Fade to Grey (12 page)

Donna felt at peace for the first time since she had arrived. Today she felt more in control of her emotions and her surroundings. Perhaps it was being back in the saddle that did it. Royce pulled his gelding to a halt so Donna could pull up next to him.

“Here, ride alongside me. Your uncle is preoccupied now and won’t notice anything.”

Donna glanced over at her uncle, now trotting the young bay slowly. He appeared to be off in another world.

Royce glanced at her and smiled. “Do you feel like attempting a trot? Eden has a smooth gait.”

“Yes, let’s try. But you lead off.”

“We’ll take it slow and easy. We should be showing your Uncle that you can actually ride sidesaddle.” With this, Royce nudged his horse into a slow trot and Donna’s followed behind. Royce was right; the mare’s trot was smooth and comfortable. She would make any rider look good. Quickly Donna fell under the spell of riding a good horse. The thrill of being outdoors on a beautiful day was uplifting also. Surprisingly, she even forgot she was riding sidesaddle. Her riding skill soon helped her adapt to the saddle. It wasn’t much different than switching horses or tack with a friend and adjusting the stirrups. With her weight balanced in the saddle, and her feet turned front wards, she felt as if she had been riding this way all her life. Royce kept his gelding at a slow trot and occasionally glanced backwards to check on Donna’s progress. When he saw that she was doing fine, he turned onto a small path and pulled his horse neatly to a stop.

“You’re doing wonderful! Are you absolutely sure you’ve never ridden this way before?”

“No, never! And I can’t believe how secure I feel. Perhaps it’s the saddle. It’s unbelievably comfortable. Like a rocking chair. And you were right—Eden’s trot is so smooth! I just love her!”

“We’ll continue riding then. I don’t think we should let the horses canter though. I know you think you’re doing fine, but I don’t want to chance it. The ground isn’t all that smooth around the edges of the field. But this side of it was.”

“Thanks for warning me. I’d hate to take a tumble,” Donna said. She turned Eden alongside Royce’s mount and reached over to lay her hand on top of his. “This means so much to me…”

she paused.

“You don’t have to thank me. I love doing it. Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you look in the morning sunshine?” He leaned precariously out of his saddle to plant a kiss on her lips.

“I…never…no not really.” Unexpectedly she felt shy and awkward. “Thank you for the compliment.”

“A man would be proud to have you for a lady friend. Here, I can see I’ve embarrassed you. I didn’t mean to.” He urged his horse back out to the edge of the field. “Follow me. We need to keep moving.”

“Yes, of course.” Donna was glad for the break. She did enjoy that Royce saw her in that light. Her mare followed his horse again.

“Pull up alongside me. There’s plenty of space here,” Royce said. “We haven’t had much time to talk, have we?”

“No, not alone,” Donna said. “Yet I feel as if I know you. Perhaps I am too trusting of people.” She laughed. “Listen to me. We’ve already made love.”

“I hope I would be the type of man you would trust, Donna—both in bed and out.”

“Yes, you are. I need to tell you something. Tonight, Royce, I would like to travel to my time in the future. I think I may have figured out a way to do it.” She waited while he appeared to mull over her offer.

“I don’t know. Do you think it will really work?”

“Why shouldn’t it? You see me here now in your time. Why couldn’t I reverse the events of the evening last week? Wear the same clothes, the same jewelry. I think it has something to do with the silver pin.” She touched the brooch she wore at her throat. Since she thought it was a vital link to the time travel, she hadn’t let it out of her sight.

“All right. I’ll watch you. One part of me wants to try the travel with you and the other part wants to stay here. I feel comfortable in my own time you see.” He smiled as they resumed their walk around the field. “Do you know anybody who’s done this in the past?”

“No, I’m afraid I’m the first! I think you should at least be there since you were at the receiving end, so to speak, when I arrived here.”

“You forgot one thing.”

“What’s that?” Donna asked.

“Where are we attempting this fling through time?”

“Oh that! I’ve given it serious thought. I think we should do it in the tack room.”

“Why in that dusty place?” Royce asked.

“Because it will recreate everything as closely as possible,” Donna said. “I plan to wear the same outfit as the night you found me on the floor.”

“Do you think I should do the same?”

“It wouldn’t hurt. I think it has something to do with my blood letting—where I accidentally pricked my finger. I’ve fainted before at the sight of blood, but it was nothing like this. Everything faded to grey. I guess that is the best way to describe it.”

“Count me in, Donna. I’ll be on hand to help you tonight.”

“Fine. I’ll sneak out of the house after sunset. I know the path well enough to walk it alone. It should be dark by eight o’clock.”

With the Brandentons occupied with some drop-in company, Donna had time to prepare. She bundled up her traveling outfit and stuffed it into a black drawstring bag she found in the washing area. There was nothing else she needed to get ready, except her presence in the tack room. She tried to approximate the time she first traveled backwards in time and thought she would gauge it as close to that as possible. Since she had no instructions, she thought she would just wing it and see what happened. A fleeting thought that she might end up somewhere else in time nagged her a bit, but she pushed that thought out of her mind. She needed to get back to Chicago, to her life and her job. Stashing the bag behind one of her trunks, she went back downstairs to read before the firelight.

She watched to see when the maids left for the night. That took place about six o’clock. With them out of the way, she could plead weariness and go to bed early. No one would think anything odd of that. After all, she had been out horseback riding for most of the morning!

Annabelle and Rose had been incessantly chattering on and off all day about an upcoming barn dance and hayride next week. It was fun to listen to them go on about their outfits they planned to wear and what ribbons they planned to use in their hair. They were no different than young women in modern day Chicago, she thought.

Finally after a light supper, she bid Mr. and Mrs. Brandenton good-night and headed upstairs. She even took some books with her, pretending she would read them in her room by lamplight. When most of the household noises had quieted down, she tiptoed down the stairs with her bag and made for the back door. It wasn’t too difficult to be stealthy. The kitchen was quiet and the cooking fire in the stove was burnt down to a few embers.

Fearing the door might creak when she opened it, Donna prepared herself to open the heavy latch slowly. It was a pleasant surprise when she found it wasn’t even locked at all!

People probably don’t fear robbers like they do in my day.

She nudged the door with her toe and, when nothing squeaked, she pushed it farther. Even though she knew she wouldn’t be returning, she still shut it carefully behind her. Walking gingerly, she located the path to the stable. Suddenly, something cold and wet touched her hand and she jumped. It was nothing but Rex. Lilly said he usually slept in the cow shed, but he must have been patrolling his property. Just as well, he could walk with her. With Rex’s shaggy tail curled into the air, Donna found she had a rather bright guide to follow on the path. Within minutes they reached the stable. As they approached, she saw a golden glow coming out of Royce’s cottage windows. Soundlessly, the stable door opened onto the semi-dark tack room. Royce had a small oil lamp lit on the floor.

“I didn’t want to make too much light, yet I wanted a bit to show you that I was here. That way you wouldn’t be scared if I appeared out of the darkness,” he said.

“Good thinking. And old Rex led the way for me on the path with his white tail.” Donna patted the dog on the head. “Royce, please prepare the room just like it was the night you found me. Down to the last detail, every bucket and sponge as best as you remember it.”

“All right. That’s shouldn’t be too hard. There’s not that much stuff in here,” Royce said.

“I don’t know if it will matter or not but I figure it can’t hurt. While you do that, I’ll change my clothes.”

She took her bundle around the corner and turned her back to Royce. Soon, she was done and turned back to him.

“Do you think I look exactly like I did last week?”

Royce walked up to her and turned her hat around.

“The feather was on the left side, not the right. I guess you’re not used to wearing hats.” He said. “What about your brooch?”

“I’ll prick my finger after I get up in the saddle on the cleaning rack.”

“You won’t lose it?” Royce asked.

“Immediately after I do that, I’ll stuff it deep into my jacket pocket.” Donna finished buttoning up her jacket and then swung her leg over the saddle. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Wait, don’t go yet. I have to check on something in my cottage. Here, I’ll take your clothing with me to keep. As a remembrance of our time together. Plus no one will come upon it here and think you met with a bad end.”

“Alright.” Donna felt fidgety and wished Royce hadn’t stalled her departure. She fiddled with the stirrup straps until he returned.

With a pat on the leg from Royce, she positioned herself in the saddle. Settling herself squarely, she unfastened the end of the brooch from the clasp.

Just then Royce spoke.

“Donna, are you sure you want to go back?”

“Of course! My family and friends are there. And my job also. I can’t stay here.”

“I’ll miss you,” he said.

“Miss me?” she said, now quavering in her decision.

“Yes, miss you. I was hoping you would like this time. That you would stay. Perhaps I didn’t make myself clear enough on my feelings toward you.” He stepped forward.

“Royce, I…can’t say this isn’t sudden. But I think I have feelings for you also. I just don’t know how to make this work. Or even if we should attempt to make it work. I can’t stay with you here, can I? And I can’t live in two worlds, either.” She felt a bit nauseated at what she was about to do. And she felt heartsick if she was to cause Royce pain in any way. She leaned forward to adjust her weight in the saddle. Suddenly, she felt uncomfortable perched up high on the cleaning stand.

“Donna, please,” Royce began. “You don’t know what a happiness you have brought to me in this short time.”

Donna put her hand forward in a signal to stop his speech, if she could.

“No, don’t say it. You have to stay here and I have to go. That’s just how it will be.” She gripped the brooch tightly in her right hand. This sudden imperceptible shift in her weight caused her to slip just a half inch or so. Enough to throw off her balance on the slippery leather. “You’ll find someone else. I just know it. And…”

She began sliding off the saddle.

Royce jumped forward and attempted to grab her, to stop her fall onto the hard floor. Her long skirt started to wrap itself around her legs and get twisted up.

“Donna, be careful!”

He threw out his hands to catch her and with her forward lurch, she jabbed the open sharp end of the brooch into the palm of her right hand. She stared at it stupidly as a spot of blood quickly began forming.

“Royce, what have I done?” She could feel a cold chill pass through her body. Royce hugged her tightly, supporting her off-kilter balance. “Donna, I don’t want you to leave me. Please, perhaps this whole thing with the brooch is foolishness and nothing will…”

He paused, looking at her face as her eyes began to roll back in her head. She started shivering and shaking uncontrollably.

The last thing Donna remembered was the pin pricking her skin. It seemed that Royce grabbed her, but she couldn’t be sure. Everything seemed to turn to a grey, cold mist. She felt something happen when the pin prick brought blood to the surface of her palm. Perhaps a chemical mixture of the silver and an element in her blood? She wasn’t sure and her mind was too cloudy to understand or comprehend anything. She did know Royce’s arms felt strong around her and this made her feel safe. No matter where she ended up, she would be fine with him. She just didn’t want to drag him into this time travel thing with her.

Royce held Donna tightly. He tried to pry the brooch from her hand so she wouldn’t puncture herself any deeper than she already had. It was impossible. Her hand clutched the pin firmly. He could tell she was out of it, both mentally and physically. He pressed his cheek to her cold one. He felt a spinning sensation himself, as if he was addled. He shut his eyes to steady himself. The next thing he knew, everything around him faded to grey.

With a shudder, they both awoke at the same instant on the floor of the tack room. The oil lamp was nowhere to be seen and they were in semi-darkness. Pushing himself up on his elbows, Royce looked around.

“Donna, are you alright?” he spoke to her outline sitting on the floor.

“Yes, I’m fine. I think. And you…you traveled with me? How was that? I thought only I would travel through time.”

“I had to grab you. You started falling off the saddle stand. And the next thing you were shaking like you had the ague or malaria.” He caught his breath. “Have we really traveled into the future?”

“I hope so!” Donna rubbed her eyes.

“Did you see what I saw? We traveled through some kind of snakelike tunnel when I grabbed you.”

“I saw it too. It was a little bit different than the first time I passed through. It bent and flexed this time.”

“Forgive me. How is your hand? The blood on your palm?” He took her by the wrist.

“I don’t know. I can’t see too well. But I feel wetness, so it must be blood.” She was glad she couldn’t see it anyway.

Royce stood and pulled her gently to her feet. “Do you still have the brooch? Remember you were going to try to put it in your jacket pocket.” He felt an urgency to recover the jewelry just in case it was needed again.