Page 57 of The Empire and the Wolf King

I watched out the window as the primeval woods rolled by, seemingly endless. Then the sun rose and dappled the leaves and warmed the world. The birds sang and the bugs swarmed as it grew hot and the scents of heated grass and steamy puddles and forest muck met our noses, interspersed with the scent of rushing water, a fresh stream, a cool interlude, to be replaced once more by heat and warm earth as we rode.

I asked, “How far have we traveled?”

“I am not certain, but if I calculate the turn of the wheels, the speed of the trees rollin’ by, and how far the host told me the next town would be, I believe twill take another four hours. This horse is verra slow.”

Then he smiled and said, “But daena tell the horse I said it, I daena want him tae be angry that he is havin’ tae pull my arse around Virginia.”

We traveled all morning and arrived mid afternoon. I grew excited as we neared the inn, sitting straight in my seat, peering out the window, searching for a glimpse of a familiar face. The town was bustling, much bigger than the last few we had been in. We rode past a main street with shops. I looked at the names on the windows and the fine clothing of the people promenading.

I peered up and down, watching everyone, picking out my favorite color and style of dress, but also looking for family who might be looking for me.

I leaned back in the seat and then a few minutes later the carriage pulled up in front of the Oakhurst Inn.

Maybe they were here, already, waiting for us.

I glanced at Magnus. He was chewing his lip, watching me as I looked at this new place, excitement undoubtedly showing on my face. He was worried. He knew my hopes were up, and his were too, but he was keeping himself in check, guarding his heart, rightly, smartly, but… I was incapable. By the time we were climbing from the carriage, I was thrilled, ready to rush into the inn and…

We climbed the stately steps, and entered the front foyer. Magnus negotiated for our room with Jacob Taylor, while I excused myself to rush down the hall to look in the dining room, my eyes scanning the tables. There were more than a dozen people there, but no one we knew.

No one who mattered, our rescue had not come.

Magnus walked in behind me, his eyes searching the room, but we knew — there was no one there looking for us. He asked, “Ye are well, mo reul-iuil?”

I nodded. “Just disappointed.”

“I ken, me as well, but the day is long yet, we hae plenty of time.”

I sighed. “Yep, time travelers, all wehaveis time. Our family, our kids, safety and sanity? Not so much.”

CHAPTER 25 - KAITLYN

OAKHURST INN - CHARLOTTESVILLE - 1775

Iwoke up in an inn in the eighteenth century. And once I realized Magnus was awake said, “This is disappointing.”

He joked, “What, this?” He pulled the covers up to give me a glimpse of his morning wood.

“No,thatis impressive. I mean the fact that we’re in the Oakhurst and no one else is here, the lack of a rescue committee.”

“Things are complicated, mo reul-iuil, by the lack of workin’ vessels. We ken we hae tae be patient. I am certain Lady Mairead is workin’ on a solution.”

I rolled over and put my chin on his chest, “If no one rescues us, we will be stuck here, what will we do, what’s our backup plan?”

He grinned. “I canna hear yer question over m’desire.”

We kissed long and deeply and then made luxuriously lingering wake-up love in our eighteenth century colonial inn room.

After, he was tightly wrapped around me, his fingers traveling up and down my arm, stroking across my chest, the strokes were calming, loving, and I could almost be lulled back to sleep... but nah, there was too much on my mind… I looked over our room, dark wood furnishings, good bedding, the mattress was comfortable comparatively speaking. There was a clean chamberpot, an oil lamp, it was very nice compared to some of the inns we had stayed in, and clean.

I asked, “What will we do?”

“What will we do, what?”

“What will happen if no one comes?”

He took a deep breath.

“I was just thinking, Magnus, maybe we could have a do-over... not just at Stirling, in medieval time, but an even bigger one.”

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