“Okay, you two have got to move.” She nudged the kittens out of the way with the broom as they slept on the warm sunroom floor. “Reno would love to see how big you’ve grown. I wish I could take you with me, but I think that would be pushing it.” She could just imagine trying to hide them under her coat and the little rascals getting all panicky and scratchy. “We might all end up veering off course to Timbuktu.”
While considering her journey, a thrill of excitement coursed through her. Funny, she wasn’t afraid at all. Maybe a little nervous, but not much. The thought of seeing Reno again swept every fear away.
Once she finished the housework, Journey hit the kitchen. She’d made a list of dishes she wanted to prepare and eat, things she might not be able to find where she was going. While digging through the refrigerator, she mumbled the menu to herself, “Avocado toast, crab cakes, Thai noodles, and Jell-O, of course. A very eclectic mix.”
After placing all the ingredients on the counter, Journey began the process. She planned on preparing enough for Lou and her aunt if they hurried home. As she worked, a funny thought hit her. “I bet these are cravings, little one.” She gave her tiny baby bump a gentle pat. “No one else might find these foods as appetizing as I do.”
“Who are you talking to?”
Lou’s voice made her jump. “The baby. Who else? Are you hungry? I’m making avocado toast.” To gauge her friend’s reaction, she turned to face Lou. When she did, Journey saw the happy smirk and knew her favorite scientist had experienced a breakthrough. “You found an answer.”
Lou nodded, her smile growing. “Yes. I think I found an answer.” She moved forward to filch a piece of avocado. “Want to know what it is?”
“Why, yes.” Journey wanted to jump up and down. “Tell me.”
“Well…” Lou pulled out a chair for herself and one for Journey. “I got to thinking about what Reno wrote in the letter to you, how he’d go to the canyon as soon as the sun sets.”
“Right.” Journey wasn’t sure what Lou was getting at, but she was all ears.
“Jo, the moon doesn’t wait for night to fall to become full. The exact time of the next full moon is 2:12 in the afternoon.”
Her heart racing, Journey clasped the edge of the table. “So, you’re saying I can go through the portal earlier than Reno will expect to leave.”
“Yes!” Lou was so excited. “You can beat him to the punch! You can be there with him before he’s even ready to think about riding through.”
“What does Kota think about this?”
“He’s starting his own preparations for your journey as we speak.”
“Oh, you have made me so happy!” Journey hurried to the calendar. “Only a few more days and I have so much to do!” She whirled around to hug Lou. “How will I ever thank you?”
Her friend hugged her, of course, but when Lou didn’t respond to Journey’s question, she leaned back to look at the other woman’s face. “Lou, what are you thinking?”
“Well, since you and Reno will both be living in the past…”
Reading her mind, Journey quickly gave her an answer. “Hell, yes. Record everything. Prove to the world what a great scientist you are!”
“I’ll protect Myra, no one will ever know she’s connected to this. And the park service, well they’ll just have to deal with the publicity.”
“This will be huge for you.” Journey hugged her again. “I’m so proud of you. You made this all possible, you know.”
“No, that credit has to go to Kota.”
“I could say you could share credit with him, but he would probably run off any reporters with his tomahawk.”
After they shared another laugh, they also shared a meal. “I’m going to miss you like crazy,” Lou told her. “What am I going to do without you?”
“You’re going to carry on as a rich, world-famous scientist, that’s what.” Journey rose and hurried to the other room. “Hold on.”
Lou wondered what she was going after, but when she returned – Lou understood. “Oh, Journey…”
“Yes.” She gave Saul’s journal to Lou. “This will be our link. I promise to send you a message. I don’t know if I can send more than one, but I’ll let you know when the baby comes. You can share the news with Aunt Myra.”
Lou grasped the journal to her chest. “You’re going to make me cry.”
“None of that.” Journey hopped up with a big smile on her face. “Now, it begins. I have to get ready for the trip of a lifetime!”
* * *
For the remainder of his time at King’s Ransom, Reno stayed busy. He carved out opportunities to share moments with each of his friends. Not being able to do this before had caused him a great deal of regret and he fully intended to rectify the matter this time. Of course, the children were his highest priority. Reno searched for a way to explain the unexplainable to them. As far as the adults were concerned, most of them already knew his secret, he could be as frank with them as he wanted to be. He trusted his friends to do what was best to protect themselves from unwanted questions from people like Mavis Talmadge – who would undoubtedly notice he was missing yet again. Perhaps they could concoct a story about how he’d moved to the East Coast to pursue a career in the Wild West shows. This thought made him laugh.
So, for the next week, Reno would live each day as
