“Where’s Lou?” Myra asked from the doorway. Her car is here, but she’s nowhere to be found. Do you think she vanished?”
Journey giggled at her aunt. “No, she didn’t vanish. Sam Blackhawk picked her up for lunch. She’ll be back soon.”
“Oh, good.” Myra snapped her fingers for the animals to follow her. “I didn’t want to lose anyone else.”
“Me either.” Journey put down her kindle and eyed Saul’s journal. She’d tried to do as Lou suggested and not look into it so often. That ‘watched pot never boils’ thing made her think. So, for the past two days, she’d let it be. “I think my resolve is waning.” Journey stared at the leather-bound book for a few more seconds before she snatched it up. “Enough.” Clasping it to her breast, she prayed. “Please. I need to hear from Reno so badly. Please.”
Placing the journal in her lap, she lifted the front cover. Nothing. Since he’d mentioned putting it in the back, she always saved the inspection of that spot for last. With a trembling hand, she turned the pages one by one until she came to the final one before the cover. Holding her breath, she flipped the last page – and there it was. Framed by strips of leather held fast by some type of glue was a yellowed note with the words DO NOT REMOVE written on it in big letters. “Oh, God. Reno, I love you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Ever so carefully, she removed the frame to free the fragile piece of paper. “Don’t you dare crumble on me.” The glue had eaten into the paper in a few spots. There was a couple of holes and some dust fell from the note into her hand. With delicate movements, she unfolded the paper until it lay open in her lap. The writing was faded, but she could still make it out.
My dearest Journey. I am so sorry it took me so long to write to you. I explained this to the moon, but I don’t know if he gave you the message or not. The journal has been to Boston and back. Gentry’s sister, Matilda, had packed it away with some clothes she’d purchased for the children. Since the plan was for them to move into her home, she sent the trunks on ahead. This journal was taken on that journey and has just returned to Texas today. The children are still with me, by the way. We have enjoyed this reprieve together.
I do have good news. King and I were able to gain an audience with the governor. He is considering our request to call off the attack by the Cavalry. Even more promising is the fact that Gentry and I, along with a Texas ranger, put an end to Kinsella’s reign of terror. He and his cohorts tried to rob the stagecoach we were taking out of Waco. I’m proud to say we gave the raiders more resistance than they were expecting. Unfortunately, one of the rangers was killed, but the rest of us came through the ordeal okay. Kinsella intended to murder us all, for he never hid the fact of their identity. He recognized me, he even asked how I managed to escape through the rock. His fatal mistake was owning up to Ela’s death. When he did, I lost it. I pulled a knife and threw it right into his throat. Since the ranger was witness to all of this, he said he’d speak to the governor. So, I am very sure the massacre will not take place.
If that isn’t enough good news, I am happy to say that Cole is free and here with me at King’s Ransom. It was a close call. The tribunal got wind of the work we were doing to free him and some of General Winthrop’s friends persuaded the tribunal to move up the date of Cole’s execution. We had to hurry, but Wallace was able to gain an audience with the members. By the time he presented all the evidence, it was clear that Jubal was guilty, and Cole was not. It’s been great having him with me. I will certainly miss him when I leave.
If you didn’t notice what I said above, I’ll repeat myself. There is a hitch in our plans, a sad one. Upon my return, I was shocked to learn that Ela had been murdered just a few days after I left for the future. I went to see her son, but he is full of hatred over the talk of war. Don’t think for a moment that this setback will keep me from coming to you. When the moon is full, I’ll make my move. I know where to go and when to go, surely the path I have previously forged through that damn portal is still there.
Let me use the rest of this paper to tell you how much I love you. I love you with every breath I take and with every beat of my heart. My arms ache with emptiness. My lips miss you. My body misses you even more. I am living for the moment when we are together once more. I pray that you and my babe are safe, and I don’t want you to worry about a thing. Just keep your eye on the calendar and know that when the sun sets on the night of the full moon, I’ll be on my way to your arms. Tell my baby
