Page 24

B roken men straggled off the battlefield. The Thompson house was flooded with the injured.

When I arrived at General Lee’s headquarters, the mass of staff was missing. Probably packing their things to flee the area. A group of men stood outside a tent, an injured man laid across a table probably confiscated from someone’s dining room.

I tried not to look at the men as I hurried toward General Lee’s tent. The guards were absent from their position in front of the tent, and a knot squeezed my stomach. I peeked through the tent flap and entered when I found the room empty.

Marco and Gertie were gone. The desk didn’t have a note that read hey, stepped out for some hardtack and coffee so I moved carefully out of the tent. Was Marco discovered impersonating an officer? Where would they have been taken?

As I stood in the shadows of the canopy outside the tent contemplating my options, I saw Victory cut across the campsite toward a densely wooded area. She paused and looked over her shoulder. Checking for a tail. Where was Caiyan? She disappeared into the thicket. And then I saw him. Moving stealthily behind her, at a distance. Odd. Why weren’t they together? His eyes swept across the campsite. I froze, hoping the dancing shadows caused by the sun cutting through the canopy of trees hid me from his view.

He smoked into the woods. The guy really did have a talent for stealthily stalking his prey. I followed him at a respectable distance. I heard their argument before I saw them.

“Victory, where do ye think yer going?”

“I found another way home.”

“What are ye talking aboot?”

“I’ve done all I can do here. I can’t stay any longer. I want to go home.”

“Ye cannae travel in yer condition.”

“I saw it in a vision. I make it, and the baby too.”

“Vic, yer visions are no always correct withoot yer key.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

As I drew closer, I bumped into Toches coming in from the opposite direction.

“What are you doing here?” I asked keeping my voice low.

“I’m here for the key. You should have left when I let you go the first time.”

“Where’s Mortas?”

A wicked smile crawled over his face. “He’s got your buddies about a mile up the road. He can’t do much with big, dumb, and blond, but he’s taking a little catnap. I imagine he’ll have a nice bump on the head, but since you’re a doctor, you should be able to fix him right up.” He poked the patch on my uniform jacket indicating I was with the medical corps. “I wouldn’t waste any time getting to your cousin. I’m not responsible for what Mortas might do to her.”

“There’s WTF all over this area,” I said, hoping Brodie might show.

“Oh, we took care of them. The chloroform came in real handy. You’re all alone now, princess. Better get a move on if you want to save your friends.”

“Why are you working for the Mafusos?” I stared him down. “They don’t care about you.”

“The heart wants what the heart wants.” He grinned.

Toecheese quoting Emily Dickinson. He was full of surprises. I started to make a witty remark, and the quote’s meaning snapped another piece of the puzzle together.

“You’re Mahlia’s plus one, aren’t you? Those were your clothes in Caiyan’s apartment.”

“Your Scot’s got a nice place—or had one. I didn’t know he had already been here. Once I found out, it was too late. Mortas made me stay. Sorry for your loss.” His face dropped, and I almost thought he was sincere.

“You’re going to be disappointed when they screw you, Toecheese.”

He frowned at the name. “When I bring the seer and her key to Gian-Carlo, he’s going to cream his pants.”

Gross.

“He’ll have to let us get married.”

My face screwed up trying to imagine what Mahlia saw in this guy.

Toches huffed. “Don’t look so shocked. I’ve got talents not even I knew about. I’ll send you a wedding invitation.” He took a step toward the clearing.

I grabbed his arm.

“Go ahead, try and stop me. I’ll tell the Scot everything about you. The life you had together will be ruined.”

I released his arm.

“Time to break up the happy couple, or not so happy from the sound of it.” He rubbed his palms together and moved through the trees.

My brain told me to help Caiyan, but my heart cemented my legs to the ground.

The rumble of a motor vibrated the ground under me. I pushed my feelings aside and hurried down the path Toches had taken.

I entered at a high point behind the cover of overgrown brush. Toches sat straddling Mahlia’s Harley-Davidson Sportster.

“Stop!” Caiyan yelled over the noise of the motorcycle, his back to me.

Victory ran toward Toches and climbed into the sidecar of the motorcycle.

Toches throttled up the engine.

“Tell Elma she can go to hell and take her toy with her!” Victory threw a small brown box at Caiyan. He ducked and it sailed over his head, landing a few feet from me. The girl had good aim. Toches’s face contorted into a disturbed look and he shouted “Nooo!”

Caiyan rushed toward them. They vanished with a loud crack, knocking him backward. He landed flat on his back.

Gaelic curses spewed from him as he got to his feet and retrieved the box. He turned and stared at the empty space where the Harley stood moments before. Placing his hand on his key, he dropped to his knees.

I expected him to call his vessel. It was my last chance to save his life—I had to warn him now.

With his back to me, he dropped his head to his chest as he leaned back on his brogans and looked down at the box he held.

I had never seen him like this. Defeated. I read his ache from across the clearing, and my heart shed a tear. I would miss our rocky relationship, and the way he held me in his arms when his secrets were tucked way down deep and I was the only one he cared about. What would my life be like when I returned to the WTF?

I moved from my hidey hole toward him. A loud crack and my vessel appeared across from us. Did he call my vessel?

The door opened and a familiar face with white hair pulled back into a tidy bun stepped from the outhouse wearing her best Annie Oakley gear.

She started forward, saw me, and cut her eyes toward the large tree next to me. When I scurried for cover, she winked at me. Caiyan didn’t raise his head as Elma approached.

“You summoned me, boy?”

“I lost her.”

Elma placed an aged hand on his head of dark curls. “You didn’t lose her. She chose. Like she always does.”

He raised his head and looked up at her. “She’s pregnant.”

Elma’s eyes widened. “Now, there’s a twist I didn’t see coming.”

“Toches took her on a vessel I’ve never seen before. He was older. I’m afraid he tried to take her forward.”

“If he’s capable, you’ll find her.”

“I didnae kin ’twas possible.”

“There’s so much we don’t know about our gift.” Elma searched Caiyan’s face. “Why don’t you quit this gypsy lifestyle, and come home?”

He shook his head, dropping his gaze to the ground again. “’Tis naugh my destiny.”

“Oh, I think it is.” She glanced in my direction and our eyes met and held.

“I’m naugh a good man.”

“Now don’t go gettin’ all righteous with me, boy. John’s death wasn’t your fault.”

“I know otherwise.” He stood, towering above my petite aunt. I held my breath and stayed hidden.

“John’s death was meant to happen exactly as it had. Believe me, I’ve tried to change the past and nothin’ good ever come of it.”

“The suits would never grant me safety. They’d take my key for what I’ve done.”

“My God, boy, you’re too hard on yourself. You’ve got talent. I’d see to it the new boss knows of it. They could use a man like you, a good man, and besides, Brodie misses you.”

“Brodie,” he chuckled.

“Well there’s no convincing you otherwise. Like Victory, you’ll make your own choice. The crow only flies where the meat is good, but the eagle, they build their nests to last.”

He held her gaze for a long, mindful moment, then lifted his hand.

“What should I do with this?” The small puzzle box balanced on his open palm.

She closed his fingers around it with her own. “When you find her, you can return it to her.”

“I dinnae kin if I’ll ever see her again?”

When Elma didn’t answer, Caiyan frowned at her. “Why didnae ye jest give her the key back?”

“She has to learn what’s important, then she can claim the key for herself.”

“Riddles. Puzzles. Why cannae ye jest speak clearly. Tell her what she needs to do?”

“She won’t grow that way. I could say the same for you.” Her head lifted like a deer hearing the footsteps of an approaching hunter. “They’re coming. You need to decide if you’re going to be like the eagle or live like the crow.”

With that she walked away and vanished into the landscape.

Caiyan pocketed the puzzle box but stood his ground.

“I saw him come this way,” Brodie said as he and Ace stepped into the clearing.

Ace swatted at a mosquito. “The bugs here are awful, and my tummy feels woozy from the chloroform. When can when we leave?”

“As soon as I kick his arse.” Brodie halted as he came face to face with Caiyan.

Ace glanced around and frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“Screwing up my life,” Caiyan said.

“Tired of being such a sneaky git?” Ace asked and moved to flank Caiyan.

“All right mate, we’re here ta stop ya, but first, I’m giving ya what’s due.” Brodie pushed up his sleeves and dropped into a crouched position, fists at the ready.

Caiyan gave a long, low sigh and held his fists up as if agreeing for the sake of it.

Brodie lunged for Caiyan. Caiyan dodged and gave him a good punch in the kidney. Brodie came back with a right hook that caught Caiyan square on the jaw. Round and round they went until they were on the ground punching, kicking, and roughhousing like two pubescent brothers.

Ace sat on a nearby log and examined his manicure. After several minutes, both men lay spent on the ground. The brush parted and Gerry stepped into the ring. “Are you guys finished dicking around? The moon cycle’s about done and I’m out of whiskey.”

The moon cycle—I’d almost forgotten I was on a schedule.

Caiyan stood, used his sleeve and wiped away a trail of blood leaking from his nose, offered Brodie a hand. Brodie clasped his hand, and Caiyan hauled him up.

“Sorry mate, we’re gonna take ya in.”

Gerry secured Caiyan’s hands behind his back. “Can’t have you making a run for it.”

“If I wanted to run, ye wouldnae be able to stop me.”

His eye had a deep cut above the brow. I remembered kissing that scar. The memory twinged my lady parts. I couldn’t leave until they did, without being noticed.

“Let’s go, McGregor.”

The leaves swirled on the trees and Ace’s photo booth appeared. They loaded Caiyan inside and Ace joined him. Poof! Caiyan had been arrested. The story of the way he returned to the WTF was complete. I hoped I hadn’t made the mistake of my life.

“Did ya really drink all the whiskey?” Brodie asked Gerry.

“Yep. Shall we make a pit stop before we head back to base?”

“Not on your life. I’ve been waiting a long time to bring that wanker in. I want to have a front row seat.” A flurry of wind shook the leaves on the trees. The men boarded their vessels and were gone.

I stepped from the bushes and fumbled in my haversack, retrieving the small wooden box Caiyan had given to me. I had a feeling I knew what was inside. The only thing that could travel through time, not secured inside a host.

I tucked the box back inside my jacket and ran as fast as I could toward the area Toches indicated Mortas held court. My leg was on fire by the time I found Gertie standing on the rails of a post oak fence.

“Jen,” she waved. “You lost your man parts.”

“Are you all right?” I asked her. “Toches told me Mortas was holding you and Marco prisoner?”

“He did, the creep, but Great Aint Elma stopped by for a visit. It was surreal.”

“I saw her in the woods. Caiyan summoned her.”

“Good thing he did. Mortas got all nervous when Aint Elma showed up. She kicked his bottom and told him if he didn’t behave hisself she’d make a steer out of him. His key did that glowy thing and he took off.”

“Where’s Marco?”

“Yonder trees,” she thumbed toward the trees behind her.

I smiled at her usage of Sam’s words.

“He’s recovering from the knock on the head Mortas gave him. Elma told me to wait right here and you’d be along.” She scrunched up her face. “Did you find Sam?”

“Yes, and Will. They’re both safe.”

“Praise Jesus!” Gertie said. The troubled expression on my face triggered more questions.

“Did Caiyan, you know, stay with Victory?”

“No, Toecheese took her.”

“Toecheese?”

“Yeah, I think he can carry people forward.”

Gertie tilted her head, considering my notion.

“She’ll skip a few years,” Gertie finally said, recalling the brief rundown I gave her about Victory. “So, she’ll still be young, pregnant, and beautiful?”

“We’ll find out when we get home,” I shrugged.

“Caiyan’s got some splainin’ to do.”

“We changed his path; he’ll have a lot more than explaining to do.” I prayed he would be alive to explain, to raise his family. We headed into the woods to find Marco. Gertie interlocked her fingers with mine. It was time to take my family home.

Marco insisted on driving himself back to base. As Gertie and I exited my vessel, a suit came forward and welcomed us home.

“Agent McCoy will meet you here shortly,” he said, turning to join the other two suits blocking the exit. His jacket stretched tight across his muscular back, and his twinzies stood at parade rest.

Odd. Jake always met me when I returned from a travel. A strange vibe hung in the air. I glanced behind me. Marco’s racecar bounced the overhead lights off his hood on the platform next to mine. How did he always beat me back? Ace’s photo booth and Brodie’s tub bookended us. Gerry’s confessional towered on the platform behind mine. That’s when I noticed all the platforms were loaded. Everyone had returned from their assignments but remained on base. It reminded me of a…wake.

Gertie threaded her arm through mine and ushered me forward. My legs grew heavier with each step. I didn’t want to know the answer. I wanted to hold on to my memories.

Please let Caiyan be alive.

“If it’s not good news, we can fix it, right? You’re a time traveler,” Gertie reassured me.

The problem was when I tried to fix things, it led to disaster.

Jake met us at the entrance to the hangar. I tried to read his face, but he revealed nothing.

“We’re back,” I said. A bead of sweat formed on my upper lip as my heart raced from anxious to full on panic mode.

When Jake didn’t speak right away, Gertie clasped me tighter and I prepared myself for the bad news.

He glanced down at me and grimaced. “Jen, why didn’t you tell me Eli had a key?”

I exhaled, and my mood changed from panic to irritated. Before I could say anything, Gertie stepped in.

“Can’t you see she’s worried sick about Caiyan, and she’s got her leg hurt. You have some nerve scolding her about a key.” Gertie unlatched herself from me and pointed a finger in Jake’s face. “Shame on you!”

The suit stepped forward. Jake shook his head and held up a hand.

“McGregor’s in medical. The doctors tell me he’ll recover, but his injuries are serious. He lost too much blood; he would have died if Ace hadn’t brought Eli to base.”

I released a long, slow breath. “I’m sorry. I promised Eli I wouldn’t drag him into this world, but something told me Caiyan wouldn’t make it if I didn’t.”

“Don’t apologize to him.” Gertie crossed her arms over her chest and huffed.

“I love you, Gertie.” Jake broke into a grin. He slung an arm around her shoulders. “C’mon, momma hen, let’s go see the troops while Jen has a short visit with McGregor and pays a visit to the infirmary. Everyone’s been waiting to hear about the Battle of Gettysburg.”

I followed them from the landing zone and detoured left toward the infirmary. The WTF kept medical staff on base. They worked with the prison in the four-story hospital attached to our unit via a secret passage through the basement. I still wore the Sonny Bono suit, but the wig didn’t make the trip home. It seemed like a lifetime since the wedding I attended with Ace.

A matronly nurse with ample curves and short kinky hair led me into Caiyan’s room. Monitors bleeped a steady, pulsating, thank god he’s alive, beep. Bags of fluids and medicines pumped through plastic tubing into his arms, and lines connected him to the monitors and the machines.

The nurse checked the readings on the screens while I moved next to his bed. A bristly stubble roughened his jaw, and those menacing green eyes hid from me behind pale, closed lids. I watched him sleep for a few minutes while the nurse did her thing.

“Still keeping secrets from me, huh?” I reached over and tucked one of his dark curls cast loose across his forehead back into place. His monitor did a blip instead of a beep and I looked anxiously at the nurse.

“It’s OK, just a flutter in the heartbeat, but he’s not out of the woods, yet. He’s sedated so he comes in and out of consciousness.” She smiled at me and placed a gentle hand on my arm. “I’m sorry but you can only stay a few minutes.”

I nodded.

She picked up her electronic notepad, tapped a few times on the screen, and turned to leave. She paused on her way out. “I’ve had him in here many times before, but he sure did some damage this time.”

“He didn’t do the damage, I did,” I whispered as she left the room.

I leaned against the railing on his hospital bed and wondered what kind of father he would be. Would Victory stay with the Mafusos or seek him out? The Caiyan she knew was younger, a rebel. This Caiyan, still the rebel, but owned a company, ran a business, had worked for what Victory referred to as the enemy. Would Caiyan still love her? Did he still love me?

I sat down in the chair next to his bed and pulled the puzzle box from my jacket pocket. It hummed in my hands.

“I know you’re in there.” I tapped the box lightly with my nail. Flipping the box around, its contents shifted. The hand-carved wood reminded me of my uncle Durr’s envious collection of wooden games. His favorite hobby was woodworking, and he had made me a jewelry box out of similar wood for my sixteenth birthday.

Examining the end of the intricately carved piece, it wouldn’t be easy to cut through, and the owner risked damaging the contents. The box had letters that slid around Kryptex style until they formed a word across the center of the box. If the letters were placed in the correct order the box would open. Victory had the box for three years and couldn’t figure it out. Maybe Al would know how to open it.

I slid the letters around. Caiyan told Aint Elma to stop with all the puzzles. If Aint Elma made the puzzle, what would she want Victory to learn? Loyalty. The box stayed shut.

I slid the letters around again. They moved easily in the wooden grooves. I thought about my feisty old aunt and how Gertie had more of her spunk than I did. What was most important to my great aunt?

I moved the letters in place. The box clicked open at the end. A wide smile spread across my face. I tilted the box and slid its glittery contents into my hand. The key was smaller than the key I wore. Raindrops splashed across the surface of the moonstone in the form of blue diamonds.

“You opened the box.”

His scratchy voice made me jump. Caiyan stared at me from his bed, his green eyes soulful and sad.

“Yeah, I guess I did.”

“What was the word?”

“Family.”

He raised his eyes to the ceiling, then turned them back on me. “Should have known Elma would choose her greatest love.”

I stood and moved next to him. Held the key up for him to see. “It’s pretty, like it’s owner.”

“You found her?”

“Yes, and I found you.”

He began to cough, and his face drew up in a painful scowl.

“You want some water?”

He nodded. I laid the key and the box down and held the plastic jug of water up for him to sip through the straw.

“Thanks.” He dropped his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes. “You were there.” His eyes popped open. “The doctor.”

“Dr. Seuss at your service.” I sat the water jug down on the bedside table and bowed.

He smiled. “Clever, I should have picked up on it, but I had other things on my mind.” His eyes searched mine and I looked away.

“I’m sorry I got you shot.”

“I shouldnae have kept secrets from ye.”

Our eyes held for a moment.

“Speaking of secrets, I’m going to tell Jake that Victory threw the puzzle box down before she left with Toecheese. And I found it.” It was a tiny white lie. She did throw the box…at Caiyan’s head. If the WTF knew Caiyan had the puzzle box all these years, and he had information about a seer, it couldn’t turn out good for him.

He gnawed on his bottom lip, then agreed. “Toecheese would have brought her to our time.”

“Most likely, I haven’t been to the debriefing, yet.”

“’Tis good. I thought I’d never see her again. I dinnae kin what weel happen now.”

My head bobbed, but I wanted to ask him why he didn’t tell me he had a kid somewhere, past or present. The reality was that he didn’t have a kid, not yet. I didn’t want to have that talk with him hooked up to machines. My query could wait.

He muttered something in Gaelic, closed his eyes again, and drifted off.

I scooped up the box and the key, and left him, stopping by medical to have the doctor look at my leg.

I’d caught a piece of grapeshot. The round ball had left a perfect indention in my leg. My first bullet wound. The doctor bandaged my leg and gave me an antibiotic, no questions asked.

On the way out of the infirmary, I passed Marco cursing at the nurses as they redressed his leg. I pitied them, but, like Caiyan, he’d been in the infirmary many times.

“Mr. Ferrari, that sassy attitude is gonna cost you. Don’t be sending us no Snickers either. We want the ones from Belgium with the delicious centers,” a rather sturdy nurse told him as she held down his leg so the doctor could stitch his wound closed.

I chuckled as I left the hospital. Tomorrow, the nurses would receive flowers and chocolates to make up for his bad behavior. They knew him well.