The first five minutes of riding had been unnerving. The fast-moving cars, one behind the other, were perplexing, yet, astounding. This was nothing like the Heartsbridge he’d known.

They were soon pulling into the diner parking lot.

“I should be back in about an hour. I just need to pick up a few things. If you’re not done, I’ll just come in and wait. I want to pick up an apple pie anyway for dessert tonight. Plus, I want to say hi to Moira.”

“Okay,” he said, his eyes downcast, running his hand across the door handle.

She clapped her hands against her pants leg.

“Okay then,” she said, reaching over to open the door and brushing against him slightly.

Jesse held in his breath, trying not to let on how much he enjoyed her being so close. The color of her hair highlighted her milky, pale skin perfectly. An invisible trail of heavenly bliss blew past him just like the aroma that had lingered whenever she’d been nearby. It was intoxicating.

“You really are the most peculiar man I’ve ever met, Mr. Landers. Enjoy your visit with Moira”

“Thank you,” he said, getting out of the truck and shutting the door. He turned to face it, and Abby rolled down the window.

“You forget something, Jesse?”

He hadn’t forgotten anything but he just didn’t feel right about her being alone. He’d thought to just say no but then she smiled.

“I was just wondering, are you going to be okay by yourself? If you’re going to pick up a lot of supplies, maybe it's best I come along. A woman shouldn’t be doing a lot of heavy lifting.”

Abby gave him a reassuring smile.

“It’s nice of you to be concerned, but I’ll be fine.”

Jesse turned to walk away, but he glanced back several times as she drove off, until she was completely out of sight. He just couldn’t understand why she enjoyed doing such hard work. Too, what was that husband of hers doing while she was doing all the heavy lifting?

Swallowing hard, he pulled the door handle and entered the diner. The last time he’d been here, things hadn’t gone so well. This time he hoped for a better outcome. Narrowing his gaze, he spotted Moira and went over to where she was standing, putting in an order.

She didn’t seem at all surprised by his visit.

“Jesse Landers, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Miss Moira,” he said, placing his hat on the counter.

“It looks nice on you and so do those clothes.”

“Well, they’re not mine. I’m staying at the home of Abagail Simmons and that of her father. She and her husband have been gracious enough to let me stay at their home until I get myself together. Anyway, I’m sure you know that already which seems really strange to me. Which brings me to my business with you. I’ve had plenty of time to think about all of this, and there’s just no way I’m close to home.”

Moira gestured for one of the waitresses.

“What do you think about us having this conversation in the back?”

“If that’s what it takes for me to get answers.”

Jesse grabbed his hat and followed Moira into the same room he’d been in only five days prior.

“Okay, now have a seat and ask me anything you like,” Moira said, sitting down first. Jesse sat next to her.

“What’s happening to me, and where am I?”

“You’re in Heartsbridge, Texas. The year is 2017 and you’ve traveled forward in time. I know it’s a lot to process, but I assure you I’m telling the truth.”

Jesse released a long breath, before propping his chin against his fingers. He’d hoped this visit would help him understand things better, but instead, he was only getting more confused and aggravated. Realizing he was getting nowhere with her, he decided to change his approach.

“Moira, I need to get back to Maplesville. I only came here because I didn’t want to have to deal with the law before finding Maya. Now I feel as if I’ve gotten even farther from her. She was taken from our home on the same day my pa died. I promised I would find her. Being here, I can’t keep my promise. And you see, I may have made some bad choices, but I’ve always been a man of my word, and I don’t plan on changing that now. When Miss Dunham said she could help me, I never was expecting some kind of traveling magic show. Anyhow, I ain’t never been a fan of magic.”

Moira leaned in and placed a hand on Jesse’s knee. “I’m about to show you something.”

She walked out and came back in a few seconds later. “I want you to take a good look at this, particularly the date.”

Jesse reached for the newspaper. Creases formed across his brow as he stared down at it.

“But, how is this even possible?” he asked, his gaze darting from the date on the newspaper to Moira.

“You know Jesse, Cissie and I ask ourselves that same question often. All I can tell you is that, sometimes life isn’t what we think it is.”

“But if I’m here, where’s Maya?”

“I’m sure she’s where she belongs.”

“No, you don’t understand. She’s in trouble. Someone took her. A bad guy, and I need to find her.”

“How do you know he took her, Jesse? Isn’t it possible she could have left? And how do you know this guy you’re referencing is bad? Did he do or say something?”

Frustrated, he rose and paced the floor. “I think I know Maya better than you. Besides, I’ve seen the way he looked at her and you haven’t.”

Moira leaned forward. She looked at Jesse and shook her head.

“I think you know horses, shooting, and how to be a protector. But from what I heard, the one thing you’ve never really known is how to truly love. It requires giving your heart to another, and them doing the same, not holding a person against their will.”

Tense, Jesse rubbed the back of his neck. “It just don’t make no sense. She wouldn’t have left Pa, and she wouldn’t have left me,” he muttered, stopping every so often between paces.

All at once, he was hit with a rush of feelings. He scrambled through his thoughts. Feeling betrayed and angry at first, before memories of the past few years began to play out in his head. Maya hadn’t been herself lately. And Pa had said if he didn’t let go of his tight hold, she would leave. Could he have gotten it all wrong? Could Maya have left of her own free will with Sims?

“God, no!”

“I’m glad you allowed me to drive you into town. I missed seeing Moira, and I miss her pies even more,” Abby said, trying to loosen Jesse up a bit. Whatever had happened inside the diner hadn’t left him in a good place.

Abby wished Jesse would say something to her. His focus had been elsewhere since he’d gotten into the truck. When she’d arrived back at the diner, he was sitting at one of the corner tables, alone. She’d thought the conversation between he and Moira hadn’t gone the way he expected.

When she asked Moira what was up, she’d said he needed time but he’d be okay. He’d just been hit with a dose of reality and was having a hard time accepting it.

Still, seeing him with such a pained expression had bothered her. One thing she’d concluded about Jesse was that he was a good, caring person. It had only been five days but she could just tell. He’d never once hit on her and they’d been alone several times. Even with his arm in a sling, he’d done more work in the past five days than she would’ve ever been able to do if she had to go at it alone. It would have taken her weeks, even with the part-time help she’d considered hiring. And he never once complained. If anything, he’d only been grateful, always offering to do more.

She wished he’d open up to her. She wanted to tell him he could trust her, tell her anything. But she didn’t think he’d buy it. So instead she decided to share some truth of her own.

“Jesse.”

“Yes, Abby.” He turned to give her his undivided attention. His eyes displaying a type of sincerity and concern she’d never received from a man. She could have easily gotten lost in them, had she not been focused on the road. And to think she was about to tell this man she’d lied to him.

“You know how I told you I was married,” Abby said, the words came out shaky sounding.

“I remember.”

“Well, I don’t have a husband. I only said I did because you were a complete stranger. I mean, I guess you still are, kind of. But I just felt bad about lying and wanted to let you know.”

Jesse gave her a reassuring smile, brushing back a strand of hair that had fallen from her messy ponytail.

“Considering you didn’t know me from Adam, I can see why you made up the story. It makes perfect sense. But what about the fella that goes and in out.”

“Him? He’s just my deadbeat brother. We’re actually twins, though, not identical. Trust me, he’s just there for show because he doesn’t lift a finger to help me. If it wasn’t for you, I would have been scrambling to do everything myself. He’s nothing but a drunk.”

“You ever thought he might be going through something? I mean, usually when a fella drinks, it’s to block out pain.”

“You sound like a man who knows from personal experience.”

“I’d be lying if I told you otherwise. I’ve definitely had a few too many in my time. It’s kind of what brought me to meeting you.”

“So you were drunk when I found you.”

“I wasn’t then, but I had been not long before. I came here to get away from trouble but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to face my sins soon enough.”

“Are you a bad guy, Jesse?”

“No, but I did bad things trying to find someone I love. I mean, I ain’t never killed anyone if that’s what you’re asking.”

“And those bad things, is that how you hurt your shoulder?”

“I reckon it is. But in my defense, I didn’t start nothing. A man’s gotta defend himself.”

Abby went off into her own thoughts. Those words really resonated with her. Her father had occasionally said the same thing to her mother. One time in particular stood out to her. It was when a big cat came from Dallas and wanted to force him to sell property her father had acquired by paying taxes on it.

He’d outright warned him not to step foot on his property but the man didn’t take heed. And per the law, a man has a right to defend what’s his. One day he’d come while her father was out. Her mother had answered the door. He’d threatened her, saying if they didn’t sign the papers, he’d find a way to acquire the property by any means necessary. The next time he’d shown up, her father was home. He’d shot him in the leg. The guy had never come back. Thinking about it, Abby wondered exactly what had happened to the land.

Anyway, perhaps she should have been bothered by what Jesse had told her, but she wasn’t. If anything, she’d read between the lines, sensing that whoever he was looking for was very lucky to have him. Because whatever he’d done, it was because of the love he had for them and his need to protect his loved ones.

Sensing a change of conversation was needed, Abby considered how she could ease the tension. That’s when she remembered a place she’d go to when she was younger. The place itself wasn’t the special part; it was what happened there that drew her in. She and William had discovered it playing in the park one day. The sight had always given her peace, and she thought maybe it could have the same effect on Jesse.

“Hey, I want to take you somewhere. You up for it?”

“I’ll go wherever with you,” Jesse said, smiling at her warmly before turning his gaze back to the window.

Abby’s heart fluttered. Why did his words have to make her melt? What he’d said sounded like a line out of a romance movie, yet she could tell something was on his mind.

They drove for about fifteen minutes before arriving at a park.

“Where are we?” Jesse asked.

“Heartsbridge National Park,” she said. “Come on.”

Abby led him down a walking trail that opened to a lake area. She sat on the bench, patting the seat next to her, and it dipped slightly under his weight.

“Now, if I remember correctly, the magic will happen in about twenty minutes,” Abby said, glancing at her watch. “But first, I want you to pay close attention to the color of the lake at this very moment.”

“It’s a clear blue,” Jesse said.

“It is. But do you see anything else, like something floating in the water?”

“Not really, but I know something is in there because of those little waves.”

“Okay, good. I used to come here all the time when I was younger. Actually, I’ve been coming here since William and I discovered it, and always around this time. It was magical then, and it’s magical now. Well, to me it is.”

Jesse stared at the water, waiting for any signs of change.

“You ready, Jesse?” Abby asked, linking her arm in his.

“Yeah, I reckon I am,” he said, interlocking his fingers with hers.

Abby’s enthusiastic smile must have had a contagious effect because pretty soon, she could see he was just as anxious as she was.

“You sure you’re ready? It’s going to be so cool.”

Jesse’s eyes widened, and his smile grew bigger. “Are we going to get wet?”

Abby laughed, pleased to know her plan to change his mood was working. “No, why?”

“You said it’s going to be so cool.”

She laughed again. “No, it means it’s going to be really good. You ready?”

Then just as the sun began to set, the magic happened. The once clear blue water turned into a multi-colored lake, giving off a rainbow appearance with a sparkling effect. The small waves he’d noticed had revealed themselves as fish. They leaped around, appearing to chase the sparkles.

He grinned at the sight.

“See, I told you, Jesse. I told you, you’d like it,” Abby said, blushing, and leaning over to admire the beautiful sight.

He pulled her in closer, resting his chin on the top of her head.

“Abby, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to stay until all the work is done.”

Abby shifted, her eyes locking in on his. “Really? I thought you had to find someone.”

“I’m not so sure she wants to be found.”

Abby had known that look all too well. It was the look of someone with a broken heart.

“Stay as long as you like, Jesse,” she said, choosing to leave well enough alone.