. He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced at the items on Reverend Bodine's desk. A calendar with several dates circled–all the Sundays–also proclaimed the year was 1891.
What was he looking for anyway? Another sign? Another miracle? An explanation for all this? He opened the drawer, feeling like a thief, though he had no intention of stealing anything. Escaping from prison would be the last crime Luke Nolan ever committed. And the first...
"I'm free," he whispered, perspiration popping from every one of his fried pores. Then a rush of joy swept through him and his heart did a fair imitation of what his grandmother would've called the Snoopy dance.
Could it be true? Hell, yes . If time travel was possible, then Luke Nolan–wrongfully convicted and condemned man–was finally free.
Free!
No more prison, no more running for his life, no more electric chair.
A shudder gripped him and he closed his eyes, willing the moment of remembered terror to pass. There was no electricity here, and no electric chair. More importantly, there was no criminal record for Luke Nolan. He could make a new life for himself. Maybe now he could even become a teacher, as he'd dreamed of in his time.
My time ? No, this was his time now. Maybe he could teach Future History. He almost smiled as he closed the desk drawer, leaving its contents untouched.
He stared at his hands, flexing and spreading his reddened fingers against the desk's smooth surface, the open book only a few inches away. Why was he here in this time and place? With these suffering people?
Slowly, he brought the trembling fingers of one hand to the crucifix dangling around his neck, remembering Father Salazar's expression. With his fingertips, he traced the shape of the crucifix, then closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Was he here for a reason? His grandparents would've thought so, but despite this morning's miracle, Luke couldn't see himself playing a priest for the rest of his life.
A life that should've ended this morning.
Guilt slammed into him yet again. Yes, guilt was one part of Catholicism he'd learned very well. Father Salazar was dead because of those explosions. Because of Luke. If not for him, the old man wouldn't have been in that execution chamber in the first place.
And what about Sofie?
Luke jerked his eyes open and blinked several times, trying to focus. Sofie was in this mess with him, but she didn't even know it. Still, she'd be safe here in Redemption even after he left to begin his new life. After meeting more of the townspeople, Luke was convinced of that.
But what if she remembers?
A sinking sensation gripped him. So what if Sofie remembered Luke's true identity and the reason they'd been in that so-called cave this morning? What could she do about it? No one in this time had ever heard of Luke Nolan, or the terrible crime he was to have died for. No one.
Except Sofie.
Of course, no one would believe her if she claimed to have traveled back from the future with a condemned murderer. They'd all think she was crazy, and Luke would still be free. Free!
"Father, are you ready now?"
Luke drew a deep breath and stood, clutching Father Salazar's Bible in his hand. "Yes, I'm ready."
No, it wouldn't matter at all if Sofie regained her memory.
To anyone but him.
And he couldn't let it matter.
Sofie bent over a cot near the front of the building, her hands trembling and her throat contracting. Self-doubt attacked from all directions. Again.
She couldn't be a doctor.
The young patient looked up at her and smiled weakly. Her rash was covered with dry red scabs, and Dr. Wilson wanted Sofie to bathe the girl and check her
What was he looking for anyway? Another sign? Another miracle? An explanation for all this? He opened the drawer, feeling like a thief, though he had no intention of stealing anything. Escaping from prison would be the last crime Luke Nolan ever committed. And the first...
"I'm free," he whispered, perspiration popping from every one of his fried pores. Then a rush of joy swept through him and his heart did a fair imitation of what his grandmother would've called the Snoopy dance.
Could it be true? Hell, yes . If time travel was possible, then Luke Nolan–wrongfully convicted and condemned man–was finally free.
Free!
No more prison, no more running for his life, no more electric chair.
A shudder gripped him and he closed his eyes, willing the moment of remembered terror to pass. There was no electricity here, and no electric chair. More importantly, there was no criminal record for Luke Nolan. He could make a new life for himself. Maybe now he could even become a teacher, as he'd dreamed of in his time.
My time ? No, this was his time now. Maybe he could teach Future History. He almost smiled as he closed the desk drawer, leaving its contents untouched.
He stared at his hands, flexing and spreading his reddened fingers against the desk's smooth surface, the open book only a few inches away. Why was he here in this time and place? With these suffering people?
Slowly, he brought the trembling fingers of one hand to the crucifix dangling around his neck, remembering Father Salazar's expression. With his fingertips, he traced the shape of the crucifix, then closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Was he here for a reason? His grandparents would've thought so, but despite this morning's miracle, Luke couldn't see himself playing a priest for the rest of his life.
A life that should've ended this morning.
Guilt slammed into him yet again. Yes, guilt was one part of Catholicism he'd learned very well. Father Salazar was dead because of those explosions. Because of Luke. If not for him, the old man wouldn't have been in that execution chamber in the first place.
And what about Sofie?
Luke jerked his eyes open and blinked several times, trying to focus. Sofie was in this mess with him, but she didn't even know it. Still, she'd be safe here in Redemption even after he left to begin his new life. After meeting more of the townspeople, Luke was convinced of that.
But what if she remembers?
A sinking sensation gripped him. So what if Sofie remembered Luke's true identity and the reason they'd been in that so-called cave this morning? What could she do about it? No one in this time had ever heard of Luke Nolan, or the terrible crime he was to have died for. No one.
Except Sofie.
Of course, no one would believe her if she claimed to have traveled back from the future with a condemned murderer. They'd all think she was crazy, and Luke would still be free. Free!
"Father, are you ready now?"
Luke drew a deep breath and stood, clutching Father Salazar's Bible in his hand. "Yes, I'm ready."
No, it wouldn't matter at all if Sofie regained her memory.
To anyone but him.
And he couldn't let it matter.
Sofie bent over a cot near the front of the building, her hands trembling and her throat contracting. Self-doubt attacked from all directions. Again.
She couldn't be a doctor.
The young patient looked up at her and smiled weakly. Her rash was covered with dry red scabs, and Dr. Wilson wanted Sofie to bathe the girl and check her
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