“I had hoped to have a moment to talk before we left the cabin, but here we are.” He turned to face her. “I fear your unwanted traveling companion might be planning to steal from you.”
“What makes you think that? Oliver is impulsive and immature, but I don’t believe he’s a thief.”
“He has no money, and you did say the Schultes gave you a small fortune for your … journey.”
“True but—”
“I don’t believe Oliver would see it as theft.” He cast her a pointed look. “He strikes me as the kind of lad who would feel entitled to some of that money. The same way he felt he had a right to insert himself into your plans. Then there’s the way he believes he shouldn’t have to do anything in return while taking advantage of our hospitality.” He shook his head.
“I’m certain he harbors some resentment toward the Schultes for not offering him a few coins as well. He was present when the treasure was recovered, aye?”
She nodded. “He videotaped and photographed the entire undertaking for them.” She lifted the purse. “Maybe on some level I’ve been aware of the possibility, because I planned to keep a majority of the money with me at all times. I bound the coins together in a bandana I found in your room so the coins don’t clink. The diamonds are in a leather pouch in my pocket.” She sighed. “I also hid two twenty-dollar gold pieces in your room. I hope that’s all right.”
“Of course.” He smiled back. “I was thinking you might want to keep a majority of your money in the bank. As long as it’s with you, Oliver will be tempted. If we let him know it’s tucked safely away then there’s nothing he can do, aye?”
“Hmm.” Her brow creased again as she thought it over. “I don’t really want to open an account. I’ll only be here—”
“I understand.” He understood all right, and he didn’t want to think about her leaving. Hell, she’d just arrived. “Along with our own personal accounts, Charles and I have a business-related strongbox at the bank. We keep our claim deed, partnership agreement, and personal identification documents there. If you wish, we can place whatever you want in the box until such time as you need to take it out.”
“That makes sense. I’ll place all but the two coins I’ve hidden in your room in your box, along with the diamond I used to get here,” she said.
“You could keep both diamonds in the box until—”
“No. The one still holding magic is like a security blanket. I need to keep that one with me at all times.” She peered at him from under the rim of her bonnet. “In case of an emergency or something.”
“I see.” His gut wrenched at the thought of her leaving, even more so that she might encounter any danger qualifying as an emergency.
“Can I trust you with my money, Daniel? Right now I have a little over two hundred dollars with me.”
Daniel brought the mules to a halt and turned to face her. “You can trust me with your life, Meredith MacCarthy, and that’s a fact. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you safe and sound.”
Her sudden intake of breath, the color flooding her cheeks … he’d witnessed that numerous times as well, and more images flashed into his mind. Memories of his time with her in the future were coming back to him in snippets, like tiny pieces of the jigsaw puzzles he used to do with his family. Those bits were forming a picture, not only of his time with Meredith, but also of the anguish he’d endured as a ghost.
Alpin’s warning about the capriciousness of the diamond method of time travel echoed through his mind, and Meredith had only the one remaining gem holding magic. What if something went awry when she attempted to return to her century?
The enormity of what she’d risked slammed into him like a tidal wave. Barraged with worry, fierce longings, and the need to protect her … he had to look away. He didn’t want her to see the telltale glistening in his eyes. Between the fact that she’d come back for him, and the burgeoning memories of being a ghost, he could hardly bear the onslaught. “Aye, love. You can trust me with your fortune,” he croaked.
“You don’t have to feel responsible for me, Daniel,” she whispered as if sensing what he was going through.
He grunted. “You put yourself in peril by traveling through time and space to save me, my best friend, and possibly my family. You allowed me to take control of your physical body to write that letter, trusting me when I was naught but a wraith. I’m asking you to trust me now. It’s my turn to do for you. I beg you, grant me this privilege, Meredith.”
“All right. We’ll stop at the bank.” Her cheeks bloomed a rosy color again, and she picked at the tassels of the bag sitting in her lap.
Daniel reached for her hand, his heart in his throat for fear she’d reject him. She didn’t. Nothing in the world could ever compare to the wondrous feel of this woman’s hand in his. Hers was so soft and warm against the roughness of his. So very different, yet they fit together perfectly.
He felt as if he might explode from all the feelings stirring within him. His chest swelled with pride that she’d come to the past for him. While at the same time, that she’d done so humbled him. Excitement and joy that they were together coursed through him, chased by anxiety for her safety, and sorrow that she might one day depart. All the opposing emotions expanded and contracted simultaneously. Yet one encompassed them all, an unexpected treasure worth more than all the gold and silver in the world.
Aye, he’d do whatever it took to keep this woman safe and to make her happy. Meredith had
