Shenandoah Valley
Northern Virginia
0820 Local
Avis walked into the parlor with a fresh basin of water and clean bandages. Dealing with Sarah's injury had taught her a few things. She'd just finished with Avril and he was sleeping again. Once she was done with the Colonel, she'd check on Sarah once more. The brunette hadn't stirred at all when Avis had looked in a little after sunrise. She was running a low fever but Avis didn't think it was serious. Probably her body's way of protesting the abuse it had gone through yesterday. Deacon had come by early, dropping off Enoch to take care of the stock. He was taking Matt to the undertaker in town so they could prepare him for his final trip home.
She put the basin down and then jumped in surprise when she realized that a pair of sea-green eyes were watching her intently. Even with half his head wrapped in bandages, Colonel Rabb was a handsome man. He spoke quietly, "I didn't mean to startle you." His gaze drifted around the room, "Where am I?"
Avis inclined her head, regaining her composure, "In the parlor of my home, sir." She pulled a chair up next to him and reached up to start unwinding the bandages.
Rabb caught her wrist in a surprisingly strong grip, "Why?" She regarded him steadily and glanced at her wrist. He let it go with a muttered apology and repeated his question, "Why?"
Softening her gaze, she watched him closely as she answered in a quiet tone, "Because Sarah asked me to do so."
This time it was Rabb who jumped in surprise and then grimaced. He looked at her with wide eyes, "Sarah? Sarah MacKenzie? She's here? Where is she? Is she all right?"
Avis gave him a reassuring smile, "Yes, Sarah's here. She's asleep right now and hopefully, she'll stay sleeping for a few more hours. She wore herself out yesterday."
Rabb sat quietly digesting that and Avis took the opportunity to replace the bandage on his head. Cleaned up, it didn't look nearly so bad. The cut was long but shallow. She looked at him, "You were lucky."
"Hard headed is probably closer to the truth," he eyed her for a long moment, "Sarah's letter said that you'd figured out her secret almost immediately."
She shrugged, touching the necklace that she wore, "Hard not to when she's wearing my necklace. Apparently, it's a family heirloom in the future. Did you figure it out or did she tell you?" Avis had been forced to read between the lines on the subject of Josiah Rabb. Sarah had been fairly tight-lipped about the man. Even so, it was obvious that she had feelings for the Colonel - feelings she was doing her best to suppress. To say it was an unusual dilemma was a massive understatement. How often did someone fall for the great great great grandfather of the man she loved? While Avis waited for him to reply, she began removing the old bandage from the wound at the top of his shoulder. It was minor also, but it did seem to curtail arm movement on that side.
Josiah winced and then chuckled ruefully, "I wound up having to convince her about the truth. She thought all of this was some giant delusion. Told me that I didn't exist - that I was just a figment of her imagination."
Avis smiled, she could see Sarah saying something of the sort to the Yankee officer. She stared at him for a moment, "Sarah told you about Harmon Rabb, didn't she?"
He looked down at his hands, "Yes, it seems I look just like him or, I should say, he looks like me - without the mustache."
"Yet you pursued her anyway," Avis' lips were compressed in a thin line.
Josiah looked back up at her, his expression almost defiant, "Yes. I can't help that I fell in love with her. Why shouldn't I pursue her? I believe I can make her happy. I know she makes me happy. There's precious little of that going around in these times."
Avis shook her head, "You're complicating what should be an easy decision. Her destiny does not lie in this century."
"How do you know? Maybe this is her destiny. Why else would this have happened? Why else would I have met her?" He'd been thinking about this quite a bit.
"I don't know and neither do you," Avis stood up, collecting the soiled bandages. She had a pot boiling on the stove. She stared at him for several seconds and then said softly, "You had your soulmate, why are you trying to keep Sarah from hers?" She turned around and walked out, leaving him staring after her.
JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia 1605 Local
"Enter," AJ looked up as Harm marched into his office. He took off his glasses and leaned back, "You've heard from our mystery woman, haven't you?" He gestured for Rabb to have a seat.
Harm dropped into the chair, "Yes sir." He leaned forward, running a hand through his hair, "It was a frustrating call."
AJ scowled, "No lead to Mac's whereabouts? Was this woman just some crackpot?"
"I'm not sure, sir. She said that she thought she knew what happened and that she thinks she can find Mac, but she wouldn't be any more specific." He hesitated for a second, "She said it was hard to explain over the phone. She wants to meet me at 6 p.m. at the White Horse Grill in some little town called Peales Crossroads."
Chegwidden glanced at his watch, "There's no way you can reach the Shenandoah Valley in under two hours."
Harm shook his head, "She said to meet her two days from now. On that particular point, she was very specific - said the timing would be wrong otherwise."
"Whatever the hell that means," AJ looked at Harm in disbelief. "She sounds like a nutcase."
"I know," Harm spread his hands, "But what else can we do? What if she can find Mac? Do we dare pass up the chance just because she sounds... um... eccentric?"
AJ sighed, that was the sticking point. He raised an eyebrow, "You want me to let you go to the meeting."
Harm straightened in his chair, "Yes sir. She made it fairly clear that I was the one to meet with her."
"Why?"
Harm stammered a little. His relationship with Mac wasn't a secret but that didn't mean he wished to discuss it with his commanding officer. He sometimes got the feeling that the Admiral thought he was a bit of an idiot to have waited so long to pursue Mac. "Sir, she said... ah... it was because I was closest to Mac."
Chegwidden sat silently for a long minute, "I don't know, Commander, what if this woman wants you to go somewhere with her? Can you trust her?"
Rabb stiffened a little, "Sir, I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to find Colonel MacKenzie." Damn, was the Admiral about to refuse permission?
AJ rubbed his jaw, "I'm well aware of that, Commander. That's part of the problem." He held up a hand when he saw Harm gathering steam, "You can go, Harm. You're just not going alone. I'm sending Gunny Walters with you."
Too relieved that Chegwidden was going to let him go, Harm didn't even put up a token protest at having a babysitter. After the Admiral dismissed him, he hurried back to his office. Two days. In two days' time, he'd be that much closer to finding Mac.
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 1017 Local
Avis wearily put down her tea when Roger tore through the kitchen and out the back door. She'd been half expecting and half dreading this. Going to the window, she watched Corinna climb out of her carriage and hurry up the walkway. Moving towards the front door, she walked into the entry hall as Mrs. Simpson gave a perfunctory knock and sailed in. Spotting Avis, the older woman went to her and gave her a hug, "Oh my dear, Deacon told me what you'd done. I don't know how to thank you. Where is he?"
Resisting the urge to sigh, Avis regarded Corinna steadily, "I didn't do it alone, I couldn't have. You can thank Sarah as well."
To her surprise, Corinna looked embarrassed, "I owe the young lady an apology as well. It doesn't really matter where she's from, she's been a good friend." She stared at the carpet, "It was... mortifying... to realize that you found it necessary for such a charade. Will you forgive me?"
Avis smiled, feeling like some of her burden had been stripped away, "Only if you'll forgive me for lying to you in the first place." She pointed down the hallway, "He's in the downstairs bedroom. He was still asleep when I last checked."
Corinna took a step in that direction and then stopped, "Where is Sarah?"
"Upstairs, in bed. She pushed herself to the point of collapse yesterday."
"Oh dear, will she be all right?" Corinna took half a step back towards Avis and then stopped when the young woman held up a hand.
"I believe she'll be fine, she just needs to rest. Go see Avril. I'll check on Sarah and then join you." Avis watched Corinna nod and walk down the hallway. Glancing at the closed parlor doors, she shook her head. As surprised as she was at Corinna's change of attitude towards Sarah, she had no illusions about the woman's reaction to a Yankee Colonel. Right now, discretion was definitely the better part of valor. She turned to the staircase and started up. Reaching the bedroom, she cautiously opened the door and looked in. When she saw Sarah looking back, Avis smiled and came all the way in, "Good morning. How are you feeling?" She walked up to the bed and put a hand on Sarah's forehead - still a little warm, but not alarmingly so.
"Better. Hungry," Mac pushed herself upright and scooted backward so she could lean against the headboard. "You look tired, though. You should have gotten me up, I could have helped this morning."
Avis sat down in the chair next to the bed, "Don't be silly. You were worn out." She raised an eyebrow, "If I thought it was remotely possible, I'd try to keep you in bed for the rest of the day." When Mac snorted, Avis folded her arms, "That's what I thought. However... " she glared at the brunette, "you are staying in the house. No chores. Enoch is taking care of the stock for me, so the only exertion you're going to have is going up and down the stairs... and that better not be too often."
Mac rolled her eyes and sighed, "Yes, Mother." Growing more serious, she looked at Avis, "Avril and Josiah, how are they?"
"Lucky. Avril's chest wound isn't as bad as I first thought it was. It looks like he was hit from the side, right under the arm. The bullet broke a rib and then changed direction. It went down his side and came out near the hip. Right now, he can't even sit up or move his left arm." She hesitated for just a moment, "Corinna is sitting with him right now. Deacon told her while he was in town taking Matt to the undertaker."
Mac frowned slightly, "I'll try to stay out of her way. I don't want to cause any more problems between you two. Does she know about Josiah?"
Avis reached over and patted her on the leg, "Don't worry about Corinna. She's already apologized to me for her behavior and she's planning to apologize to you. And to answer your other question, she doesn't know about Colonel Rabb. He's fine, by the way, his worst injury seems to be the broken leg. If we can find or make a crutch for him, he'll probably be up and around in a few days."
Mac caught the note of restraint in Avis' voice when she talked about Josiah. She looked at the young woman carefully, "You don't like Josiah, do you?" It was a bit of a shock, it hadn't occurred to her that Avis might dislike the man. In many ways, he was just like Harm.
"Sarah, I don't even know him," Avis hedged and then sighed when it became obvious that Sarah was waiting for more. "I think part of it is the uniform. It's hard to separate him from the people who killed Matt. I know that's unfair. There is a war going on and men are dying every day on both sides."
Mac nodded thoughtfully, she could well understand Avis' point of view. This war had and would cost the South dearly. Their culture, their economy, their land and a generation of men."What's the other part?"
Avis looked even more pensive, "I suppose you've realized he's in love with you?"
Again, Mac nodded, looking down at her hands, "He told me."
"Even though he knows you're in love with another man? A descendent of his?"
Mac took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling before returning her gaze to her hands. "I made that clear from the beginning. I haven't tried to encourage him but... I swear, Rabb men are like a force of nature when they put their minds to it. Harm's the same way." She paused for a moment, "Did you know that Josiah lost his wife two years ago? As well as his youngest son?"
"He carries the loss with him," Avis said quietly, focusing on a picture on the wall. There was a turbulence growing around Sarah that was becoming more disturbing all the time. At times, it was difficult to look directly at her. It hadn't happened very often and only once before had it been as strong as it was at this moment. That had been when she saw Sarah come out of the barn on that day. In a way, it was fortunate that Hunter had knocked her half silly. Her reaction to what she saw around the other woman probably would have warned Milroy that something was wrong. It might have been Sarah who was killed instead of Hunter. She'd never quite been able to bring the subject up with Sarah. Now, Avis had a sinking feeling that this disturbance had to do with their attempt to return Sarah to her own century and that, somehow, Josiah was involved.
Mac kept her eyes on her hands, picking at the covers, "This is the first time he's let himself feel anything since her death and... well... Avis, he's so like Harm in so many ways. Caring, kind, considerate, stupidly stubbornly brave... " She chuckled wryly, "Of course, in some ways, he's nothing at all like Harm. I think I knew within a week how he felt about me. With Harm, for a long time I wasn't sure if we'd ever get past being friends. Sometimes, I wasn't sure we were even that." She sighed, "It's all so confusing... " She glanced up and watched Avis' gaze slip away from her and fasten on the far wall. Oh damn. She'd caught that particular move of Avis' before. Their very first meeting, as a matter of fact. After getting to know Avis better, she'd finally classified it as the 'I See Scary Things' look. "Avis? What's wrong?"
Avis sighed, glanced at Mac and looked down at her hands, "Colonel Rabb is going to try to convince you to stay. I think it's wrong of him to pressure you that way." She steeled herself and stared at the brunette, "I know you have feelings for him but could it be because he is so much like your Harm?"
Mac rubbed at her temples, "Probably, I'm not sure... at first, I think that was true, but later... oh god, I don't know what to do. I know Josiah is not Harm but he's a good man." She let her hands fall back into her lap and stared up at the ceiling, "They're both good men and I don't know how to avoid hurting either of them."
"That's because you can't." Avis stood up, "This has to be your decision. I will listen whenever you need me but I can't decide for you. You have two weeks, Sarah." She started out of the room and then stopped at the doorway, "I'll be down with Avril and Corinna. I still think you should rest. Tomorrow is soon enough to leap back into the fray."
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 0835 Local
Mac squared her shoulders and tapped on the parlor door. She had stayed in bed most of yesterday but it was more about hiding than resting. There was a lot to think about. She knew what she had to do, she just didn't want to do it.
Josiah looked up at the knock on the door. He broke into a delighted grin when the parlor door slid open to reveal Mac, "Sarah! Thank God, are you all right? Miss Payne said you'd overexerted yourself. Have you been ill?"
Mac waved a disparaging hand, "I'm feeling much better now, Josiah. I just needed to rest. I'd gotten a cut on my arm that became infected and I wound up in bed for a week. It didn't do much for my stamina," She hoped he wouldn't pursue the matter any further. There was no point in upsetting him over little things, not when she could do it with the big stuff.
He held out a hand as she walked up to his bed. "Let me look at you." He knew he was smiling foolishly at her but he couldn't help himself, he'd missed her so much.
She raised an eyebrow as he looked her up and down and then she folded her arms, "Well?"
Josiah made a show of thinking it over, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I must admit that while I have become quite fond of you in trousers, I believe it's possible that I can adjust to this latest style. It gives you a certain air of genteel domesticity. I can almost see you sitting by the fire, darning socks."
Mac shook her head and fixed him with a mock glare, "I suggest you hang on to that image while I kick your six. What did I tell you about doing stupid things?"
"That you would be amazed and gratified at the lengths I went to to gain your attention?" Josiah folded his hands and attempted an air of innocent inquiry. It was only half in jest. He'd been in enough arguments with Sarah to know that it was easier to refrain from making her seriously angry.
"You're incorrigible," Mac rolled her eyes and dropped into the chair that was by his bedside. "Josiah, what were you doing with that cavalry unit? What about your command?"
Josiah ran a finger across his mustache, "I joined them to reconnoiter the terrain and learn about the roads. It was only supposed to be for two days." He raised his hands slightly, "Then we ran into Reb militia and here I am."
Mac raised an eyebrow, "Your superiors thought that a brigade commander was the best man for that job? Have they lost all sense?"
He folded his arms and shrugged, wincing a little when his shoulder twinged, "So I called in a few favors. I needed to see you. From what your letter said, it didn't sound like I had much time." He paused and looked down, "One thing I wanted to say to you was that I'm sorry, I should have been able to protect you from Caine."
"Josiah, don't. It was my fault for becoming complacent. Heaven knows Tommy warned me often enough about Ezra Caine." Steeling herself, Mac sat upright, "But I'm afraid you're right. You don't have much time - and that's something we need to talk about."
Josiah dropped his hands down in his lap and gave her a sideways glance, "I think I can guess... You've made up your mind, haven't you? You're going to go back to your own time."
Mac closed her eyes. This was harder than she thought it would be. "I have to try, Josiah, I have a life in that century." She turned dark eyes towards him, "Can you understand? This hasn't been an easy decision. I feel like I'm being torn in two."
He stared at her silently. It would be so easy to let the bitterness out, to rail at about the unfairness of it all but, in the end, what would it gain? Sarah had been set on this course from the moment she accepted that all of this was real and not a dream. He had no one to blame but himself for pursuing his self-appointed quest to win her heart. He hadn't succeeded enough to keep Sarah here but had had enough success to ensure that leaving would cause her pain. It was a shabby way to treat someone you loved and yet... he couldn't quite tear himself away. He wanted to spend every waking moment with her. It would have to last him a lifetime.
"Josiah?" Oh god, was he going to wind up hating her? Mac found that thought almost as painful as walking away was going to be from this man.
He cleared his throat, "Sarah... " He faltered for a moment and then reached for her hand, "Sarah, I meant what I said when we first realized that you were in the wrong century. I will do what I can to help you get back to your own time - even if it's nothing more than wishing you Godspeed." He caressed her hand, causing little shivers to run down her spine, and then looked at her intently, "Just remember that if this plan of Miss Payne's doesn't work, I'll be waiting for you."
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 1750 Local
"There it is, Gunny, coming up on the left," Harm pointed at the neon sign proclaiming 'White Horse Grill'. He was doing his best to maintain a calm facade in front of Walters but he had the feeling that the Gunnery Sergeant saw right through him. As soon as they came to a halt, he was out of the car, trying not to bounce on his heels while he waited for the Gunny. The two men walked in and stood in the entryway, uncertainly. The place was moderately busy, more than Harm would have expected on a Thursday night in a town as small as Peales Crossroads. A number of patrons were eyeing them with a good deal of curiosity. It was obvious they didn't get too many uniformed military personnel through these parts. Surely, someone would have noticed Mac.
Harm started to mention his thought to the Gunny when a small, silver-haired woman came towards them, "Commander Rabb? I'm Annabel Simpson. Thank you for coming out this way." She turned bright eyes to Gunny Walters, "And who might you be, young man?"
Gunny glanced at the Commander before nodding to Annabel, he hadn't been called 'young man' in years, "Gunnery Sergeant Walters, ma'am."
Annabel tapped her chin, "Are you a friend of Miss Sarah's?"
"Yes ma'am, do you know where she is? We've all been worried." Walters was speaking no less than the truth, he was genuinely fond of the Colonel. He did his best to keep an eye out for her whenever he could. For a Marine as squared away and by the book as she was, her predilection for trouble was exceeded only by the Commander's.
"As well you should be," Annabel turned and headed down the hallway, gesturing for the two men to follow her. Harm glanced at Gunny and shrugged. They followed her into a small office. She sat down behind an old oak desk and motioned for the Gunny to shut the door. Annabel folded her hands and placed them on the desk, "Gentlemen, I'm going to tell you what I believe has happened and what I hope to do to remedy the situation. All I ask is that you keep an open mind and I'll try to answer your questions," She glanced at her watch, "We have to be on Massanutten Mountain in three hours." With that, she launched into an account of Mac's arrival and subsequent departure from the White Horse Grill.
"Wait a minute," Harm interrupted, "She drove up Massa... "
"Massanutten," Annabel supplied helpfully.
"Massanutten Mountain and the storm wasn't over yet? My God, she probably had an accident! Did you tell anybody? Has anyone looked? Why didn't you call us sooner?" Harm was clearly agitated.
"Calm down, young man," Annabel frowned at the Commander, "Massanutten has been searched. It's alway searched. The mountain has a reputation for accidents. I'm fairly certain that Sarah did have an accident but the problem isn't where to look but when."
Harm and the Gunny stared at her in surprise and then looked at each other. Harm took a deep breath, "Excuse me? Did you say when?"
Annabel nodded firmly, "I did."
Harm stared at the floor, shaking his head. Walters watched him silently. "I don't believe this," he finally muttered, looking up to glare at Annabel, "You've strung us along for two days... TWO DAYS!... so you can feed us some cock and bull story?!" He climbed to his feet as his voice rose, "What was it? Aliens? Mac got sucked up into a time-traveling spaceship? There's a magic portal up there? Dear God, I don't believe this! Is this your idea of a joke?"
"Enough! This most certainly is NOT a joke!" Annabel picked up a battered and scarred portfolio and slammed it down on the desk. Harm fell silent, still glaring at her. She took a deep breath, putting a hand on the cover of the portfolio, "My great-great-great grandfather was a Major in the Confederate army. He served under General John B. Gordon. Don't interrupt!" She waited for Harm to subside and then continued, "In the fall of 1864, he was home here in the Valley. Grandpa Simpson was an artist and he was actually quite good." She opened the portfolio, "Look at these."
Gunny Walters got up and moved to the desk. After a long pause, Harm walked over as well. Annabel carefully turned the pages. Despite his aggravation and impatience, Harm couldn't help feeling somewhat fascinated. Annabel had been right, her ancestor was talented. Here were scenes of life from one hundred and forty years ago. There were sketches of camplife, scenery, portraits of fellow officers and scenes of battle. Annabel pointed out several portraits as she continued to turn the pages, "That's General Gordon and that's Capt. Matthew Landers, a friend. He was killed in a skirmish with Union cavalry. This is his mother Corinna Simpson and this is his fiancee, Avis Payne..." She hesitated for just a moment and then turned the next page.
Walters sucked in a breath and Harm dropped both hands to the desk to brace himself. They were looking at a portrait of Mac. She was wearing a little half-smile as she gazed off to the side. Annabel pointed to the necklace she was wearing, "That's the necklace I gave her that night." She flipped back a page to Avis and pointed to the necklace she was wearing.
Gunny leaned in for a closer look and then glanced up at Annabel, "It's the same design."
Annabel shook her head, "It's the same necklace. There was only one. It was made especially for Avis Payne by her godfather, a silversmith. It was a christening gift and it's been passed down through the generations." The two men stared at her and she sighed, "Don't you see? Somehow, Sarah has landed in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. The good news is that she's managed to find the one person who would not only believe her but could also figure out how to get her back to us. If I've interpreted what I've been reading correctly, it will be tonight."
"I don't understand, ma'am," Walters gave her a puzzled look, "If you knew it would be tonight, why did you call two days ago? Why call us at all? Why not wait for Colonel MacKenzie to reappear and let her call us?" He didn't know what to think. That portrait looked authentic. This was incredibly far-fetched, but clearly, getting angry like the Commander was doing was not going to get them any answers. Since Rabb was inadvertently playing Bad Cop, he would play Good Cop and see if it was possible to sort all of this out.
Looking uncomfortable, Annabel sat back down and picked up a red leather covered volume that was almost brown with age, "I called because I want her to have a reason to come back and I didn't know how long it would take to find the man she's in love with." She looked at Rabb, "I knew you existed but I didn't know where or who you were. The problem is that I'm not sure that Sarah is going to want to return."
"What?! That's ludicrous! Why wouldn't she come back?" Harm took a breath. Dammit, he was buying into this lunatic woman's story! This had to be some sort of hoax.
Annabel fixed him with a glare, "Do you love her? Because she's met someone back then who has fallen in love with her and she's having a hard time resisting."
Harm struggled to keep his temper in check, "What the hell are you talking about? Now you're telling me that Mac is cheating on me? In the nineteenth century? How in the world could you claim to know something like that? This is some fantasy life you've got going, lady, this story gets more unbelievable all the time!"
"How were you able to find out anything? Who's the man?" Walters jumped in, hoping to soothe matters. Annabel looked like she was about to blow a gasket. "I don't think the Colonel is someone who is easily swayed." He didn't look at Rabb at all, he was taking a guess based on his knowledge of the Colonel as an officer.
Annabel fixed Harm with a gimlet stare and then turned to the Gunny. She tapped the old book, "It took me a while to find this particular volume. Avis kept a journal." She opened it carefully to a bookmarked page, adjusted her glasses and began to read, "Deacon Turner brought me a guest today. He said I would enjoy the mystery. Enjoy might be too strong a word - Sarah is an unusual woman in unusual circumstances. I would feel better if I didn't have such a sense of foreboding. I'll have to hide her in plain view. She needs time to recover and I need time to think about her problem. In these dark days, strangers are regarded with suspicion and even hostility. Fortunately, not only is she an intelligent woman, she is also fluent in a number of languages. We've come up with a story that has a basis in truth. She will be an acquaintance from Russia whom I met while abroad, a Miss Sasha Natalya Dzurick, She was visiting our fair state when her carriage was set upon by ruffians. They killed her driver and left her for dead. Deacon found her and brought her to me."
Lowering the journal, Annabel gazed at the two men. Gunnery Sergeant Walters looked astonished while Commander Rabb was white-faced with shock. Forgetting her ire with the man, Annabel looked at the Commander with concern, "Are you all right? Would you like a glass of water, young man?"
Numbly, Harm shook his head, "How did you know that name?"
Confused, Annabel glanced at Walters and then back at Rabb, "What name?"
"Dzurick. How did you know it?" Harm felt like his world had just been yanked out from under him. What the hell was going on? This time-travel theory was ridiculous. It had to be! But how would this woman have known about the Bacovian royal family and Mac's involvement with them? It couldn't be true... but if it was, then... he lurched forward, 'Left for dead'? Oh dear God... "Mac was hurt? How?"
"Commander, I'm only reading what's in the journal. I've never heard the name before." Annabel shook her head, "I don't know exactly how Sarah was hurt, this first entry is the only time Avis mentions it." She held up the journal, "There's a fair number of entries, it looks like Sarah was a guest of Avis' for six weeks."
"Wait a minute," Gunny held up a hand, "The Colonel has only been gone a week."
"In this century. From what I've read, it looks like Sarah has been in the 1800's for about three months." Annabel shrugged, "I don't understand why there's a difference. Maybe those science fiction writers were on to something with the parallel universe theories. It gives me a headache when I try to figure it out."
She opened another bookmarked page, "Listen to this entry - Tonight, we go up the mountain. God willing, Sarah will reach her home. At least, I hope she will. Josiah Rabb has made no secret of his feelings for her. I'm afraid he will weaken her resolve. I know she carries a sense of guilt because he was wounded while searching for her. He knows that Sarah loves another man but that did not stop him from pursuing her. For that, I cannot like him although, otherwise, he seems to be a pleasant man. He's causing Sarah undue heartache and jeopardizing her chance to return. If it does not happen tonight, it may never happen and she will be trapped here. I have not told Sarah any of this. She must make her own decision and I fear to influence her. She has become like family and while I know it's best that she return, I would rejoice to have her stay." Annabel stopped reading and put the journal down.
Gunny looked at Harm in surprise, "Do you know who Josiah Rabb is, sir?"
Harm shook his head, "I have no idea. I've never paid that much attention to the family tree." He looked at Annabel, "May I see the journal?"
"Yes, but first I'd like to show you one more thing," Annabel went back to the portfolio and paged through it quickly. Finding the sketch she was looking for, she turned the tome around and pointed, "This is Josiah Rabb."
Harm sucked in a breath, he was looking at a portrait of his father.
Avis walked into the parlor with a fresh basin of water and clean bandages. Dealing with Sarah's injury had taught her a few things. She'd just finished with Avril and he was sleeping again. Once she was done with the Colonel, she'd check on Sarah once more. The brunette hadn't stirred at all when Avis had looked in a little after sunrise. She was running a low fever but Avis didn't think it was serious. Probably her body's way of protesting the abuse it had gone through yesterday. Deacon had come by early, dropping off Enoch to take care of the stock. He was taking Matt to the undertaker in town so they could prepare him for his final trip home.
She put the basin down and then jumped in surprise when she realized that a pair of sea-green eyes were watching her intently. Even with half his head wrapped in bandages, Colonel Rabb was a handsome man. He spoke quietly, "I didn't mean to startle you." His gaze drifted around the room, "Where am I?"
Avis inclined her head, regaining her composure, "In the parlor of my home, sir." She pulled a chair up next to him and reached up to start unwinding the bandages.
Rabb caught her wrist in a surprisingly strong grip, "Why?" She regarded him steadily and glanced at her wrist. He let it go with a muttered apology and repeated his question, "Why?"
Softening her gaze, she watched him closely as she answered in a quiet tone, "Because Sarah asked me to do so."
This time it was Rabb who jumped in surprise and then grimaced. He looked at her with wide eyes, "Sarah? Sarah MacKenzie? She's here? Where is she? Is she all right?"
Avis gave him a reassuring smile, "Yes, Sarah's here. She's asleep right now and hopefully, she'll stay sleeping for a few more hours. She wore herself out yesterday."
Rabb sat quietly digesting that and Avis took the opportunity to replace the bandage on his head. Cleaned up, it didn't look nearly so bad. The cut was long but shallow. She looked at him, "You were lucky."
"Hard headed is probably closer to the truth," he eyed her for a long moment, "Sarah's letter said that you'd figured out her secret almost immediately."
She shrugged, touching the necklace that she wore, "Hard not to when she's wearing my necklace. Apparently, it's a family heirloom in the future. Did you figure it out or did she tell you?" Avis had been forced to read between the lines on the subject of Josiah Rabb. Sarah had been fairly tight-lipped about the man. Even so, it was obvious that she had feelings for the Colonel - feelings she was doing her best to suppress. To say it was an unusual dilemma was a massive understatement. How often did someone fall for the great great great grandfather of the man she loved? While Avis waited for him to reply, she began removing the old bandage from the wound at the top of his shoulder. It was minor also, but it did seem to curtail arm movement on that side.
Josiah winced and then chuckled ruefully, "I wound up having to convince her about the truth. She thought all of this was some giant delusion. Told me that I didn't exist - that I was just a figment of her imagination."
Avis smiled, she could see Sarah saying something of the sort to the Yankee officer. She stared at him for a moment, "Sarah told you about Harmon Rabb, didn't she?"
He looked down at his hands, "Yes, it seems I look just like him or, I should say, he looks like me - without the mustache."
"Yet you pursued her anyway," Avis' lips were compressed in a thin line.
Josiah looked back up at her, his expression almost defiant, "Yes. I can't help that I fell in love with her. Why shouldn't I pursue her? I believe I can make her happy. I know she makes me happy. There's precious little of that going around in these times."
Avis shook her head, "You're complicating what should be an easy decision. Her destiny does not lie in this century."
"How do you know? Maybe this is her destiny. Why else would this have happened? Why else would I have met her?" He'd been thinking about this quite a bit.
"I don't know and neither do you," Avis stood up, collecting the soiled bandages. She had a pot boiling on the stove. She stared at him for several seconds and then said softly, "You had your soulmate, why are you trying to keep Sarah from hers?" She turned around and walked out, leaving him staring after her.
JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia 1605 Local
"Enter," AJ looked up as Harm marched into his office. He took off his glasses and leaned back, "You've heard from our mystery woman, haven't you?" He gestured for Rabb to have a seat.
Harm dropped into the chair, "Yes sir." He leaned forward, running a hand through his hair, "It was a frustrating call."
AJ scowled, "No lead to Mac's whereabouts? Was this woman just some crackpot?"
"I'm not sure, sir. She said that she thought she knew what happened and that she thinks she can find Mac, but she wouldn't be any more specific." He hesitated for a second, "She said it was hard to explain over the phone. She wants to meet me at 6 p.m. at the White Horse Grill in some little town called Peales Crossroads."
Chegwidden glanced at his watch, "There's no way you can reach the Shenandoah Valley in under two hours."
Harm shook his head, "She said to meet her two days from now. On that particular point, she was very specific - said the timing would be wrong otherwise."
"Whatever the hell that means," AJ looked at Harm in disbelief. "She sounds like a nutcase."
"I know," Harm spread his hands, "But what else can we do? What if she can find Mac? Do we dare pass up the chance just because she sounds... um... eccentric?"
AJ sighed, that was the sticking point. He raised an eyebrow, "You want me to let you go to the meeting."
Harm straightened in his chair, "Yes sir. She made it fairly clear that I was the one to meet with her."
"Why?"
Harm stammered a little. His relationship with Mac wasn't a secret but that didn't mean he wished to discuss it with his commanding officer. He sometimes got the feeling that the Admiral thought he was a bit of an idiot to have waited so long to pursue Mac. "Sir, she said... ah... it was because I was closest to Mac."
Chegwidden sat silently for a long minute, "I don't know, Commander, what if this woman wants you to go somewhere with her? Can you trust her?"
Rabb stiffened a little, "Sir, I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to find Colonel MacKenzie." Damn, was the Admiral about to refuse permission?
AJ rubbed his jaw, "I'm well aware of that, Commander. That's part of the problem." He held up a hand when he saw Harm gathering steam, "You can go, Harm. You're just not going alone. I'm sending Gunny Walters with you."
Too relieved that Chegwidden was going to let him go, Harm didn't even put up a token protest at having a babysitter. After the Admiral dismissed him, he hurried back to his office. Two days. In two days' time, he'd be that much closer to finding Mac.
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 1017 Local
Avis wearily put down her tea when Roger tore through the kitchen and out the back door. She'd been half expecting and half dreading this. Going to the window, she watched Corinna climb out of her carriage and hurry up the walkway. Moving towards the front door, she walked into the entry hall as Mrs. Simpson gave a perfunctory knock and sailed in. Spotting Avis, the older woman went to her and gave her a hug, "Oh my dear, Deacon told me what you'd done. I don't know how to thank you. Where is he?"
Resisting the urge to sigh, Avis regarded Corinna steadily, "I didn't do it alone, I couldn't have. You can thank Sarah as well."
To her surprise, Corinna looked embarrassed, "I owe the young lady an apology as well. It doesn't really matter where she's from, she's been a good friend." She stared at the carpet, "It was... mortifying... to realize that you found it necessary for such a charade. Will you forgive me?"
Avis smiled, feeling like some of her burden had been stripped away, "Only if you'll forgive me for lying to you in the first place." She pointed down the hallway, "He's in the downstairs bedroom. He was still asleep when I last checked."
Corinna took a step in that direction and then stopped, "Where is Sarah?"
"Upstairs, in bed. She pushed herself to the point of collapse yesterday."
"Oh dear, will she be all right?" Corinna took half a step back towards Avis and then stopped when the young woman held up a hand.
"I believe she'll be fine, she just needs to rest. Go see Avril. I'll check on Sarah and then join you." Avis watched Corinna nod and walk down the hallway. Glancing at the closed parlor doors, she shook her head. As surprised as she was at Corinna's change of attitude towards Sarah, she had no illusions about the woman's reaction to a Yankee Colonel. Right now, discretion was definitely the better part of valor. She turned to the staircase and started up. Reaching the bedroom, she cautiously opened the door and looked in. When she saw Sarah looking back, Avis smiled and came all the way in, "Good morning. How are you feeling?" She walked up to the bed and put a hand on Sarah's forehead - still a little warm, but not alarmingly so.
"Better. Hungry," Mac pushed herself upright and scooted backward so she could lean against the headboard. "You look tired, though. You should have gotten me up, I could have helped this morning."
Avis sat down in the chair next to the bed, "Don't be silly. You were worn out." She raised an eyebrow, "If I thought it was remotely possible, I'd try to keep you in bed for the rest of the day." When Mac snorted, Avis folded her arms, "That's what I thought. However... " she glared at the brunette, "you are staying in the house. No chores. Enoch is taking care of the stock for me, so the only exertion you're going to have is going up and down the stairs... and that better not be too often."
Mac rolled her eyes and sighed, "Yes, Mother." Growing more serious, she looked at Avis, "Avril and Josiah, how are they?"
"Lucky. Avril's chest wound isn't as bad as I first thought it was. It looks like he was hit from the side, right under the arm. The bullet broke a rib and then changed direction. It went down his side and came out near the hip. Right now, he can't even sit up or move his left arm." She hesitated for just a moment, "Corinna is sitting with him right now. Deacon told her while he was in town taking Matt to the undertaker."
Mac frowned slightly, "I'll try to stay out of her way. I don't want to cause any more problems between you two. Does she know about Josiah?"
Avis reached over and patted her on the leg, "Don't worry about Corinna. She's already apologized to me for her behavior and she's planning to apologize to you. And to answer your other question, she doesn't know about Colonel Rabb. He's fine, by the way, his worst injury seems to be the broken leg. If we can find or make a crutch for him, he'll probably be up and around in a few days."
Mac caught the note of restraint in Avis' voice when she talked about Josiah. She looked at the young woman carefully, "You don't like Josiah, do you?" It was a bit of a shock, it hadn't occurred to her that Avis might dislike the man. In many ways, he was just like Harm.
"Sarah, I don't even know him," Avis hedged and then sighed when it became obvious that Sarah was waiting for more. "I think part of it is the uniform. It's hard to separate him from the people who killed Matt. I know that's unfair. There is a war going on and men are dying every day on both sides."
Mac nodded thoughtfully, she could well understand Avis' point of view. This war had and would cost the South dearly. Their culture, their economy, their land and a generation of men."What's the other part?"
Avis looked even more pensive, "I suppose you've realized he's in love with you?"
Again, Mac nodded, looking down at her hands, "He told me."
"Even though he knows you're in love with another man? A descendent of his?"
Mac took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling before returning her gaze to her hands. "I made that clear from the beginning. I haven't tried to encourage him but... I swear, Rabb men are like a force of nature when they put their minds to it. Harm's the same way." She paused for a moment, "Did you know that Josiah lost his wife two years ago? As well as his youngest son?"
"He carries the loss with him," Avis said quietly, focusing on a picture on the wall. There was a turbulence growing around Sarah that was becoming more disturbing all the time. At times, it was difficult to look directly at her. It hadn't happened very often and only once before had it been as strong as it was at this moment. That had been when she saw Sarah come out of the barn on that day. In a way, it was fortunate that Hunter had knocked her half silly. Her reaction to what she saw around the other woman probably would have warned Milroy that something was wrong. It might have been Sarah who was killed instead of Hunter. She'd never quite been able to bring the subject up with Sarah. Now, Avis had a sinking feeling that this disturbance had to do with their attempt to return Sarah to her own century and that, somehow, Josiah was involved.
Mac kept her eyes on her hands, picking at the covers, "This is the first time he's let himself feel anything since her death and... well... Avis, he's so like Harm in so many ways. Caring, kind, considerate, stupidly stubbornly brave... " She chuckled wryly, "Of course, in some ways, he's nothing at all like Harm. I think I knew within a week how he felt about me. With Harm, for a long time I wasn't sure if we'd ever get past being friends. Sometimes, I wasn't sure we were even that." She sighed, "It's all so confusing... " She glanced up and watched Avis' gaze slip away from her and fasten on the far wall. Oh damn. She'd caught that particular move of Avis' before. Their very first meeting, as a matter of fact. After getting to know Avis better, she'd finally classified it as the 'I See Scary Things' look. "Avis? What's wrong?"
Avis sighed, glanced at Mac and looked down at her hands, "Colonel Rabb is going to try to convince you to stay. I think it's wrong of him to pressure you that way." She steeled herself and stared at the brunette, "I know you have feelings for him but could it be because he is so much like your Harm?"
Mac rubbed at her temples, "Probably, I'm not sure... at first, I think that was true, but later... oh god, I don't know what to do. I know Josiah is not Harm but he's a good man." She let her hands fall back into her lap and stared up at the ceiling, "They're both good men and I don't know how to avoid hurting either of them."
"That's because you can't." Avis stood up, "This has to be your decision. I will listen whenever you need me but I can't decide for you. You have two weeks, Sarah." She started out of the room and then stopped at the doorway, "I'll be down with Avril and Corinna. I still think you should rest. Tomorrow is soon enough to leap back into the fray."
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 0835 Local
Mac squared her shoulders and tapped on the parlor door. She had stayed in bed most of yesterday but it was more about hiding than resting. There was a lot to think about. She knew what she had to do, she just didn't want to do it.
Josiah looked up at the knock on the door. He broke into a delighted grin when the parlor door slid open to reveal Mac, "Sarah! Thank God, are you all right? Miss Payne said you'd overexerted yourself. Have you been ill?"
Mac waved a disparaging hand, "I'm feeling much better now, Josiah. I just needed to rest. I'd gotten a cut on my arm that became infected and I wound up in bed for a week. It didn't do much for my stamina," She hoped he wouldn't pursue the matter any further. There was no point in upsetting him over little things, not when she could do it with the big stuff.
He held out a hand as she walked up to his bed. "Let me look at you." He knew he was smiling foolishly at her but he couldn't help himself, he'd missed her so much.
She raised an eyebrow as he looked her up and down and then she folded her arms, "Well?"
Josiah made a show of thinking it over, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I must admit that while I have become quite fond of you in trousers, I believe it's possible that I can adjust to this latest style. It gives you a certain air of genteel domesticity. I can almost see you sitting by the fire, darning socks."
Mac shook her head and fixed him with a mock glare, "I suggest you hang on to that image while I kick your six. What did I tell you about doing stupid things?"
"That you would be amazed and gratified at the lengths I went to to gain your attention?" Josiah folded his hands and attempted an air of innocent inquiry. It was only half in jest. He'd been in enough arguments with Sarah to know that it was easier to refrain from making her seriously angry.
"You're incorrigible," Mac rolled her eyes and dropped into the chair that was by his bedside. "Josiah, what were you doing with that cavalry unit? What about your command?"
Josiah ran a finger across his mustache, "I joined them to reconnoiter the terrain and learn about the roads. It was only supposed to be for two days." He raised his hands slightly, "Then we ran into Reb militia and here I am."
Mac raised an eyebrow, "Your superiors thought that a brigade commander was the best man for that job? Have they lost all sense?"
He folded his arms and shrugged, wincing a little when his shoulder twinged, "So I called in a few favors. I needed to see you. From what your letter said, it didn't sound like I had much time." He paused and looked down, "One thing I wanted to say to you was that I'm sorry, I should have been able to protect you from Caine."
"Josiah, don't. It was my fault for becoming complacent. Heaven knows Tommy warned me often enough about Ezra Caine." Steeling herself, Mac sat upright, "But I'm afraid you're right. You don't have much time - and that's something we need to talk about."
Josiah dropped his hands down in his lap and gave her a sideways glance, "I think I can guess... You've made up your mind, haven't you? You're going to go back to your own time."
Mac closed her eyes. This was harder than she thought it would be. "I have to try, Josiah, I have a life in that century." She turned dark eyes towards him, "Can you understand? This hasn't been an easy decision. I feel like I'm being torn in two."
He stared at her silently. It would be so easy to let the bitterness out, to rail at about the unfairness of it all but, in the end, what would it gain? Sarah had been set on this course from the moment she accepted that all of this was real and not a dream. He had no one to blame but himself for pursuing his self-appointed quest to win her heart. He hadn't succeeded enough to keep Sarah here but had had enough success to ensure that leaving would cause her pain. It was a shabby way to treat someone you loved and yet... he couldn't quite tear himself away. He wanted to spend every waking moment with her. It would have to last him a lifetime.
"Josiah?" Oh god, was he going to wind up hating her? Mac found that thought almost as painful as walking away was going to be from this man.
He cleared his throat, "Sarah... " He faltered for a moment and then reached for her hand, "Sarah, I meant what I said when we first realized that you were in the wrong century. I will do what I can to help you get back to your own time - even if it's nothing more than wishing you Godspeed." He caressed her hand, causing little shivers to run down her spine, and then looked at her intently, "Just remember that if this plan of Miss Payne's doesn't work, I'll be waiting for you."
Shenandoah Valley Northern Virginia 1750 Local
"There it is, Gunny, coming up on the left," Harm pointed at the neon sign proclaiming 'White Horse Grill'. He was doing his best to maintain a calm facade in front of Walters but he had the feeling that the Gunnery Sergeant saw right through him. As soon as they came to a halt, he was out of the car, trying not to bounce on his heels while he waited for the Gunny. The two men walked in and stood in the entryway, uncertainly. The place was moderately busy, more than Harm would have expected on a Thursday night in a town as small as Peales Crossroads. A number of patrons were eyeing them with a good deal of curiosity. It was obvious they didn't get too many uniformed military personnel through these parts. Surely, someone would have noticed Mac.
Harm started to mention his thought to the Gunny when a small, silver-haired woman came towards them, "Commander Rabb? I'm Annabel Simpson. Thank you for coming out this way." She turned bright eyes to Gunny Walters, "And who might you be, young man?"
Gunny glanced at the Commander before nodding to Annabel, he hadn't been called 'young man' in years, "Gunnery Sergeant Walters, ma'am."
Annabel tapped her chin, "Are you a friend of Miss Sarah's?"
"Yes ma'am, do you know where she is? We've all been worried." Walters was speaking no less than the truth, he was genuinely fond of the Colonel. He did his best to keep an eye out for her whenever he could. For a Marine as squared away and by the book as she was, her predilection for trouble was exceeded only by the Commander's.
"As well you should be," Annabel turned and headed down the hallway, gesturing for the two men to follow her. Harm glanced at Gunny and shrugged. They followed her into a small office. She sat down behind an old oak desk and motioned for the Gunny to shut the door. Annabel folded her hands and placed them on the desk, "Gentlemen, I'm going to tell you what I believe has happened and what I hope to do to remedy the situation. All I ask is that you keep an open mind and I'll try to answer your questions," She glanced at her watch, "We have to be on Massanutten Mountain in three hours." With that, she launched into an account of Mac's arrival and subsequent departure from the White Horse Grill.
"Wait a minute," Harm interrupted, "She drove up Massa... "
"Massanutten," Annabel supplied helpfully.
"Massanutten Mountain and the storm wasn't over yet? My God, she probably had an accident! Did you tell anybody? Has anyone looked? Why didn't you call us sooner?" Harm was clearly agitated.
"Calm down, young man," Annabel frowned at the Commander, "Massanutten has been searched. It's alway searched. The mountain has a reputation for accidents. I'm fairly certain that Sarah did have an accident but the problem isn't where to look but when."
Harm and the Gunny stared at her in surprise and then looked at each other. Harm took a deep breath, "Excuse me? Did you say when?"
Annabel nodded firmly, "I did."
Harm stared at the floor, shaking his head. Walters watched him silently. "I don't believe this," he finally muttered, looking up to glare at Annabel, "You've strung us along for two days... TWO DAYS!... so you can feed us some cock and bull story?!" He climbed to his feet as his voice rose, "What was it? Aliens? Mac got sucked up into a time-traveling spaceship? There's a magic portal up there? Dear God, I don't believe this! Is this your idea of a joke?"
"Enough! This most certainly is NOT a joke!" Annabel picked up a battered and scarred portfolio and slammed it down on the desk. Harm fell silent, still glaring at her. She took a deep breath, putting a hand on the cover of the portfolio, "My great-great-great grandfather was a Major in the Confederate army. He served under General John B. Gordon. Don't interrupt!" She waited for Harm to subside and then continued, "In the fall of 1864, he was home here in the Valley. Grandpa Simpson was an artist and he was actually quite good." She opened the portfolio, "Look at these."
Gunny Walters got up and moved to the desk. After a long pause, Harm walked over as well. Annabel carefully turned the pages. Despite his aggravation and impatience, Harm couldn't help feeling somewhat fascinated. Annabel had been right, her ancestor was talented. Here were scenes of life from one hundred and forty years ago. There were sketches of camplife, scenery, portraits of fellow officers and scenes of battle. Annabel pointed out several portraits as she continued to turn the pages, "That's General Gordon and that's Capt. Matthew Landers, a friend. He was killed in a skirmish with Union cavalry. This is his mother Corinna Simpson and this is his fiancee, Avis Payne..." She hesitated for just a moment and then turned the next page.
Walters sucked in a breath and Harm dropped both hands to the desk to brace himself. They were looking at a portrait of Mac. She was wearing a little half-smile as she gazed off to the side. Annabel pointed to the necklace she was wearing, "That's the necklace I gave her that night." She flipped back a page to Avis and pointed to the necklace she was wearing.
Gunny leaned in for a closer look and then glanced up at Annabel, "It's the same design."
Annabel shook her head, "It's the same necklace. There was only one. It was made especially for Avis Payne by her godfather, a silversmith. It was a christening gift and it's been passed down through the generations." The two men stared at her and she sighed, "Don't you see? Somehow, Sarah has landed in the Shenandoah Valley in 1864. The good news is that she's managed to find the one person who would not only believe her but could also figure out how to get her back to us. If I've interpreted what I've been reading correctly, it will be tonight."
"I don't understand, ma'am," Walters gave her a puzzled look, "If you knew it would be tonight, why did you call two days ago? Why call us at all? Why not wait for Colonel MacKenzie to reappear and let her call us?" He didn't know what to think. That portrait looked authentic. This was incredibly far-fetched, but clearly, getting angry like the Commander was doing was not going to get them any answers. Since Rabb was inadvertently playing Bad Cop, he would play Good Cop and see if it was possible to sort all of this out.
Looking uncomfortable, Annabel sat back down and picked up a red leather covered volume that was almost brown with age, "I called because I want her to have a reason to come back and I didn't know how long it would take to find the man she's in love with." She looked at Rabb, "I knew you existed but I didn't know where or who you were. The problem is that I'm not sure that Sarah is going to want to return."
"What?! That's ludicrous! Why wouldn't she come back?" Harm took a breath. Dammit, he was buying into this lunatic woman's story! This had to be some sort of hoax.
Annabel fixed him with a glare, "Do you love her? Because she's met someone back then who has fallen in love with her and she's having a hard time resisting."
Harm struggled to keep his temper in check, "What the hell are you talking about? Now you're telling me that Mac is cheating on me? In the nineteenth century? How in the world could you claim to know something like that? This is some fantasy life you've got going, lady, this story gets more unbelievable all the time!"
"How were you able to find out anything? Who's the man?" Walters jumped in, hoping to soothe matters. Annabel looked like she was about to blow a gasket. "I don't think the Colonel is someone who is easily swayed." He didn't look at Rabb at all, he was taking a guess based on his knowledge of the Colonel as an officer.
Annabel fixed Harm with a gimlet stare and then turned to the Gunny. She tapped the old book, "It took me a while to find this particular volume. Avis kept a journal." She opened it carefully to a bookmarked page, adjusted her glasses and began to read, "Deacon Turner brought me a guest today. He said I would enjoy the mystery. Enjoy might be too strong a word - Sarah is an unusual woman in unusual circumstances. I would feel better if I didn't have such a sense of foreboding. I'll have to hide her in plain view. She needs time to recover and I need time to think about her problem. In these dark days, strangers are regarded with suspicion and even hostility. Fortunately, not only is she an intelligent woman, she is also fluent in a number of languages. We've come up with a story that has a basis in truth. She will be an acquaintance from Russia whom I met while abroad, a Miss Sasha Natalya Dzurick, She was visiting our fair state when her carriage was set upon by ruffians. They killed her driver and left her for dead. Deacon found her and brought her to me."
Lowering the journal, Annabel gazed at the two men. Gunnery Sergeant Walters looked astonished while Commander Rabb was white-faced with shock. Forgetting her ire with the man, Annabel looked at the Commander with concern, "Are you all right? Would you like a glass of water, young man?"
Numbly, Harm shook his head, "How did you know that name?"
Confused, Annabel glanced at Walters and then back at Rabb, "What name?"
"Dzurick. How did you know it?" Harm felt like his world had just been yanked out from under him. What the hell was going on? This time-travel theory was ridiculous. It had to be! But how would this woman have known about the Bacovian royal family and Mac's involvement with them? It couldn't be true... but if it was, then... he lurched forward, 'Left for dead'? Oh dear God... "Mac was hurt? How?"
"Commander, I'm only reading what's in the journal. I've never heard the name before." Annabel shook her head, "I don't know exactly how Sarah was hurt, this first entry is the only time Avis mentions it." She held up the journal, "There's a fair number of entries, it looks like Sarah was a guest of Avis' for six weeks."
"Wait a minute," Gunny held up a hand, "The Colonel has only been gone a week."
"In this century. From what I've read, it looks like Sarah has been in the 1800's for about three months." Annabel shrugged, "I don't understand why there's a difference. Maybe those science fiction writers were on to something with the parallel universe theories. It gives me a headache when I try to figure it out."
She opened another bookmarked page, "Listen to this entry - Tonight, we go up the mountain. God willing, Sarah will reach her home. At least, I hope she will. Josiah Rabb has made no secret of his feelings for her. I'm afraid he will weaken her resolve. I know she carries a sense of guilt because he was wounded while searching for her. He knows that Sarah loves another man but that did not stop him from pursuing her. For that, I cannot like him although, otherwise, he seems to be a pleasant man. He's causing Sarah undue heartache and jeopardizing her chance to return. If it does not happen tonight, it may never happen and she will be trapped here. I have not told Sarah any of this. She must make her own decision and I fear to influence her. She has become like family and while I know it's best that she return, I would rejoice to have her stay." Annabel stopped reading and put the journal down.
Gunny looked at Harm in surprise, "Do you know who Josiah Rabb is, sir?"
Harm shook his head, "I have no idea. I've never paid that much attention to the family tree." He looked at Annabel, "May I see the journal?"
"Yes, but first I'd like to show you one more thing," Annabel went back to the portfolio and paged through it quickly. Finding the sketch she was looking for, she turned the tome around and pointed, "This is Josiah Rabb."
Harm sucked in a breath, he was looking at a portrait of his father.