Time Tantrums (24 page)

“I’m taking you on a horseback ride tomorrow.”

Before his words had a chance to sink in, she heard his bedroom door close. Reality dawned on her and she gasped. “That’s not a surprise, that’s… that’s a threat.”

She went to the armoire and changed into her nightgown. Still fuming, she pulled back the quilt and climbed into bed, and slammed her fist into her pillow. “Horseback ride?” she grumbled.
“Maybe when hell freezes over!”

Chapter Thirty

David and Mariah left Dr. Ramone’s office with doubts about a third appointment. As he pulled out of the parking garage, Mariah stared vacantly out the car window at the people strolling along the sidewalk. She wondered if any of them were visitors from another era.

 
She turned to David. “Now I’m even more confused and frustrated. Dr. Ramone believes I might be here because of something called a time warp, but I got the feeling she doesn’t know of another single soul who’s had the same misfortune. So, if we figured out the problem, what’s the solution?”

He sighed loudly, and reached over to turn off the radio. “I don’t know. Time warps are something they make movies of or write about in books. I always thought it was just a bunch of baloney.”

“Do you still feel that way?”

“I’m not even sure how I feel. Everything you said under hypnosis reinforces the fact that you aren’t Taylor. Even if I consider you might be, why would a head trauma make you remember a whole other life? There has to be an explanation, and after today, I’m convinced you are who you say you are.”

She sank into the softness of the seat and sighed. “Thanks for finally believing me, but even if you do, nothing changes the fact I’m still stranded in 2002. The family I love and want to be with is back in 1872. How am I going to get home?”

David glanced over at her. His brow furrowed over saddened eyes. “I don’t know Mariah. I wish I did. I’m not even sure what good seeing Dr. Ramone again will do. She can’t create magic.”

Mariah released a breath through pursed lips. “Maybe I should have another accident and hit my head again.”

“Don’t say things like that. Don’t even think them.”
 
His grip tightened on the steering wheel.

“I feel so helpless. All I want to do is go home.”

“I know. I want Taylor back, too. Now that I know you’re Mariah, I’m really worried about what happened to my wife. Are you in that body all alone or do you feel like you
have
company?”

The idea of sharing a body sent a shiver down her spine. “Ugh, that’s a horrible thing to even think about. As far as I know, I’m all alone.”

“Well, if you’re here, then wouldn’t it stand to reason Taylor is where you’re supposed to be?”

Mariah hadn’t even thought of that. “Oh,
my gosh
. You may be right. Taylor is with Frank and my kids. Now I have something else to worry and wonder about.”

He chuckled. “Can you imagine what Frank must be going through? Remember how I described Taylor? Oh the poor man. It wouldn’t be so bad, if he had known her from the beginning, but...”

Mariah didn’t see the humor in Frank being with another woman. “Aren’t you even the least bit worried?”

“Of course, I am. Until now I believed you
were
Taylor but there isn’t a whole lot I can do to change things. Rather than fall apart, I prefer to think she’s at least somewhere safe. After hearing all you’ve said about Frank, it doesn’t sound like he’d harm her in any way.”

“He’s a wonderful man.” She sighed. “I’m sure Taylor’s safe and sound, but I wonder about Frank. If your wife is as independent and stubborn as you say, I think she may have met her match.”

David fell silent and Mariah tried to apply all the things he’d told her about Taylor to the picture in her mind. All of a sudden, she remembered his description of his wife’s sexual appetite, and the hair on the back of her neck bristled. She chewed her bottom lip and stared vacantly through the windshield.

She didn’t realize they were home until David drove into the garage and closed the door. As he reached to turn off the key, she turned to him. “Do you think they’ve been intimate?”

David’s eyes widened. “I haven’t gotten that far in my thinking process, but now that you pose the question...” He rubbed his chin. “If Taylor is with Frank, they’ve been together as long as we have. I told you she is a very sexual being. If I had to wager a guess, it would have to be yes.”

The thought of someone else in Frank’s arms stabbed her Mariah’s heart. “Doesn’t that bother you?”

“Of course it does. But if they’ve made love, I think I understand why.”

“How
can
you understand?” She stiffened and blinked back tears.

“Why
can’t
you?”

“What do you mean?” The timed garage light clicked off and they were left in the dark. Although David sat next to her, he was barely visible. “Remember how I explained my feelings about you the night I came to your room? You look like Taylor, you walk like her, you feel like her, and I love my wife. I didn’t want to believe you weren’t her. I tried to do what came naturally to me, although not as frequently as Taylor would like… I wanted to make love to my wife.”

Mariah thought about what he said. If Taylor looked like the woman Frank supposed was Mariah, and knowing how much he enjoyed making love, then it would certainly stand to reason they’d shared a bed. “I see what you mean, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. As a matter of fact, I don’t like it one bit. I’ve managed to stay true.”

“Mariah, don’t fret about it. It won’t change anything. If we’re lucky, they’re at the same stage we are. Frank most certainly has noticed a drastic change in your behavior... or Taylor’s. I’m sure he’s figured something isn’t right.”

When David opened his door, the car’s dim interior light seemed harsh compared to the darkness. Mariah blinked. “Maybe you’re right. Taylor and I certainly don’t sound anything alike.”

 
“Boy, you can say that again,” he mumbled as he stepped out.

* * * *

Mariah finished loading the dishwasher, added the soap, and closed the door. She stood at the sink, wiping the counter, when she glanced out the window. Her gaze jerked back to the strange sight and she screamed. “David!”
 

He raced into the kitchen. “What! What’s wrong?”

She swallowed hard and pointed out the window. “Wha…what’s that?”

He glanced through the glass. “What’s what? I don’t see anything.”

“In the sky.
What’s that in the sky?” Her voice trembled.

David craned his neck to look up. He pointed to the object. “That? That’s an airplane.”

* * * *

As Mariah readied for bed, she still tried to understand David’s explanation of the flying machine. He sounded so casual when he told how it soared like a bird and carried people from place to place.

She
shimmied
her nightgown down the length of her body, then stopped and shook her head.
“How in the world?
 
What keeps this… this airplane in the sky?
 
And it takes people from one place to another?”

A sudden thought occurred to her. Maybe it could carry her back home.

Chapter Thirty-one

Frank rapped on Taylor’s door. “Get up. It’s time to go ridin’.”

She forced her eyes open and wondered if she was dreaming. She listened for a minute.

 
Another knock.
“Taylor, C’mon, wake up.”
And Frank’s voice.

She rolled over and stuck her tongue out at the closed door, then swiped at her half-lidded eyes. “What time is it?” she groaned.

“It’s six-thirty. We don’t want to wait until the hottest part of the day.” He cracked the door open and peeked around it. I don’t know if you’ve found it yet, but Mariah keeps a split skirt in the armoire, and make sure to wear boots.”

Taylor sighed. “Frank, I don’t even know how to ride a horse. The only time I’ve ever been around one was when we went to town in the buggy.”

“It’s easy. There’s nothin’ to it. You’ll enjoy it. So get up and get dressed! I’ve got coffee ready downstairs.”

Begrudgingly, she threw back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. She took a deep breath and pursed her lips into a pout. “I don’t want to go horseback riding.”

Downstairs, Frank called her name.

“Oh, for God’s sake.
Give me a minute,” she muttered.

She rummaged through the armoire and found Mariah’s skirt. It was brown suede with fringe along the sides.

Gee, this looks charming. I shudder to imagine what I’m supposed to wear on the top.
She searched again until she found a plain, white blouse, and felt satisfied. At least it wasn’t as horrid as what she expected to find.

* * * *

Taylor descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen. “Well, here I am.
Annie friggin’ Oakley.”

Frank poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “You look very nice.”

“Well, I do have to admit it’s more like what I’m used to. Certainly better than those period costumes I’ve been forced to wear. Did you know
,
I actually tried on your jeans one day? If they had fit, I’d have worn them everyday. I’m a jeans-and-tee-shirt kind of girl on the weekend. I dress for power the rest of the week.”

He finished a sip of his own coffee. “I have no idea what you just said… bout that dressin’ for power, but I had a hard time getting Mariah to even try a split skirt. I saw them in the catalog and wanted her to buy one. She thought it downright immoral for a woman to wear pants. But that was a while back. Now, she’s glad now she has them. It sure makes ridin’ easier.”

He isn’t giving up.
“Do we really have to do this?”

“C’mon, finish your coffee. I packed a little snack. We’ll ride out to a place I know and have a bite to eat.” He grabbed his hat off the rack and pushed it firmly down on his head.

She slumped along behind him, scuffing her toes in the dust. “I don’t even like horses,” she mumbled. “They smell bad and are way too big.”

It was apparent nothing she said affected him. He had two saddled horses waiting in the barn. She wasn’t at all pleased when he pointed out the one she was to ride. It seemed much taller and wider than Gert, and Taylor remembered the ominous look she’d gotten from the old mare on the day of the social. Suddenly, Taylor felt very intimidated, something she not at all used to.

Frank untied the reins of his own horse. “Watch me. I’ll give you a little lesson.”

She rolled her eyes. “Great.”

He held the saddle horn with his left hand and put his left foot in the stirrup. Pulling himself up, he threw his right leg over the horse’s back. Once in the saddle, he picked up the reins and peered down at her. “See how easy?”

“Easy for you.”

“You can do it, too. Once you’re in the saddle, use the reins to tell the horse what you want her to do.”

“I can tell her from here. I want someone else to go on this silly ride.”
She looked up and smiled sweetly.

He ignored her sarcasm. “Whatever way you pull
the reins, that’s
the direction the horse will go. If you want to move, just nudge her sides with your feet, and when you want to stop, pull back!” He dismounted. “Okay. Now, you try.”

“If I must.”
She exhaled a loud breath.

Frank untied her horse and positioned it next to her. “Now, just like I showed you. Left hand on the saddle horn, foot in the stirrup.”

Taylor firmly grasped the horn. She hoisted her leg, trying to fit her boot into the stirrup. She looked over her shoulder at Frank. “That last time I had my foot in a stirrup, I had a pap smear. This looks like its going to be about as much fun.”

Frank gave her a quizzical look but said nothing.

 
She tried to pull herself up, but fell backwards.

“That’s okay. Try it again,” he reassured.

After the fifth try, Frank apparently realized she lacked the necessary skills. While she held the saddle horn, he put her foot in the stirrup, then placed his palms under her buttocks and hefted her into the saddle. She clutched the horn tightly and adjusted her position. Searching for the other stirrup, she managed to fit her boot snugly inside then picked up the reins. “Thanks…I think.” Her heart thudded. “Okay, now what?” She dreaded the answer.