Chapter 7
Esther quickly raised her face toward Brianna. “Do you sense her?" Then she turned her head and coughed again.
They tied us up, tossed us in a cart, and brought us here. They made us put on these clothes, and they burned our jeans and sweaters. If you can hear us, please, please give us a sign.
Freya touched her sister on her other shoulder and then kissed her forehead. Her sister burst into tears.
“That's it! I know it's you,” Brianna said. “When we were young, you used to kiss me on the forehead. I saw pictures of you doing that when I was a baby. I know it's you, Freya. I don't know how you can get us out of this time, though.
“We’re not even sure how we got here,” Esther said, then coughing wracked her body again.
“We went for a walk along the river.” Brianna continued.
“There must've been a portal that we didn't know about. One moment we were walking beside the river as usual, and the next moment we tripped and fell. There was someone in this period’s costume, pulling water out of the river with a bucket.
She screamed, and even though we tried talking to her, soon we were surrounded by men with muskets, all wearing Puritan clothing from the 1600s.
At least the illustrations I've seen from that time would support the idea.”
“That and the fact that we’re being accused of being witches,” Esther added, then coughed.
“It's getting cold in here at night, and they took away our blankets last spring. We huddle together for warmth and lie on top of the straw that hasn't been soiled. We barely lived through last winter. Please get us out of here!”
“Yes. Yes, I will get you back!” Freya yelled. They didn’t react, so it seemed they weren’t able to hear her.
Freya needed to return to her body and find that portal! She closed her eyes and pictured her body outside again, then she floated back to her kitchen. She let her spirit reenter her body and opened her eyes.
Devon stared at her. “You’re back! Bloody hell, I was wondering what I’d do if you didn’t return.”
Freya jumped up. “I know where they are, and I have to get to them! They’re in Ipswich—in jail! In 1692-ish. There’s a portal by the river…”
Before she reached the door, Devon rose and grabbed her around the waist. “Wait! Shouldn’t we prepare? If you go to that time period, you’ll need to blend in. Is there a costume shop or theater group that could dress us appropriately? And even if you find the portal, do you know how to get back?”
All good questions. So why did Freya want to push him off her front stoop, just for thinking of them?
“I—I can’t wait. They looked cold and emaciated. Diseases often spread in filthy conditions like that. My grandmother didn’t look well.”
“Yet, we need every advantage to get them back safely. We could be tossed in the same jail cell if we go running in there, demanding their release.”
“I know… You’re right.” She burst into tears.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t give up hope. We will figure this out.”
“Why are you saying, ‘we?’ It’s not your family; not your problem.”
“I want to help.”
Freya took a deep breath. “Well, I can’t let you. It’s too dangerous.”
“Knowing the time period, I’d say it’s too dangerous for a woman to go alone. I’m sorry about the patriarchy of the time, but it was a fact of life back then. Maybe I can don a white wig and pretend to be a judge.”
“Oh… I hadn’t thought of that. Wait. Are you sure? I doubt you can communicate in Old English, even if you’re from Great Britain.”
“True, but perhaps Great-aunt Elspeth can coach me.”
“Can she coach you to speak as they did two hundred years before she was born?”
“Oh, right. That might not be possible.”
“I don’t think I could stand it if you were stuck there too!” As she said it, she realized the ambiguity of her feelings. She didn’t want to be separated from him. Not by time or by an ocean. They belonged together. Yet, she’d never forgive herself if she put him in unnecessary danger.
Devon pulled her close and kissed her with purpose. The long, deep, tender kiss had her trembling in his arms.
When he released her lips, he looked deeply into her eyes. “Freya, if only I didn’t live in England…”
She smiled sadly and gazed into his eyes. “I know what you mean.”
Devon gently stroked her hair and pulled her close, tucking her head under his chin. “But I’d stay here for you…”
She sighed. “Man, I want to jump your bones right now.”
He chuckled. “Cuddling is good too.” After a long pause, he shifted to find her lips and kissed her with all the pent-up passion he had felt for what seemed like a hundred years.
Her breathing slowed and deepened. She let her hand slip from his waist to the bulging area below.
“Freya,” he whispered. “I suddenly want to get horizontal.”
“Let’s do it. It might be our last chance.”
Devon looked into her eyes and nodded. They both rushed upstairs to Freya’s bedroom.