A Knight in Central Park

chapterSeventeen

The course of true love never did run smooth.

—Shakespeare

For the first time in his life, Joe knew what it was like to be a dog...a homeless, hungry dog. Every part of his body itched. The fleas had made their home in the woolen blankets, multiplying in number with each passing night.

For eight long days they journeyed through wetlands, meadows, and woodlands until finally they broke through the shadows of tall pines and elms and began their passage through waist-high grass and lumpy soil that made it difficult to walk without twisting an ankle. Overall, their journey was taking much longer than planned.

Joe touched the satchel at his side, making sure the stone was still there...something he did every morning, and then again each night before he fell asleep. Eleven nights he’d spent in another time; eighteen more until he could finally return to a life filled with hot showers, real food, and dentists.

He and Garrett walked while the women rode. His mouth was as dry as the desert and each leg felt as if it had a fifty pound weight tied around his ankle. But they trudged on, his thoughts blurring as he wondered if he really had traveled through time. Maybe his other life in the future was a figment of his imagination. For the most part though, he knew “it“ had happened, and he knew he needed to do whatever it took to get back to his own time.

They hadn’t passed a decent river or creek in at least forty-eight hours. The entire group reeked of fish and skunk. A thin coat of dirt and mud streaked his skin and clung to his clothes. As he followed Garrett, Joe kept a firm grip on the reins to Alexandra’s horse, so she could sleep. Rebecca had fallen asleep in Alexandra’s arms and her small legs hung limp, moving in rhythm to the horse’s slow gait. Sullenly, he peeked up at Alexandra...his friend.

For the past few days, Alexandra had been the best darn friend a guy could ask for. Instead of being angry with him, she’d cooked for him, listened to his complaints, even collected Pennyroyal, a strong-scented mint that helped to repel fleas and keep the itching under control.

Every night, Alexandra told the kids a story as they sat around the campfire, and then she tucked them tightly beneath old blankets as she said goodnight. She always said goodnight to him, too, before she drifted off to sleep. And every night she left him to his own tortuous thoughts as he recalled every touch, every smile, every knowing look they had ever shared.

He missed Alexandra. Even now, mere inches from his grasp, and yet he missed her.

Alexandra seemed perfectly at ease with their so-called blossoming friendship. How could she so easily forget the passion they’d shared? Friends, my foot! He certainly didn’t think of her as a friend. Did friends want to rip their friend’s clothes off and make love to them?

A fly landed on Rebecca’s leg, making her eye twitch. The shadowed wingspan of a hawk glided across the dry grass. It was much too quiet. Garrett and Susan bickered for most of the trip and so now the interminable silence left a soft ringing in his ears. Absurd, considering for days he’d prayed for a few moments of peace. The children’s constant chattering had helped keep his mind off of Alexandra, and off the constant throbbing of his tooth.

“About the other day...” Joe’s voice came out raspy with an odd little squeak at the end. No matter what his feelings for Alexandra were, he would return home in a few weeks. So what good would it do to talk about the other night or tell her how much he cared for her?

“About the other day,” he said again, determined to get a few things off his chest. “I’m sorry for the things I said about your brother and sisters. They’re great kids, they really are.”

Alexandra remained silent and kept her gaze straight ahead.

“I’ve never been good with kids,” he went on. “I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. That’s no excuse, I know. Garrett didn’t deserve that.”

Still no response.

“Alexandra, talk to me. I’m dying here.”

Her gaze finally met his; worry lined her brow.

“I’m not dying in the true sense of the word,” he told her. “I just wanted you to look at me so I could tell you a few things.” Now that he had her attention, the pressure was on. As he searched for the right words, his tongue felt thick. “I-I only wanted to say...to let you know...that being with you...Hell,” he blurted, frustrated with his inability to spit the words out. “I just wanted you to know that making love to you was...special.”

Seconds passed without a word from Alexandra.

“And perfect,” he quickly added. “Yes, being with you was perfect. And, well, I just didn’t want you to think that what we shared meant nothing to me, because it meant a lot. I wish things could be different between us. If we had met under different circumstances...maybe we would have stood a chance. I mean come on,” he said as if they were actually having a two-way conversation, “talk about being in a long-distant relationship.” He laughed.

She didn’t.

After a long moment, Alexandra gave in and said, “’Twas foolish of me to think that a night of passion would not change anything between us.”

“I was the fool,” he said. “I knew it would change everything, but I didn’t stop it from happening.”

“’Twould seem there were two of us involved. I gave myself to you of my own free will. As Shelly has a fondness of saying, life goes on. In truth, I know not what came over me. It will not happen again, of that I can assure you, for I have no wish to drive a wedge further between us. Our friendship is too important to me.”

His heart twisted, every part of him wilting.

“I wish you no ill-will,” she said before he could find his tongue again, “only happiness and Godspeed in your return home.” Her smile was sincere, genuine, sending an arrow right through his heart.

He answered with a tight smile, although inside he wasn’t smiling at all.

“Look!” Garrett shouted, alerting his sisters and putting an abrupt end to their already dying conversation. Joe urged Alexandra’s horse along until they caught up to Garrett and Susan. They had reached the end of the high grass where it converged with a wide, pitted road. Sprawling green sheets of quilted meadows and fields divided by hedgerows lay before them. Sheep grazed contentedly while hawks hovered above looking for prey. In the distance, ribbons of smoke floated upwards and then disappeared, blending in with the grayish clouds.

A dog barked. Civilization at last.

Before long they stood before a tilted wooden sign outside the village of Clapcot.

Clapcot appeared much larger and more heavily populated than Brookshire. In fact, the entire town bustled with activity. Church bells rang above the high-pitched twang of the Blacksmith’s tools. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the streets, making Joe’s mouth water and his stomach grumble. Shops and small timber-framed homes lined the main street.

They caught a few curious glances as they made their presence known, but clearly these people were used to strangers passing by. While Garrett pulled Rebecca from the saddle and took her to the well to get a drink, Susan dutifully led the horses to a trough.

Joe turned to an elderly lady when she came scrambling out of an inn, wiping her hands on her apron. Wisps of wiry gray hair framed her face. “I have rooms available,” she said. “It’ll cost a shilling for each of you and another two for the horses.”

Joe put an arm about her hefty shoulders and urged her away from curious ears. “We need a hot meal, baths, and a couple of rooms. We don’t have any money...but,” he added quickly when horror lit up her face, “I have solid gold wrapped about my tooth and if you can find someone to remove it, it’s all yours.”

She raised a suspicious brow and said, “Open your mouth.”

He obeyed, relieved to see her brighten at the sight.





By the time Alexandra saw to the horses, unpacked their things and bathed Rebecca, exhaustion had set in. Night had long since descended upon them. As she moved through the halls, a faint giggling and a familiar male voice caught her attention. She followed the sound, then peeked inside a door that had been left ajar. A rush of heat came to her face upon seeing a young maid bathing Sir Joe, scrubbing his back and chest, her pale hands dipping under soapy water for an eternity and beyond, while her breasts nearly burst from her low cut gown, cushioning the back of his head.

“Is the water warm enough, my lord?” the maid asked.

Alexandra pushed the door wide and stepped inside. “’Tis good to see you enjoying yourself,” Alexandra said, unable to hide the ire from her voice. “I was beginning to worry that you were off somewhere in pain. But I see you are being well cared for.”

Upon seeing her, Sir Joe grinned from ear to ear, seeming to have no care as to her displeasure. “Alexandra,” he said. “I was telling Vicki—” He bent his neck backwards so that he could better see the maid. “Mind if I call you Vicki?”

“Nay, my lord, I dare not mind.” The maid’s tittering laughter prickled Alexandra’s ears.

“Ah, that’s nice,” Sir Joe said as his body relaxed within the tub, his head bent back as if he’d forgotten Alexandra was there at all.

Alexandra turned to leave.

“Alexandra,” he called, the water sloshing from the quickness of his movements, “is that you?”

Sighing, she turned to him once more. His eyes narrowed, then widened as if he were having a difficult time focusing. And then suddenly a wide grin fell across his handsome features. “Why did you not tell me you were here?”

Alexandra plunked a hand to her hip. “What is wrong with you?”

“What could possibly be wrong when you are near?”

She watched Sir Joe grab a wine cup from a low stool. He guzzled its contents and then smiled at the quickness in which the maid went to refill his cup.

“This is the life,” he said to Alexandra.

When his cup was full again, he held it high. “Cheers to my good friend, Alexandra, the most beautiful woman in all of England. The bestest friend a guy could ever hope for. Hair of silk and lipsss of red wine.”

She started to leave, then turned back when he started up again.

“And eyes...those eyes...they are like...” Once again he squinted, leaning out of the tub as if he were even now trying to determine the color of Alexandra’s eyes.

Alexandra moved to the side of the wooden tub. “You, Sir Joe, are drunk!”

He reached upward and took hold of her hand, refusing to let go when she tried to pull away. “I don’t want to be your friend,” he said sullenly, a ridiculous pout on his face. “In fact, I was just telling Vicki that I didn’t want to be your friend at all. Isn’t that right?”

The maid smiled and nodded, enjoying the spectacle he was making of himself as she scooped soap from a tin and used it to scrub his hair.

“Ahhh, that feels good. To the left. Ahhh yes, I’m in heaven.”

Alexandra rolled her eyes heavenward. “Release me. I have no desire to stand here and watch you bathe whilst you make a fool of yourself.”

“Do you know why I don’t want to be your friend, Alexandra?”

“Nay. But if telling me will allow me to be set free, then please do so quickly so that I may get some rest.”

The corners of his mouth lifted into a lazy, seductive smile. “I don’t want to be your friend because as Vicki so grazzzeously pointed out...” He waved his arm in a grand gesture. “It is difficult to be friends and lovers. And, well, if I have to choose, I’ve decided I’d much rather be your lover.”

Alexandra shook her head at such foolishness.

His elbow came to rest precariously on the side of the tub, the wine drizzling from his cup. “What?”

“I suppose you have told all you have met about us?”

A brow shot up. “Wazzz it a secret?”

“We will talk when you are sober.”

“You agree then?” he asked, his elbow slipping into the tub with a splash.

She wiped droplets of water from her tunic. “Agree to what?”

“We will be lovers again?”

“Nay,” she said with less regret than she might have felt under different circumstances.

He set the empty cup on the floor and gestured with his chin for her to lean closer. “I have a secret.”

“And then you will release me?”

He nodded.

She leaned forward, holding the tub with her free hand so as not to fall in. His lips touched her ear, sending chills coursing up her arms, her body betraying her at every turn.

“You are very beautiful.” He touched a strand of her hair, played with it for a moment. “Even when you’re angry, you’re beautiful. I think the maid,” he said, gesturing behind him, “iz jealous.”

She snorted, tried to pull away.

“Very, very jealous of your never-ending beauty. Yes, it is you I dream of each and every night. I’ve missed you,” he added hastily.

Alexandra pulled back enough so as to look into his eyes.

“Shhhhhh,” he said, putting a finger to his mouth. “Do not tell anyone. It will be our secret.” His hands fell back into the warm water as if a terrible burden had been rested from his mind.

She was free to go.

Alexandra shook her head, but didn’t find herself smiling fully until the innkeeper entered with a pair of pliers in one hand and clean linen in the other, asking all to leave so she could collect her gold now that the opium had set in.