A Leap of Faith (The Hands of Time: Book 2) (22 page)

Virginia 1622

Louisa spread a blanket beneath the shady canopy of a maple tree in front of the house and sat down, gently setting baby Dotty next to her.  Dottie was too intent on chewing the tail of Finn’s wooden horse to pay much attention to her surroundings.  She gripped the toy with both hands, trying to get a bigger bite.  She was at the stage where she pulled everything into her mouth.  Louisa wiped the drool from her face and adjusted her bonnet.  She usually took Dotty on Agnes’ afternoons off to allow Agnes to spend time with Richard Squires.  The couple was to be married after harvest, since both Alec and Kit agreed to terminate their indenture contracts to allow the newlyweds to start a new life.  Richard had been a carpenter in Cornwall, and intended to open up his own workshop in Jamestown after the wedding.  Louisa was happy for Agnes, but she would miss Dottie.  She had grown attached to the little girl and would miss spending time with her. 

Louisa hoped that Kit would be back from Trinidad in time for the wedding.  She had asked Reverend Blackley to officiate, since both the bride and groom were Protestant.  Louisa visited Anne Blackley at least once a month, but the Blackleys were leaving also.  The reverend intended to go to a settlement further
west where a clergyman was needed.  Anne supported her husband’s decision, and looked forward to the new place.  All in all, she was doing remarkably well.  Anne would never fully recover from her ordeal, but she seemed happy with the reverend and had actually grown fond of him.  Louisa had no idea if they ever consummated their marriage, but it didn’t matter.  They both seemed content with the arrangement, and that was a good thing all around. 

Louisa thought of contentment and smiled.  She couldn’t wait for Kit to get back.  They had been married for just over two years, but she still missed him like a new bride every time
he went away.  Absence did indeed make the heart grow fonder.  She thought of how happy Kit would be when she told him her news. 

They had been trying to conceive since they came to Rosewood Manor, but month after month went by without results.  Louisa
suspected that Kit blamed himself for her failure to get pregnant.  Helena never got with child, so Kit just assumed that the fault lay with him.  Louisa knew he was tormented with guilt at not being able to give her the baby she wanted, and that made her news all the sweeter.  She suspected she was pregnant before he left a few weeks ago, but she wanted to be sure.  According to Bridget, she was almost three months gone and would be in the second trimester by the time Kit returned.  Louisa smiled, imagining his joy when he heard the news. 

Her reverie was
interrupted by the arrival of Valerie, who plopped down on the blanket and pulled Dottie onto her lap, wiping her face with the hem of her gown and giving her a kiss.  “I’m going to miss her,” Valerie said wistfully.  “She is such an angel.  I miss having a baby around the house.  Guess I’ll have to wait to spoil yours.  I bet you can’t wait to tell Kit.”

“I wish he was coming home today,” answered Louisa, reclining on the blanket.  “I miss him madly.”

“Lou, if you had to do it over again, would you still follow me back in time?” Valerie asked, snatching her finger away from Dottie’s teeth.

“Yes, only if I knew how well it would all work out
, I wouldn’t have been so scared.  What about you, Val?  If you knew then what you know now, would you still turn the hands on that clock?”  Louisa peered at her sister, knowing her answer already.

“I would.  It’s funny, but I’ve been able to find here that which always eluded me in my own time.  Seems you’ve found it too.  Now all you have to do is tell your husband that you came from 2012,” giggled Valerie.  “Tell him right after you tell him that you
’re expecting.  He might attribute it to pregnancy hormones and not think you’re insane.”

“Thanks for the advice, Sis.  I think I’ll hold off.  He never asks about the past, so why bring it up? 
Why burden him with things he can’t understand?  It’s not like we are going back to the future.”

“No, it’s not.  But what if we could?”

The End

The Hands of Time: Book 3
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Prologue

October 2012

Weak rays of autumn sunshine filtered through the shop windows, dust motes twirling lazily in the shafts of light, settling onto the scuffed floor.  The wooden counter reflected the sun, being the only object left in the empty room.  Just yesterday, Hugh Sanders had his men crate up the inventory and remove it to his own shop in Plymouth.  He rubbed his hands with pleasure, congratulating himself on the low price he paid for the lot.  Only patches of unfaded wallpaper remained where paintings had hung for years, and scratches on the floor bore testament to pieces of antique furniture that crowded the small showroom. 

Frederick Taylor looked around the empty room before closing the door behind him for the last time. 
By next week, this place would be an internet café, or yet another gift shop.  He’d stop by the estate agent’s and drop off the keys before taking himself out for a leisurely breakfast.  After that, he’d be on his way.  He’d spend a few days in London, as planned, then catch a flight to the States.  He had some unfinished business in Colonial Virginia; business that he’d put off for way too long. 

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