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

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Elliott said.

Meredith made a shooing motion with her hand. “Kit and I have work to do. You should go find Sean or Cullen.”

Right then, Elliott knew what he intended to do. “I’m going for a ride and will be back in a couple of hours.”

“Where are you going to ride?” Meredith asked.

“I might go to Midway and check out the quaint town. Don’t expect me back for lunch.”

Kit pulled up a chair next to Meredith. “Have fun.”

“Oh, I will.” He wasn’t going to Midway. Finally, he could go back to the cabin and do some exploring. He’d studied the pictures he took, and there were a few questionable areas he wanted to investigate further.

If Erik disappeared from the cabin, was there a door below ground similar to the one at the castle? Or had Erik traveled with a different brooch, one that didn’t stink up the place? If Erik came back, Elliott wouldn’t let him leave again until he answered all his questions.

Elliott left the house and walked over to the stallion barn. He got halfway there when he was overcome with emotion, nearly dropping to his knees.

James Cullen, where are ye, lad?

And Elliott knew without a doubt that his son was in serious trouble—and possibly dying. Elliott didn’t go to the stallion barn but made a detour and ran toward the cabin.

Where are ye, son? Don’t protect me. Save yerself.

36

The Badlands (1885)—Ensley

On the fifth day, the herd was miles from water and hadn’t been anywhere near water since sunrise. As dusk ebbed into darkness, the situation grew dangerous. Thirsty animals might stampede and head for the nearest water source—the river.

Ensley and TR took the first night watch.

Since they were circling the herd in opposite directions, she thought it would be fun to share quotes from favorite books when they passed each other in the darkness.

When she saw him again, she said, “The next time around, recite your favorite Dickens quote.”

“Why Dickens?”

“Just a random author selection. You can choose the next one.”

When they circled back around, TR whispered so he wouldn’t upset the cattle, “‘There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious—’”

“‘—as laughter and good humor,’” she whispered back. “A Christmas Carol. That’s an easy one.”

“Give me a harder one, then.”

When they met again, she said, “‘Never close your lips to those whom—’”

“‘—you have already opened your heart.’ Dickens, Pictures from Italy,” TR shot back.

Maintaining the same slow speed while singing made-up tunes to the critters made it harder to meet the challenge to come up with profound book lines.

The next time around, he went first. “‘There are books of which the backs—’”

“‘—and covers are by far the best part.’ Dickens, Oliver Twist.”

“You certainly know Dickens,” he said. “I’m going to choose a different author.”

“Tell me who so I can start thinking about favorite lines.”

He chuckled. “No advance notice. I’m raising the stakes.”

Before they could make it back to their rendezvous point on the east side of the herd, the thirst-maddened animals suddenly heaved to their feet and within seconds stampeded, making as much noise as a dozen trains speeding by on parallel tracks.

Ensley jerked her mind away from authors to quote when her survival instincts and training kicked in.

She was on the wrong side, and panic threatened to override good sense. TR would continue riding north and try turning the herd away from the swollen river—in her direction.

If she stayed on the west side, the cattle would trample her to death. TR was riding along the north side. So she’d go south, get behind the herd, and then follow TR up the east side.

She rode like hell to get behind the panicked animals. All they knew was to run as fast and as far as they could from whatever had scared them.

The other riders should be getting their horses saddled by now. There was no way they could sleep through the earth vibrating and the air crackling with the thunder of cloven hooves.

As she started up the east side, Sewall and the rest of the men galloped toward her.

“Where’s Roosevelt?” he yelled.

“Up ahead.”

“Go back to camp,” Rowe said. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Not any more dangerous for me than it is for you. I’m staying with you to help get this herd under control.” She knew there was always a chance the herd would switch on a dime and run over them all. Or they could run for miles straight ahead toward a deep gully. If they hit that, they’d pile up, and TR could lose half the herd.

Barney tossed her a slicker. “Wave that in their faces until they veer away.”

She spurred Tesoro, waving the slicker. Never in her life had she ridden so hard in the darkness. All she could see were the shadowy outlines of the herd. She was riding at a dead run across the land full of prairie dog holes, never knowing if the next jump would land her and Tesoro in a shallow grave. She had to get control of this crippling, paralyzing fear.

Focus on what I’m doing and trust my magic horse.

Her stomach did flips of fear as she eased Tesoro up a bit so someone else could take the lead. In the dark, coming from behind was a better position, and she was soon part of a staggered line, following Sewall and Dow, waving her slicker. Right now, her life depended upon Tesoro’s sure-footedness.

The herd finally turned, running back to the bedground. But the riders were still in a dangerous position. If the critters turned again, they’d all be goners.

Where is TR?

With the darkness and dust, she could barely see the rider in front of her. But she knew TR had to be up there somewhere.

The herd seemed to know where to go, and the closer they got to the bedground, the more they slowed down until finally, they stopped. If the critters were thirsty before, they’d be dying of it now. At least the run had exhausted