Page 41 of A Matter of Time
“I heard Granger just remodeled an old restaurant, one that looks like a medieval castle and he’s living in it. Maybe he took them there. But what do you think he wants with them?” Zeke’s puzzled expression mirrored everyone else’s.
“He told Angelina that he believes I’m a time traveller and he wants to go back in time to recover a special sword for his collection–” Nick stopped abruptly and pressed his thumb and forefinger to his temples. He was so frazzled, he’d spoken without thinking, and now his group were looking at him as though he’d grown a tail and two horns.
The expressions around him ranged from completely puzzled to outright curiosity. “So, are you? A time traveller, I mean?” Wade asked slowly.
Nick wasn’t sure how to respond, but he’d already said far too much, and there was no taking it back. He felt the need to be honest with these men. “Aye. I am.”
Silence descended on the group as they all digested what Nick had said.
“Well, say something,” Nick pleaded. “Dinnae just stand there, looking bewildered.”
Kyle was the first to find his voice. “Wow,” he said. “So, how’d you end up here?”
The others all nodded their apparent satisfaction with Kyle’s initial question and Nick leaned back against the truck and told them everything. When he was done, he was surprised that they were all still there, and hadn’t taken off for the hills upon hearing his outrageous story.
“So how do we get them back?” Jayson questioned.
“I didnae think it would be ‘we’,” Nick admitted with a faint smile.
“We’re going to help you, of course. Angelina and Richard are our friends, too,” Kyle said.
“I’d be verra grateful for your help. I have an idea, but I think we need to wait for Granger to tell us what he wants, to be certain we’re on the right track. I should go home and wait to hear from him, but I dinnae ken how to drive this blasted truck.”
“Do you have the keys?” Zeke questioned.
“I’m afraid not.” Nick peered in the driver’s side window, hoping one of them had accidentally left a door unlocked, but to no avail.
Zeke stepped forward. “Lucky for you, I know how to get inside and I also know how to hot wire the truck.”
Nick furrowed his brow at Zeke’s response, but had to admit he was impressed when within seconds, the door to the truck was open and Zeke had positioned himself under the steering wheel where he fiddled with some wires. The truck roared to life and Zeke settled into the driver’s seat with a wide grin. “Get in.”
Nick sat in the passenger seat, while the rest of the group got into the back. “I’ll nae ask how you knew what to do with the truck,” Nick said wryly.
“You probably don’t want to know,” Zeke replied.
Once they reached Nick’s home, the men piled into the living room. Wade pulled out his cell phone. “I’m going to see if I can find any info on that castle.”
“Good idea,” Jayson said, making himself comfortable on the sofa. “The more we know, the better it will be for us.”
“Here it is,” Wade said a few minutes later, as he showed everyone the display on his phone.
“We’re not going to be able to see much that way. Nick, do you have a computer we can use?” Zeke asked.
“I dinnae have one, I’m afraid. But I think Angelina left her laptop here earlier today. She didnae want to take it with her to the tournament.”
“Where is it?”
Nick went out to the hall table and retrieved the laptop, handing it to Wade. “Do you know her password?” Wade asked.
Nick frowned. “Password?”
“I’ll take that as a no. Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.” Wade strode over to the breakfast bar and opening the computer, went to work.
Nick had no idea what to do next, but he was learning some things about these men that he hadn’t known before. They perhaps had less than perfect backgrounds, but he was swiftly learning they were honorable and loyal. He hoped he wouldnae have to use their skills to retrieve his friends, but he would do whatever was necessary.
“Do you have anything to eat?” Jayson asked a few minutes later. “I’m kinda hungry.”
“Me, too,” Kyle added.
