“How long does it take to fall in love, Meredith MacCarthy? Tell me, for I truly wish to know your thoughts on the matter.”
His steady, ghostly gaze sent her pulse racing. How could she feel so warm in the presence of his deathly chill? “Given the topic of our conversation I don’t see how that’s relevant. You won’t remember me, and you won’t believe me when I warn you.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve given the matter some thought, and I’ve a few ideas,” he said.
“Oh?” Seconds went by as he continued to stare deeply into her eyes as if searching for answers only she could provide. Her ears rang from the pounding of her heart, and as if on cue, her phone began to chime and vibrate in her back pocket. Saved by my dad’s ringtone.
She released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, and the spell between her and the ghost broke. Why the hell did she feel like crying? She grabbed her phone and hit accept. “Hi, Dad. What’s up?”
“Hey, Meredith, I wanted to touch base and make sure you’re safe.”
She glanced at Daniel. Was she safe? Physically, yes. Emotionally? The jury was still out. Was Daniel trying to seduce her into traveling back in time on his behalf with his flirty words and lingering gazes? Did it matter one way or the other?
“I’m fine. I helped one of the Garrettsville ghosts cross over yesterday.”
“That’s good news.” Her dad cleared his throat. “Listen, I’m also calling with a bit of bad news. Things are hectic at work right now, and I can’t get away until the end of June or the first week of July.”
Her stomach dropped. “Okay.”
“You’ll be all right until then. You’re a MacCarthy. You know how to handle these situations.”
“Yeah, I know, Dad.” First Daniel brought up time travel, and now her father hit her with this delay. Were fate’s sticky fingers stirring her pot?
“I know you’re disappointed, but continue to maintain the status quo until we arrive. Take all the precautions we’ve taught you, and things will be fine.”
“I will.” She sighed. “I was just hoping to send the trio on their way ASAP, that’s all. They’ve already attempted to possess one of my fellow volunteers, and we’ve hardly been here a week.”
“Hmm. That is concerning.”
“Oliver is carrying protective crystals and sage with him at all times now, and when we’re able, we make sure he’s not left alone anywhere except in our cabin, which is well protected.” She nudged the end of the trash grabber with the tip of her shoe and snuck another look at Daniel. He pretended he wasn’t listening. She was not fooled. “I guess I’ll see you and Aunt Beth in a few weeks. Text me with your flight information.”
“I will. Your mother sends her love. Call her when you get a minute.”
“I’ll call her today after my shift. Bye, Dad.”
“Take care, sweetheart.”
“I always do.” The moment she ended the call, her phone chimed a text alert … from her aunt.
“CARPE DIEM! Whatever it is, just do it!” Meredith read aloud.
Easy for Beth to say, since she wouldn’t be the one taking any risks. Meredith growled at her phone and shoved it back into her pocket. Clearly Beth’s psychic sonar had alerted her something was up, and her aunt never could resist adding her two cent’s worth. Beth saw everything in life as a grand adventure. Meredith headed for a candy wrapper in the dirt.
Daniel followed. “Are you willing to hear me out?”
“Sure, as long as you agree to do things my way if this all turns out to be a dead end.” Her way meant easing him into the beckoning light by helping let go of a promise he made to people who were long gone from this world.
“You have my word.”
She continued to walk around Garretsville in search of trash, and Daniel described his plan to her.
“There are … there were good men in Garretsville, men who would be willing to work with the sheriff. I’ll show you where our ambush occurred and give you the date and the approximate time. You’ll arrive a week or so before the event, so you’ll have time to convince me of our prior association. That will give us a few days to plan. Once your part has been accomplished, you can leave the rest to me.”
“Sounds … deceptively simple. So, I’m guessing you and Charles will be the bait. The triad of malice will be lured to you as they were the day you were murdered, and the sheriff and his posse will surround them?”
“Aye.”
“You’re forgetting you two will be in the middle, and you’ll be with the wrong group, not with the posse. What’s to prevent the outlaws from using you and Charles as hostages, so they can get away?”
Her gut clenched as every disastrous possibility circled around in her mind. “What will prevent the outlaws from slitting your throats anyway?” She cast him her own haunted look. “Why would you believe a total stranger from the future who comes to warn you?”
“Granted, the plan needs work.” Daniel began to pace. “What if I describe to you everything that happened that day, and you write it all down. I’ll include personal information, things you could not possibly know unless I’d told you.” He stopped pacing and turned to her. “Then I’d believe you.”
“Maybe. Then again, maybe not.” The seed of an idea of began to germinate. She knew how to prove she’d traveled through time to save him, but she squelched the notion before it could take root. No point in getting ahead of herself.
“The three were waiting to ambush us as we headed to Garretsville with our wagon loaded down with our haul. The sheriff and the posse could be farther up the trail to catch them before our arrival. Also, this time Charles and I will be forewarned. We’ll know what to expect, and we’ll
