Time Tantrums (27 page)

Oh my God, I don’t even know what day it is. Matter of fact, I don’t remember anything about work lately.

The last day she remembered had been Tuesday, but not in this era. She pulled the pillow over her face to stifle her groan of frustration.

 
 
Finally, she couldn’t stand not knowing. She nudged David with her elbow. “Honey, wake up.”

David moaned and pulled the sheet up over his head. The name “Mariah” crept into his mind. Memories of last night flashed in his head. Taylor, his beautiful Taylor had come back to him. Did Mariah go home to Frank? David thought a minute and wondered if it had just been a dream. Time travel... right!

Taylor elbowed him again. “Honey, I need to ask you a question, but I’m not even sure how to start.”

He took the sheet away from his face. “This sounds serious.” He had a few questions of his own, but wanted to hear hers first. “What time is it?” he asked, still groggy.

She sat and crossed her legs, Indian style. “It’s early. I think I may have had a strange dream—”

Before she finished, he pulled her over on his chest. “I was just going to tell you the same thing. Did your dream have anything to do with someone named Mariah?”

Taylor swallowed. “You mean it wasn’t a dream? It really happened?”

He cradled her in his arms. “I don’t know what
it
was, nor do I have an explanation, but something happened all right. I got a phone call telling me you were in an accident on the way to work. I spent two weeks at your hospital bedside, but believe me, the person I brought home was not you. Somehow, last night, you came back to me.”

He held her tight, afraid she’d disappear again.

Taylor took a deep breath and rose to her knees next to him. “Holy shit, then
I’m
home and everything is fine.” A million thoughts swam in her head. “David, you have no idea what I’ve been through. I woke up in 1872 somewhere in Colorado. I’ve been with Frank, Mariah’s husband. He wouldn’t believe I wasn’t Mariah—”

David put a finger against her lips and stopped her babbling. “You don’t need to explain, Taylor. Trust me; I have a firsthand knowledge of what Frank went through. I’m sure Mariah wanted to kill me a few times while she was here.”

Taylor held her head in her hands. “I have so much to tell you, I don’t know where to start. It was amazing and awful at the same time.”
 
She took a deep breath. “Trying to convince everyone I wasn’t Mariah... Do you know they didn’t even have indoor plumbing? I wanted to call you, but every time I mentioned the phone, no one had a clue what I was talking about. I went to a church social in a buggy, I had to wear these awful, awful clothes, and I even rode a horse.”

David snorted.
“You… on a horse?
I would have loved to have been there.”

She gave him a shove. “You just wouldn’t believe what it was like to live back then. I didn’t have my makeup, I didn’t have my cell phone, and oh my God, I had red hair…horrible, horrible red hair.”

“And green eyes, I’ll bet. The whole time Mariah was here, she looked just like you, but she knew she should have had red hair and green eyes.”

It hadn’t been a dream. Taylor tried to picture Frank’s delight in getting his Mariah back. Would he remember his time with Taylor at all? She paused for a moment to think what 2002 must have been like for Mariah. She felt a strange bond with Frank’s wife, although in reality they had never met. Taylor gazed at her husband. “I just thought about how Mariah must have felt. If I found 1872 so exasperating, she must have been amazed by what she found here.”

The look on David’s face indicated he recalled something pleasant. “It was like a little girl learning new things every day. Some days, I wanted to spank her for asking so many questions. It was frustrating at times.” He shook his head. “Do you know
,
I actually made her fly?”

“Fly? Oh you didn’t! She must have been terrified.”

“At first, but once we got up in the air, she loved it. And you should have seen her in the kitchen. She couldn’t believe her eyes!”

Jalapeño relish!
Taylor chuckled to herself. “I know, I was pretty amazed in her kitchen, too.”

She stretched out and snuggled next to David. For a moment neither spoke. Taylor never wanted to forget Frank. Being with him had changed her life for the better. Although he hadn’t preached to her, he had taught her patience, understanding, and most importantly, devotion. His love for Mariah had helped Taylor see the importance of her own relationship with David, and the slow pace of the Rocking C had helped her learn to take one day at a time. Now that she was back, she vowed to spend time with David and do the simple, yet important, things like taking walks and enjoying cozy evenings together. She loved being married to him and planned to make sure he knew it. Rather than her job, she’d make David her life’s priority.

His voice interrupted her thoughts. “I know we still have lots to talk about, but you don’t want to be late for work.”

She reached up and caressed his cheek then passed her fingers across his full lips. “We’ll have lots of time to tell each other all about all the things that happened, but I’d rather spend the next half hour or so making up for some lost time. And, if I’m late for work, so what?”

Mariah

Colorado Territory—1872

When Mariah leapt at Frank, she almost bowled him over. He unclasped her hands from behind his neck, held them in his, and looked at her from beneath an arched brow.
“Whoa, little lady.
You’re stronger than you look. What’s got you so all fire excited this morning?”

Mariah noticed his curious look and took a breath. He acted as though she hadn’t even been gone. Was it all a dream? She peered into his cobalt eyes. “I guess I’m just really glad to see you.”

He picked up his hat and dusted it against his pant leg. “Well, I’m happy to see you, too.”

She glanced around the yard. The barn, the bunkhouse, the porch—why did she feel like she’d missed it all so terribly?
 
And her children?
 
It seemed she hadn’t seen Callie and Jacob in ages. She nibbled her bottom lip.

“Is something wrong?” Frank asked. “You have a perplexed look on your face and you’re actin’ a might strange this morning.”

“Where are Callie and Jacob? I want to see the children.”

Frank put his hand on her shoulder. “You don’t remember?”

“Remember what?”

“When I took them to my mother’s house?”

“Why would you take our children there?”

His eyes widened and a broad smile crossed his face. “Did you say
our
children?”

“Yes,
our
children. I want to see them.”

He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Is it really you? Oh Mariah, is it?

Holding her at arm’s length, he searched her eyes. “It is you. I see that familiar sparkle in those beautiful green eyes.”

“Oh, Frank,” she clung to him, “then it really happened. I didn’t dream it?” She leaned back and gazed up at him. “I thought I was crazy. I have so much to tell you. About cars, buildings, swimming pools… I flew in an airplane.”

He peppered kisses across her face and eyes. “Well, I don’t know what that is, but I have a lot to tell you, too.”

* * * *

They sat on the front porch, having coffee, while Mariah shared it all. She told him about all the wonders of the twentieth century, starting with the hospital and ending with her airplane ride. She stared up at the sky. “You should have seen the buildings. They were so tall. And there were horseless carriages called cars, telephones… and machines that washed dishes.”

“Telephone, huh? Don’t suppose you saw something called a taxi?”

“Yes, taxis... lots of them.
And the houses.
Oh goodness, Frank, you wouldn’t believe the furniture and gadgets.”

“Well tell me everything. Taylor raised lots of questions and I think you have all the answers. But first, let me get us some more coffee.”
 

It gave her time to think about the only night she hadn’t told Frank about. It served no purpose. Although she and David had shared a bed, nothing had happened except she finally realized the meaning of true love. Not just loving someone, but sharing oneself totally with that special person—putting aside inhibitions and fears. Hearing David talk about his feelings for his wife and the passion they shared, had made her realize how much she missed Frank… showed her the changes she needed to make for him if she ever got the chance. Now the opportunity was here and he was in for a pleasant surprise.

When he came back out, he set their coffee on the table between the wicker chairs and walked to the porch railing. She rose and joined him. The aroma of honeysuckle hung heavy in the air. She placed her hand atop his and gazed across at their old barn. “You know, for as wondrous as it was to experience all those things I told you about, I wouldn’t trade my life here for any of it. All I wanted was to come home to you and the children.”

He draped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. “I never gave up hope, but I have to give Taylor credit. She was determined to find a way back, too. She’s a fighter that one. One thing for sure, though, she’s not a cook.”
 
He gazed into his wife’s eyes. “For all Taylor’s shortcomings, I’ll bet somewhere in 2002, David Morgan is feeling just as happy as I am today.”

In Mariah’s mind, the thought that Frank had slept with Taylor niggled her, but based on the love shining in his eyes, Mariah knew the answer wasn’t important. He loved
her
and that was all that mattered. Taylor was a lifetime away.

Mariah took his hand. “Since the children are gone, why don’t we go upstairs and make up for some lost time.”

She led him into the house and to the bedroom. The look on his face was worth all the airplane rides in the world. Standing before him, she began unbuttoning his shirt, nipping at his exposed skin. His breath hitched and she took delight in his reaction. She paused for a moment and peered up at him. “It’s all so strange. We’ll probably never know how it happened or why.”

He tumbled her to the bed and nuzzled her neck. “Enough for now, but remind me… next time we hear a thunderstorm brewing, we’re headin’ for the root cellar.”

Mariah chuckled and worked to unbuckle his belt. “I may have never met Taylor, but I sure feel like she’s my sister in time. I hope she’s doing something equally as fun.”

About the Author

Born and raised in California, Ginger and husband Kelly, who happens to be her greatest fan, moved to Tennessee in 2004.
 
Overcoming culture shock took a while, but she continues to write, finding inspiration in the vast number of southern historical areas. She’s multi-published in several genres, but her favorite remains historical romance with a western flavor.
 
Besides writing and promoting her work, she always manages to find time to enjoy her grandson, Spencer.
 
The cheerful and patient way he deals with his autistic challenges inspires her to keep doing what she loves—being an author and his Nee Nee!

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