Time Will Tell (Timeless Series) (29 page)

At the center of the oaks, Bev halted, then pointed. “The text Libby sent told me to look in this area, in front of where Pride was tied.”

The men started digging.

They dug about a foot, when Sam shouted, “I think I hit something.”

All eyes focused on the ground beneath his shovel. They each took turns and dug faster.

Seconds later, they pulled out a rusty old strong box, an antique lock securing it.

The group quickly advanced to Sam’s study where he worked on the lock with a penknife while Bev and the others watched with interest. After a few minutes and a little finessing, the small lock gave. Sam opened the box and pulled out a journal, four letters—each separately addressed
, and a notarized copy of Sam’s deed to Twin Oaks.

They all stared at the aged letters addressed in Libby’s bold scrawl as Dave whistled. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

~

When Libby’s equilibrium returned, she grinned at the scene before her.
Eighteen seventy-four. Exactly as she’d wished. Never had she been so happy to see the familiar oaks without the other trees. She could only marvel over how much this stud farm had come to mean to her in such a short time. Pushing to her feet, she wondered how much time had passed. Hopefully she could spare Colin from enduring her same pain.

Anticipation flowed through her. For the first time since she’d made her decision
,
Libby was struck with exactly what
coming home
meant. It meant they could be together. Always. She could be a part of Colin’s life without the fear of ever having to leave again, and they could build their future together. Plan together. Dream together.

She laughed, hugging herself, before turning and running toward the house. At the top of the porch steps, she slowed, surprised to find everything ominously quiet. Were his children in bed already? Maybe she’d been gone longer than she thought.

“Colin,” Libby called out softly, tiptoeing through the dark hallway, stopping at the library door. She hesitated, then knocked. “Colin?” She opened the door and slipped inside.

Slivers of light spilled from the shade-drawn windows, creating shadows in the darkened room. Catching movement, Libby could barely make out Colin sitting behind his desk, holding a filled glass. A decanter of what looked like either whiskey or bourbon was within his reach.

“What’s this? A ghost who’s come to haunt me?” Colin’s anguished whisper filled the air, sending chills down Libby’s spine. “I can’t get you out of my mind and now I’m having visions.” He lifted the glass and took a long swallow. Then he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, not moving a muscle.

Libby watched in stunned silence, unsure of what to do. “Colin?”
She tentatively stepped farther into the room. “Are you all right?”

Colin opened his eyes. In the barely lit room she could see his bleak expression. “Ah, the apparition speaks.
’Tis funny, but you sound just like her. Have you come to torment me more? Is it not enough to haunt my dreams? Now you haunt my waking moments? Maybe if I drink enough, I’ll be able to get you out of my mind. Out of my heart. Out of my soul.” He took another long swig, slamming the glass on the desk. “Go away, vision. Leave me be.” He then leaned back and shut his eyes once more. “I don’t want to feel any more.”

Why was he acting so strange? Apprehension filled her. It couldn’t have been more than thirty minutes since she’d last seen him.

She rushed up to his chair and knelt beside him, taking his hand.

“Colin. It’s me, Libby. I’m not a dream. Open your eyes.”

His eyes opened and in a heartbeat, joy replaced sorrow. “Libby?” He shook his head, as if clearing his mind. “My God,” he whispered. “It is you.” A jubilant smile lit his face and tears lurked at the edges of his eyes. “Somehow you’ve come back to me.” He gripped her wrist, tugging her up and onto his lap. Lowering his head to an inch over hers, he murmured, “How can it be? I saw you disappear.”

Libby closed her eyes as his mouth made the final connection, and poured every emotion she felt into the kiss. This is where I belong, she thought as his strong hands drew her closer. When they broke apart, she softened her smile. “I came home.” She kissed her way up the side of his face, brushing his black hair off his brow and kissing to the lids of his amber eyes. “I wished myself home. Now that I’ve found where I belong, I’ll never leave again.”

“Please, Libby.” Colin wrapped his arms around her, hugging her to him. He laughed, planting kisses everywhere…her face…her chin…her neck…all the way to her ear, whispering in between the kisses, “Tell me you mean your words. I can’t survive another parting.”

“Oh, Colin, I’m sorry I left.”

“I let you go once. I don’t have the will to do it again.” His audible anguish tore her heart in two. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you here, by my side, till death do us part. Do you understand?”

Nodding, she met his gaze, hers becoming blurry, wondering how she had any
more tears left. “I should have known I could never be happy without you.”

“And I should never have let you go.” Grinning, he stood and rearranged her in his arms. As he carried her toward the door, he said, “You are my life, my love. I need you so much.”

Libby smiled into his shoulder. “My sentiments exactly.”

He took the stairs two at a time.

Once in their bedroom, Libby looked around and sighed. Home. She now had no doubts. Her decision to come home had been the right one. At the four-poster bed, he stopped. His arms went slack. She slid the length of him, well aware of his full arousal signifying the need he spoke of, increasing her own awareness. Her own need.

They came together like two lovers who’d been apart for too long. Neither could stop touching, kissing, stroking, nibbling, as if not
believing their good fortune. Within minutes, Colin had Libby naked. Seconds later he rose above her to find his way home.

Libby’s last coherent thoughts before the storm of his passion swept her up were of Colin, of the rightness of loving him, of being in this place and time. Where he was concerned, she gave all she had. He was her love and she was his.

~

When Colin could think again, he lifted off Libby, situating her right where she belonged, with her head on his shoulder, wrapped in his embrace. He kissed her brow, let his head plop on the pillow,
then closed his eyes. Now that his mind had cleared, it didn’t take long for his thoughts to gather, as all of the reasons he’d sent her home resurfaced.

“What about my century? And all you hate here
,” he asked, the question intruding further into his cocoon of contentment. “Nothing has changed. I meant my words. I won’t see you unhappy.”

Libby put a finger to his mouth, but Colin pushed her hand aside. “Can you truly be happy? Giving up all in your own time?”

He felt her smile.

“I’m not Abigail.” She lifted up on her forearms, leaning close enough for him to see the seriousness in her eyes. “I’m taking responsibility for my choices. I can easily live without twenty-first century advances. What good are they, if I can’t share them with you?”

“What about the restrictions for women here?” Colin countered, still unconvinced. “I have no qualms about you working on the farm in boys’ clothes if that will make you happy. But you can’t wear boys’ attire all the time. I’ll expect you to dress in the evenings, and because of the racetrack, I’ll be traveling back and forth to Louisville. I want you with me so the world will know you’re mine, not hiding here. While in town, you’ll need to dress the part and follow convention. Can you? Can you be happy abiding by those strict rules you hate?”

She lowered her head and kissed him.
Thoroughly. Then lifting her mouth, she grinned. “Of course I won’t like it but I accept the rules, and I promise to abide by your wishes when we’re in town. After all, no place or time is ever completely perfect. Besides…” She winked. “I think I like dressing up and looking beautiful for you.”

Colin chuckled. “Libby, you are beautiful to me no matter what. Whether in boys
’ clothes or a stunning ball gown, I’ll always see perfection.” Seconds later, their lips met.

“I guess we should open them and find out what happened,” Sam Thorpe said after passing out three letters and staring at the one addressed to him.

Bev peered in silence at the envelope in her hand. Her eyes misted.

The tearing of envelopes rent the air before the sound changed to rustling as she, like the others, began reading.

Dear Bev,

This is the hardest letter I’ve ever written. As I put pen to paper, it dawns on me that I will no longer be able to confide in you, share drinks at Giorgio’s with you, or hug you. Your friendship gave me the courage to find my destiny and meet my fate. Without you in my life, I wouldn’t have had the guts to do so.

You deserve more than a text saying good
-bye, for sure. My main regret is not waiting that afternoon to give you one more hug and kiss good-bye. I was too worried I wouldn’t be able to get back to Colin and forgot to take time for what was important. I hope you will forgive my impulsive selfishness.

I miss you so much and probably will for the rest of my life. You are always in my thoughts and prayers. Never a day goes by when I don’t think—what would Bev do—or what would Bev say to that? I’m smiling right now because I’m imagining your own smile as you wish me
well, only too glad I had the spirit to follow my dreams.

Those dreams led me to Colin Thorpe. Once I found him, I couldn’t give him up. He’s become my life. I know you’ll understand and be happy for me. My biggest wish for you is that you find your destiny. I pray fate gives you a love like I have with Colin. Bear in mind, your love for me is what I will always remember and cherish most. You always believed in me and I’ll always believe in you.

Your loving friend,

Libby Edwards Thorpe

PS: We’ve changed the name of Colin’s farm to Twin Oaks because the trees are what brought us together. We’ve left explicit instructions about them, so they will still exist in your time. I’ve begun a journal, to be buried in the box when I die, along with an indisputable copy of Twin Oaks’s deed, ending my original quest.

Dead silence permeated the room while the occupants absorbed the meaning of their letters.

A couple of tears had dropped to the page as Bev had read, and just as Libby had predicted, she felt her smile widen.

Sam’s voice intruded on the silence. “My God, it doesn’t seem possible even with proof.” He finished his and handed it to Doug, shaking his head.

Stunned, Dave appeared to have lost his voice.

Tom wiped a hand over his eyes and offered his letter to Bev. They exchanged and both continued reading.

Dear Dad,

I have taken my time writing this because when I decided to return to 1874, I thought I could easily leave you without regrets. We were never close and I always felt as if I had let you down somehow. Over time, I’ve realized I do have a few regrets overshadowed by the fact that we never understood each other.

Now that I’m a mother with more wisdom, I can view your motives in a different light. I know you loved me and only wanted my happiness. I am happy. I am where I want to be and my life is complete with Colin Thorpe. All of this must be hard to imagine. Traveling through time is a little unbelievable. My only wish was to find a place where I belong
ed. Once I discovered that place, I had to stay.

I began a journal with the details of my life. As I age, I’ll record my thoughts and those thoughts will always include you. Please try to forgive my actions, understand them, and be happy for me.

Your loving daughter,

Elizabeth Edwards Thorpe

Bev then scanned Sam’s letter that he’d handed her.

Dear Sam,

I know you will be surprised to read this, as I’m sure anyone who finds I’ve decided to remain in the past would be. I want to thank you for hiring me, but I find I must give notice. I hate to leave you in a lurch, especially with Thorpe’s Pride, but I no longer had the choice to return to the twenty-first century. Working with Pride’s predecessors will have to suffice. My life
—my love—my everything—is here in 1874 with Colin Thorpe. To leave a time where I found I belonged, to return to a place where I felt like I never fit in, was something I could not do.

I don’t know how or why all of this happened. All I can say is I’m glad it
did. It was a matter of fate and destiny. My fate and destiny took me back to the beginning of your stud farm and that is where I am truly happy. I only hope you and Doug can be happy for me.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Edwards Thorpe

Dave finally found his voice. “It’s like we’ve stepped into
The Twilight Zone
.” He set his letter aside, turned to Libby’s dad, who by this point had noticeable moisture filling his eyes, and clapped him on the shoulder, squeezing. “I don’t know what to say, Tom, except that I’m sorry.”

“I’m
OK, Dave,” Tom said, clearing his throat. “The saddest part is the regret. I should have tried harder to understand my daughter while I had the chance.” He smiled wistfully. “But I have what I’ve always wanted. Libby’s happiness. It seems she’s found it.”

While the others in the room consoled
one another, Bev couldn’t resist reading Dave’s letter as it sat open on the desk.

Dear Dave,

By this time you’ve obviously discovered how wrong you are about my time traveling. Sorry about the
“Dear John” letter. No one deserves that. But the only other option would be to delay my trip back to 1874 or return at some point to meet with you. I couldn’t risk either. I’ll never leave the past again.

I placed your engagement ring in the oak tree on the right, just before I zapped back. Look for an indentation where the branches divide. There is a little nook big enough to hide it.

I did love you, you know. I even believe that you may have loved me to some extent. But face it, Dave. You never accepted me for who I was. I was never good enough and you never really believed in me. We weren’t meant to be. I know that now after finding a man who not only accepts me as I am, he loves me, and he believes in me. I don’t have to change. To him I am perfect, faults and all.

I wish you well, Dave, and hope that someday you’ll find someone you don’t have to change.

My sincerest regrets,

Libby Thorpe

Bev finished and looked up to see Dave watching her.

“I guess I owe you an apology,” he said, offering a semblance of a smile.
“Nothing like eating a little crow to put a humble taste in my mouth. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to either of you when you tried to tell me. God, what a fool I am.” He shook his head and started for the door. “I need to retrieve my ring. Should make a good keepsake to remind me of my arrogance and my stupidity.”

“Wait
, Dave, I’ll go with you,” Bev said, running to catch up with him.

Dave stopped and threw her a suspicious look. “Why? So you can gloat?”

“No, I’m past all that.” At his raised eyebrows she smiled, then shrugged. “OK. Maybe I’d like to gloat. But I won’t. I needed to get out of there.” Her nod indicated the room they’d left. “It’s too sad.”

“Suit yourself.” Dave walked on, quickening his pace.

At the trees, he reached up and felt around the tree trunk where the branches separated. Seconds later, he pulled out his ring.

Scrutinizing his face, Bev noted his forlorn, almost subdued expression as he stared at the solitaire before pocketing it. “You really love her
, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. How could you not love Libby? She is—” He cleared his throat, which sounded as if it was tightening with
grief, and swallowed hard. “She
was
genuine. I never understood until it was too late what I had in her.” He hesitated. “Do you know the saddest part of all?”

“No
,” Bev said softly. “What?”

“I was too self-absorbed and concerned with my needs to understand hers. Plus, I didn’t appreciate her for who she was. I only hope she’s found the happiness she deserves.” He blinked several times and wiped at the edges of his eyes with the back of his hand. “Now that I understand what she wanted, I want the same thing. Yet, somehow I doubt I’ll ever be lucky enough to find it.”