watch from his vest and checked the time. “I’ve got to get going. I have things to do before I head home.” He rose from the table and moved the chair back into place. “You all take care now, and if I were you, I wouldn’t go anywhere unarmed.”
Daniel walked the sheriff to the door. “We won’t. Thanks for coming out our way.”
“Glad to oblige. I’m hoping those three are the same men who’ve been terrorizing our town for the past few years. I haven’t been able to turn up a single clue as to their identities, and I’ll be mighty relieved once we put a stop to them.”
Once they’d said their goodbyes, and the sheriff had ridden off on his horse, Oliver turned to Daniel. “Sorry. I got caught up in my role when I said I’d checked out the place where the ambush happens. You’ll have to take me there before the sheriff returns.”
“Dan and I took a look around the ravine this morning. You and I can go check it out right now,” Charles told him. He disappeared into his room, and when he returned, he had a gun belt strapped around his waist and his revolver holstered.
Daniel’s eyes widened. “I see you’re taking the sheriff’s advice to heart.”
“I am, and so should you, Danny.”
“I will.”
“Let’s go, lad.” Charles gestured toward the door. “We’ll be back in about an hour and a half,” he said. “We’ll walk.”
The door shut behind the two, and Daniel’s pulse raced. “We’re alone, love.” He opened his arms in invitation, waiting with bated breath for her to come to him.
Meredith didn’t hesitate. She walked into Daniel’s arms. “I wish we could somehow capture those three before they actually try to ambush you and Charles.”
“As do I, but at least we have help and a plan.” He smoothed the hair from her face and gazed into her eyes. “Meredith, why is it I feel as if my entire life has been about waiting for you to appear? I’ve only to look at you, and I’m filled with …” His brow creased.
“I don’t have the words to adequately describe what I feel. Overwhelming happiness and a sense of homecoming will have to do.” He ran his hands up and down her back. “And desire the likes of which I’ve never before experienced.”
He kissed her forehead, his touch feather light. “I feel as if we’ve known each other for a lifetime, and yet the idea of getting to know you even better makes me dizzy with anticipation. Can you make any sense of what I’m trying to say?”
Meredith pressed closer to his work-hardened chest, inhaling his intoxicating scent. “It’s possible we’ve known each other in another lifetime. These feelings could also stem from the strands of time between now and the future are intersecting, giving us that sense of knowing.”
She put her arms around his neck and returned his searching gaze with one of her own. “I was summoned to help you, Daniel. All of this seems … surreal, a dream, and I don’t want to wake up. Maybe fate led us to this point in time.” She shook her head. “I don’t have the words either, but I can’t ignore what I feel.”
He kissed her, and none of the bewilderment about what was between them mattered anymore. She’d known she wanted him from the moment she’d decided to travel through time to save him. Meredith broke the kiss, took him by the hand, and drew him to the stairs leading to his room—to his bed.
“Do you mean to have your wicked way with me, Meredith?”
“I do.”
“Hmm.” He placed his hands on her hips and followed her up the narrow stairs. Once there, he swooped her up into his arms and carried her to the bed. There, he laid her down gently, moving to sit at the end by her feet. “I recall feeling quite disconcerted by how your presence stirred lust within me when I was a ghost.” He unlaced her boots and took them off.
“While I found it awkward and disturbing to want you even though you had no physical form,” she admitted. “I fought those feelings.”
Daniel took off his boots and placed them on the floor next to hers. He stretched out beside her and propped himself up by his elbow. His eyes roamed hungrily over her, and a look of wonder suffused his gorgeous features. His nearness, coupled with that expression, were all it took for her blood to heat and