“Catchy title.”
“He spun a story about having amnesia. Although, they didn’t use that word. I don’t think they knew about the condition back then.”
“Probably not.” He shifted his weight in the swing, reaching up to hold onto the support chain. “At least we can celebrate his safe arrival.”
“There was an accompanying photograph. A woman was in the picture with him.”
Kota turned his head to look at Journey. “I can tell by your voice you are jealous of this woman. Does the article identify her?”
“No.”
“Forget her.” He dismissed the idea with a wave. “She probably wanted her picture in the paper.”
In spite of her worry, Journey had to laugh. “Are you saying this was a photobomb?”
“That’s right. Reno wouldn’t have moved on so quickly from you. He was in love.”
“He is in love,” she corrected him. “Although, I have no idea why he hasn’t sent the message to me as promised. What if he knows he has to stay in the past and he doesn’t know how to tell me?” Her voice rose in a panic.
“There’s a reason he hasn’t responded, but it’s not indecision. Reno would not leave you wondering. He loves you and the babe too much to do that. No, there’s a reason he hasn’t contacted you. Do you still have the journal?”
“Yes, I looked at it this morning. It was still empty.”
“Good. That means it hasn’t been destroyed.”
“Are you saying if something happened to the journal in that time, our journal would just disappear?”
“I would assume so, yes.” He dry-scrubbed his face. “Who knows? This mystical shit wears me out.”
Journey wasn’t through with her fretting. “If he has to stay in the past, I wouldn’t want him to be alone.” The thought brought a frown to her face. “I just don’t want him to fall for the woman in the photo. I don’t like her.”
“Slow down, you’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“You’re right.” She reached over and took the old man’s hand, needing the support. “Are you sure you were never told when or how Ela died?”
Kota stared at the ground in front of the swing, letting out a harsh breath. “No. Details of her life were never the focus. Only her teachings mattered. I’m afraid the answer to that question is lost in the mists of time.”
“If Ela’s not there to help Reno, he won’t be able to return to me, will he?”
Kota hesitated to say. “I’m not certain. It would be risky. If Ela is gone, Reno will have to make that decision himself.”
Journey’s mind was racing. “Surely there’s something we can do.”
Kota held up the glass, offering her more water. “I know of nothing. We will have to wait to see what the full moon brings.”
“I’m not sure if I can wait that long to make a decision.” She tightened her grip on his hand. “Kota, you have to do something. If Reno can’t come to me, I want to go to him.”
“No.” The old man stood slowly to his feet and began to shuffle off.
“Kota! Wait!” She rose to follow him. “You have to help me.”
“I will not. I told you, you must have faith.” With that, he waved off her protests and returned to the barn.
Journey was left behind to imagine the worst.
* * *
“Distinguished Members of the Military Tribunal, my name is Kenneth Wallace and it is an honor to be allowed to present the facts of this case to you. We have witnesses ready to testify as to the falsehood of these allegations and we have testimonials and affidavits from those who could not arrive here in time to testify in person. Due to time constraints, some of these items will be in the form of legally notarized telegrams. Nevertheless, by the culmination of the irrefutable evidence that will be presented to you today, I will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt the innocence of my client, Cole Wesley Black.”
Reno sat next to Gentry at the back of the military courtroom, his eyes trained on his brother. Cole looked thin and pale. As Reno stared, Cole glanced back, his face brightening when he recognized Reno. The banging of the judge’s gavel made him turn away to face the front.
“Do you think he’ll get a fair hearing?” Reno asked Gentry.
The Englishman leaned near to whisper out of the corner of his mouth. “I’d feel better if they wore powdered wigs, all of those bald heads make me nervous.”
Reno had to hide a grin, but soon that smile was gone as he listened to the lawyer make his arguments. The judges asked question after question, but Wallace had answers for them all. Soon, it came time for the witnesses and Reno was relieved to see the young drummer boy enter the courtroom. Only, he wasn’t young or little anymore. Jerome Grassley was a strapping young man with a booming voice. And when one of the military judges asked him to explain in his own words what he remembered of the encounter between the Black brothers, his response was unequivocally in Cole’s favor.
Next, came the evidence to support the theory of Jubal Pierce being the traitor. Telegram after telegram from people who knew Pierce was read attesting to the illegalities he traded in, the underhanded methods he used to worm his way into positions where he could be privy to information that he could sell to the highest bidder. Finally, a former Union soldier was brought to the stand who testified that he witnessed Jubal pass what he knew to be false intelligence to a Union general. This deceit resulted in Frederick Winthrop being ordered to attack the
