THEY SHARED ONE of Victoria’s three remaining power bars during a brief stop later in the day. Quincy wrinkled his nose as he bit into the dry, bland bar, forcing the last of it down before wiping his hands on his threadbare pants. “People eat these things on purpose?”

Victoria took a dainty bite of her bar before replying, “Yep.”

“Well, I must admit, it’s better than hardtack. Thank you.”

She smiled sympathetically. “You’re welcome.”

Mounting again, the two continued on their way. At one point, they slowed the horses to a walk and Victoria offered him yet more of her strange viands and two more painkillers.

“What do you call these?” He held the small twist in the air.

“Pretzels.”

He saw her smile at him, distracting him enough to forget his confusion. They pushed the horses on once again and didn’t stop until well after dark. “Victoria, we need to stop now. The horses are exhausted.”

Not to mention, my wounds are throbbing.

She slowed her horse. “Okay. Where?”

“Just over that ridge, I think.”

They guided the horses to a protected area and dismounted. Quincy went to find wood for a fire while Victoria rubbed the horses down and let them graze in an open field. They had no oats to feed them, so they were going to have to rely on the old-fashioned way.

“Victoria?” Quincy whispered—loudly.

“Over here,” she yelled.

“Shh. Get over here. Now!” he ordered and heard her mumble as she led the horses back to the covering.

“Bossy much?”

“Someone could have seen you. We’re still not entirely safe.”

“It’s dark, Gus. They would need infrared,” she argued.

“I have a fire started, come and get warm.”

“Won’t the fire be able to be seen?”

“I hope not. I’ve tried to light it under cover, but we’re still taking a chance.”

She made her way to the warmth and held her hands out with a sigh.

“What’s infer red?”

She glanced at him over her shoulder. “Infrared,” she corrected. “They’re special glasses that allow you to see in the dark.”

His eyes widened. “In the dark?”

She nodded.

“Incredible.”

She turned from the fire with a smile. “They are pretty incredible. Hannah has a couple pairs... had a couple of pairs.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starved.” Victoria laid a palm over her stomach. “However, I’d like to look at your wounds first, if that’s okay. We should change the bandages one more time.” She spent the next thirty minutes bandaging his shoulder. “Your thigh looks good, Gus. We’ll leave it be, I think.”

Victoria gave him another dose of Advil and split a power bar in two for them to share. He noticed she made his portion bigger than hers, but didn’t comment.

She smiled and broke off a piece of her snack. “How do you feel?”

“Better, Victoria, thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “I doubt I’ll expire any time soon.”

“Oh, you’re funny.” Victoria leaned her chin in her palm as she watched him chew. “You laugh easily, don’t you?” she observed.

Quincy chuckled. “My family has accused me of risibility in the past, yes.”

“What’s your family like? Do they like to laugh too?”

“Most of them, yes. I have two brothers and a sister.” He smiled as the memories flooded his mind. “My eldest brother, Christopher, is quite serious. We call him ‘Christopher the Big.’”

Victoria chuckled. “Really? Why?”

“I suppose it started because he was the older brother, bigger than all of us up until we grew up, and somewhat bossy.”

“So, he’s serious and large. An ogre of sorts?” Victoria pursed her lips.

Quincy laughed. “No, he’s quite harmless, but yes, he’s serious. My sister, Gwen, on the other hand, is quite funny, as is Jacob.” Taking another bite of the power bar, he forced a swallow. “What about your family?”

Nibbling on her portion, she dropped her head. “My family wouldn’t know how to laugh unless it was attached to a great deal of money, or perhaps a very nice Thoroughbred.” He raised an eyebrow at her. “My family is complicated,” she said quietly and waved her hand as if to dismiss her comment. “Just ignore me.”

* * *

Not offering further explanation, Victoria was relieved when Quincy chose not to press, although he did continue to watch her. Wiping her hands on her jeans, she cleared her throat before asking, “Where do you live, Gus? Sorry, I mean, Quincy.”

“Our family home is in Maryland.”

“Your family home? Do you still live with your parents?”

He shook his head. “No. My brother and I live in Washington.”

“State?”

“Excuse me?”

Victoria shifted uncomfortably as she suddenly remembered the west wasn’t entirely “won” yet. “Never mind. Do you live in D.C.?”

“Yes.” He finished his power bar and watched her closely.

“What does your brother do?”

“He works for the war cabinet.”

Victoria couldn’t stop a deep yawn and she caught Quincy’s gentle smile just as her eyes began to droop.

“Let’s try and get some sleep,” he suggested before struggling to stand.

Victoria lurched to her feet, exhaustion forgotten. “What are you doing?” she demanded.

“Adding wood to the fire.”

“No, you’re not!” She grabbed his arm. “Sit down. I’ll do it.”

Quincy smiled. “I’m perfectly capable of this small task, Victoria.”

“Sit down,” she ordered and waited for him to do as she asked. It took longer than she would have liked for him to acquiesce, but once he did, she added the small logs gathered earlier and stood for a few minutes to ensure the fire would last before lying down as close to it as she could.

Quincy had earlier retrieved the horses’ saddle blankets to lay on the ground, which she thought was a stroke of genius. They would provide some extra warmth and protect them from the cold ground. She curled up with her back to the fire and immediately fell asleep.

An hour later, shivering, she heard Quincy call her name. “Victoria?”

“Hm?”

“Come closer.” He reached out to her. “We’ll warm each other.”

“I bet you say that to all the girls,” she quipped through chattering teeth. She heard him chuckle as she scooted her body toward him. “Why’s it so hot during the day and so freaking cold at night?”

“Take your coat off.”

“No, I’ll freeze!”

“Trust me, little rebel. Take your coat off and slide your arms under my jacket and around my waist. That’s it.” He took her jacket and pulled it back over her to warm her exposed back.

“Are we going to have to get married now?”

He laughed. “Only if you want to.”

A shiver went down her spine at his comment. She tried to shake it off as she rested her forehead in his sternum and her face settled in his chest. He smelled like the woods and a bit of rubbing alcohol. It was wonderful. “How’s your shoulder?”

“It hurts, but I’ll be fine.”

She lifted her head in concern and accidentally knocked his chin with her head. “I’m so sorry!” She pulled a hand out from under his coat to cup his chin. “Are you okay?”

Quincy pulled away from her hand. “I’m fine. Relax.”

Slipping her arm back under his coat, she felt him shift slightly. “Am I making your shoulder hurt worse?”

“Not at all.”

She nodded as she took a deep breath, drawing his scent in again, and relaxing completely.

* * *

Awakened by distant gunfire, Quincy could see the sun rising on the horizon. He shifted as the arousal he felt earlier suddenly peaked again.

His shoulder throbbed, mostly because he held Victoria close. He had lied to her about his pain level before they fell asleep, but he didn’t care. He enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, and although his sleep was intermittent, her breasts pushing against his chest made it difficult to think straight. He didn’t want to move. It took him several hours, but he was finally able to sleep, and now he was awake and aroused as her hands stroked his back, obviously of their own free will.

“Victoria?” he whispered. “We need to go.”

She groaned. “Sleep. More sleep,” she muttered.

He chuckled, which seemed to shake her out of her slumber. She sat up quickly.

“Good morning, Victoria.”

“Hi,” she said on a yawn. “How did you sleep?”

“I slept well, thank you.”

She reached out to him, but he deflected her touch and she dropped her hand. “How’s your shoulder and your chin?”

“My chin is perfectly fine; however, my shoulder is not.”

“Let me have a look and then we’ll split the last power bar.”

Slipping his jacket and shirt from his shoulders, he felt goose bumps forming on his chest as he sat as still as possible and watched her pull the bandage away.

“I think the ointment’s helping, or at the very least, it’s not making it worse. I’ll change the dressing, but that’s it for my bandages, so I’m hoping we can make it to your brother’s quickly.”

Quinn nodded and let her tend to him. When she was finished, she helped him redress and then once again handed him the larger portion of the power bar.

“Why is my portion always bigger, little rebel?”

Victoria cocked her head to the side. “Because, less than two days ago, I had the yummiest steak and garlic mashed potatoes this side of the Mason Dixon, not to mention crème brulee for dessert. Can you say the same?”

His stomach rumbled—loudly—in response.

“Sorry. That probably made it worse.” Her slightly skewed smile, however, said something altogether different. “Eat your tasty soy treat.” She groaned after a particularly small bite. “What I wouldn’t give for a cup of coffee.”

“Chris will have one waiting and ready,” Quincy assured her.

“You seem quite confident in your brother.”

Quincy grinned. “Actually, his housekeeper. She’s a miracle worker with coffee.”

“Then let’s get out of here.” Victoria stood quickly, and Quincy laughed. After tacking up the horses, she helped him climb into the saddle before mounting her own horse. They stopped only once to share the rest of the pretzels and for Quincy to take some Advil.

Arriving in D.C. just before dinner, Victoria followed Quincy to a quiet street, relieved when he finally pulled the horses to a stop. She glanced up and noticed the front of a beautiful redbrick home, however, she didn’t have time to admire her surroundings as she dismounted and went to help Quincy. He almost fell off the horse.

“Quinn, are you okay?” She could feel the heat pouring off him. “Oh, Gus, you’re burning up. Let’s get you inside.”

Steadying him as they tripped up the porch steps, she knocked on the front door and was taken aback when the man in the painting opened the door. Just as tall as Quincy, but not quite as wide as the tree trunk she was supporting. “Are you Christopher?”

“Yes. May I help you?” She watched as the man’s face registered who she was holding. “Quinn? Brother, with that beard, I hardly recognized you.”

“Very heavy man here. Getting heavier,” she groaned.

“Right, sorry. Hannah!” Christopher turned and yelled before relieving Victoria of her burden.

Couldn’t be.

“What’s wrong, Knight?”

Hearing the thick Kiwi accent of her missing roommate, Victoria’s heart raced as she watched the tiny woman, chestnut brown hair pulled into a loose chignon, walk into the foyer and glance her way.

“No! Victoria!”

Victoria’s suddenly tight chest and queasy stomach made it difficult for her to breathe. She grasped her side as she sat down hard on the floor and tried not to panic.

“Hannah?” Christopher asked.

Hannah knelt beside Victoria as she glanced up at her husband. “It’s Victoria, Knight.”

Victoria stared into the familiar hazel eyes, the soft features of Hannah’s oval face comforting after so much uncertainty.

“Your college roommate?”

“Yes, sweetheart.” Then, addressing Victoria, she asked gently, “How did you find Quinn?”

Victoria couldn’t speak—she had started to hyperventilate.

Hannah wrapped her arm around her shoulders and rubbed her arm. “Victoria, listen to me. Listen to my voice. Breathe. Deep and slow. Deep and slow. That’s it. Good girl. Let’s get you upstairs.”

Victoria squeezed Hannah’s hand as they stood and turned to make their way up the stairs. Christopher was already halfway up with his brother, and Victoria watched every movement as she followed him closely. She let Hannah lead her toward one of their guest rooms, while Christopher put his brother in the one across the hall.

Victoria had to stop herself from following Quincy, but was grateful that Hannah seemed to pick up on her concern and didn’t press for details. Victoria refused to leave the hallway until Christopher returned from tending to Quincy.

“I’m going to get Clayton and the doctor,” Christopher said as he closed Quincy’s door.

Standing with Hannah’s arm around her waist, Victoria nodded, relieved at Christopher’s sense of urgency.

“Okay, love. Ask Em to come as well, please? Oh!” Hannah grabbed his arm. “And get Gwen. She and Andrew aren’t going back to Harrisburg for a few days. She’ll want to see him.”

Christopher lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “Anyone else, sweetheart? The neighbors? Or perhaps the parish.”

“Aren’t you a dag?” Hannah’s New Zealand expressions always sounded funny, but Christopher just smiled as she continued, “It’s not my fault your family is huge, is it? Which reminds me! You’ll need to send a message to your parents. They are going to be so excited!”

“I hadn’t thought of that, sweetheart.” He nodded toward the grandfather clock sitting in the hallway. “I have been standing here watching the clock grow closer to the time the telegraph office closes its doors, wondering if Mrs. Putnam will make her strawberry scones for breakfast.”

Hannah snorted. “Married less than a year, and you’ve suddenly developed a decent sense of humor. The world can thank me later.”

Christopher chuckled before he kissed her cheek and left the girls in the hallway.

Victoria stepped through the bedroom door and tried to take in the large space, sparsely furnished and cooler than she might have expected without central air-conditioning. A bed, slightly larger than a twin, sat against the wall near the hallway, and a tall wardrobe stood next to it. A bureau with a porcelain bowl and pitcher sat in between the double windows on the opposite side of the room.

Victoria leaned against one of the posts of the bed and sighed. “Where am I? What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Are you pregnant? Why are you pregnant?”

Hannah laid her hands over her belly. “When a mummy and a daddy love each other very much—”

“Oh, stop,” Victoria admonished, but couldn’t help but laugh.

“There’s so much to tell you.”

“Apparently. But, why am I here?” Victoria put her hand to her forehead and rubbed. “Where am I? I’m not really in the past, am I? No, there’s just no way I could be.”

Hannah reached out and squeezed her arm. “You are, Victoria. 1864 to be exact.”

Victoria shook her head. “Not possible.”

Hannah opened the wardrobe and poked her head inside. “Do you know that you’re not the only one?”

“You mean, besides you?”

“Yes.”

Victoria sat on the edge of the bed. “Who else is here?”

“Emma.”

Victoria stood again. “Shut up.”

“No, you shut up,” Hannah retorted. “But, that’s not all.”

“Of course not.” Victoria sighed as she sat a little more heavily on the bed.

“Jamie and Sophie are as well.”

Victoria frowned. “Isn’t that Emma’s sister?”

Hannah pulled a robe from the armoire and handed it to her. “Yes.”

Victoria squeezed her temples. “Holy shit.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I have so many questions.” Victoria ran her hands over the intricate cover on the bed.

Hannah laid her hands on Victoria’s shoulders and gave a gentle squeeze. “I know, but right now, I’m going to organize a bath for you and then we’ll talk okay?”

Pushing herself from the bed, Victoria nodded. “Oh, I have something for you.”

Hannah raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Victoria pulled Hannah’s bracelet from her jeans and handed it to her.

Hannah let out a quiet squeal. “I cannot believe you found it.” She held it to her chest. “It’s all I have of them.” Victoria smiled gently, and Hannah wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’ll get your bath ready.”

Victoria nodded and watched her leave the room. Unsure how long Hannah would be, and worried about Quincy, she quietly crossed the hall and entered his room. Leaning over him to feel his forehead, her worry built when she felt it was very hot. He took her by surprise when he reached up to gently take her hand.

“Hi, Gus. You’re awake.” She squeezed his hand gently. “You’re really warm. How are you feeling?”

His tongue darted out to lick his lips. “Water.”

Pouring some into a glass, she held his head so he could sip and when he tried to gulp, pulled back. “Just sips.”

Setting the glass beside the bed when he was finished, she laid his head gently on the pillow and wiped his mouth.

“Where am I?” he rasped.

“Your brother’s home. He went to get the doctor, who should be here soon. When he leaves, I’ll give you some more of those tablets, okay?”

He gripped her hand. “Don’t leave me.”

“I’ll stay until your brother gets back.” She stroked his hair from his forehead.

“No, stay all night.”

Victoria giggled. “Uh. No. Hannah is organizing a bath for me, and I’m sorry, I have to be honest, that trumps you for the moment. You did make me sleep in the dirt after all.”

Quinn chuckled, which turned into a cough.

“Shh, sorry. Relax,” she whispered.

Once again, he took her hand and held it close to his chest. Victoria heard a slight noise and turned her head toward the hall. Hannah stood silently in the doorway, smiling.

“Is the bath ready?” Victoria asked.

“Not yet. I’ll find you when it is.”

“Thanks.”