Lightning Only Strikes Twice by Stanalei Fletcher Read Free Book Online

couple of hours to see how she’s doing.” He left, closing the door behind him.
    The room was quiet except for the fading sound of Paul’s boots as he stepped off the porch. The cuckoo clock ticking on the wall seemed unusually loud.
    Dr. Smyth settled into his chair and stared at Luke. “Care to explain what you’re up to?”
    “What do you mean?” Luke tried to act casual. His excitement was building more with each passing minute.
    Annie had arrived from his time! Her presence was significant. He wasn’t stranded alone in 1891 any longer. For the first time in two months, he had hope of returning to his own time.
    The doctor chuckled. “That was some slick talking. What is it about this woman that has you dancing like a june bug on hot coals?”
    Luke dragged his mind back to the conversation, realizing how vital it was to keep appearances. “I’m only being neighborly,” he said. “If she’s really orphaned, then she probably needs a place to stay until she’s back on her feet.”
    “A mite more than neighborly, I think.” The doctor leaned forward. “However, Miss Crawford seems nice enough and now that your plan’s in motion, I rather like the idea of someone staying with Paul and Elizabeth. It’s getting close to Elizabeth’s time. Her last birth was touch-and-go. Do you think Miss Crawford is capable of helping out with the baby?”
    “I’m sure she is,” Luke said. “She probably cared for her grandfather before he died.”
    The doctor’s eyes narrowed. “Seems you got to know my patient quite well in the few minutes I was gone.”
    Luke didn’t respond to the doctor’s comment. He didn’t know Annie well at all. In fact, he wasn’t sure what she’d do when she realized the truth. He could only hope that she’d react in a rational manner and try to make the best of the situation—as he’d tried to do.
    ****
    Annie woke from a dream where her grandfather was alive and they’d been picnicking at White Rock.
    Then she remembered she was at White Rock, but Grandpa was dead and she was alone. Tears burned in her eyes as she thought about how much he’d have enjoyed a celebration like Founders’ Day.
    She blinked away the tears and glanced around. A soft glow from the fading sunset shaded the room a rosy pink. Careful not to move too quickly, she lifted her head. No rockets exploded behind her eyes.
    She pushed the quilt off her legs and sat up. Although still there, the headache was less severe. A slight sensation of vertigo remained as well, but the intense queasiness that plagued her earlier was gone.
    Good. She had to get home.
    First, she needed her shoes. She glanced under the bed, but it was too dark to see. Crossing the room, she reached under the lampshade to find the switch on the old lamp perched on a side table. There was none. A search around the lamp didn’t reveal any electrical connection. On closer examination, she realized it was an oil lamp. Interesting.
    She took in the room’s quaint appearance. An ornate Victorian armchair with dark-red upholstery sat in the corner. A pantry leaned against the wall opposite the bed. Inside the glass doors, she saw several bottles, all with simple cork stoppers.
    The room had been decorated for the Founders’ Day celebration with remarkable accuracy. She wished she knew more about antiques. Some of these items must be priceless.
    Instinctively, she glanced up, expecting to see security monitors. None showed. The monitors were either well-hidden or the owners weren’t worried about theft and vandalism. As enticing as it was to investigate the room’s treasures, it was getting late.
    Now, where were her shoes? She hadn’t been wearing them in the forest. The little boy, Willie, had looked for them too. Maybe she left them in her car. She hoped it wasn’t too far a walk to where she parked. As it was, the drive to Boise would take at least a couple of hours and it would be dark soon.
    Which brought up another question. Why