Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

John was so taken aback he pulled her off the horse and stood facing her. To watch her face. Though for the moment he simply blinked at her like a dolt.

“The future?” He choked on a bug, realized his mouth was hanging open, and shut it with a snap. The woman was daft. “Perchance there is someone at the tower who is missing you.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “Hilarious. I’m not crazy.”

He looked her over. The clothing she wore was unlike any he had ever seen. Lasses did not wear hose as she did. Hers were a dark blue and molded to her plump backside. Every moment they rode, he was aware of her nestled into his thighs.

“Can you prove this outlandish claim?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “No. I lost my phone and wallet when I traveled through time.”

“How did you travel through time? In one of your horseless carriages?”

Against her will, he saw the smile. She stood with her hands on her hips trying to scowl. “No. But you’re doing better with the whole sarcasm thing.” The wind caught her hair, blowing it across her face. She spat it out.

“Spinach fudge.” Anna held up a hand. “I recognize that look. Fudge is a type of sweet, so no one in his or her right mind would put spinach in it. I don’t curse like you. I like to make my own words.”

“Ah. Sarcasm?”

“Like mocking. Do you have a ribbon or piece of string?”

He poked through the sack holding their belongings and came up with a dirty piece of string.

“Will this do?”

She snatched it. “Perfect.”

’Twas an act he thought should only be performed in front of her husband. He wanted to haul her to him and kiss her senseless as he watched her braid her long hair, the tip of her tongue in the corner of her mouth as she went about her task.

“Much better.” She bent down, picking a flower. “I don’t know how I fell through time. I was walking through the tower and went into your cell. There was a storm and lightning. When I woke, there you were.”

“What year did you come from?”

“Now you will think I’m crazy. It was 2016.”

Six hundred and seventy-five years. “Nay. ’Tis not possible.”

“And yet here I am.”

He had to sit down in the grass before he fell down. John had seen many strange things in his thirty-two years, but none such as the woman in front of him. Though there was something about her…the way she spoke that reminded him of someone.

“Tell me of this future. Who is king?”

“America doesn’t have a king. Or a monarchy. We have a president. Here in England, a queen is on the throne but the monarchy no longer has the power it does now.”

“A queen on the throne? I should live to see such a sight. ”

“She’s a good ruler. The carriage I told you about? It’s called a car. Made of metal and requiring no horses. It moves on its own.”

“What do you feed this metal beast?”

“Something called gas or electricity. You can travel hundreds of miles in a single day.”

His mouth dropped open again. “Nay.” To see such wonders.

“And we can fly.”

He looked at her shoulders.

“I don’t have wings. We climb aboard a plane, a metal flying bird, and can travel from England to France in less than an hour.”

John felt faint. He could not imagine such doings.

“Men have walked on the moon.”

He looked to the heavens. “Anna. You must never tell anyone what you have told me. Many would burn you for a witch or lock you away, sure you are mad.”

“Why do you think it’s taken me so long to tell you? Do you believe me?”

“I…I want to believe you.” The truth was in her eyes. She believed she came from the future. Mayhap she was mad. It would make life simpler if she was mad. The future. The marvels she spoke of, no wonder she wanted to go home.

He stood, swayed, and looked to the sky again. Men flying through the air. “We have tarried overlong.”

“Thank you for listening. I know I sound crazy, but I swear on my dad, I’m telling you the truth.” She let him lift her onto the horse. “My dad needs me. I have to get home.”

He needed time to think. “Is there aught else you would tell me?” Heaven help him if she said yes.

“No. Isn’t that enough?”

“Saints be, ’tis more than enough.”

It would be dark in a few hours. As they rode, he thought what it would be like if she were his. If she was mad? No matter, he still wanted her.