The Sunstone Brooch : Time Travel Romance Katherine Logan (no david read aloud TXT) 📖

her, and she was relieved and satisfied that he not only thought so highly of Austin, but his opinion also affirmed what she’d been thinking.

“Mr. Benoit said you weren’t injured but that you were in shock from the attack. I’m sorry about your horse and the warrior who fought the bear. Horrible. Just horrible.”

“Their deaths are a great loss.” She didn’t want to talk about it again, so she changed the subject. “Did Remy tell you about the telegram from James Cullen?”

“He said your husband requested you leave immediately for the farm in Kentucky. As your protector, I encourage you to do that.”

“We have so many more books left to discuss. I’m not ready,” she said.

“Ensley, you have been a charming guest, but you must go. If you give me your New York City address, I will send you and your husband a dinner invitation.”

Oh, God. How was she getting out of this?

“They might not be back for some time,” Austin said.

Thanks, Austin.

“I’ll write to you as soon as we get back, and we can plan an evening.”

“Bully. I’ll look forward to it. And I hope you’ll let me read your manuscript when it’s finished.”

Austin chuckled. “She couldn’t handle a critical critique. You’ll have to go easy on her.”

“That’s not true at all,” Ensley said, ignoring Austin. “I’ll take all critiques seriously.” She didn’t dare look at him for fear that he’d finally linked his manuscript’s rejection with her. If he wanted to talk about it, she would later, but damn, she wasn’t about to bring it up in front of TR.

“Besides,” she said, “you might not like my writing style. Remember, you don’t read Jane Austen.”

“Even if you write like Miss Austen, I will force myself to read it.”

“For you, that’s saying a lot. But you’re safe. Our styles are completely different.”

TR laughed and offered his arm. “Come along. We’ll eat breakfast, and then I’ll see you off with a promise to dine together as soon as you return.”

An hour later, they’d saddled their horses and strapped on their bedrolls while TR rushed off to find Sewall and Dow to say their goodbyes. Ensley found Norman packing biscuits and cans of fruit into a burlap bag.

“For you. O’Grady hunts, so now ya’ll will have plenty to eat.”

“That’s so thoughtful.” She handed him her pouch of gold nuggets. “I want you to have this. I won’t need it where I’m going.”

Norman bounced the pouch in his palm, and the nuggets rattled against each other. He untied the thong and emptied the contents on his palm. He whistled. “Miss Ensley, it’s too much. I hardly did anythin’.”

“It’s a small stake, so you can go back to Texas, buy a tavern, find a good woman, and have lots of babies.”

“I dunno,” he said, grinning. “A tavern and a family…that’s a lotta work.”

“If anyone can make a success of it, you can. Now tell me where you’ll go, and I might look you up someday.” Unless she followed TR to San Antonio, where his Rough Riders trained before going to San Juan, she’d never see Norman again.

He returned the nuggets to the pouch and tucked the pouch into his vest pocket. “Mebbe back home to San Antonio.”

Damn. Did she just read Norman’s mind, or was this another coincidence? She kissed his whiskered cheek. “Be safe, Norman. And thank you for everything, especially all the coffee.”

“Thank you,” he said, patting his pocket where he’d stashed the pouch. “I’d do anythin’ for ya, Miss Ensley. Be careful, now.”

TR returned with Sewall and Dow. “We’ve come to say goodbye, Miss Ensley. Sure has been nice knowing ya.”

“Thanks, Bill, and you too, Wilmot. I appreciate you putting up with me.”

“It was nothin’ Miss Ensley,” Dow said. “Hope you come back next year.”

“If I can, I will, and please tell your wife and daughter, Bill, that it was a pleasure to meet them.”

Sewall and Dow tipped their hats and left, and TR said to Ensley, “Will you walk with me?”

He took her arm and threaded it through his, and they set out in a direction leading away from the clearing where the battle took place. Instead, they approached the river by way of a path farther north.

“I will miss our book discussions,” he said, “and I will also miss your company. I have to admit I didn’t fully believe you when you said you could handle yourself on a cattle drive. But you more than proved me wrong. It’s been a pleasure having you here. I’m sorry we won’t be traveling home together.”

“I am, too.” They walked for several minutes without speaking. Then she broke the silence. “Teddy, I think you should resume your social life when you return. You’re a young man, and you’ll find love again.”

“I do not agree, Ensley.”

“Well,” she teased. “With an attitude like that, maybe you won’t. But look, you have a long life ahead of you, and you’re going to do amazing things.”

He stopped and faced her, and she dropped her arm. “You said something similar before. Can you foretell the future?”

She wanted to hug him out of both amusement and affection. “Are you just now figuring that out?”

He chuckled. “Then tell me. Will I marry again?”

“Hmm.” She closed her eyes for just a moment. “Since I don’t have my crystal ball, the future isn’t as clear, but I see you with a woman who is an excellent judge of character.”

He belted out a laugh. “Then why would she marry me?”

“Because”—she tapped her forehead as if waiting for more ideas to materialize—“she has loved you for years and will be a reliable partner in all your affairs.”

“Loved me for years. I can’t imagine—” He quieted and gazed out over the cottonwoods toward the river. “There is one woman, but…”

“No buts. When I see you again, I want to meet her.” She retook his arm and turned back the way they’d come. “Austin and Remy are probably getting restless, and we have a long way to ride today. I should go.”

“I don’t want