Chapter 1

Encounter

Kairos is an ancient word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment). The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos. While the former refers to chronological or sequential time, the latter signifies a time lapse, a moment of indeterminate time in which everything happens. (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

"Damn it, Jenny! That's too tight. I won't be able to sit, much less breathe in this thing," Abbie said.

Despite her protestations, Jenny pulled the next tie in the stay lacing just as tight. "It was your decision to go to the party dressed as a lady of the 18th century so you'll have to suffer in silence like they did, my lady. Besides," Jenny said with a smirk, "with your breasts bulging over your bodice like that, your strong and swarthy Captain Irving will take notice."

"I'm not trying get him to take notice," Abbie said. The pressure of the bodice on her abdomen caused her to fight for breath.

"Oh yes, you are good sister. You come home every night gushing like, 'Captain Irving this and Captain Irving that.' That is why you couldn't make it work with Luke...too busy sniffing after the good captain," Jenny said. She finished the lacings with a little less force until she reached the end of the lacings. "There, all done. Let's get these thousands of petticoats on you, throw on the dress, put your hair in an up do, throw on some make up and you'll look like a woman straight out of 1790. Although, Abbie, for the life of me I don't know why any black person would want to travel back in time, past 1990."

"I don't want to go back in time. I didn't have time buy a costume. When I found this one in the evidence room at work, I couldn't resist. No one knows where it came from so I took it, but…um… Jenny, I don't think you should go as a…um…an insane mental patient. You are well now. Why make a spectacle of yourself?"

Jenny smirked. "Most people in this town think I am the crazy sister and you are the honorable, well adjusted sister. This is just us playing our roles. Now, finish getting ready so we can get to the party. I have a feeling it's going to be one for the history books," Jenny said before she strolled out of the room.

"Lieutenant Mills, interesting choice of costume. You look very...colonial. Honestly, I wouldn't want to go back any further than 10 years, myself. I'm glad to see your sister out and about. Not sure about the straight jacket, though," Frank said.

"Jenny is not one for caring what people think. She's just is trying to get a rise out of everyone."

"Go mingle. I think your ex might be looking for you," Frank said with a half smile.

"Thanks, Captain."

Abbie walked away, and surveyed the crowd. Luke was the last person she wanted to talk to. It appeared that every one from the office was there with a plus one. She was intent on locating Luke so she could steer clear of him. Her eyes finally caught sight of him by the food table, and that is when she saw him. A very tall man, with brown wispy hair pulled back into a light ponytail stood at the back door. His eyes seemed to be laser focused on her. That's when she noticed his attire. He's dressed like me, she thought. She noticed that his expression looked a little pained, but focused. He began walking in her direction.

Abbie readied herself for mindless small talk about their costumes. As he drew nearer to her, she saw how authentic his clothes looked. They had the wear and authenticity of real clothes from that time period. Not the cookie cutter look of her manufactured one. His expression did not change as he reached her. His face held a mixture of anger, sadness, and frustration. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. Abbie smiled when he reached her, not wanting to be impolite.

Before she could make a proper introduction, he grabbed her hand and pulled through the front door, past those who were entering. Confused and caught off guard, Abbie followed behind him and into the dark night. The sky was an inky black broken up by an occasional cloud illuminated by the full moon. Abbie noted how this was the perfect night for a Halloween party.

Abbie began to put up some resistance as he pulled her away from the house. "Stop it! What are you doing?" she said, attempting to dig her heels in. She snatched her hand away.

He stopped and faced her. She noticed that he had to be more than a foot taller than her. He grabbed her hand again.

"Abigail, you can't leave me. I'm sorry for what you think you saw. Katrina and I were merely resolving issues. We were betrothed so it is hard for her to accept that I love another," he said.

Abbie frowned at him. "This is a joke right? Jenny, nice job. You can come out now!" Abbie said looking around for her sister. She looked back up at him. "You can stop the act. What's your name? I like the accent and your get up here. How much did my sister pay you?"

"Have you taken leave of your senses, Abigail?" He pulled back a stray strand of her hair. "Time travel can have irreparable effects on the psyche. That's why I always made it clear that you should never use the CVS alone. I know you were upset because you thought I was reconciling with Katrina. You arrived at the wrong conclusion. My heart only belongs to you. Now, let's get back to the century of our origin before sunrise. The CVS will shut down if we don't leave now," he insisted.

Abbie snatched her hand away from him, no longer amused by what she thought was a joke. "Who the hell are you? I don't know what you're high on, but you need to leave me alone. I am an officer of the law at a party with other law enforcement. You'll be behind bars so fast it'll make your head spin," she said, before rushing away."

In two quick strides, he stepped in front of her to block her path. "Abigail, I am Ichabod Crane, Oxford professor and captain in the Revolutionary army. You are Abigail Mills, a domestic worker for George Washington, whom I met and fell in love with while betrothed to another. You saw us together, misconstrued the scene and ran off to get away in the CVS. I dabbled in time travel, a past time I shared with you. You must come back with me to the past, Abigail. The consequences of us both being here when we belong in another era will be epic and unable to undo."

Abbie doubled over with laughter. "You are a crazy. Time travel? Even if your story were true, do you think I would willingly go back to being a slave? I think I'll stay on this side of the Emancipation Proclamation if you don't mind. Now get the hell out of my way!"

"What is this proclamation you speak of? And you are not a slave. Mr. Washington himself granted you freedom," Ichabod explained.

Abbie's eyes flashed frantically to the right and left. Then she made a decision.

"Icha...um Crane," Abbie said. She reached her arms around him. "I missed you so." When he moved close to return the hug, she punched him in the groin, taking off into a full run in the opposite direction.