Knight Moves: Merriweather Sisters Time Travel (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 2) (22 page)

“Anyway, the crazy guy said it didn’t matter if Simon was dead. Once a client hired him, he finished the job.” Melinda shuddered. “I’m just glad he’s dead and I don’t have to worry about Charlotte.”

Lucy covered her mouth, looking pale again. James stood, ready to catch her.

“She’ll be worried to death. Oh, Mellie. We have to figure out a way to tell her we’re alive and well.” Lucy wiped her eyes. “Finish telling me what happened.”

“It was a car crash. He would have killed me, but the cops arrived and shot him first. I was in a coma for five months. Once I woke, Charlotte helped me get out of the hospital. Then I came to England and went to Blackford. It was in February of 2016.”

James wondered what life would be like so many years from now. He was imagining what his own home might look like when something Melinda said made him listen to the two women.

“It was in London I found the painting.”

“The painting of my family?”

Melinda nodded.

“Come look.” Lucy walked over to the far wall. Curious, James followed.

“This is the one. I wonder how it ended up in a museum?”

Lucy looked thoughtful. “I don’t know, but I’m glad it helped you find me.”

“It wasn’t titled. But I would’ve known your face anywhere. The colors are so much more vibrant now. How old are your children?” Then Melinda laughed. “I still can’t believe you have five kids.”

“You can’t believe it? How about the fact that I’m forty-four and you’re still twenty-six? I’m trying to wrap my head around that.”

Lucy touched the painting, tracing each face before sitting down. “The kids range in age from thirteen to nineteen.” She looked wistful. “None of them live here. You know when they’re young they go foster with another family. And then, as they’re older and become knights, they go off to make their own fortune. We see them a few times a year.”

“I’m sure you’ve been a wonderful mother.”

They talked for a while longer, and James knew they wanted to discuss him. He stood and made a bow.

“Thank you, Lady Blackford, for extending your hospitality. I must see to the men.”

He walked over to Melinda, leaned down, and kissed her. When he turned, he saw Lucy smiling at him. Did she think him good enough for her sister? Or did she only see the beast? James turned on his heel and walked through the doors. As he shut them, he heard the sound of giggling and low feminine voices.

He stopped in the passageway and reached into the pouch at his waist. The ring glittered. Mayhap he was not whole, would never be whole again, but the sapphire reminded him of Melinda, so he slipped it on his finger. For the first time since his injuries, the ring slid over the crooked finger on his left hand.

Melinda and her sister spent the rest of the afternoon and evening talking. She and James were in separate chambers. ’Twas the first night he’d slept apart from her since she’d been sick. He was finding it difficult to be away from her.

The next morning, Renly met James in the bailey. The men were uneasy.

“There are riders in the distance.”

“Tell the men to be ready. I will talk with Lord Blackford, but if he will not listen, I will end him.”

His captain looked unsure. “Mistress Melinda will be angry if you kill her sister’s husband.”

“Perhaps you are right, though the man may not give me a choice.” What else could James say?

He was still thinking on how to stop William from drawing his sword when Lord Blackford himself rode into the bailey. James watched as William dismounted, counting the number of knights. It would be a fair fight.

He knew the moment William recognized him. The man’s face transformed into a look James had seen many times.
 

“The Red Knight dares send a spy to infiltrate my household?” William roared. “Know you this: the man’s blood is on your hands.”

James shook his head at Renly and the men, standing there ready for the blow as William stalked over to him.

James heard the sound of Melinda and Lucy’s voices. ’Twas the last thing he heard. He returned the blow with one of his own. James admitted that William was a fierce fighter. He took a blow to the side that sent him to his knees. He reached out, grabbed William’s foot, and pulled him to the ground. As they rolled across the lists, William gained his feet, unsheathing his sword.

James unsheathed both swords. The clang of steel filled the air. James and Williams spluttered and cursed as a bucket of icy-cold water landed on their heads.

“Bloody hell, woman,” William roared at his wife.

“You two are acting like schoolboys, fighting over some stupid toy.” Lady Blackford stood with her hands on her hips. James wanted to smile but knew ’twas a bad idea. He only had to look at the two women to tell they were kin.

“You wouldn’t listen,” Lucy said sweetly.

Melinda put a hand on James’ arm. “Talk to him. For my sake.”

James bared his teeth. Melinda’s tear-filled eyes undid him. He sheathed the blades.

William snarled at James, “’Tis only for my lady, whoreson. It seems we must talk or incur the wrath of our warrior women. Why are you here, Lord Falconburg?”

“Melinda Merriweather showed up alone, on my lands with no escort.” James left the rest unsaid.

Understanding crossed William’s face.

“Did you believe her?”

“Not until we arrived here and she found her sister.” James looked in the direction of the two women. Both stood there watching them.

William spat blood and sat on a low bench tucked into the corner of the wall. He gestured for James to join him.

As James sat down, a raven landed on the wall above his head. Melinda let out a soft gasp. James looked at her, concerned.

“Is aught amiss, lady?”

“Ravens make me nervous.”

“Me too,” Lady Blackford said.

The bird cocked its head, as if the creature were listening to them. Then the bloody raven cawed and flew away. Both sisters let out a sigh of relief.

“I was captured by the masked outlaw of the wood.”

“And that is what led you here?”

“No, we were already on our way here to see if Lady Blackford was indeed Melinda’s sister. On the way, we encountered trouble.” James paused, looked to Melinda, saw the look of hope on her face, and turned back to William.

“I heard a tale while I was there. About my family’s massacre. Seems we have much to talk about.”

William didn’t say anything, simply nodded and waited for James to continue. As James watched Melinda and Lucy go inside the hall, he swore.

“I’d rather meet you in the lists again.” James sighed. “Seems I needs beg your pardon.”

The sound of thunder filled the air. William looked up. “Join me by the fire for a drink?”

“Aye.”

William looked over his shoulder.

“I should add another scar to your pretty face.”

Just when James thought they had reached an accord, William brought up his disfigurement. He swung, catching William under the chin. Neither man reached for a blade. They used fists, taking out all the anger and hatred they had felt toward each other over the years.

It started to rain. Thunder and lightning filling the sky. And neither man would yield. They hurled insults back and forth. James dealt William a vicious blow to the face. William cursed and unsheathed his sword. James and William fought on through the morning. The garrison knights gathered to watch, calling out advice and hurling insults.

“You fight like a girl, William.”

“Mayhap I should cut out your tongue, Jamie boy.”

They fought on, neither man willing to concede, both exchanging slurs and blows as the morning gave way to afternoon, then to evening before William said enough. James, drenched in sweat, leaned over, hands on thighs, his bad leg shaking, to catch his breath.

William wiped sweat from his brow.

James walked off the field, then Melinda screamed.

“Look out!”

He turned his head, and that one moment cost him. The knight’s sword came down. James heard the sound of the sword striking metal, felt warmth across his hand. With his right hand, he thrust upward with the sword, skewering the man.
 

William cursed. “My apologies. He was one of Clement’s friends. I took him in when he had nowhere else to go.”

Melinda ran to him. “Your hands.”

Lady Blackford handed Melinda a cloth. “A storm is coming. We need to go in. I’m so sorry, Mellie.”

“Not your fault, sis.”

“I’ll have hot water and clean rags ready when you come in. Hurry. I don’t like the look of the sky.”

James and William spoke to the men. The knights went to the garrison to take shelter, and William followed Lucy inside. Melinda took the cloth and wiped the blood off his hand.

His ring slid off into her palm. Thunder crashed, making her jump.

“We should go inside, love.”

It was as if she didn’t hear him. She wiped the blood off his ring and looked at him, her green eyes glowing in the twilight.

“I’ve seen this ring before.”

“Aye. ’Tis my family ring.”

She shook her head. “No. In the future. I found it in the rubble of Falconburg.”

The air shifted. Melinda’s hair stood out from her head. The wind started to howl and thunder boomed across the sky, shaking the ground. Lightning flashed so close to Melinda, James smelled something burning.

“We must go. Now.”

Melinda screamed.

There was no way James had been wearing the ring. She would have noticed it immediately. It was the same ring she’d found in the ruins at Falconburg Castle. Was it possible? Did the ring bring her back? Because when she arrived in the past, it was gone. And now here it was. When did James start wearing it? It was incredibly important she know the answer.

Melinda felt itchy all over. She could hear voices again. Rainbow-colored flashes of light obscured her vision.

And she knew. In this moment she was faced with a choice: stay here in the past with James and Lucy or go back to her own time and her sister Charlotte.

Where was her future? James had kissed her many times, but hadn’t said those three little important words. Such small words.

Eight letters in all.

Yet they meant more than an ocean of words. If she stayed she’d be saying goodbye to Charlotte forever, leaving her sister alone. Melinda loved James. With all her heart. If he didn’t love her and she stayed…
 

She would have Lucy, but would it be enough to balance the loss she would feel every time she saw a man with dark hair? If she went back…she would have Charlotte but lose James and Lucy.

The voices were louder, insistent. Melinda’s lungs seemed to be constricting. It was hard to breathe. She had to make a decision or the voices would make it for her.

Melinda closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and made the only choice she could.