The Will of Time Read online

  "Torin and I? So it's like that, is it?"

  "I sure hope so." He most certainly possessed her attention.

  "You need to wear something to really attract his attention," Leia said, rifling through MaryKatherine's dresses. "A luncheon with the boring Bauers will force you two together for a while. You'll have to entertain yourselves." She looked at the young woman's face, glowing as only a romantic hopeful could.

  "Thank you so much, Leah. I could never have gotten this far without you. Are you certain you wouldn't like to come with us?"

  "I'm sure," Leia said, selecting a royal blue dress with puffed sleeves. "Here, try this. You shouldn't sweat too much in it. Anyway, Brant says he has something planned for us to do today."

  "Do you have any idea what it could be?"

  "Not a clue. But he did have the most devilish gleam in those brown eyes when he mentioned it." Leia sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for her sister-cousin to change her gown.

  Turning away to shield her modesty, MaryKatherine became curious. "I do wonder what he thinks sometimes. Even before he met you, he often seemed far away. But always so kind. I hope you two can make a good life together, Leah. I like you both so much."

  Leia smiled and turned the girl around to do the buttons up her back. Spun right into the chiffon material, the buttons became nearly invisible to the naked eye."Everyone is kind to you, because you are so sweet. Now, get that blue ribbon and I'll pull your hair back."

  "But not too taut. Alvin likes long, loose hair on women." She looked down at her hands.

  Leia laughed. "Well, too bad. When he's ready and got the nerve he can just reach over and shake this bow out. But it will be his move, right?"

  "Oh, yes. But it will have been my idea."

  The quartet set off for their lunch date, leaving Brant and Leia in the kitchen with Hettie. Leia noticed that today the woman's movements were slower than normal, as if arthritis or some muscle pain was ailing her. The slim black hand that raised the milk jug was shaking, though she tried to hide it. Leia tried to ignore her situation, as she knew calling attention to it would only embarrass Hettie. She also felt relieved that Brant seemed to understand that too, and spoke about everyday items as he finished his coffee.

  "Leah and I will return before supper, Hettie. Perhaps we can eat a very light meal tonight, since it will be just the three of us? Leah, did you wear sturdy shoes today?"

  Leia answered first. "Yes."

  "Anythin' you want for supper is fine, Mista Brant, just let me know."

  "How about salad, then?" Leia asked, smiling at Hettie. "I'll check around for some tomatoes while I'm outside."

  "Tomatoes?" Brant sounded scandalized. Hettie came toward him and patted his arm.

  "Yes, and you sure will like 'em." She teased Brant while she slipped Leia a yellow note, discreetly to avoid questioning from him.

  "And when did you eat tomatoes, Hettie?" Brant scolded in a mock-angry voice.

  "Why, at the Bauer place with Miss Leah."

  "Yes, she did," Leia confirmed, then allowed playfulness to fade. "I wonder why the McGarlands spend so much time there, anyway. And the Bauers never come here."

  Leia waited, but no response came from Hettie or Brant. She did see them exchange glances, almost guiltily. In her own time she'd think these two were having an affair.

  Brant said, "Leah, let's go outside. I want to take a walk."

  She followed him then, enjoying the sight of his firm backside leading the way.

  He led her across the same path they had taken to the cabin in the woods and as the dense greenery grew closer Leia realized what he had planned.

  "Are we meeting someone?" she asked, struggling to keep up with his long strides while annoying material pawed at her legs like clinging puppies.

  Brant paused, turned to survey the area. "Yes," he said, then took her arm. Leading her into the deep, mossy woods, he said nothing else. When they reached the clearing by the stream, he turned to face her.

  "Do you remember this place?"

  "Of course. We came through here before we met Bitsy and John." She wiped a trickle of perspiration from her upper lip. The humidity hung thick in the air, making everything feel and smell wet.

  "Have you seen either of them since then?"

  "No, now that you mention it, I haven't. Why?" She waited to hear if he would reveal anything to her, or would create a story. He could not know how well she understood his actions or his motives. He could only operate on trust.

  Brant shook his head and began walking again, pulling her behind him. His other hand held the cane he still relied on.

  "The cabin's just around the bend." He stopped abruptly, then turned to face her.

  Leia pulled free and rubbed her arm. "Gees," she said, "Now I know what a Radio flyer feels like."

  "Leia- please listen. We will be meeting another couple in the cabin. These two, well, they aren't as well-off as John and Bitsy were."

  Leia met his gaze, tilting her head up to him. "What do you mean?"

  "They have been hurt, by their...by the people who bought them. I just wanted you to prepare yourself for seeing them in a poor condition."

  She stood straighter. "I can handle it. Don't worry. We can help them."

  Brant's face contorted with emotions Leia could only guess were trust and distrust, warring within him. She continued to meet his eyes, willing him to understand that she was not only trustworthy of his secrets, but that she cared for him as well, and for those people he wanted to help.

  He closed his eyes for a few seconds, tilting his head back. An oak leaf tickled his nose, making him reach for it. When his eyes opened, Leia knew he'd decided and that she was about to enter into the most hidden part of her husband's world. Her heart turned over and her insides warmed down to her core. First, he had touched and entered her physically, and at long last, he was ready to follow emotionally. Perhaps he'd dismissed the doubts he'd had about her last night. She smiled at him, reached up, and pushed the wispy branch of oak leaves behind his head.

  "Let's go," she said, taking his hand this time and pulling him behind her. Leia smiled to herself at the sound of Brant sidestepping her long skirts, and once even bouncing off her rounded hoop.

  Inside, the cabin's four walls were just as neglected as Leia remembered. Heavy dust was relieved only in the places they had made footprints the previous time. Floorboards were missing. Huddled under a cracked window was a woman in dirty clothes, her knees hugged to her chest. In the nearest corner a man leaned, his arms crossed against his thin chest. Less smudged than the woman's clothing, his shirt was torn and his pants frayed.

  Brant wasted no time. He looked at the man and asked, "Are you ready?"

  The couple moved towards Brant, nodding. They stopped in front of Leia, not casting eyes down but meeting her with a level look.

  "This is my wife. We can trust her," he told them, again waiting for their nods. This pair did not seem to know Brant well as John and Bitsy had, shifting their eyes from his grim face to hers.

  Leia extended her hand, resting it on the woman's arm. "Please let me help you," she said, hoping she appeared as sincere as she felt.

  "Let's go," Brant said, leaving no room for further concerns. He and Leia led the way. They worked their way around the back of the McGarland house, keeping in the cover of the pines. The slaves, nameless souls, followed like baby chicks but without a peep.

  Leia found it hard to breathe in the sultry air, her lungs near bursting to keep pace with Brant. Fresh horse manure was the perfume of the day, and the group had to sidestep the steamy piles. Sweat dripped down Leia's sides, pasting undergarments to her skin. Leia did not complain, however, determined to prove herself to her husband and help him at the same time.

  They passed the stables and neared the back porch. Hettie stood on the top step, a sentinel guarding the castle. She only nodded at the bedraggled slaves, whisking them into the back door before they could hesitate and before anyone outs
ide could take a second look.

  Echoes of emptiness were all that waited in the house.

  "Everyone clear?" Brant asked of Hettie.

  "Sure is," she said, leading them to the dining room. The cellar door waited, open, beckoning to them. Hettie handed Brant a lit oil lamp, then stepped back. She closed her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

  Leia waited until the small group had descended, then turned back to Hettie. "Are you coming?"

  Hettie shook her head, eyes still closed. "No...you go on Miz Leah. I have to stay here." She shooed Leia through the door, shutting it behind her. The darkness of the stairwell threw Leia into a small spell of anxiety, but she told herself to breathe fully and hold the handrail. She made her way down, and caught up to the group in the center of the basement.

  Brant turned to her, and let a smile cross his lips. "Come," was all he said.

  Shuffling much as the group had the night Torin and Jason disappeared, they made their way to the opposite side of the cellar...Or perhaps they made a circle, Leia wasn't sure, but she did recognize the dim outline of light at the top of the stairs, even less bright than she remembered it to be.

  What would happen to these two if they made it into the future? Martin would help them at first. Could Brant be sure of where he was sending them? Why could they find the right door, if it was the right door, when she had not been able to? The questions swirled in Leia's mind. She smelled the musty walls and sweaty bodies, and suddenly the stairs seemed to be spinning. She grabbed the handrail for support, feeling a splinter pierce her hand.

  "Ouch!" Leia's pain was stifled by Brant's threatening gaze.

  "God be with you both," he told the couple, like a priest blessing churchgoers. They scrambled up the steps and through the door, not looking back. The door, as if weighted with lead, slammed closed behind them. The air pressure changed suddenly, and Leia's ears popped.

  "What if we tried to go through too?" she asked, as Brant began to guide her around the cellar.

  "We would not make it, not to where you want to go." They seemed to find the other staircase easily, and climbed it.

  "What about another time? Is there any chance?" She licked her hand where she had pulled the scrap of wood loose.

  "I don't know, Leia. The only thing I know is that the door will not be there forever. Tomorrow, we have two women to help. Are you willing?"

  She nodded. "Of course, whatever I can do to help."

  Brant left the house as soon as he had finished eating. Patrick and Martha retired early, making excuses of fatigue from the walk in the heat. The General sat politely at MaryKatherine's feet in the parlor, holding a skein of yarn while she worked with it. Leia paced the hallway, back and forth through the center of the house. The wooden planks creaked under her feet, reminding her of the old Taneytown five-and-dime. She pulled out the most recent message from the future.

  Dear Leia,

  Thank you, thank you, thank you for sending me Torin Douglas. Jason's explained who he is, and where and when he's from, which is where you are, right? Congratulations on your marriage! I'll let Sanders know right away.

  Torin fit right in at the dress rehearsal, and I'm going to ask him to model in the revue. The only problem is he makes the other soldier models shrink in comparison. What a body! Jason left me alone with Torin, not in the least bit bothered by him. You were right all along, Leia, he wasn't the man I thought he was.

  One more thing, your bottles and glasses are back. I don't know if they're the same ones, but Torin recognized a few pieces as ones Brant gave you. What happened to the original set?

  Still miss you...

  Sara

  They had made it. Torin and Jason had safely returned to the twentieth century. Relief swept from Leia's heart to her toes. Everything she had been worrying about seemed to be taking care of itself. She shredded the tiny note and put the pieces in the fireplace, smiling at MaryKatherine and Alvin as she walked by. They did not even notice her.

  What Leia had thought to be heat lightening became brighter, followed by the thundering cannon-booms of a July storm. Pelting rain soon began, and Leia helped Hettie and Sarny to close windows and shutters all about the big house. They used rags to dry the fat drops that had found their way inside, and lit more candles as the darkness enveloped them.

  Leia paused at a front window, hoping Brant would be okay in the bad weather.

  "Scruffy!" She noticed the animal outside, matted and drenched, trying to reach the house against the odds of the storm winds. A quick dash out into the rain had her as soaked as the dog, and the two of them waited in the foyer for Hettie to bring more rags.

  "Don't you trot across Hettie's clean floors until I dry you. How did you get left outside, anyway? You should've been safe in the barn." Excited to be in the house, Scruffy tore up the front stairs, leaving Leia laughing behind him. She hung a towel around her neck to dry her own hair, then bent from the waist to dry the roots.

  She gasped when the front door opened into her backside, tumbling her to the floor.

  "Leah?" Brant asked, glancing around before helping her up. He tossed his rain-drenched hat onto a wall peg.

  "Yes, that's my rump you bumped, but if you give me a kiss I won't hold it against you," she said, wishing he would hold it against her, so to speak. She handed him the damp towel.

  "Were you outside?" he asked, brushing raindrops from his own shoulders.

  "Yeah.. just for a minute."

  Brant's eyes widened and he stopped drying himself. "What for?" His tone was no-nonsense.

  "It's okay, Brant, really, I don't catch a cold that easily and I won't melt."

  He dropped his towel and grasped her shoulders. With his voice soft, he asked again. "What for?"

  Though his expression was blank, she realized that once again he was suspicious of her. With an exasperated sigh, she said, "To get the dog in from the storm. That's all." She gathered the rags and towels and took them to the back porch, leaving her husband in the foyer. Leia felt his eyes burning a question mark into the back of her head.

  He'd not known Leia to venture out into summer storms before tonight. After the veiled threats the General had made, he didn't know what to think about his wife's actions. Trust was a precious thing between husband and wife, and Brant wanted to uphold it in his marriage. He strode through the house, checking door and window locks. The bond he felt developing between them was still so new, and yet, it felt centuries old.

  He put out an oil lamp someone had left glowing on the kitchen table. He wanted to trust his wife, there was nothing or no one he believed in more. Sometimes she just made it so danged difficult.

  Leia had arranged the covers around her body, keeping the material loose so air could flow. The cool breeze that had come in after the storm subsided was a pleasure, tickling her skin as it evaporated beads of perspiration. Sleep would not come quickly, she knew, since the knot in her stomach was still tightly wrapped.

  "Leia?" Brant opened the door, intruding with only his head and a lamp.

  "Yes?" She whispered her response, anxious about his state of mind.

  "Can we talk, please?" He stepped in, leaving the door open.

  Expecting harsh demands, the gentle question took Leia by surprise, and she sat up in bed. "Of course. Come to bed." She watched as he came in and undressed, putting out his lamp. Only hers was lit, casting an angelic halo around Brant's strong body.

  He sat beside her on the bed, not moving to climb under the sheet. "I'm sorry for my reaction earlier. It was that of a soldier, I know, and not of a trusting mate." He picked up her hand. "I warned you I wasn't ready to be a husband. I'm not very good at it yet."

  She didn't reply, knowing part of his attitude was born of the way she had just appeared in his life. However, the way he used the word 'yet' was encouraging.

  "Forgive me?"

  "Oh, Brant, I don't blame you for your doubts. You haven't had much worth trusting in your life, have you?" She rea
ched for his free hand and gave it a squeeze. Then she moved to encircle his neck, leaning toward his lips with her own. As he rolled toward her in response, the bed shifted and a squeal ripped up from underneath them.

  Startled, Leia and Brant watched Scruffy wriggle from under the bed and make a break for the door. Brant's chuckle came first, then Leia's, and finally the kiss.

  The next day seemed to be almost an identical copy of the one before. Sweltering heat, thick wet air, and the fragrance of stables greeted Leia as she went to meet Brant. The only difference was that MaryKatherine went with the McGarlands on a picnic, and the General had business of his own to conduct. He left for town before breakfast, promising to join the group later in the day. Leia overheard him tell MaryKatherine he needed to speak with Patrick, and she was elated. Her matchmaking had worked!

  With a light heart she joined the small party at the cabin, pleased at the events and surprised at the ease with which everyone's plans were unfolding. She knocked on the cabin's wooden door, keeping with her superstition about good luck. No sense in jinxing things, she thought. Her lightness of spirit dipped substantially when they left, seeing the physical state of the slaves in the light of day. My God, what have those people done to them?

  Their soiled clothing was torn, slashed from what Leia assumed had been whips. Of course she couldn't ask and shouldn't stare, but she was shocked. Her stomach began to bubble, churning with nausea. The taller of the two women, a very dark chocolate black, had slashes across the front of her dress as well as the back. Yet they both held their heads high, more dignified than Leia could have imagined. With a deep breath, she turned her eyes away and pulled Brant's hand.

  "We have to get them out of here," she said.

  He only nodded, and started the little group on its trek through the woods. Politely avoiding looking at the women, Leia knew he was embarrassed for them. She cast a few encouraging, small smiles back at the women, who followed silently without complaint or comment.