“If she weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to see her. The object has to emit heat in order to be seen. I’m going to open a hole in the floor above her.” David pointed to a window up above. “I’ll go through first. When I know it’s safe, ye can come in. Now, give me a leg up.”
Braham laced his fingers and hoisted David, who raised the window and silently dove into the room and out of sight.
88
Washington City, 1865
Braham sat on his haunches, waiting impatiently for David to come back for him. A part of him hated McBain. He was a good lad, intelligent, and resourceful. Elliott trusted him implicitly, and from what Cullen said, Kit adored him. From the rare facial expressions David allowed to show, he obviously was in love with Charlotte. Braham was sure he’d never admit it, though, and maybe only another man in love with the same woman would notice the occasional discreet glances. Nothing inappropriate, but they were there—a smile, a flash in the eye, a brush of the hand, small gestures.
What would happen when they returned to their time? Charlotte had said David was too young for her, and he spent most of his time in Scotland, but Braham was certain the lad would spend most, if not all his time in Richmond if he believed he had a chance to win Charlotte’s heart. Unless Braham intended to go live in her time, he mustn’t stand in the way of their happiness. And no matter how much he loved her, he couldn’t go with her. If the trial went the way he and Cullen expected over the next two days, the judge advocate would have to drop all charges against Jack, and the time travelers would be free to return home.
A light flashed in the window. It was David’s signal. Braham sprinted the short distance from his secluded spot between buildings and reached the window within seconds.
“Give me yer hands,” David said.
Braham grasped David’s arms, scaled the wall, and then rolled through the open window, landing softly on the floor. “How is she?” he asked, climbing quickly to his feet.
“I cut a hole through the floor and heard her moaning. I’m going in now. I’ll need ye to help us out.”
“Can ye see her?” Braham asked.
“She’s only a few feet away, curled up in the corner now. It’s good. She’s moving, and she’s conscious.” David sat on the edge of the hole, dangling his legs. It was about an eight-foot drop. He put his arms through the straps attached to his bag, snugging it to his back. “Keep an eye on the window till I call for help.” David then dropped through the opening and Braham reluctantly returned to the window.
“Where are you, David? Help me.”
Charlotte’s plaintive call for him cut through Braham’s heart in sharp, jagged slices. The lad was the man she wanted in her moment of darkness, not him. A strange, tight sensation gathered around his eyes, and he wiped them with his forearm.
“I’m here, Charley.” The unutterable tenderness in David’s voice took Braham by surprise and the vise around his chest tightened.
“I knew you’d come,” she said hoarsely.
The looming, dense clouds had lifted now, shredded away by a light breeze, allowing dark streaks of a starlit sky to show through the breaks, much as David’s appearance had broken through Charlotte’s darkness, bringing light and safety.
“I’m going to check ye over before I move ye. Where do ye hurt?”
Braham listened closely, holding his breath, praying Henly had not…
“My head, mostly, and my ribs.”
“How ’bout yer neck?”
“It’s okay. I think.”
“Did he rape ye?”
“No…”
Braham had been holding his breath, and now he let it stream out of his lungs.
“But I have a hot spot on my butt, and rats have been trying to eat me.”
David chuckled. “It’s not a bite, lass, but ye might slap me after ye hear what I did to ye.”
“I doubt it. Let’s get out of here.”
“I’ve checked ye over. There doesn’t appear to be anything broken, and ye’re not bleeding. I’m going to carry ye a bit, then lift ye up to Braham—”
“He’s here? He should be in court, not looking for me.”
“Court’s over for the day. If I hurt ye, tell me to stop.”
She made a noise like someone absorbing a body blow.
“I’m sorry. What hurts?”
“My ribs.”
“I’ll be easy. But we have to get ye out of here.”
Braham moved over to the hole and prepared to grab her. They were right below him now. His heart jumped into his throat. He almost had her in his arms.
“Try to keep her head steady,” David said. “I’m going to pass ye up to Braham now, lass. It will hurt a bit, but try not to cry out.”
Braham grabbed her beneath the arms, and she cried out.
“Grip her around the waist,” David said. “She might have a broken rib or two. Her breasts are bound, so I can’t tell.”
Braham pulled her through the hole. “I’ve got her.” He wanted to hug her to him, but he didn’t dare squeeze her. He very gently kissed her forehead. “Thank God ye’re all right.”
“I didn’t want you to come for me. Jack needed you more. Are you sure you’re not missing court?”
“I’m not.” He chuckled, relaxing into a warm pool of relief. He picked straw out of her hair and clothes.
“How long have I been down there?”
“Six or seven hours.”
“I thought I might be there for days. How’d you find me?”
“It’s a story for David to tell ye.”
“Thanks,” David said. “I got the tracks covered. Help me up.”
Braham set Charlotte aside, grabbed David’s arms, and hauled him up.
“As soon as I seal the hole, we’ll get out of here. Take Charley over by the window and keep watch.”
Braham held her shivering body in his arms as he squatted next to the window, watching. A few minutes later, David tapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll go out first. Then ye can hand her over before ye climb
