Time Tantrums (23 page)

“Yes, I see them.” Cheery warmth embraced her and her lips curled into a smile.

 
“Can you tell me where you are?” Dr. Ramone asked.

“We’re enjoying the ride into town. Jacob and Callie are bickering again. Stop it, you two. I don’t want to listen to you all the way to town.” Her smile vanished and she sensed tension across her brow. “The horses... the horses won’t stop. We’re going too fast. Make them stop, Frank.”

Mariah’s heart raced.

“Frank, please do something. Oh my God, I’m falling. Help me.” Her body turned rigid. She visualized the sky, then total darkness.

Dr. Ramone patted Mariah’s arm. “There, there. You’re safe. Nothing can hurt you. Relax! Feel the calmness around you. Take a deep breath and let’s go to the point where you feel like you’re falling. Tell me what you see.”

Mariah curled into a ball. Her hands formed fists under her chin.
“Nothing.
I don’t see anything. It’s dark and I hear Frank’s voice, but I can’t answer.”

“Listen carefully. Frank calls to you, but is there anything else you hear? Concentrate, Mariah.”

Squeezing her eyes together and drawing her knees to her chest, Mariah tried to hear anything other than Frank’s voice. “He’s calling me—Mariah, answer me, Mariah!”
 

She stiffened. “It’s dark. I can’t see anything, but I hear it! A noise!
A loud noise.”
Her body jerked. “Now I see a light... a blinding flash. It’s there then it’s gone.”

“Relax, Mariah. Feel your body sink into the cushions. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. When I count to three, you’re going to open your eyes and remember everything we talked about. You will feel totally relaxed and unafraid.
One… two… three!”

Slowly, Mariah opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. Everything was still fresh in her mind. If only she could make sense of it. Confused, she sat and swiveled to face the doctor. “Dr. Ramone, what do you think it all meant?”

The psychotherapist finished jotting notes and put her pad aside. “Let’s talk about it and see if we can figure it out. First, you’re in a state of darkness. I would say whatever happened in the accident rendered you unconscious.”

His eyes wide, David interrupted. “That was an amazing thing to watch, but if someone’s unconscious, can they still see light?
 
What about the one Mariah saw?”

“What would cause a bright light on an open prairie in the daytime?” Dr. Ramone challenged him for an answer.

He pondered for a moment.
“The sun?”

Dr. Ramone turned to look at Mariah. “Didn’t you say you heard a loud noise?”

Mariah nodded. “Yes, very loud.”

David snapped his fingers. “I’ve got it!
Thunder and lightning.
Thunder would make the noise and lightning would flash in the darkness. Exactly what Mariah said happened.”

The doctor nodded. “That’s one theory.
Anything else?”

He shrugged. “Nothing else comes to mind.”

Mariah’s neck tired of turning from David to the doctor, and she grew impatient for a solution. “I had to be unconscious,” she cut in, “because I don’t remember how I got to the hospital… how I woke up in this century. Until today, I didn’t recall hearing anything, but now I keep hearing it over and over in my head. It had to be a clap of thunder before the lightning strike. Could this be the answer?”

Dr. Ramone stared blankly ahead for a moment, massaging her top lip.
“Possibly.
Lightning causes static electricity, and static has been known to move objects. It
is
quite possible—although I wouldn’t want to share this outside this room—that the static electricity created some sort of time-warp phenomena.”

Chapter Twenty-nine

Taylor wiped a bead of sweat from her brow. She stood with arms folded and surveyed the results of her labor. The wooden floors were spotless, the furniture, dust-free, and clean clothes filled the basket in the corner. Beaming, she stood back and admired her accomplishments. “Well, Taylor, see you can be domestic. I wouldn’t want to do it every day, but I have to admit, it does feel pretty rewarding. Won’t Mr. Cassidy be shocked?”

Mentioning his name made her wonder where he was. He’d been gone all day and the stew intended for lunch still simmered on the stove. If he didn’t show up soon, the delicious meal she’d prepared might well be ruined.

 
Crossing to the stove, she lifted the pot lid and stirred her masterpiece. She leaned into the rising mist to savor the aroma. Her nose wrinkled and she straightened. She bent to take another sniff. “Probably just needs more salt and pepper.”

 
She picked up the shakers and liberally seasoned the stew, then replaced the lid. “There, I’ll bet that’s exactly what it needed.”
 
She had no doubt she’d created something worthy of a top-notch chef.

* * * *

Taylor heard loud laughter before Frank and the ranch hands even passed under the big “C” on the gate. She wondered what they laughed about, but considered how men told tall tales and lies to one another. Working with a predominantly male staff had taught her well. How many times had she heard them swapping stories about their sexual conquests?
 
She shivered as her night of passion with Frank flashed in her mind. She hoped he wasn’t sharing anything about her.

He’d see to his horse before he came inside, but she struggled to justify her eagerness at his return. “He’s Home?”
Home?
 
She covered her mouth.

She’d actually thought of this place as home!
Taylor, don’t do this. This isn’t your home and he isn’t your husband. He’s a good friend and nothing more.

 
She busied herself setting the table. Of course he was a good friend, and she was anxious for him to taste her grand stew. That explained her strange emotions.
Silly her for thinking it something more.
She turned and fixed a smile on her face when the door opened.

Frank stomped the dust from his boots before he entered. As usual, he also slapped his hat against his pant leg. How strange, she predicted his actions beforehand. It was obvious he’d worked hard. A layer of gray dust covered his face and clothing. When he smiled, his pearly white teeth appeared from a dirt mask.
“Evenin’.”

Taylor laughed, holding her stomach and pointing. “Oh, you should see yourself. You look ridiculous. I couldn’t tell it was you until you smiled.”

He assumed an indignant stance. “Well it’s hard to stay clean when you’re wrestling with steers all day.”

“Don’t be a spoil sport. I was only kidding. And please, don’t track all that dirt in here.” She held up her hands and wiggled her fingers. “I’ve worked these to the bone today.”

Frank didn’t move, but he did glance around the room. “Oh lordy, she cleaned.”

With hands on her hips, she cocked her head. “Yes, I did. And, what’s more, I made you dinner… actually lunch, but….”

His head whipped around, and he looked at the steam rising from the kettle on the stove “Is that what I smell?” he asked.

She arched her brow. “I hope you mean that in a positive way.”

 
“Let me try that again. What is that wonderful aroma I smell?”
 
His words were sweet but lacked enthusiasm.

“That’s much better.” She smiled. “I’m anxious for you to taste what I’ve made, but you need a bath first. Take your clothes off right there—”

“I’d be happy to,” he said as a wide smile crept across his face, “but I thought you wanted me to go up and take a bath. Make up your mind. Am I going to bathe, then eat or do you just
want
to see me nekked?”

“No, I do
not
want to see you ‘nekked’, but I do want you to take those filthy clothes off before you track dirt everywhere. I wasn’t planning on watching. Just drop them and leave. I’ll go out and get some water for the tub.”

 
“Well, if I drop them and leave, then you have to bring the water upstairs, and by that time, I will be nekked. How do you plan to avoid seein’ me then?”
 
Clearly he took delight in teasing her.

Taylor grabbed both sides of her hair and yanked. “You are so frustrating some times.”

She went into the pantry to get the bucket and reappeared. “Here’s the plan,” she said in a calm and slow fashion. “I will go outside and get water. While I’m doing that, you take off your dirty clothes and scoot upstairs. I suppose while you’re waiting for the water you might want to get some clean clothes.
A towel, perhaps.
When the water is heated, I will bring it upstairs and leave it outside the door. I’ll knock to let you know it’s there,
then
leave. You open the door, pour the water in the tub, and take a bath. If you would like two buckets, we’ll repeat the process. Clear enough?” As she walked out the backdoor, with bucket in hand, she looked over her shoulder and added, “And while his majesty is in the bath, I’ll dish up his supper.”

* * * *

Frank came downstairs, feeling clean and refreshed. At the stove, Taylor ladled something into a bowl. He sat at the table and waited, for what he wasn’t sure. “I’m so hungry I could eat the hide off a cow.”

She carried the bowl to the table and placed it before him like it was a prize he’d just won. Leaning over the spiraling steam, he inhaled.
“Smells... interestin’.”

Taylor filled her bowl and sat across from him. Instead of taking a taste, she sat, grinning, obviously waiting for him to sample the fare. He smiled and picked up his spoon, warily eyeing the bowl’s contents. He paused for a moment and eyed the somewhat greenish-looking concoction, before he tasted and swallowed. Not wanting to offend her, he quickly took another huge bite.

A path of fire seared his tongue and burned down his throat. His eyes felt like they would blow out of their sockets. He blinked, hoping they wouldn’t and tried to tough out the pain, but couldn’t. He pushed back from the table so quickly his chair skidded backwards and toppled. He ran to the water pitcher, picked it up and chugged the cooling liquid until it was gone.

Turning around, he clutched his throat. “What’s in that…?”

“Stew.”
A frown formed on Taylor’s face. “It’s only stew.”

“What kind of
stew
?”

She pushed her bowl away. “Why? Is it bad?”

He shook his head. “I couldn’t tell ya. I didn’t have a chance to taste it. I think it burned out my taste buds. What’s in it?
Liquid fire?”

She hung her head.
“Vegetables.
There’s onion, potato, some dried meat, and a jar of mixed vegetables I found in the pantry.”
  
She looked up, a frown tugging at her lips.

“Mixed vegetables? We don’t have any mixed vegetables.”

“Yes you do.”
 
There were two jars, but I only used one.”

“Show me the other jar.”

She crossed to the pantry and came out holding a small container.
“This one.”

Frank threw his head back and roared with laugher.

Taylor’s bottom lip quivered. “I’m happy you find my attempt to surprise you so amusing.”

 
He composed himself. “I truly appreciate all your effort, but sweetheart, those aren’t mixed vegetables. That’s pure jalapeño relish!”

Taylor’s eyes welled, but she glared at him. “Well, I’m so sorry I couldn’t read that invisible label on it. I thought I was doing something nice, but I guess I was wrong.” She spun around and dashed up the stairs.

* * * *

Taylor sat on the edge of the bed and fumed. She was mad at herself for trying to impress Frank with her cooking skills when she didn’t have any.

 
“
How
dare he laugh at
me!
That’s the last time I’ll cook anything for him,” she muttered.

 
After thinking for a moment, she added, “That’s probably just fine with him.”

She suddenly realized she’d forgotten to tell Frank the very thing she had waited all day to tell him, but she was far too mad to approach him now.

A small tap sounded on the door. “I’m sorry.” Frank’s voice came from the other side. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I really do appreciate what you did today. Your stew would have been delicious if only... Well, your stew would have been delicious, I know. You’re probably too mad to talk, so I’m not going to bother you. But, I have a surprise for you tomorrow, so sleep well.”

What surprise?

Suddenly her thoughts became words. “What surprise?” she called out.