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

the sound of his screams out of my mind. It was terrifying.”

“It was for us as well. But how did you get here without the others?” Charlotte persisted in a more pronounced Tidewater accent than usual.

Meredith walked over to the bed to gaze down at her son. “I have to give Ensley credit for that.”

Ensley ignored the glares from everyone while she uncorked the sherry and poured the pale, light wine into the glasses she’d packed in the basket. “As I said, the three guys thought I was the perfect person to interrupt Elliott’s pity party. I accepted the challenge, but he wasn’t having any part of it. So I sat outside his door and bugged him until he opened it.”

“I sat outside Braham’s room once. He’d locked himself in there with a bottle and his guilt because he wasn’t able to save President Lincoln’s life. I imagine Elliott was in the same rare form. If Elliott let you come in, you must have been very persuasive.”

Ensley handed Kenzie a glass. “I lied about having an unopened bottle of whisky.”

“Ooh. I doubt that went over well,” Kenzie said.

“You know, he didn’t seem to care. He just told me not to lie to him again. But man, his room was disgusting. I made his bed and picked up his dirty clothes while he drank, and I talked. When I found the brooch in his pocket, I palmed it, and then Meredith shanghaied me.”

Meredith looked up from the careful study of her beloved son and gave Ensley a lopsided grin. “You didn’t steal it. Elliott knew you took it, but you only took the diamond. He has your brooch, too.”

“But I didn’t take it so we could sneak back here. I took it so Elliott couldn’t hold us captive.”

“He was manipulating you, sweetie. He would never leave a brooch unguarded. He knew you, Kit, Emily, or I would eventually come into his room, pick up his clothes, and yell at him. And while we were there, take one of the brooches, feeling justified in doing it.”

“He’s not that controlling, is he?” That was a stupid question. After butting heads with both of them, Ensley had already learned how controlling both of JC’s parents were.

“Doesn’t matter. We’re here, and we’ll get back before anyone knows we’re gone.” Meredith stroked JC’s head. “He looks so peaceful.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “How long will the sedative last?”

“Two to four hours.”

“How long has he been out?”

“An hour.”

Meredith slowly drew back the blankets. “He’s still covered with the red cloak. Why?”

“Elliott was told JC should always wear it.”

“But he’s healed. Right? I mean, I can lift it and see for myself.”

Charlotte nodded, and her eyes softened.

Meredith slowly drew back the cloak to JC’s lower abdomen, and her breath rushed out in a hiss. “He’s perfect. He’s more than perfect. He could be the model for Adonis.” She glanced down his covered lower body. “Is the rest of him like this? Perfect, I mean.”

“We saw pretty much all of him, and there’s not a bruise or cut anywhere,” Charlotte said.

Ensley almost mentioned the absence of JC’s birthmark but decided that would only stir things up, so she kept quiet and hoped no one else would bring it up.

Meredith replaced the cloak and blankets. “His muscles are more defined. He’s been working out more, and he’s like his dad. He’s turning prematurely gray. He’s aged since I saw him last. What do you think, Ensley? You’ve seen him more recently than I have.”

If Ensley told Meredith that JC looked older and more muscular than he did a few weeks ago, it would alarm her, so she punted. “He didn’t have gray hair the last time I saw him, but you know JC. He’s always so manscaped, he could have been coloring his hair for a while, and no one knew it.”

“That’s possible.” Meredith then turned to Charlotte. “James Cullen needs extensive therapy, but we can’t take him to a psychiatrist or therapist. No one would believe he was beaten almost to death and then…” She closed her eyes and cringed. “I can’t bear the thought of what happened to him.”

“That’s why it’s a good idea to take him to the monks,” Charlotte said. “Jack went after he returned from his horrible experience during the trial of the conspirators. I don’t think he would have fully recovered if he hadn’t gone there.”

Meredith clenched her fingers around the bed’s side rails. “I’m not so sure.”

“You and Elliott will need to discuss it in depth. And I’ll be glad to talk to both of you, but right now, I need to finish up with Remy.”

“How is he?” Ensley asked.

“He fell asleep. I’ve cleaned and stitched both wounds, but I still have to apply the dressings. I won’t be much longer.” Charlotte returned to her exam room, and Kenzie tugged on Ensley’s arm.

“Let’s go to the locker room. You probably want a shower or something,” Kenzie said with a wink.

Ensley nodded. What did Kenzie have in mind? News of Austin? Probably. “Great idea.”

Kenzie took Ensley’s hand and dragged her toward the locker room. “You owe me a story.”

“Story? Hmm. What kind of story?”

“Don’t play dumb with me.” Kenzie’s forehead creased, a delicate little V forming right between her eyebrows. “How long have you been gone?”

“Three days?”

“That’s more than enough time. That man is an O’Grady. They don’t let the grass grow.”

Ensley followed Kenzie into the locker room, and when she saw the shower, she wanted to strip down and stand under the water until she emptied the hot water tank. But it would have to wait.

Kenzie sat on the built-in bench and patted the spot beside her. “Sit. Start from the beginning, and don’t leave anything out.”

Thirty minutes later, David walked in, catching Ensley in the middle of the chess story.

“Have ye gotten to the good stuff yet?” he asked.

“Good stuff? Are you asking about my argument with Elliott?”

“Matter of fact, I am. Knowing Elliott, he was either yelling or