…Journey stood on the side of the road and gazed up at the moon. Being full, it was as big and bright as she’d ever seen it. Lifting her hand, it seemed she could almost touch it. “I’m here, Reno. I see the moon. I love you so much. Take care, my love.”
Reluctantly, she returned to the car to continue their journey.
“Did you need to use the bathroom?” Aunt Myra asked.
“No. I just needed a bit of fresh air.”
“That’s pregnancy for you.”
Journey didn’t dispute her point. Instead, she turned the radio on low, just for the noise. Seeing a sign ahead, she put her blinker on to turn east on Highway 29 toward Burnet. “Go straight, sweetie, through San Saba. We can take Highway 16 almost all the way.”
“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I don’t even have the GPS turned on.” She knew her mind was on Reno, wondering where he was. What was he doing? Was he on his way to Kingsland? She looked to her right, thinking he was out there somewhere, riding through the night.
“That’s okay. I’m sure your mind is elsewhere.”
“You’re right about that. If we’d gone the way I was heading, we’d pass Lake Buchanan. Reno and I were talking this morning about looking for a house in Tow. You know, the little community on the left bank of the lake. I was telling him property values are reasonable there.”
“Why would you want to live in Tow?”
“Tennessee McCoy offered Reno a job at their Highlands Ranch.”
“I know where it is, but you don’t want to live in Tow. You’d be better off looking for a place near the dam or on the east side of the lake.”
“I was just thinking of saving money and Tow is just across the lake from Highlands.”
Myra laughed. “Except there’s no bridge, honey. He’d have to get a boat or drive all the way around the lake every day. A seventy-mile round trip.
“Oh, heck.” Journey rubbed her forehead. “You’re right. I guess I’m not thinking clearly.”
“You have a good excuse. You’ve got baby brain.”
The thought made Journey smile. “I bet you’re right. Did I tell you we picked out names for the baby?”
“No! Tell me.”
“Cole if it’s a boy and Ela if it’s a girl.”
“Myra Ela. Myra Ela. That’s a tongue twister.” Myra tried out the names another way. “Ela Myra. Ela Myra. That sounds better.”
Journey giggled. “No, it doesn’t. It sounds like Elvira.”
Myra shrugged. “I guess my name can wait for baby number two.”
Journey almost ran off the road at the thought.
* * *
Dawn was breaking when Reno neared King’s Ransom. As much as he missed Journey, he couldn’t keep a smile off his face at the thought of seeing his friends. Even though the hour was early, he figured most everyone would be up. Fancy would be starting breakfast and Ace would be feeding the livestock.
When he came over the hill, Reno was surprised to see Clay’s horse standing beneath one of the big oaks near Honey Creek. What was he doing out here so early in the morning? Slowing Traveler down, he rode up at an even pace. When he came near, Reno was shocked to see Clay kneeling next to a large stone.
And then it hit him. His best friend was visiting his grave.
Without thinking, he urged Traveler forward. “Clay!”
Clay looked up, then jumped up. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was open. “Good God!”
Reno jumped from his horse and Clay started backing up. “It’s me. It’s Reno.”
Clay narrowed his eyes, walked up to Reno and punched him in the jaw.
“What the hell was that for?”
“I just wanted to make sure you wasn’t some damn ghost. Where the hell have you been?”
“Well, I’m not a ghost.”
“I can…feel that.” Clay shook his fist. “Nearly broke my damn hand.”
“You sure are cursing a lot for a preacher.”
“Well, you scared the living shit out of me!” Clay was still breathing heavy. He shook his head and grabbed Reno to hug him. “Lord above, I’m glad to see you. Now, back to my original question. Where the hell have you been?”
“How much time do you have?”
…After an hour of intense discussion, Clay didn’t know whether to believe his friend or ask Dr. Domino to have Reno committed to an institution back east. “So, let me get this straight. You’ve spent the last month in the year 2019.”
“Yes. Things are very advanced there, but they think I rode into a portal and went through a wormhole.”
“Are you hearing yourself right now?”
Reno laughed. “I know. I thought the same thing when I first heard the word.”
“It’s true though. I saw the most fantastic things. Airplanes fly in the sky. Cars travel down paved roads at seventy miles an hour. Computers link up the whole world. You can sit in Texas and watch a horserace in England on this big screen television and never leave your recliner.”
Clay stared at Reno. “I didn’t understand a word you just said. What’s a recliner?”
“It’s a chair that you can lay down in.” He waved his hand. “Never mind. Over the next month, I’ll teach you a world of stuff.”
Clay grabbed Reno’s shoulder and shook him gently. “Even if you’re touched in the head, I’m glad your home.”
“Well, I can’t stay. I have to go back. I got married and I’ve having a baby.”
“God bless!” Clay threw his hat on the ground. “Stop saying this stuff. I’ve only had one
