the gift shop,” she said, gesturing toward the saloon’s double doors. “There you can purchase books about the history of Garretsville and mining in the Garnet Mountains.”
Meredith herded the family into the building and passed them off to Judy. “Thank you for visiting Garretsville today. I hope you enjoyed your tour,” she said in a rush before turning to Judy. “Well, I’m off.”
“Good luck, Meredith. John and I are looking forward to hearing about your visit,” Judy said, winking at her.
“Thanks. See you later.” She’d already told the Schultes about her plans, and she’d given them written instructions to follow in case she didn’t return on the very day she left. They were to contact her father and aunt and explain everything. Her mom and dad would then contact the rest of the family, and if help was possible, they’d find a way.
She wouldn’t need help though. Everything would go as planned. The tangle of nerves in her gut seemed to suggest otherwise. She ignored her apprehensions and hurried past the schoolhouse to where she’d stashed her bag in the brush.
Hoisting the strap of the duffle over her shoulder, she set off at a brisk pace for Daniel’s camp. Her mind and insides churned with the now familiar combination of fear and anticipation. Soon she’d meet Daniel in the flesh.
“Where are you off to, Meredith?”
She jerked to a halt. She’d been watching the ground, her mind on other things and not where she was going. “Just taking a walk, Oliver. What are you doing here?”
“Same. Walking.” He eyed her duffle bag and the clothes she wore. “What’s with the bag and the clothes? Not what you usually wear on a hike, yeah?”
Frustration flared. He had no boundaries, which was why she’d kept her plans from him. “It’s really none of your business, is it?”
His eyes widened, and he looked a little stunned by her curtness. The stunned look quickly turned to offended indignation “Nope. I guess not. See you at supper.” He passed her without sparing her another glance.
“See you then,” she called to his back.
Meredith released the breath she’d been holding. Now she had guilt to add to the pile anxiety already sitting on her shoulders. She’d left dealing with Oliver’s sulky questions to the Schultes, and they didn’t deserve that. Oh, well. If everything went according to plan, after three weeks in the past, she’d be walking back to Garretsville on this very same point in time, and she’d have a story to tell. They would have supper together, and everything would return to normal … everything except for her heart.
By the time she reached Daniel’s camp, perspiration trickled down the back of her neck and at her temples, and she had to work to get enough air into her lungs. Partly due to the altitude, and mostly due to the way she’d hurried uphill to reach her destination. As promised, Daniel was waiting for her.
“Daniel,” she said, coming to a halt. “Whew, I need to catch my breath. Meredith moved to sit on one of the many boulders that were so common in these mountains.
He drifted over to stand before her. “You’ve not changed your mind then?”
She smiled as her insides performed a series of skips, hops, and jumps at the sight of him, and at the thought of what she was about to do. “No. I haven’t changed my mind.” Originally, she’d planned on staying one week. Soon, two weeks sounded better. Finally she’d decided to arrive two weeks prior to Daniel’s murder, and stay another week after. More than anything, she wanted to spend time with him, even if it did make their eventual parting more difficult.
Meredith pushed herself up from the boulder and hiked the strap of her duffle bag higher over her shoulder. She drew the small leather pouch from her pocket and took out one of the diamonds, closing her fingers around the crystal.
Daniel came closer. “Let me see, love.”
She held her hand out to him and slowly opened her fingers, fixing her attention on him and not the stone. “I’ve been afraid to look at them, fearing I’d trigger the magic before I’m ready. Who knows where I’d end up?”
“Hmm.” He studied the gem. “It’s pink.”
“Is it?” Her brow rose. “Pink diamonds are rare.”
“And this one is flawless, weighing in at about three carats, I’d wager.”
“A fortune.”
“Aye, Meredith, a fortune.”
“Okay, I need to center myself, concentrate, and open the portal. Hopefully I’ll see you in a few minutes.” She returned the