A Time for Everything Read Online Free Page A

tell, toilet paper wasn’t amongst her room’s modest amenities. She dropped the lid over the pot and shoved it back under her bed. Its contents sloshed, wetting her bare feet.
    “Oh my God! How did people live like this?” She crawled back into her finally warm blankets, urine-damp feet and all. She thought she ought to turn her wet clothing, but it was such a luxury to finally be warm she didn’t want to stay out of bed for very long. The phone. I should try my phone. Her fingers closed around the warm, plastic case. At the last moment, she decided to give the electronics a few more hours to dry. If she turned it on too soon she might cut off her only lifeline.
    The next thing that woke her was a sharp knocking on her door. “Siobhan. ’Tis long past time to be up. Ye’ll sleep the day away.”
    Prying gritty eyes open, she saw the room was flooded with light from a window made of wavy glass. Though it let light in, she couldn’t see out. He called her name again. “I’m up already,” she said peevishly. “Just give me a few minutes to dress.”
    As she’d feared, her things were far from dry. Oh, they weren’t dripping anymore, but it took all her self-discipline to put the clammy garments next to her skin again. Please, she prayed to no one in particular, let it have stopped raining. Taking a measured breath, she powered her phone. When the small screen lit up, she was so delighted she kissed it.
    Yesss…
    All too soon, the words in the upper left hand corner of the display switched from Searching to No Service . Sam bit her lower lip in frustration. This was absolute proof she wasn’t in Inverness. And maybe proof she wasn’t even in the twenty-first century anymore. She shivered from far more than wet clothing.
    Footsteps sounded in the hall. Before Angus could knock again, she turned the phone off, put it in a pocket, and picked up her backpack. She was just turning the lock as his fist fell on the door. “Ready,” she said. “I’m ready,” and stepped into the dark hallway.
    “I’ve bread from the kitchen,” he informed her. “And a jug o’ mead so we can depart directly.” His hair was braided this morning. Shiny and dark, it still looked wet. He was wrapped in the same plaid as the night before. Her fingers twitched. She wanted to reach out and touch the fabric to see if it was still just as wet as her clothing. Yeah, right, her inner voice goaded . Fabric be damned. You want to touch him. Admit it.
    “Mmph.” She answered both him and her inner self, deciding to not even try to talk until she got herself under better control. She balled both hands into fists to make sure the fingers in question didn’t develop a mind of their own.
    He led her outside into weak sunlight. The sky was still thick with clouds, but at least it wasn’t raining. Sam inhaled deeply. It really was a lovely morning. If only she could get back to where she belonged, all would be well with the world. She’d even forgive Angus for dragging her to this bizarre reenactor encampment.
    A boy wearing leather breeches and a torn wool sweater held on to two horses. Angus flipped him a coin and looked at her. “Take the mare.” He pointed to the smaller of the horses, a bay with lovely markings.
    She looked at the blanket covering the horse’s back. “Uh, I’ve never ridden bareback before. Not sure I can do that.”
    He rolled his eyes and stepped closer. “I’ll help you up. Dinna fash yourself, Lilly is gentle. She willna throw you.”
    “Are these your horses?” Sam asked, surprised. Why did Angus keep horses in Inverness if he didn’t live here?
    He flashed her a smile. “Aye, lass. I sent word to my holdings last evening. Jamie here brought them down during the night.” He glanced at the boy. “There’s a good lad. Are ye certain ye wouldna care to ride back? Soulna,” he slapped the large black stallion’s rump, “can carry the two of us.”
    The boy, who looked to be about ten, shook blond curls