“I noticed something during the ceremony,” he spoke softly as he poured another path of liquid gold into her navel and smiled as some spilled out to trickle down to more intriguing places.
“What did you notice?” she asked breathlessly as he licked and nipped his way closer to the part of her that was tingling like mad.
“The love and cherish promises were in your vows, but the obey part seemed to be missing.”
Journey giggled. “Welcome to the future, cowboy.”
“Oh, is that how it’s going to be?” he proceeded to goose her sides and blow raspberries on her tummy.
“Yep, get used to it. I’m not a wallflower. I’m a liberated, independent woman…” She grew serious, framing his face. “Who adores my husband and will do everything in my power to make him happy.”
“Well, since you’re so pretty, I guess I can let it slide,” he muttered as he parted her legs to fit his hungry manhood at the well of her tender opening. “Right now, I need to fulfill my part of the vow.”
“Oh, God…” She moaned as he thrust deep. “What part are you talking about?”
“This part.” His eyes closed in ecstasy as he made love to his wife. “With my body, I thee worship.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“I don’t know what I was thinking.” Journey rested her cheek against her husband’s chest. They’d made love twice since the sun rose and she still wasn’t ready to leave their marriage bed.
“Are you have second thoughts about marrying me?”
“Never.” She kissed him over his heart. “I wish I’d never encouraged you to take part in that damn fundraiser. All it’s going to do is eat up the precious time we have left together.”
“Oh, we can make it special. Afterward, we’ll end up right here where we started.” He rubbed his lips back and forth across the silky crown of her hair.
“I know.”
“My offer still stands, you know. All you have to do is say the word and I’ll stay.”
She could hear the love in his voice, but she also could hear something else. Despite the short amount of time they’d spent together, she knew him well. Reno’s sense of duty, the depth of his loyalty was beyond measure. If he didn’t do what he could for the people he loved, he’d be haunted by the decision for the rest of his life. The least she could do was make his leaving her a little easier. “You’ll be back in a month.”
“Yes. In one moon as my people say.”
“In one moon.” She closed her eyes, imagining how it would be. “I’ll be waiting for you. Just like before, I want you to pull me up on Traveler and hold me tight.”
“It’s a date, my love.”
* * *
The hours of the day passed swiftly. Reno spent time with Journey and the kittens.
“They’ll have grown when I come back,” he observed as he dangled some yarn over Spots head and laughed as the little mite stood on its hind legs to bat at it. “Do you think they’ll remember me?”
“Of course,” Journey assured him. “No one could ever forget a character like you.”
This amused Reno, then he sobered. “Lou was talking about time resetting itself and fallen dominoes.”
“Falling dominoes?” Journey couldn’t help but giggle. “That doesn’t sound like Lou.”
“Anyway, the point she was making was the possible domino effect of my going back in time and what might change as a result of my actions. What if no one remembers I was here? What if you don’t remember anything of me other than the tintype and the stories in the journal?”
Even though his words ripped a hole in her soul, Journey tried to appear nonchalant. “I think the wedding band and the baby growing inside of me might be a clue.”
He didn’t laugh or smile. “I wish we’d thought of keeping a journal of our time together. Like Saul did.”
“Oh, Reno.” She knelt on the floor with him, holding him close. “You’re a part of me. There is no way I’d ever forget this time we’ve shared. Not a second of it.”
“Good. I pray it to be so.” A look of peace came to his face.
Journey didn’t believe such a thing as he spoke of could be possible, but when he left to see Kota, she sat down at her workstation to record the details of her own private fairytale.
Just in case.
…As Reno walked with Kota beneath the cool of the trees, they listened to the sounds of the birds singing. The sun’s rays filtered through the canopy of leaves leaving a dappled pattern of light and shadow on the ground. “You’ll look after her while I’m gone, won’t you?”
“I will.”
“Is there anything you want me to tell Ela for you?”
“Yes. Tell her to leave me a pot of gold in that cave of hers.”
“Ela doesn’t have any gold.”
“Pity.” The old man’s pace slowed. “Tell her she is remembered and revered by those who follow after her.”
“I will do that. Gladly.” Reno stuffed his hands in his pockets as he drew alongside Kota. “Is there anything I need to do to get ready for tomorrow?”
Placing his hand on the rough bark of an oak, Kota leaned on the tree for support. “Say your goodbyes. Say your prayers. Reinforce whatever place you intend to store those things you wish to take with you. The winds of the vortex could be strong.”
“I didn’t notice any wind when I came through the first time. I wasn’t aware anything abnormal happened at all.”
“I understand. I just have a feeling. Probably my dementia flaring up.”
“You have dementia like I have the measles. You are sharp as a needle.”
“Thank you. Sometimes I wish my body worked as well as
