“GOOD MORNING.” CHRISTINE drew the curtains. “How do you feel?”

“Where did you come from?” Sophie forced her eyes open and glanced around the room.

“The hallway,” she retorted. “James is currently in the dining room.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Sophie jumped out of bed.

“Careful.” Christine steadied Sophie. “How’s your head?”

“It’s definitely better.”

“The bruise looks a bit worse today, but I think you’re on the mend. Let’s get you dressed and downstairs to meet your man.”

Christine helped Sophie into a yellow skirt and white blouse. The colors suited her light hair and skin, and once the yellow satin ribbon was added to her hair, she felt a little less like she’d been kicked in the head by a horse. Sophie rushed downstairs, and as she turned the corner into the dining room, she stopped short. Jamie and Andrew stood as she came in the door.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” she said as brightly as she could.

She took her seat and Jamie brought her a cup of coffee that he’d already prepared for her and she smiled as she took her first sip. “Perfect, thank you.”

As Andrew stood at the buffet putting together a plate of food, Jamie leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Meet me in the library.”

Before Sophie could respond, Christine walked in, so Jamie used the distraction to quietly leave the room, and Sophie smiled to her as she stood and followed. Walking into the library, Sophie jumped slightly when Jamie stepped out from behind the door and pulled her into his arms. “Good morning.” He kicked the door shut.

“Good morning.” Sophie sighed in pleasure. “When did you leave my room? You must be exhausted.”

“I left at five, but got an hour or so of sleep in my tent.” He kissed her again and then examined her forehead. “Your bruise looks worse, sweetheart. Are you in any pain?”

“I still have the headache, but I think it’s better.” She linked her arms around his neck. “Thank you for staying with me last night.”

He leaned down and kissed her nose. “Get used to it.”

“What do you mean, get used to it?”

“I’m not leaving you again. The men will just have to live without me.” He pulled her over to one of the high-backed chairs and sat across from her on the hearth.

“In bed... with me, right?”

“Maybe.”

Sophie sank into her favorite chair. “So, let me get this straight. You plan to sneak into my bedroom every night and fall asleep in the oh so not comfortable chair, just so you can keep your promise of never leaving me?”

“Something like that.” He took his left hand and linked his fingers with hers, the clink of their rings sounding in the quiet room.

“You’re wearing your wedding ring.”

Jamie nodded. “Of course I am. I’m your husband.”

“Not sure if we are in this century,” Sophie said. “Don’t we need something written in a bible?”

Jamie chuckled. “Probably. I suppose we should rectify that.”

“Oh, really?”

“You don’t agree?”

“Hm.”

“What do you mean, ‘Hm’?”

She patted his chest, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. “That one’s for you to figure out.”

“Sophie, what is that supposed to mean?”

“Love you!” She rose to her feet and raced out of the room.

Jamie jumped up off the chair and chased her. “Sophie, get back here.” Almost halfway down the hall when he caught her from behind, he pulled her back into the library, laughing.

“Ow,” she said.

“Did I hurt you?” He turned her around to inspect her forehead.

“No, I’m fine. I just forgot about my head.” She leaned against him and put her arms around his waist.

“No more jarring movements, all right? You really need to take it easy for a little while.” He dropped his chin onto the top of her head and continued to hold her for a few minutes.

She looked up at him. “We should probably get back. People will be wondering where we are.”

He gave her one last kiss, and then they made their way back to the dining room. After a quick lunch, Jamie forced Sophie back to bed with a promise he’d wake her in plenty of time to check on Samson before dark.

* * *

Sophie freshened up and then made her way to the barn, heading straight for Samson’s stall. He whinnied when she called him before poking his head out and pushing at her shoulder with his nose. “Yes, boy, I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.” She gave him some sugar and kissed his muzzle before checking his leg. Satisfied his healing was right on course, she left him and headed back to the house.

She passed the arena, and heard yelling coming from Richard’s barn. She peeked around the corner and scowled. Richard, leaning heavily on crutches was nose-to-nose with Jamie.

After several obscenities were delivered to each side, Jamie tapped Richard’s shoulder, hard enough that Richard had to fight for balance. “She’s my wife, and you’ll go nowhere near her.”

Richard swore. “You aren’t worthy of her.”

“You’re a very sore loser, Dick.”

“What did you just say?” Sophie snapped.

Both men whipped their heads around, surprised to see her.

Jamie rushed toward her. “Sophie—”

“You did not just refer to me as something you won, as though I was a prize to be competed over, did you? Did you?”

“Sophie, don’t be ridiculous. Of course not,” Jamie said.

“Oh, so now I’m ridiculous.” She threw up her hands. “I’ve had enough of you two. Why don’t you just fight to the death? Have at it. Jamie, you can pretend it’s a cage fight. You love those. You’re both jackasses.” She stormed off toward the house.

“Don’t come near my wife again, do you understand me?” Jamie didn’t wait for a response as he took off after Sophie. “Sophie, stop,” he yelled.

“No,” she yelled back.

“Stop, baby.” He’d almost caught up with her just before she reached the house, when she stopped suddenly and grabbed her head. “Sweetheart, you need to relax,” he warned as he grabbed her waist from behind, kissing her neck and giving her a squeeze.

“No.” She tried to pull out of his arms but he had her firmly in his grip.

Jamie laughed. “You’re not going to relax, sweetheart?”

She pushed at his arms. “Don’t ‘sweetheart’ me, especially when you’re laughing at me.”

“Sophie, I’m not laughing at you.”

She turned to face him and poked him in the chest. “Is this how it’s going to be? A man looks sideways at me and you go off the deep-end because you think he’s competition? You were never like this before! I won’t be competed for Jamie.” She went for his chest again but he grabbed her hand quickly before raising it to his lips.

He wrinkled his brow. “I was defending your honor.”

“I can do that myself.”

He frowned. “But then I’d have nothing to do.”

She dropped her head into his sternum. “Jamie, stop teasing, this is serious. I don’t want to be someone’s trophy.”

“Look at me.” She didn’t respond, so he lifted her chin with his fingers. “You’re so much more than that and I know you know that. Where is this coming from?”

“I don’t know. I’m sorry.” Her palm settled on her forehead. “My head hurts and I just feel overwhelmed with everything right now. It probably doesn’t help that you and Richard are acting like a couple of fighting cocks. And he’s injured.” She smacked his chest. “You should have a little more compassion.”

“I think I know what’s going on.” Grabbing her hand, he pulled her towards the house, through the front door and back to the library. “Sit here, please.” He gestured to one of the high-backed chairs.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll be right back,” he said mysteriously.

Her head throbbed from all the exertion, so she rested it against the high back of the chair and closed her eyes. She heard Jamie come back into the room but didn’t look up.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Are you all right?”

She smiled and opened her eyes. “Yes, my head just hurts. Why? Do I look that pathetic?”

He chuckled. “I have something for you. Have a look.”

She turned her head and on the little table between the two chairs, Jamie had set down a pot of tea with milk. Next to it was a chocolate bar. Sophie squealed in delight.

“Chocolate, Jamie? Where did you get chocolate?” Milton Hershey was only about six years old at this point in history, which meant Hershey, Pennsylvania wouldn’t exist for several decades. Taking a bite, she let out a sigh. “Ohhh, this is amazing.”

“Mary helped me put this together. They had a few blocks that they were going to melt to drink and she let me cut a piece for you. If your head wasn’t bothering you, I’d have brought red wine instead of tea, but I didn’t want to take any chances. Now, enjoy your treat. I’m going to get something for your head, I’ll be right back.”

Sophie reached out and grabbed his hand. “Jamie, this was very thoughtful. You have no idea how much I needed this.”

“Once a month it’s the same thing, so I’d say I did know.” He leaned down and gave her a lingering kiss. Leaving her to her chocolate, he went off to find something for her headache, returning with an ice-soaked cloth and gently laying it over her head.

“Thanks.” Sophie closed her eyes.

They spent the next few hours talking about their wedding and their future. The future they had already experienced and the one on the horizon.

“Dinner is served,” Daniel said from the doorway.

Jamie stood and helped Sophie from her chair.

After dinner, the couple spent time with Christine and the Wades in the parlor. Sophie was amazed at the bond already forming between Jamie and Christine, and it brought back memories of how he and Alex had been extremely close. Not just because Luke was his best friend. She had become a sister to him, right alongside Emma and Hannah, and it seemed as though Jamie was adding another one to his family.

When it was time for the evening to come to a close, Sophie walked Jamie out. She had a feeling Christine knew he would probably sneak back in, but she never said a word. As they stood on the porch, Jamie pulled Sophie into his arms and kissed her. “How’s your head?”

“It’s much better. I think the chocolate helped.”

He chuckled. “Well, I’m glad. I’m going to leave now,” he said a little louder than necessary but then whispered, “I’ll see you later.”

She giggled at the wolfish smile on his face before waving goodnight and then making her way inside. She said goodnight to the Wades and went upstairs to get ready for bed. She and Christine spent some time talking as they assisted each other out of their hoops and corsets.

Christine said goodnight and was ready to walk out the door, when she turned and whispered, “I left the front door unlocked.”

“You did? I do declare, Miss Christine, you are a very, very naughty friend! And I love you for it.”

Christine laughed and Sophie gave her a hug before she left.

* * *

An hour later, Jamie walked into Sophie’s room and found her pacing. “What’s wrong?”

She threw herself into his arms. “I thought you’d be here much sooner. I can’t believe you made me wait this long. Just what were you doing?”

“Shhh, sweetheart, someone will hear you.” He chuckled softly. “I have something to show you, but you’re going to have to let me go.”

She kept her hands around his neck and looked at him. “I’m not ready to yet.”

“Oh, really? So, you’re not the teeniest bit curious to see what I brought you?” he asked.

“Kiss me first and then I’ll tell you.”

He smiled down at her before kissing her breathless.

“You are so very good at that, James William. Now, what did you bring me?” He pulled a pair of pants from behind his back.

Sophie took them from him and held them up to the light. “You brought me pants?”

“Not just any pants, Sophie. Breeches.” She looked at him in confusion, so he continued, “I thought you might like to go riding in a day or so, and these will be thin enough to hide underneath your skirts so you don’t have to ride sidesaddle. Just don’t wear your hoops and I think they’ll work.”

“Oh!” She threw herself back in his arms again. “You are the most wonderful, fabulous, unbelievable, incredibly gorgeous man I have ever known.”

“That’s all you can come up with to describe me?” He lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “I’m disappointed.”

Sophie giggled and settled herself in one of the chairs in front of the fire.

“Wait, Ten-Cow, I have an idea. Stand up for a sec.”

Once she stood, Jamie moved the chairs to face each other and then gestured for her to sit again. After she took a seat, he lifted her legs and laid them on his lap. He began to massage her feet and was rewarded with her sigh.

Sophie sunk further in her chair. “What made you think of the breeches?”

“Well, when Samson is better, you’re going to want to ride, and I thought of that movie you made me watch, remember, where this girl had, like, a fake leg to put over the pommel?”

Sophie laughed. “The Anne Hathaway one.”

“Yes. I can’t imagine you riding sidesaddle, so if you have pants, maybe we can fake it.”

Sophie smiled. “I did it, you know.”

“Did what?”

“Rode sidesaddle.”

Jamie’s eyes widened. “No shit?”

Sophie laughed as she shared her experience, even the part when Richard came to her rescue. Seeing Jamie’s body tense, Sophie smiled. “You have to give him credit for that one. He could have been hurt pulling me from Samson. Even if he was a total tool in the end, he still came to my rescue.”

Jamie grunted in answer, then ran his finger across the top of her foot. “How do you think this time travel thing happened?”

“No idea. I just remember feeling your tears on my hand, and then saw a few strange things. Then I’m freezing and being carried into the parlor by Richard.” Jamie gave her ankle a squeeze and Sophie bit her lip. “Do you remember more?”

Jamie frowned. “The library seemed to disappear, replaced by a huge expanse of land and then I felt pain. When I woke up, I was in the home of a farmer and his wife and they informed me I had been shot.”

Sophie pulled her feet from his lap and rose to her feet. “What?” she shrieked. “Where? Show me!”

Jamie stood and pulled his shirt aside. Sophie frowned when he turned slightly for her to see the jagged scar across his side. She ran her fingers over the puckered skin. “How did I not notice that before?”

“Strategery.”

“Okay, Will Ferrell. Seriously, how did this happen?”

Jamie sighed and took his seat again. “All I can remember is pain before I blacked out. What I can’t quite figure out is if it came from here, as in this time, or home. It was weird.”

“Very weird.” Sophie sat and leaned forward. “How did you come up with Emerson?”

Jamie grimaced. “Guess what I was listening to all night?”

Sophie leaned back in surprise. “No! Seriously? Tonic? Wow, you really are a glutton for punishment. My poor, precious sweetheart. Have you remembered everything now?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m remembering more every day. You’ll have to fill me in on the rest.”

Sophie smiled. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

“Do you miss our life?”

“I miss aspects of it.” Sophie slipped her feet back onto Jamie’s chair. “I miss Emma and worry about how she’s handling life without us. I miss Alex, but at least I know she has Luke. I miss air-conditioning. Actually, I really miss air conditioning. But with you here, I have everything. I guess I’m comforted knowing Emma will be taken care of by Alex and Hannah.”

Jamie rose to his feet. “Let’s go to sleep, sweetheart, you need your rest.”

She followed him to the bed and climbed under the blankets. She rolled to face him when he joined her. “I love your hair.”

“You do?” He chuckled. “You always were a sucker for the hair bands.”

“Ah, so true.”

“Which do you prefer?”

“I like them both, but I think I like the longer look right now.” She stroked his cheek. “It suits you. I have to admit, though, if you want to shave the beard off, I won’t be hurt.”

“You don’t like my beard?” He rubbed his whiskers in mock offense.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, I just prefer your face clean shaven. It feels better when you go down on me.” She leaned over to kiss him.

Jamie cupped her face and reluctantly broke the kiss. “You need to sleep, sweetheart. I want your head to heal quickly.”

She ran her hand down his chest. “I can think of several other things that would help my head heal.”

“I’m sure you can.” Jamie kissed her and she pulled his lower lip into her mouth and gave it a little nip. “Sophie, you’re going to drive me crazy.”

“That’s the plan.” Her fingers traveled down his chest. “I’ve missed you so much. Are you really going to deny me? Especially with this mysterious healing of my heart? I want to experience everything.”

Rolling her onto her back, he kissed his way down her throat. In the distance, shouts and an alarm of some form sounded. He raised his head to get a better listen. “Sophie, did you hear that?”

Rapid footsteps moved quickly down the hallway.

“The shouting and the running? No, I didn’t hear anything.”