Lonely is the Knight (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 3) (2 page)

As Charlotte sat outside on the deck overlooking the ocean, she opened the leather-bound journal she’d purchased in the store. It was expensive compared to the cheapie notebooks she usually bought. But it looked old, so it shouldn’t arouse suspicion if anyone saw it.

She planned to fill it with anything she might need during her journey. Moments in history, various plants used for healing, and, of course, Aunt Pittypat’s famous recipes. All of them would go in the journal. Charlotte had a friend who might be able to get her antibiotics. That seemed like the one thing she wanted to take back with her.

A solar charger and phone so she could play music would be nice, but she decided against it. She didn’t know why, but she was afraid to have too many modern things with her when she tried to go back in time.

Thanks to the power of the internet, she’d done most of her research online. There were a group of history buffs in Northern England she planned to meet up with. They’d been emailing back and forth. One of the guys said he’d teach her how to use a knife. He didn’t think she would have long enough for him to teach her to use a sword. That was fine. One weapon would do.

No way could she take a knife on the plane. She’d buy an antique when she arrived. Flying into London would be perfect. Charlotte could scour some of the shops looking for the rest of what she needed. Things like a cloak and clothes to help her blend in. She could sew reasonably well, so she planned to add pockets to anything that didn’t come with them.

As she ate a slice of pizza, Charlotte opened the first book and began reading.

Charlotte leaned back in the rocking chair on the deck, staring at the water. She finished the glass of sweet tea with a soft sigh. “Guess I won’t be getting any more of this where I’m going.”

“Talking to ghosts?”

“Jake, you scared me. Want a drink?”

She grinned as he glanced at his watch. “I guess it’s not too early for a beer. Based on your cryptic text, I have a feeling I’m going to need it.”

She walked across the cool tiled floor to the blue and white kitchen. For a moment she hesitated before opening the cute retro turquoise refrigerator. Before long, if she were successful, refrigerators would no longer exist.

The door swung open and Charlotte let the blast of cold air soothe her nerves. She pulled out a beer for Jake, poured another glass of sweet tea for herself, and stood watching the condensation run down the cup. Maybe she should make a mojito? No, she needed to be fully functioning as she finalized the last few items on her list.

“I’m going to miss all this.”

“I thought you were only going to England for a couple weeks. You know I’ll be happy to housesit for as long as you need. Now that my apartment is turning condo, I’ve got to find a new place.”

Charlotte put her bare feet up on the railing, admiring the sparkly purple polish. She reached into the tote bag next to the rocker and pulled out a file folder decorated with pink flamingos. She slid it across the table.

“What’s this?”

“I’m going to be gone a lot longer than two weeks if everything works out as planned. If I don’t come back, if they tell you I’m dead, the house is yours. Along with all the furnishings and my car. Though there won’t be much money. I’m going to need most of it for my preparations.”

She waved a hand around. “You’ll be the sole owner of this incredible view. I never tire of looking at the ocean. The changing colors. How the sky meets water. Promise you’ll take good care of the place.”

Jake sputtered and coughed, choking on his beer. Charlotte helpfully pounded him on the back.

“You okay?”

He wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Are you out of your ever-loving mind? Time travel is only something that happens in the movies.” He reached out across the small table, touching her arm.

Charlotte resisted the urge to laugh. The look on his face was so grave. Her smile faded as she realized his tone was one of someone speaking to a small child. She hated the condescending tone, heard it too many times during her life.

“Watch it, Jake. Keep up that tone and I’ll leave the house to one of my favorite charities.”

“You have to accept Lucy and Melinda are gone. I know you’re sad. So am I. The thought of losing them and your aunt in one fell swoop would make anyone a bit batty.”
 

Jake drank half of the beer. “You have to accept the facts. They are dead. And time travel isn’t real. No matter what that crazy witch told you in Romania. Your sisters both dying while visiting some spooky old castle was terrible. But it’s nothing more than coincidence. They did not travel through time.”

He looked at her, his face full of pity. And in that instant, Charlotte wanted to smack the look off his face. She wasn’t unhinged. Jake was her best friend, though sometimes she wished she could turn him into a fly and squash him.

“Do you want the house or not?”

“Listen, Charlotte,” Jake pleaded, “don’t go to England. In your frame of mind, you’re susceptible to all kinds of suggestions. I really think you should see a doctor. They can give you some medication. Help you.”

“Medication? That’s the problem with this country. Too many people take medication for problems they don’t have. If they would just get up, go outside, and take a walk, get some sun and do something silly once in a while, everyone would be in a better frame of mind. Not to mention cutting out all of that awful processed junk food that Big Food has us all addicted to. That alone would probably fix half the problems in this country.”

Jake held up his hands. “Okay, okay, no need to get on your soapbox.”

She was breathing through her mouth. Her skin felt clammy and hot at the same time. “I’m sorry. You touched a nerve.” Charlotte rocked back and forth. “My mind is made up, and nothing you say will change it. This is something I have to do.”

He slowly opened up the folder, looking at the papers inside. “I can’t believe you’re giving me the house. This place is amazing. You know I’ve always loved it.”

Deep breaths, in and out. She listened to the waves crashing against the shore, the seagulls calling. After a few minutes, Charlotte was calm again. Centered. She placed her hand over his.

“I know how much you love the house. I’ll feel better knowing the house is loved. I talked to the lawyer. Everything is in order. All that’s left for me to do is to get rid of a few more things and finish my research.”

She stood and paced along the deck. “Things aren’t the same. I hear Aunt Pittypat’s voice wherever I go. Lucy and Melinda…you can’t imagine the hole in my heart.” Charlotte searched his face, willing him to understand.

“Look at it this way: if I don’t come back, you know I made it and you get the house. If I do come back, well, you’ve had a place to stay.”

Jake scratched his chin. “I won’t say anything more. I know you well enough by now to know when your mind is set. When do you leave?”

“The Friday of Memorial weekend. You get to enjoy the craziness all the crowds will bring.”

“Won’t matter to me. All I have to do is step out the back door and I’m on the beach.”

She leaned against the rail, flicking the white paint off with a nail. Another item she could check off her list. There was nothing left for her here in North Carolina. It was time to go.

“I know you don’t want to hear it, but I believe with all my heart and soul that somehow Lucy and Melinda traveled back in time. I’m going to find out what happened to them. Hopefully, find both of them.”

Charlotte hugged Jake. “Go ahead and bring your stuff over. You already have a key.” She gave him a little shove. “Don’t worry—the beer in the fridge is yours. I never could stand the stuff.”

He looked like he was about to start lecturing her again, but instead he pressed his lips together and kept quiet. He always had her back, even when he didn’t agree with her. A true friend.

“I can never thank you enough for giving me a house on the beach. When you come back—” He held up a hand. “
If
you come back, I’ll be here to pick up the pieces.”

He kissed her on the forehead. “And if by some chance you don’t come back, I’ll know you made it.” Jake stood back. “Try and find a way to send me a sign, okay?”

“Pinky swear.” She held out her pinky and watched as he shook his head before pressing his pinky to hers. “Thanks, Jake. I’ll miss you.”

Charlotte watched him leave. As the screen door swung closed, she pulled up her favorite playlist, made a mojito, and went back outside to watch the sun set over the ocean.
 

North Carolina had been home her entire life. Sure, she’d traveled to lots of other countries, but knowing you always had a place to call home made all the difference. If she was right, then very soon she’d be calling medieval England home.

No more feeling sad or worrying. She blew a kiss to the sun as it fell into the ocean then went inside. Not at all tired, she decided stay up and finish sorting through the rest of the stuff in the house. There wasn’t much left to go through. She’d already donated a lot of stuff, gave more to friends, and sorted through every drawer and closet.

The next day, Charlotte blew a strand of hair out of her face and wiped the grime from her cheek, letting the salty air coat her skin. Everything was done. She pulled out her trusty planner and went over the list again. The guys in England had promised to teach her how to use a knife.

She hoped the other information she’d learned during her research would be useful. Well, to a point. Heaven help anyone she might have to stitch up. Sewing a button on was one thing. Sewing skin together? Yuck.
 

She patted the leather journal. Knowledge was priceless.

Charlotte looked to the sky. “If you’re listening, Aunt Pittypat, please don’t let me end up in the wrong time.”

The Black Plague took place smack in the middle of the century. Heaven forbid she ended up when that was going on. There still wasn’t a cure even in this day and age. The small glass jar full of antibiotics made her feel a little bit better.
 

Had her sisters found someone to love in the past? Charlotte had searched and searched, but couldn’t find the painting Melinda swore she saw in the museum in England. There was no listing for it on the website. She even called. A nice woman with the most perfect accent had assured her if they had it, she’d know. The hair on her arms had stood up as she ended the call. Had Melinda done something when she went back? Somehow changing history?

Honestly, Charlotte didn’t care what her sisters had done to change history as long as she found them. It would be enough for her to see them again. For all of them to live in the same country, in the same time. To know they’d found love and were content.
 

And if she was very lucky, perhaps she would find her very own knight in shining armor.

The wind blew, it started to sprinkle, and for a moment Charlotte swore she heard the sound of bagpipes playing the most haunting melody. Weird.

May 1330—England
 

“You ride slower than my grandmother,” Sir Antoine called over his shoulder as he galloped through the wood.

Henry Thornton, Lord Ravenskirk, urged the horse faster. He’d spent the past fortnight at Sir Antoine’s estate on his way back home from court. Hunting and drinking while Antoine invited all the daughters of eligible nobles so he could choose a wife.

Let them come. Henry had no desire to find a wife. His life was made up of fighting and drinking, which suited him perfectly. Let his elder brothers settle down. He would remain unwed.

Antoine veered left, and Henry laughed. Up ahead was a shortcut that would take him across the wood and bring him out in front of the stag. At some point Henry must have taken a wrong turn, for he found himself in an unfamiliar part of the wood.

What was that noise? Henry strained to listen. The sound was coming from the west. Quietly, Henry slid off the horse and tied the beast to a tree.
 

“Don’t want you wandering off while I do my chivalrous duty.”

The horse twitched an ear but remained silent. With a hand on the hilt of his sword, Henry made his way through the woods, following the sound of rushing water.