Her pulse kicked up several notches. “No, I’m not seeing anyone. What with volunteering in Garretsville this summer, helping ghosts and all … there really hasn’t been an opportunity.”
“Aye, well, in the here and now, I’m not a ghost needing help.”
She swallowed a few times. “I’m well aware.”
He cleared his throat. “I’m heading into Garretsville for supplies tomorrow. Would you care to join me? I thought we might stop in at the diner for lunch before heading back to camp.”
“I’d like that.” She gazed out over the landscape, her smile so wide her cheeks ached.
After washing up and saying goodnight, Meredith headed for the cozy loft, surprised to find Daniel had a decent mattress rather than the simple cot she’d expected. She hung her clothing on pegs along the wall, donned her era appropriate nightgown, and slid between the sheets—flannel of course. Surrounded by Daniel’s scent, and with anticipation for tomorrow’s lunch date filling her thoughts, she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Meredith believed he’d been calm throughout all her revelations? He’d been no such thing, though he’d done his best to hide his growing anxiety from her. His nerves were stretched so taut he could hardly sit still. After he’d finished washing and putting away the dishes, Daniel took his place at the kitchen table and drew the letter to him. She’d told him he’d written the words while allowing him to possess her. What must that have been like?
“Well, Charles, after reading this, you know all my deepest secrets.” He flashed his friend a rueful look.
“Aye, imagine that. A child afraid of the dark. Now that I know, don’t think I won’t take advantage,” he teased.
“I’m not overly worried.” He grinned.
Daniel half listened as Oliver regaled them with the fantastical stories of Meredith’s sisters and how she’d been able to contact the fae. The fae, for God’s sake! “Incredible.”
“I know, right?” Oliver gushed. “Can you see why I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by? I had to follow her. I’m going to write a fantasy time travel book about all of this.” He swung an arm in the air. “It’s bound to be a bestseller.”
“I suppose you’ll also do that without the lady’s permission,” Charles bit out. “Sharing none of the profit, I’ll wager.”
“What?” Oliver blinked a few times. “Oh, I won’t use her name, and it will be a fictional retelling, complete with embellishments and written from my point of view, not hers. It’ll be my story.”
Charles shared a look with him, a look Daniel understood at once. Neither of them had any tolerance for such a lack of character.
“Well, I’m off to bed, and so should you be, Oliver. We’ve a busy day tomorrow,” Charles said.
“You mean you do.” Oliver smirked.
“Nay, Oliver,” Daniel said, pinning the youth with a sharp look. “You’ll be working for your room and board. Meredith had a selfless motive for coming to us from the future. You, on the other hand, came solely to exploit our situation for your own personal gain.” He too rose from the table.
“But … I don’t know anything about mining, and I have no intentions of learning,” Oliver grumbled.
“Oh, that’s all right, boyo. I’m certain you can figure out how to push a wheelbarrow. If that doesn’t suit, there’s always cleaning and laundry to do. I’m sure you can manage those tasks.” Charles informed him. “The alternative is as I’ve already mentioned—you pull your weight and do your share, or leave. I imagine leaving might provide you with a different story altogether, a not so pleasant one at that.”
Oliver sputtered, his face turned red, and his expression turned to affronted dismay. “I didn’t sign up for this to become anyone’s servant.”
“As I understand it, you didn’t sign up at all.” Daniel scowled at him. “We don’t trust you, and that’s a fact. It’s only out of charity and concern for what would become of you that we’re allowing you to stay at all. Do you understand?”
A sly look flickered through Oliver’s eyes, and he quickly averted his gaze. “I get it. Laundry it is.”
Now he trusted the lad even less. He’d have to warn Meredith. She’d told him about the small fortune the Schultes had bestowed upon her. He’d have to convince her to keep it hidden or with her at all times. Perhaps she’d allow him to put all but a few coins in the bank in his and Charles’s strongbox. He preferred the latter. Keeping her money in the bank would deprive Oliver of any possible motive to do her physical harm in order to rob her.
The thought of harm coming to Meredith had an instant and profound affect. His hands balled into fists, and his blood heated with the instinct to defend and protect her. His reaction had to be proof that they’d grown close in her era. He wanted that closeness back. Hell, he wanted … he wasn’t sure what, but he’d best not think overmuch about that at present, not if he was to get any sleep at all.
“There are blankets and a pillow for you.” Daniel set about fixing a pallet for himself against the wall by the stove. He stirred the fire, added a few logs and closed the flue halfway so the logs would burn slowly. Once he’d readied himself for bed, he laid flat on his back upon the folded blanket, his head on a pillow and his hands crossed over the blanket covering his chest.
Charles returned from his trip to the necessary, went through his nightly routine, and circled about the room extinguishing all but one of the lamps. “Don’t forget to pick up more oil for the lanterns while in town tomorrow.”
“I won’t.” Daniel yawned. “It’s on the list.”
“You’re going to town tomorrow?” Oliver asked from his makeshift bed on the floor. “Can I—”
“Perhaps another time,” Daniel said. “After you’ve proven yourself trustworthy
