I’m listening.”

He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and seemed to reflect before he spoke. “My book begins with my main character, a bounty hunter, finding her fiancé cheating with her best friend.” He paused, his hand tightening on hers.

Anna’s breath hitched, and she jerked her head up, staring into his eyes.

What the hell?

His slow smile turned into a full grin, as he raised her hands to his mouth and rubbed her knuckles across his lips. And it felt right.

“Wait, Anna,” he whispered. “It gets better . . .”

Epilogue

Six Years Later

W
es held his face up to the hot stream of water cascading down his body, his muscles relaxing as the heat worked its magic. Truly, the best thing about the future must be showers. Especially when his wife was in a playful mood and joined him. He groaned as he felt a stirring in a part of his body that was best ignored right now. Six years of marriage and he still reacted like a randy teen to thoughts of Anna’s curves.

Within minutes, the cooling water reminded him that soon the hot water tank needed to be replaced with a larger one. Another expense to add to the growing list. He slid open the glass door and stepped onto the soggy bathmat, his feet making a squishing sound. Reaching for something to dry himself with, he
snagged the only towel in the bathroom, already wet from his wife’s shower. He grinned at life with Anna.

Wrapping it around his waist, he studied himself in the mirror as he prepared to shave. Water beaded his chest and dripped from his hair. He looked the same, maybe a few years older, but he was no longer a marshal.
In any time.

He thought back to the conversation he’d had with Anna when he’d first arrived. Perched against the picnic table, she listened, then stepped back and walked away from him. He’d given her time to absorb it all, staying near the table as she wandered around, mumbling to herself and shaking her head. Thankfully she hadn’t jumped into her car and raced away from a man she must’ve thought at the time was crazy.

When she’d returned to him, she’d admitted there was definitely something between them, much too strong for them to be strangers, but still she refused to believe his story.

Could he blame her? At least Anna hadn’t dismissed it out of hand, and she
’d reluctantly agreed to allow him to court her, what this future time called ‘dating.’

Most likely it was his complete ignorance of all things modern back then that finally convinced her, even to the point of Anna finding someone to give him an identity. Strange how a man had to
prove
himself in this time and place. And not by his family or character, but by various pieces of paper issued by the government.

Thoughts of family always evoked wistfulness with memories of his grandparents. He and Anna had traveled once to the Indian store in Kansas. The owners
−a couple in their mid forties−assured Wes they’d never employed an elderly Native American woman in the ten years they’d owned the store.

But as he told
Koyake
’ and
mIshomes
before he left,
they were always close to his heart.

Banging on the bathroom door
drew him from his musing. “Daddy, open up.”

“I’m not dressed, Princess. Go have Mommy get your breakfast and I’ll be right down.”

“All right.” A major sigh from five-year-old Macie. “I’ll wait in the kitchen for you. But hurry up.”

Once she’d shut the outer door, he left the bathroom, then quickly pulled on jeans and a tee shirt with
Journey Tour - 2013
inked on the front, grateful he didn’t have to dress in a suit and tie−modern day torture−to earn a living. Whistling softly, he finger-combed his hair and headed downstairs.

Coffee mug in hand, Anna moved her head to the side when Wes
snagged her from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Good morning,” he growled.

She batted his
hand when his fingers crept up her ribs toward her breast. “Little eyes . . .” She gestured toward Macie watching them from her place at the table.

Wes turned to their daughter. “And good morning to you, too, Princess.”

Macie grinned, milk dripping down her chin from a mouthful of cereal. Wes looked at the colorful kernels in her bowl. “Honey, I thought we decided to get healthier food.”

“She likes that,” Anna said as she took her place at the table and sipped from her cup. “Ah, nothing beats my first shot of coffee.”

“Well, if you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em.” Wes poured cereal from the box with cartoon characters decorating it. “Is this stuff really good?”

Macie nodded. “The best.”

He shuddered when he took the first bite, then lifted the cereal box and studied the nutrition label. “God’s sake, this thing is all sugar!”

Anna shrugged. “So I’ll pack her a nutritious lunch.”

“No school today, Mom.” Macie glanced at Wes. “She always forgets.”

“Why no school?” He pushed the bowl of cereal away.

Macie rolled her eyes. “Duh. Saturday?”

Wes grabbed his coffee mug. “Well then, finish up, Princess, if you’re going to help me with work today.” He rose and kissed Anna on the head and left the room.

Anna wandered along the hallway from the kitchen to the part of the house that contained the office of Shannon Security Systems, eyeing the mess of toys scattered along her path. With her hands curled around the warmth of a dark blue mug with the triple intertwined “S” emblazoned on it, she leaned against the doorway and sipped, watching Wes and Macie, who straddled his lap.

They had their heads together, studying a computer screen while Wes’s fingers flew over the keyboard. Macie’s curly brown hair−not yet brushed, Anna noted−tumbled down her back in its usual early morning d
isarray. She swung her leg back and forth in rhythm with a cadence only the child knew.

Warmth spread through her each time she viewed this scene. Her husband from the past had become such a computer geek, it always amused her to watch him operate their security business with numerous monitors, computer screens, and latest electronic gadgets surrounding him.

Despite his initial reluctance, he had agreed to attend a few counseling sessions, and it had been years since he’d been troubled by his PTSD. And it hadn’t required sitting around a sewing circle to do it, either.

She’d given up her quest to be reinstated in the police department, opting instead for the ‘safe’ work of high-tech security. Wes had taken to electronics and everything modern with boyish eagerness. His initial fear at the speed of cars soon left him, and he whipped around town in his Mazda Miata while she was left driving the SUV.

“Daddy, what’s this for?” Macie pointed to a device on the table.

Wes began a lengthy explanation, her daughter’s eyes wide with wonder. Anna moved from the doorway and took the comfortable padded seat next to them. “Honey, she doesn’t understand that stuff.”

“Yes, I do, Mom. You always say that.” The little girl, with her daddy’s features, wrinkled her nose as she returned her attention to Wes.

“That’s right, Macie. Tell your mommy that one day you’ll be CEO of your own company.”

The first time Anna had heard Wes say that to their daughter, she roared with laughter. The man who’d been so adamant about her not working when they initially married had done a complete about-face once he’d been presented with a daughter instead of a son. He’d certainly adapted well.

It had taken her a while to believe his story, but too many times she’d had flashes of her own past that confused her. Eventually she’d acknowledged their connection, and insisted if they intended to live together, they would have a legal,
contemporary wedding.

Anna cleared her throat and placed her cup on the polished surface of her desk, far enough away from the computer to prevent an accident. “Well, my suspicions were correct.”

Tearing his eyes away from the computer screen, Wes faced her. “What’s that, honey?”

“Macie will have to make room for a partner in her company when she’s CEO.”

His brows drew together, his eyes darting back to the computer screen, a sure sign he wasn’t really listening to her. “Oh?”

She sighed and cupped his face with her hands. “Yes. Our new baby is due in about eight months.”

“Yay, I want a sister!” Macie shouted.

Wes’s eyes lit up and he moved his daughter off his lap, pulling Anna over, settling her on his thighs. “Honey, that’s fantastic news. I know you’ve been worrying about another pregnancy for a long time.” He kissed her softly, nibbling at her lips, offering his full attention.

Anna laid her head on his shoulder and rubbed her cheek on the soft material of his tee shirt. “In all honesty, I was beginning to think Macie would be an only child.”

Wes ran his fingers up and down her bare arm. “Maybe in another five years we can add a third partner.” He tugged playfully on her ponytail.

“Hmm. Not sure we need another partner. But I’m all for doing as much practicing as we can work in.”

“Practicing for what, Mommy?” Macie asked from where she sat, spinning on Anna’s chair.

Wes grinned at Anna. “You’re the mommy, you explain it.”

The End

Callie has been making up stories since elementary school, and putting pen to paper gave her a way to turn off the voices in her head. Writing has always been her passion, and she’s authored several romance novels, with an emphasis on the American West, both historical and contemporary.

Oklahoma is where she hangs her hat with her husband, two young adult children, and three dogs.

You can catch her hanging out at
Facebook
,
Twitter- @CallieHutton
, and her home base, www.calliehutton.com. Stop by sometime and say hello. She also loves hearing from her readers. Drop her a line:
[email protected]

Books by Callie Hutton

Oklahoma Lovers:

A Run For Love #1

A Wife by Christmas #2

A Prescription for Love #3

An Angel in the Mail

Tessa’s Treasures

Daniel’s Desire

Miss Merry’s Christmas

Emma’s Journey

The Elusive Wife

Emma’s Journey:

Emma Thorpe did not want to leave her life in Indiana to travel to Oregon on a wagon train, but her husband, Peter, had other ideas. Barely three weeks into the trip, Peter is killed, and Emma is shocked that the wagon master won’t let her return home.

Wagon Scout Davis Cooper has decided this would be his last scouting trip, he intends to obtain land in the new Oregon territory, find a wife, and start a family.

When the Wagon Master orders Emma and Davis to marry, she rebels, but eventually comes to realize she can’t go it alone, no matter how stubborn she is. But nothing will make her give up her dream to return home.

Can Davis change her mind, and have the life he’s always wanted with his unexpected wife?