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  Aaron’s frown deepened as he drummed his fingers on the table. “What kind of man cooks?”

  Ted returned his focus on him, hoping he looked brave enough to confront a whole army of irritable marshals. “I worked in a restaurant for five years. And I did pretty well, if I may say so.”

  He shook his head. “Cooking is woman’s work.”

  “It’s true,” Esther agreed. “Now that you’re a married man, you need to do your duty and your wife needs to do hers. You work and provide the shelter.”

  “You bring food home and she cooks it up,” Aaron finished.

  “Not if she’s starting fires I won’t.” Ted refused to back down to him.

  Megan crossed her arms and huffed. “Are you telling me what I can and cannot do?”

  He shrugged. “You yourself said you couldn’t cook this morning. I’d think you’d be delighted by this.”

  “But I don’t like being told what to do.”

  “A man rules the house,” Aaron told her. Looking at Ted, he said, “You’d do well to remember that before you get a rebellion on your hands.”

  Frustrated, Ted glared at him. So what if Marshal Thompson was worse than his last supervisor who thought he knew everything there was to know about anything. Ted had enough of the marshal’s intimidation tactics and wouldn’t give in on this issue. “If I’m the man of the house, then I say what goes on in it. And as far as I’m concerned, Megan’s banned from the kitchen.”

  The three gasped, each for different reasons, he was sure, but still, what they formed was a collective gasp. Well, let them deal with the news however they wanted to. He stood up. He’d had enough of this conversation, if it could be called that.

  “I’m ready to retire for the night,” he announced. “If you’ll give me a ride home-”

  “Oh no,” Esther argued, quickly getting to her feet. “It’s much too late for us to be taking someone out to the country. You and your wife will stay in the guest bedroom.”

  Megan bolted to her feet. “You have two extra rooms, don’t you?”

  “You’re a married couple,” she said, wringing her hands and looking frantic. “It’d be wrong for you to sleep apart.”

  “Maybe we should get a room at the hotel,” Ted told Megan.

  Megan shook her head. “With what money? I haven’t sold the ring yet.”

  Oh. That did pose a problem. They couldn’t stay there for free and they didn’t have their own transportation.

  “The matter is settled,” Esther said, gaining back the usual calm and poise he’d come to expect from her. “You will stay in the guest bedroom. The sheets are clean and there are even new pillows on the bed. I think you’ll find the accommodations to your liking.”

  “Is there room for someone to sleep on the floor?” Megan asked.

  “You mean that you’ll sleep on the floor?” Ted clarified, upset that she’d volunteer him for that task.

  “No. You’re the man, so you get to sleep on the hard surface.”

  Aaron smirked as he looked at Ted. “What’s wrong? You can’t control that part of your relationship either?”

  Ted gritted his teeth and grabbed Megan’s hand. “We’ll sleep in bed together.” Ignoring Megan’s protest, he looked at Esther. “Where’s the bedroom?”

  Esther swiftly walked past them and he turned to follow. He had to keep a strong hold on Megan’s hand to take her along, but he had no intention of putting up with the marshal’s cutting remarks anymore. At least not for the rest of the night.

  Esther led them up the narrow staircase until they reached the first door on the right. “This will be your room for tonight. But it’s still early. Maybe we should go back down for some coffee or to talk.”

  “Nope,” he said, his tone firm. He nearly dragged Megan into the room and held onto her so she couldn’t escape. “I want to get to bed, and I want my wife with me. Thank you, Esther. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  Before she could respond, he shut the door.

  Megan finally pulled her hand out of his and glared at him. “That was rude!”

  “I don’t want to go back down there and talk to them. Do you?”

  ‘ She sighed and sat at the foot of the bed. “I don’t know. Esther’s actually nice, even if she does have some funny ideas.”

  “Old fashioned ideas, you mean.”

  “Given the time period, it’s par for the course.”

  “Which puts you under my authority, doesn’t it?” He knew she’d never go for that, which was why he said it. The moment her face grew red, he knew he’d made his point. “Are you ready to go back to the future?”

  “Yes.” She dug into her dress pocket and pulled out the ring. “Once I sell this, we’ll get our train tickets and be out of here.”

  “You’re going to buy me a train ticket?” he softly asked.

  “Well, I can’t leave you here, can I?”

  He sat next to her. “Thanks.”

  “It’s nothing. Really, you should thank Mike for buying it.”

  “Was that his name?”

  She nodded, turning the ring over with her fingers, seeming to be content to inspect it.

  Not knowing what else to say, he examined the small room. The bed took up most of the space but there was a good-sized wardrobe and a washstand too. There was probably even enough space for him to sleep at the foot of the bed.

  “I’ll tell you what,” he began, tapping his shoe on the soft blue rug which would be comfortable enough for one night’s sleep. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

  Relief flashed across her face. “Really?”

  “Really.” He smiled at her. “We’ll be out of this mess soon enough. Why don’t we just let bygones be bygones and move on? I don’t want to argue with you.”

  “We haven’t been arguing.”

  “Maybe not outright but you have to admit, things haven’t been ideal.”

  “Only because you made that snide comment regarding my virginity.”

  Was that why he bothered her? “I thought you didn’t like my job.”

  She gave him a ‘you’re crazy’ look. “No. I don’t care what you do for a living. I just didn’t like your insinuation that I slept around.”

  “Well…” He shrugged. “I assumed that you weren’t a virgin because none of the women I ever dated were.”

  “There are adult female virgins in the future.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks.” She slid the ring off her finger and put it on the washstand, next to the basin and pitcher of water. “Though don’t think I didn’t have my offers.”

  “I’m sure you did.” She certainly was attractive enough.

  She went to the window and moved aside the thick curtain. “I see the train station in that direction.” She pointed out the window. “I guess we’ll have to go with Esther and Miriam to the mercantile for clothes first.”

  “You’ll have to do that,” he corrected her, leaning back on the bed. “Richie’s going to come by and take me to buy clothes fit for farm work.”

  “As soon as we meet up again, we’ll go the train station. Does that sound like a good plan?”

  He nodded. “I don’t see any other choice.”

  She breathed a sigh of relief and turned her attention to him, letting the curtain fall back into place. “I miss indoor toilets and electricity.”

  “Me too.” Standing up, he gathered a pillow and a blanket to take to the floor. “I especially miss my music.”

  She grinned. “Let me guess. Alternative music?”

  “No. Country.”

  She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “You don’t strike me as a cowboy.”

  “I’m not. You don’t to have to be a cowboy to like country music.”

  Unbuttoning her dress, she said, “I hadn’t met anyone who likes country music.”

  “There’s a first time for everything.” He took his shoes off and set them by the door. “What kind of music do you listen to?”


  “Pop and rock.”

  He chuckled. “That’s typical of your type.”

  She paused as she was about to lift the dress over her head. “My type?”

  “Preppy. Your clothes scream it.”

  Removing the dress, she folded it and placed it on the end of the bed. “I’m just not a jeans person, that’s all. Not everyone likes denim.”

  “I love it.”

  “Obviously.” She turned down the light blanket and sheet and fluffed her pillow. “I can’t wait to sleep in my pajamas again. I’m sick of sleeping with my clothes on. I feel disgusting.”

  He glanced at her as he settled on the floor. “You wore your clothes to bed last night?”

  “Of course. I didn’t know if I could trust you or not. For all I knew, you would have come into my bedroom thinking something was going to happen.”

  He laughed, unable to hide his amusement. “And I slept in the buff.”

  Her jaw dropped and her hands stilled on her shoes that she had taken off. “You’re kidding?”

  “Nope.”

  “But weren’t you worried?”

  Cute. Yes, she was cute. “Meg, the truth is that a man doesn’t mind if a woman slips into his bed.”

  Rolling her eyes, she slipped under the covers. “Naturally. What was I thinking?”

  “Come on. I knew you weren’t going to come into my room.” Though it might have been exciting. Still, it had been highly unlikely. “Besides, I’m wearing my clothes tonight, aren’t I?” He motioned to his shirt and jeans. “That should be a warning to not take advantage of the situation.”

  “Ha ha. I’ll try to keep my hands to myself.”

  He laid back in his “bed”. The sunset still lit the room but he found it soothing. He thought of Amanda, realizing that she probably decided to date him because she had gone through a divorce and thought he’d provide a stable influence for her son. He’d accepted it, but having been forced to marry someone he didn’t want taught him that he didn’t want to be someone’s safety net. He wanted to be his real wife’s first choice.

  He placed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. Tomorrow would be the beginning of the rest of his life. Once he returned to the future, he’d no longer be married because they would have technically been dead for decades. So he’d be single again. Then he’d start searching the Internet for the right woman. Tony often recommended it, and he had nothing to lose in trying it. As his thoughts drifted to how he’d start taking chances instead of living life in the same boring and predictable routine he’d become accustomed to, he fell asleep.

  Chapter Six

  Cole finally arrived in a small town. The saloon was swinging with life, despite the fact that it was Sunday. Apparently, people didn’t mind going to church in the morning as long as they could live it up at night. Cole grinned. His kind of crowd.

  He made his way forward, glad for a chance to sit and relax, get some beer and find lodging. But first, he had to find out where he was. So far the chip remained in Fargo. As long as it stayed there, he’d be in good shape.

  Licking his lips, he determined how he might get money. He couldn’t exactly get his night’s lodging for free. He crossed the distance to the saloon. Upon entering the smoky establishment, he scanned the tables and found two with men playing poker. He pulled out his wedding band. The useless piece of junk that it was. It had no meaning for him anymore, but he carried it with him because he knew whatever time period he went to, gold could be sold. And a gold ring could be used to start a hand at a poker game. He flipped the ring and sat at the bar.

  “What’ll you have?” the bartender asked.

  “Nothing at the moment.” He watched the two poker tables.

  “There’s a one drink minimum.”

  Cole sighed. “Do you have change for a gold ring?”

  The young man’s eyes grew wide. “You rich or somethin’?”

  Not by a long shot, but he realized in 1898, a gold ring was valuable. “Actually, I’m here to play a few rounds of poker. I figured this would get me a good spot, don’t you?”

  The man grinned. “I tell you what. When you win your first game, pony up.” He filled a glass full of beer and plopped it on the bar.

  “Will do.”

  Cole took the cool glass and took a long swallow, enjoying the way the liquid tasted. It’d been a long time since he drank beer. He fiddled with the ring absentmindedly while he studied the poker players, hoping to detect their weaknesses. Now, poker was something he did plenty of, and he had no doubts that he could outdo these amateurs.

  One of the prostitutes approached him and gave him a flirtatious smile. “What’s your pleasure, mister?”

  He took his eyes off the men so he could appreciate the assets she was more than willing to show the world. The low cut red satin dress left very little to the imagination. A smile formed across his lips and he looked at her eyes.

  “Money,” he replied, turning his attention back to the tables.

  She giggled and pressed herself against him. “You can have me too…if the price is right.” Her gaze lowered to his ring.

  She was so much like his ex-wife that she disgusted him. But he supposed that was part of her job. He took another drink of beer. “Sweetie, I’m a travelin’ man.”

  “I noticed you’re not from here.”

  “No. I’m not. Tell me, what’s this town called?”

  “Devils Lake.”

  Good. Now he knew where he was, and he could be on his way to Fargo. He stood up and left her standing there, watching him, or rather she watched his money. He wasn’t going to waste his money on her, no matter how tempting her flesh was. He was here to make money and keep it. Before the night was up, all the coins on the tables would belong to him.

  ***

  Megan woke up to the sound of something, or someone, rummaging through the room. Startled, her eyelids flew open and she bolted up in bed. The moonlight streaming through the space between the curtains and the window revealed the intruder. A big dog sniffed around Ted’s head. Rubbing her eyes, she wondered if she was still dreaming, but another look at the foot of the bed showed her that a harry dog was indeed trudging through the room. She leapt out of bed and shooed the dog to the open door but it licked Ted’s face.

  Ted sputtered and sat up. “What’s happening?”

  “There’s a dog in here,” she whispered.

  Ted wiped his face on the sleeve of his shirt and glanced at the mutt. The dog, in return, laid down next to him.

  “You can’t stay,” he told the animal. “I have to sleep here.”

  The dog settled his head on Ted’s leg and whined.

  Megan sighed. There wasn’t enough room for him and the dog on the floor. “Come on. You can sleep in the bed.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. It doesn’t look comfortable on the floor anyway. This bed is big enough for both of us.”

  He stood up, grabbed his pillow and walked to the vacant side of the bed. The dog curled up on the floor, looking as content as a dog could possibly be.

  “I bet he sleeps in this room every night,” Megan said as she scooted back into her place on the mattress.

  “Why didn’t Aaron and Esther tell us they had a dog?” He laid next to her and yawned.

  “Maybe they were going to before you slammed the door in her face.”

  “I didn’t mean to be rude. I just got tired of dealing with the marshal. The guy hates me.”

  She laughed under her breath. “He does not.”

  “Yes, he does. I know when someone has it in for me, and Aaron fits the bill.”

  “Why would he hate you?”

  “Because I’m strange, and let’s face it, I am. I don’t belong in this time period. The way I talk, the way I act, the way I do things is not typical of what a man does in this century. He notices that. I think he’s waiting for me to slip up so he can send me back to prison.”

  She folded her arms over her stomach and stared at the c
eiling. “As long as he doesn’t find out we’re from the future, you’ll be okay. With any luck, we’ll be out of here soon anyway.”

  “I hope so.”

  A light snoring drifted from the foot of the bed.

  Megan smiled. “That was one tired dog.”

  He chuckled. “I think he’s a friendly one.”

  “He seems to be.”

  He rolled over onto his side, facing away from her. “Thanks for letting me sleep here. That floor wasn’t that comfortable.”

  “Then it seems like the dog did you a favor.” She closed her eyes. It was nice to know he really wasn’t going to try anything with her. She realized that she could trust him, and she liked that. Also, she found it soothing to sleep next to him. In a new environment, it helped to feel another person’s warmth, especially when that someone was as much a stranger to the past as she was. “Good night,” she whispered.

  “Night.”

  Soon she fell asleep. When she woke again, it was dawn and someone knocked on the door. The dog jumped up and ran over to the door to turn the doorknob. So that was how he got in last night. Megan shook her head in amazement at the dog’s resourcefulness. The door opened and he pushed it further apart until he could leave the room. His paws tapped the hardwood floor as he bounded down the steps.

  When she saw Esther give a cautious glance inside the room, she quickly shoved the blanket up to her neck, knowing the woman would freak if she found her in her shirt and shorts again. “Good morning,” Megan greeted. She moved the blanket over Ted’s chest so Esther wouldn’t realize he slept in his clothes. If Esther was intent on believing they were a normal married couple, she might as well play along. She rubbed Ted’s shoulder. “Honey, it’s morning.”

  He let out a low sigh before he opened his eyes. “Oh, Esther!”

  He moved to sit up but Megan stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. All they needed was for the blanket to fall to his waist and the woman would give them grief over their inactivity in the bedroom.

  When he glanced at Megan, she smiled and shook her head. “Esther’s come to wake us up. Isn’t that nice?”