Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

answer—please.”
    â€œOf course.”
    As they walked toward the bar, he was thoughtful.
    â€œWhat?” she asked, exasperated.
    â€œEventually, you will believe me,” he said quietly. “Somehow, I have to get back to my own…place.”
    â€œAt the end of a hangman’s noose?” she asked sharply.
    â€œNo. Right here. But when I’m supposed to be here,” he said quietly.
    She studied him for a moment. “You need a drink worse than I do,” she told him.
    â€œIf you don’t believe in magic, couldn’t you even stretch a bit and try to believe in a miracle?” he asked. “What I’m telling you is the truth. Serena loves me, and she tried to save my life. Obviously, since I do seem to be flesh and blood, she did save my life. And maybe her magic worked because it was like a prayer for the innocent or the righteous, whichever way you want to see it.”
    â€œSerena?” she said. “Your—wife?”
    He shook his head, smiling. “My sister. Adopted, as a child, by my parents, when hers were killed in an Indian attack. She was my only sibling, and we were close. She shouldn’t have been in New York—she should have been here, in Gloucester. I was so afraid for her. Am so afraid for her. And I have to make sure that she did make it home, that… I mean, good God, you really can’t imagine what it is— was —like. Some believed the Revolution was a deadly and tragic mistake. Others saw it as a right to freedom. There were fine British sympathizers and soldiers. But those capable of cruelty come in all uniforms. I’m very afraid for her. She is my family, you see. Somehow, I have to find a way…back.”
    Melody stared at him blankly, unable to believe for a moment that what she’d felt at first was actually jealousy. Of an unknown woman.
    His sister…
    Adopted sister.
    Was she crazy herself? Was that jealousy again?
    Insane. The whole thing was insane.
    â€œLook, Jake, we do have the Internet now, planes that fly at supersonic speeds—but as far as I know, there is no pathway that leads to years gone by. No time travel. We just haven’t gotten to that yet.”
    â€œMaybe it’s time to get to it,” he said. “There has to be a way.”
    She hesitated. “We can go and try to check through some of the church records. And this area does live in the past sometimes. So many of the houses are really old—diaries and the like are always being found. Maybe we can research and find out what went on. My mom might have some old books that will help us.” She hesitated. “My mom…she thinks her ancestors were pagan healers, or Wiccans. She’s always researching the past for what was really going on when the British came over. She has the entire trial records from the Salem witchcraft mania.”
    â€œReally? They never did hang any more witches, did they?” he inquired.
    â€œNot that I know about.”
    â€œI really need your help. I’m most grateful. We have to discover a way for me to get back.”
    She shook her head, exasperated. He was crazy—and persistent. “I really need a drink.”
    And with that, she headed for the bar.

3
    T he Pond Bar was neighborhood friendly and pleasant. It was a quiet night so far—probably because it was fairly early and the day’s weather had been so bad. More people would come out later, Melody was certain, glad to escape their houses or the harrowing drives they had made during the day. But at the moment, the little place was quiet.
    She chose a small table next to the cast-iron potbellied stove, and pulled her gloves off as they sat. Jake Mallory was once again looking around—then he focused on one young woman in the place who was wearing stiletto boots and one of the miniest minidresses Melody had ever seen.
    His shocked gaze moved to her and he lowered his head to whisper,