Chapter Thirty-One 

The closer they got to Blackford, the more Melinda's nerves stretched tight until she thought she would snap back like a rubber band. Finally. She'd see her sister. Find out what happened. Every moment in the past, every experience, had brought her to this moment.

As they came around the bend of what passed for a road, Melinda let out a gasp. Blackford Castle. Last time she saw the castle, the entire place was a ruin. Now it stood in all its glory. Talk about impressive. Melinda cast a critical eye over the castle. Falconburg was bigger and more forbidding. Though Blackford certainly came in a close second.

Looking at the castle made her think of its owner. Could Lucy be here with William of her own free will? Melinda hadn't thought that far ahead. She'd only thought of finding Lucy and going home.

But now things were different. She wanted to be with James. And James lived on the opposite coast. In her own time it wouldn't be a big deal, she'd drive to see her sister, but here? It was a big undertaking to travel back and forth. All the Merriweather sisters made time for each other. They'd never been this far apart. Sure, Charlotte went on her trips, but it wasn't permanent.

She looked at James. He'd found out news that rocked his world, but it didn't mean he'd be up for being friends with William.

What would she do? Would she stay in the past with Lucy? Go back to Falconburg with James? Or would she travel back to her own time and make sure Charlotte was okay?

So many decisions, and none of them easy.

The closer they rode to the castle, the more Melinda's nerves pulled everything inside her tight. It was surreal to be here. Seeing the castle as a working home, not a ruin. The place in her time where her sister was presumed dead.

A man met them in the courtyard. James dismounted, throwing the reins to him.

"See to the horses. Where is Lord Blackford?"

"My lord is visiting his cousin and will return on the morrow. Lady Blackford is here. I will inform her of your arrival."

Melinda fidgeted, her breath coming in short little pants. She couldn't believe she was actually here. James squeezed her shoulder.

"Easy. Do not worry."

The tone of his voice, the touch of his hand, calmed her enough that she could breathe normally. The doors to the great hall opened and a woman stepped out. Melinda couldn't move.

The woman was about the right height, but even from here Melinda could see her hair was silver. Her heart sank.

John was wrong. It wasn't Lucy. Her vision blurred, and something wet dripped down her face, landing on her hand with a splat. Dejected, Melinda turned away.

"Mellie!"

Melinda spun around. No one else called her Mellie. She ran. Lucy threw her arms around her.

"It is you, Mellie. How on earth did you manage to get back? Did you find my letter?"

Lucy cried. Melinda cried so hard she could hardly get the words out.

"What happened to your hair?"

Melinda touched the silvery strands, really looked at her sister. Lucy had aged. And not just a couple of years. She looked a lot older. Old enough to be their mother. Things started to go dark around the edge of her vision, the dark taking over, Lucy growing smaller and smaller until she was nothing more than a tiny pinprick.

"What happened?" She was sitting on the ground, her head resting against James' chest.

Lucy squatted down beside her. "You fainted, Mellie."

James ran his fingers through her hair. "You had quite a fright."

"Bring her inside. Your men will find food and drink in the kitchens." Lucy looked back and forth between them, a slow smile spreading across her face.

"So that's how it is. You might as well join us…"

James bowed. "James Rivers. Lord Falconburg."

Lucy looked to Melinda. "Oh, dear. I think we have a lot to talk about."

"Boy, you're not kidding."