“She’s right,” Charles confirmed. “Hellgate is mostly a trading post, a small settlement, and the beginnings of a fort. There’s an inn of sorts above Higgin’s Trading Post, and they do serve food there. We occasionally go to the trading post to pick up and send our mail. Unless there’s a sufficient amount addressed to Garretsville, the mail coach defers to Hellgate for delivery. The same goes for shipments of needed equipment. The settlement is located on a well- established route which continues westward through the mountains. There’s even talk of bringing the railroad through there in the near future.”
“Perfect.” Oliver bobbed his head. “I’m guessing it must be reachable by stagecoach then. We can say we stayed in Hellgate while waiting for you to come for us.”
Charles flashed Oliver a questioning look. “And why would we be coming for you, laddie?”
“Because, Charles, we’re your American cousins from the East come to visit,” Meredith chimed in between mouthfuls. “That’s what I was supposed to claim anyway. Daniel and I hadn’t planned on Oliver at the time.”
“It’s a good thing he’s here, Meredith,” Charles said, sending her a pointed look. “A young woman traveling alone through the frontier … anything could have happened to you. You’d have been easy prey.”
“I wasn’t traveling through Montana territory, Charles. I traveled through time and space, landing exactly where Daniel and I agreed I should.”
“Still, for the sake of appearances …” Charles groaned and scrubbed his face with both hands. “That I cannot wrap my head around. Now would be a good time to explain how it is you two accomplished such an extraordinary feat.”
“This has been a very long day, and I’m exhausted. Can explanations wait until tomorrow?” she asked.
“I can explain everything to him, Meredith,” Oliver volunteered. “I’m not tired.”
“I suppose. I already told Daniel.”
“Great. Great.” Oliver looked pleased and relieved that she’d thawed a little where he was concerned.
Charles picked up the article and began to read. “May we keep this?”
“Of course. I brought it for you and Daniel. Do with it whatever you want, just note the date it was published.”
Charles looked carefully at the top of the first of the two pages and grunted. “Duly noted.”
“You’ll take my room upstairs, Meredith. We’ve spare blankets enough. Charles and I will put together a couple of pallets down here for me and Oliver.” Daniel rose from the table, gathered their now empty dishes and set them in the pail of soapy water. “I’ll take your bag up.” He grabbed her bag before heading up the narrow steps to his bedroom.
“Thank you.” She couldn’t tear her eyes from him until he’d disappeared into the shadows of the room. Soon, the soft yellow glow of a kerosene lantern illuminated the opened doorway. A few minutes later, he came back down with his arms full of blankets and a pillow. Charles had also gone to his room off the kitchen, returning with more blankets and another pillow.
“Make yourself at home, lass,” Daniel told her. “My room is yours for as long as you wish.” Smiling, he gestured toward the stairway.
“I need to … um …” They had to have an outhouse, but she hadn’t seen it.
“Right. A visit to the necessary.” Daniel set the blankets and pillow on the chair by the stove, and grabbed the lantern sitting on the end table. He strode to the door. “It’s not far.”
Meredith grabbed her makeshift-shawl and followed him out of the cabin into the clear, chilly night. He led her down a well-worn path to a clearing surrounded by scrubby pines and bushes. A sturdily-built outhouse with a tin roof stood in the middle. “Now I wish I’d thought to pack toilet paper,” she muttered under her breath.
“What might that be?” Daniel asked. “We keep paper in the privy, along with a bucket of lime.”
“Toilet paper is a lot softer than newspaper. It’s 1854 now, right?”
“Aye.”
“If I recall correctly, toilet tissue will be invented within the next decade or so.” She snorted. “I can’t believe we’re talking about toilet paper.” Eyeing the outhouse warily, she registered the smell, though it wasn’t overwhelming thanks to the lime. “May I borrow the lantern?”
“Of course. You can hang it from the chain hanging from the ceiling. There’s a hook at the end.” He handed her the lantern. “I’ll be right over there should you need me.”
“Er … why would I need you?”
“Snakes and other critters find their way into outhouses all the time. Then there are the spiders.”
“Lovely.” She shuddered and drew in a breath for courage, thinking about indoor plumbing, showers, and all the other modern amenities she’d be without for the next few weeks. Thankfully, there were no snakes inside the outhouse, and the privy proved to be well maintained. A stack of old newspapers were kept in a wooden box beside the polished wooden seat, and a tin bucket of lime sat on the floor. Beside the pail, a long-handled scoop hung from a nail.
Meredith placed the lantern on the hook. She dealt with the nineteenth century clothing as best she could and took care of her personal needs. Embarrassed by the proceedings, Meredith tossed in a scoopful of lime into the privy. She lifted the lantern from the hook, and made sure she’d left everything as she’d found it. She exited as quietly as possible, her cheeks hot with embarrassment.
“No snakes,” she said, forcing a smile.
“I’m glad.” Daniel joined her and they began walking back to the cabin. “Tell me about yourself, Meredith.”
His question was so reminiscent of the one he’d asked her in the future, she nearly stumbled. She gave him a brief description of her life, what she did for a living and where she lived.
“Hmm.”
“Is there something specific you’d like to know?”
“Aye.” He went quiet for several seconds and drew in
