“Yeah, you kinda are,” she gritted out. “This isn’t a game. You don’t know how your shove has affected where and when I landed.” Her throat clogged with dust and a rising lump, she stood up and began brushing herself off.
“Doesn’t matter. Whenever this is, it’ll still be an adventure like no other.” He smirked. “I wasn’t about to be left out, and besides, we have the second diamond to get us back.”
“Obviously it doesn’t matter to you, but it matters a great deal to me. It means even more to the two men whose murders I’m trying to prevent.” She glowered. “And what’s with the we? We don’t have the second diamond. I do. I hold the ticket for the return trip, and if you do not do exactly as I tell you while we’re here, I will return to the twenty-first century without you.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” He smirked.
“I wouldn’t bet on that if I were you, you selfish little twit,” she bit out. “You’ve jeopardized my entire reason for doing this, and it was already dangerous enough to begin with.”
For the merest instant, fear flickered through Oliver’s eyes, and Meredith suffered another twinge of guilt.
“Looks to me like we’re exactly where you intended to be.” He pointed behind her.
Meredith whipped around fast enough to make herself dizzy. Her eyes filled as she viewed Daniel’s cabin, the shed, and the wagon just as she’d glimpsed them when he’d written the letter. She went weak with relief. “Okay, so this is the right location, but it might not be the right time. You definitely broke my concentration.”
In that same instant, the sound of men laughing and talking rolled toward them from over the hill behind the cabin. Her gaze shot to the rise as the voices grew louder with each passing second. Ignoring Oliver, she focused all her attention on the crest of that hill and held her breath. It was all she could do to keep from crying out as Daniel appeared, and she had no control over the onslaught of tears trickling down her cheeks, or the sniffling. He was very much alive.
Oliver held out one of those small pocket packets of tissues, and Meredith realized she still gripped the pink diamond in her fist. She flashed another scowl in the teen’s direction as she reached into her pocket and slipped the stone back into the pouch. Then she snatched a tissue from the packet he still held out to her and wiped her cheeks and nose, never taking her eyes off Daniel and his partner.
The two men caught sight of them and stopped in their tracks. They exchanged a few words. Finally, the shorter man nodded—he must be Charles—and they began walking again. Once they reached the front of the cabin, Daniel called out, “Are you lost? Can we help you?”
“No, we’re not lost, Mr. Cavanaugh. I’m here to deliver a letter,” she managed to respond despite the tightness in her chest and throat. His beloved face lit up, and her heart opened like a morning glory catching the first light of a new day.
Daniel slapped his friend on the back. “See? I told you they posed no threat.” His stride quickened, and he came to stand before her. His expression curious, he studied her. “I’ve been hoping for a letter from my family for months.” He grinned.
His athletic build, open smile, the dimple just below the left side of his mouth, those bluer-than-blue eyes, and his thick, reddish-gold curls conspired together to rob her of coherent thought. She’d known he’d been handsome, but she hadn’t been prepared for how very striking and vibrant he truly was. “I’m Meredith MacCarthy,” she whispered.
“And I’m her half-brother, Oliver,” the twit beside her added, holding out his hand.
She stifled a growl. She couldn’t deny having a pretend male relative with her would make things easier. She was no longer a lone woman, and that made her more socially acceptable. Still, resentment seethed at the sneaky adolescent’s intrusion.
Daniel shook Oliver’s hand, but his gaze remained upon her. “Have we met before, Miss MacCarthy? You seem … familiar. I feel as if I know you from somewhere, but I cannot recall how or from where.” He laughed softly. “You must think me daft.
“I don’t.” She shook her head. “We have met, and it’s no surprise you don’t remember the circumstances.”
Daniel’s partner joined them. His assessing gaze was far less open. The wariness and suspicion he radiated were a force to be reckoned with.
“This is my business partner, Charles Hannigan. We were about to celebrate—”
“Daniel, we agreed.” Charles cut him off, his tone carrying a warning.
“Mr. Hannigan, Oliver and I have no wish to intrude, and please believe me when I tell you, I mean you no harm. If you wouldn’t mind, please allow Daniel to read the letter while I am present. After you have also read it, I’ll be on my way if that is what you wish.”
“What about the lad?” Charles arched a brow.
“What about him?” Meredith glanced pointedly at Oliver. “He’s capable of making his own decisions.”
“This all sounds very mysterious,” Daniel said, rubbing his palms together.
Charles continued to scrutinize her and Oliver. “Fair enough.” He gestured toward the cabin. “The two of us need to wash. Wait inside where you can both sit.”
“Will you be comfortable with that arrangement, or would you prefer we remain outside until you rejoin us?” She lifted her chin and met his gaze head on. “It’s a lovely evening. I wouldn’t mind.”
He grunted, but she noticed the hint of a smile, and an easing of tension. “Nay, the temperature drops quickly in the mountains at night, and I wouldn’t want you to catch a chill. We’ll stir the fire to life for you, Miss MacCarthy.”
She and Oliver fell into step
