referring to the man he’d dragged into the woods. He took a drink. “Do you wish him dead?”
“Nay. Despite what he has done I do not wish him dead.”
“Hmmm. I’m not sure whether I agree, but you can relax. I didn’t kill him.”
Alexandra smoothed the hair from her brother’s forehead. After a moment, she said, “I realize Garrett can be a handful, but he would never steal.”
When he didn’t answer, she said, “I suppose you think I am foolish?”
Joe shook his head. “No. You were right. He’s innocent.”
She looked into Joe’s eyes, surprised by his words as she tried to read the expression on his face. Then she turned away with a smile curving her lips.
“As long as we keep the wound clean,” Joe said, “your brother will be all right.”
It was obvious Alexandra didn’t feel the same confidence, but still, she nodded.
“I left Susan and Rebecca at the inn. The innkeeper promised to watch over them for a few extra coins when we return.” Joe patted the pouch at his side, the pouch he’d taken from George. “This should take care of it.”
Alexandra rested her hand on his forearm. “Thank you for all you have done for me and my family.”
Joe put his arm around her shoulder, and she rested her head in the crook of his arm.
“There was a third man who ran off before you made your presence known. He plans to murder King Henry,” she said. “Do you know what that would mean?”
Joe shook his head.
“All of England would be suddenly at war. Every wretched man alive would come out of his hole to plunder and rape the lands.”
An ominous silence followed her words as they sat quietly pondering such a happening. Then Joe said softly, “King Henry will not die by that man’s hands. Although it has been argued whether King Henry VII was a great king, it is agreed by most scholars that he was a successful king. Not only did he establish a new dynasty after thirty years of struggle, he strengthened the judicial system as well as the treasury, denying all other claimants to his throne. The monarchy he left to his son was a fairly secure one. You do not need to worry.”
“But you said yourself that The Black Knight saves the king’s life. You are the Black Knight. Do you not yet see that?”
“As much as you want to believe it, it’s not true,” Joe said. “If I had come here once before, even in another life, I would have remembered.” His voice trailed off as his doubts grew. “Your brother is our first concern. As soon as he is well enough, we can set off to warn others of the danger the king may be in.”
She nodded her agreement. “For now I will pray for my brother’s well-being.”
He pulled her tighter against his chest, felt the softness of her hair as it brushed against his chin. He knew that everything she did, she did for her family. She worried about her siblings as a mother would. Swallowing a knot in his throat, Joe realized how much Alexandra had taught him. He’d never met anyone like her. She put all else before her own well being. She saw the good in everyone and in all situations. She was the bravest, most courageous woman he’d ever met. He would miss her when he was gone. So much so, just the mere thought of it made his gut ache.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.
—John Muir
Joe sat up, every muscle stiff. Both he and Alexandra had dozed off, and he was surprised to see that it was morning. The frogs and toads had finally finished with their nocturnal chorusing, but it was the high-pitched screech of a predawn bird that woke him. If he were home, he’d be listening to the dull drones and unsettling groans of passing vehicles instead of the songs of the tree crickets. He rubbed his head and could only imagine what he looked like. His hair felt like a bird’s nest after a storm and his whiskers had grown past the stubble stage.
Although less than three weeks had passed since he’d arrived in this century, it felt as if months had gone by. For the first time in days he thought about his other life, wondered if time didn’t hold still after all. By the time Alexandra had returned home after her visit to the future, hours had passed. He thought of