“No, I did not. I’m fit as a fiddle,” Reno assured her, looking to Journey for reassurance.
Journey could see Reno was uncomfortable. “Lou’s a scientific genius. Remember, I told you she has multiple degrees. If anyone can give us insight into this mystery – it’s her.”
“How did she recognize me?” Reno asked, his eyes following her as she seemed to size him up like a bull at auction.
“She’s seen the tintype many times. She’s probably as familiar with the stories Saul told about you as I am.” Journey looked slightly embarrassed. She stepped forward to pick up Lou’s luggage. “I’ll take these to your room.”
“No. Let me.” Reno took the bags from Journey, seemingly glad for the chance to escape. “Which room do you want her in?”
“The first room on the right, across from the hall bath,” she told him with a grateful smile as he turned to leave the room.
Unconcerned about the location of her luggage, Lou seemed to be in a daze. “Did he come in a time machine of some sort?”
“No, he was just riding his horse through a canyon and found himself here.”
“Amazing. This is incredible!” Her eyes darted back and forth as she mumbled to herself. “In the vast vacuum of space, the Earth could be interacting with any number of fields and energies.”
“What do you think, Lou?” Journey watched her friend as she processed the situation.
“I think we’re in the process of engineering the machines necessary to detect gravity waves. You know, Albert Einstein calculated both gravity waves and Rosen Bridges wormholes over a hundred years ago. What if…” She muttered the words, then laughed loudly as she threw her arms into the air in triumph. “What am I saying? There is no ‘what if’. The proof is standing right before me.” She pointed at Reno who’d just reentered the foyer. “Unless…” She narrowed her eyes at Journey. “Unless you hired some lookalike just to yank my chain.”
“I wouldn’t tease about this, Lou,” Journey assured her as she moved to stand near Reno. “You know how much he’s always meant to me.”
“Yes. Yes, I do.” Lou placed a calming hand on her chest and found a place to sit on the nearby couch. “My mind is just boggled. This will undoubtedly be the greatest scientific discovery of our time.”
“What’s she saying, honey?” Reno asked her as he stared warily at their visitor.
She didn’t know whether to smile at Reno’s sweet endearment or cry at the realization that Lou was hot on the trail of an answer to this mystery like a hound dog after a rabbit. “If anybody can tell you how you got here and how you can get home, Reno – it’s Lou.”
* * *
Burning the midnight oil wasn’t a new concept for Reno, he’d stayed out many a night keeping an eye on the herd or helping bring a new calf into the world. This was the first time, however, that he’d been subjected to such intense questioning. Now, he knew what those who suffered through the Spanish Inquisition felt like. “Okay. I’ll go over it one more time.” He felt guilty about complaining, even if it was just in his mind. If this scientist lady could help him figure out how to get home, he’d owe her a lot more than a simple thank you.
Lou was busy taking notes while Journey kept their coffee cups full. “Yes, please do. I have to make sure I didn’t miss anything.”
“All right. So, the original location of the Stanton cabin is right where we’re sitting.” He went on to explain how he’d led the raiders away from the cabin, hoping to find cover to pick them off one by one. “I ended up in a box canyon. I heard Kinsella, the ringleader, celebrating how I wouldn’t make it out alive. Instead of being trapped, I saw what looked to be a way out. An opening. I could see through to the other side as plain as day. Traveler and I rode on, expecting the raiders to be hot on our heels. Once I was through, I looked back, and the opening was gone. The wall was solid.” He rubbed his chin, thinking. “I didn’t have time to question anything, because that was when I heard Journey scream.”
“This is new information.” Lou turned her attention to Journey. “And why were you screaming?”
Journey felt a bit guilty. “I know I should’ve called you, but so much has happened.” Seeing her friend’s concerned look, she tried to explain, “I went to the grocery store in Fredericksburg. Somehow, these two men fixated on me and followed me out to my car. They harassed me, wouldn’t let me leave. I screamed for help and this man came running across the parking lot toward me. One of the idiots ran him over with his truck. Finally, some other folks heard the commotion and called 9-1-1. When the cops arrived, I gave them a statement, describing the jerks and their vehicle. When I left, I thought about them following me – but I didn’t seriously think they would.”
“But they did.” Lou’s face contorted with anger. “Those bastards.”
“Today’s version of the Kinsella gang,” Reno muttered.
Journey felt a chill, wondering if he was right. Considering the odd timing, could they somehow be connected? She didn’t voice the thought, there were too many other things to worry about. “I headed home, but soon I saw headlights behind me. Sure enough, it turned about to be that evil looking black dually those nuts were driving. With no one else on the road, they took advantage. Driving too close and threatening to run me off the road. I
