The Sapphire Brooch Katherine Logan (best beach reads TXT) 📖

the phone now. So he’s probably letting someone know we’re on the way. But they can’t know who we are or why we’re here.”

“Don’t be so sure.”

Charlotte looked out the window at the paddocks and barns. “This farm is incredible. They’ve spent millions on the grounds alone.”

“According to the article I read, Fraser has millions to spend.” Jack stopped the car in front of the mansion. “Let’s go see Braham.”

She followed Jack to the front door. “I hope he’s not in jail.”

A tall, lean, good-looking man with graying hair opened the door. “Jackson Mallory. Doctor Mallory. Please come in. I’m Elliott Fraser.”

Jack and Elliott shook hands. “We met several years ago. The year Big Brown won the Derby. You were with Sean MacKlenna.”

“2008.” Elliott’s dark eyes went curiously blank for a moment. Then they snapped back, and he said. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember.”

“I was with a large, rowdy group of investors and it was a quick introduction.”

Elliott gave a relieved sigh. “Thank ye. I’m usually good with names.” He gestured toward a beautiful woman with short, dark brown hair who was coming down the stairs. “My wife, Meredith.”

Charlotte extended her hand to Elliott and then to Meredith. “It’s nice to meet you both.”

“Welcome to MacKlenna Farm,” Meredith said.

A line of concern drew Meredith’s brows together as her eyes searched Charlotte’s face. She smiled at Meredith but quickly broke eye contact. What did Meredith see in her face to cause such concern? Charlotte didn’t know, but couldn’t worry about it right now. She glanced around, for once ignoring exquisite antiques and paintings, searching for Braham, surprised he hadn’t made an appearance already.

“Shall we go into my office?” Elliott said. “I know ye must have questions.”

A man with a military demeanor entered the room through French doors opening onto a back portico. Elliott didn’t introduce him. The man didn’t sit, but remained standing close to the doors.

“Where’s Braham?” Jack asked.

“Please sit down,” Elliott indicated the sofa. He and Meredith sat in matching chairs facing them.

“Where’s—” Jack said.

Elliott held up his hand. “Before I explain, let me tell ye a story. A few years ago, the owners of this farm, Sean—we called him the sixth—and Mary MacKlenna, were killed in a car accident. Their adopted daughter and only child, Kit, survived the crash. While going through her father’s papers, she discovered a letter, a journal, and a Celtic brooch with a large ruby at its center.”

Charlotte gasped.

Elliott continued. “Kit used the brooch to go back in time, where she met Cullen Montgomery. She and Cullen married—”

Jack interrupted, “And started a winery which is going strong today.” He glanced at Meredith. “Your winery.”

Elliott sat back, wearing a wry grin, and watched the exchange.

“You’re correct,” Meredith said. “When Kit crossed the Oregon Trail in 1852, she met her cousin.”

“Ohmygosh,” Charlotte said. “Braham’s her cousin?”

Meredith nodded.

Goose bumps peppered Charlotte’s arms. “He knew Kit was from the future. Which is why—”

“He never seemed as shocked as he should have been,” Jack said. “Then he also knew Kit had a brooch. But why did he come here? Her brooch would be in the past with her.”

“It must not be,” Charlotte said. “That’s why Braham’s here. To use her brooch instead of mine.”

“He was here,” Meredith said.

Charlotte leaped to her feet. “Was? No. He has to be here.”

The man by the door took a step forward. Elliott held up his hand and the man moved back.

“We did an investigation, beginning with when he was discovered in the parking lot at the Cedar Creek Battlefield, through when he left Mallory Plantation yesterday morning. We decided he was who he said he was. Once that decision was made, there was no reason not to loan him the brooch.”

“Did he tell you why he was so determined to return to his time?” Charlotte asked.

Elliott crossed his legs and pinched the crease in his khakis. “He said Lincoln was waiting for the information he collected while in Richmond.”

Charlotte buried her face in her hands, shaking her head. “He’s going back to stop the assassination by killing Booth.” She looked up into Elliott’s stark white face. “He’ll change history in a major way, one sure to impact all of us.”

Elliott and Meredith shared a grim glance. “Which I assume is the reason ye wouldn’t take him back?”

Charlotte nodded. “That and other reasons.”

“He said you were too afraid to go,” Meredith said.

“It’s true. I’ve never been so scared in my life. I spent six weeks in Afghanistan and was frightened a few times, but I didn’t live in terror the way I did going back in time, especially when I landed in the middle of the real Battle of Cedar Creek. I had hoped Braham would want to stay here. Plus, I have a horrible fear of getting stuck there if I go back again.”

“Kit went twice,” Elliott said.

“But she must have stayed the second time. Was it her choice, or was she stuck?”

“Braham confirmed what we read in her journal,” Elliott said. “It was entirely her choice.”

“Then how did you end up with the brooch?” Jack asked.

Elliott pointed to the large mahogany desk. “She left it in a secret compartment of this desk. If Braham didn’t arrive at MacKlenna Farm, he promised to go there and put the brooch back. If he did put it back, it would be there now.”

“But you haven’t looked,” Jack said.

“I will, right now.” Elliott opened the drawer in the center of the desk, reached in, and a secret compartment opened in the top. He pulled out a small rosewood box, opened it, and turned it for all to see. A ruby brooch, identical to Charlotte’s except for the stone, sat nestled in satin.

Charlotte gasped again. “Oh my God. He made it. When did he leave?”

“Late last night,” Meredith said.

“Time doesn’t necessarily move at the same rate here and there. Braham could already be in Washington. He could already have killed Booth.” She dug through her purse for her smartphone. “I’ve got to check.”

“There’s no need to check,”