Penelope and Cole share a meal...


He smiled at her. ―I like to help. This way, I get to pay
you back for all you‘ve done for me. You know, saving my life
and all.‖

She returned his smile. ―I like the fact that you‘re here.‖

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. Did she just say
that? It was such a bold thing to do. And yet, losing a husband
after being married for only a year had taught her that she couldn‘t
spend her life waiting. She had to make the most of the moment,
and though she understood she couldn‘t come right out and ask
him to stay with her, she could be subtle and let him know he was
more than welcome if he wished to leave everything he‘d known
behind to be with her.

Forcing her attention back to the food, she finally bit into
the biscuit.

―I like being here too,‖ he softly confessed, not making
eye contact with her.

Her heart leapt. There was hope then. She was sure of it.
Maybe he was considering it. She certainly hoped so. He was, by
far, the most wonderful man she‘d ever met. Randy was dear to
her of course. He‘d always have a special place in her heart. But
there was no denying her feelings for Cole. Maybe, he‘d come to
feel the same way for her.

***

A Chance In Time




This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are
imagery and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The
opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and
do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.


ISBN 1449513778
EAN- 9781449513771

A Chance In Time
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright 2009 Ruth Ann Nordin
V1.0

Cover Photo © Copyright Shutterstock Images LLC. All rights reserved –
Used with permission. Front and back covers.

Cover Photo © Copyright JupiterImages Corporation. All rights reserved –
used with permission. Back cover image and spine image.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by
any means including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without expressed
written consent of the publisher/author except in the case of brief quotations
embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Ruth Ann Nordin‘s Books
http://www.ruthannnordin.com



PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA






A Chance in
Time






Ruth Ann Nordin

Ruth Ann Nordin‘s Books
Springfield, Nebraska



Other books written by Ruth Ann Nordin
An Inconvenient Marriage
An Unlikely Place for Love
The Cold Wife
Falling In Love With Her Husband
Romancing Adrienne
With This Ring, I Thee Dread
Falling In Love With Her Husband
Meant To Be
Eye of the Beholder
His Redeeming Bride
















Dedicated to Danielle Watson, Cyn Goustin, and Bonnie
Steffens whose input while I wrote this is greatly
appreciated.
































A Chance in Time
1





Chapter One



Late spring 1899

Loneliness. It was a constant companion out in the middle of a
vacant North Dakota prairie. Vacant, that is, except for a woman.
A woman who ventured out west as a mail-order bride only to
have her husband die shortly after they built their home. A
woman who spent a year alone with nothing for company except
two horses and the howls of coyotes in the middle of the night.
Their howls echoed the resounding emptiness in her heart, in her
life.

Penelope Jordan packed her things. Today she‘d return to
civilization. She had enough of being isolated from other people.
God, after all, did not create man to be alone, and after spending
endless hours by herself, she learned how true that lesson was.

Loading her belongings into the wagon didn‘t take long.
The two geldings obeyed her command to move forward. At long
Ruth Ann Nordin
2

last, she was leaving. She didn‘t look back at the one room cabin.
It was a cruel reminder of all that she‘d hoped for but lost. A
lifetime with someone who was to be her lover and friend.

But she wouldn‘t dwell on the past. Things that could
have been were better left untended to. And so she guided the
geldings northeast where the nearest town was. She‘d take a job.
She didn‘t care what that job was as long as it involved being near
other people.

Twenty minutes passed before she found him. He was
lying down, on his stomach, in the tall grass. She pulled the
horses to a stop and set the brake before she stepped down from
the wagon. She rushed over to him. He was badly burned from
spending a good length of time in the sun. Blisters had formed on
his hands and face. How lucky he was that his clothes covered the
rest of him.

―Mister?‖ she called.

No response.

She tucked a rebellious strand of hair back under her
bonnet and knelt beside him. ―Mister.‖ She nudged him in the
arm.

Still, no response. His blond hair ruffled from the wind‘s
activity, and thankfully, his beard had protected most of his face.
The poor man. What he must have gone through to end up like
this.

She took a deep breath to settle her sudden anxiety. What
if he was dead? She glanced at the miles of grass that spanned in
all directions. If he was dead, should she carry his corpse to
town? He should have a proper burial, shouldn‘t he? Or should
she leave him to the elements and let nature take care of him?

He groaned.

Startled, she turned her attention back to him. ―Mister?‖
She shook his shoulder. ―Can you hear me?‖

Instead of giving her any answers, he grew silent.
A Chance in Time
3


She touched his face and realized his skin was hot. Maybe
it was from the sunburn...or maybe it was a fever. He really didn‘t
look well. She stood up and ran to her wagon where she picked
up the canteen that had been resting next to her seat.

When she returned to him, she realized he was having
trouble breathing. She turned him over, hoping the change in
position would help.

He moved his lips as if to speak but no sound came out.
She gently lifted his head and tucked it into the crook of her arm
before letting the cool liquid seep into his mouth. She watched
him swallow. His eyelids fluttered until they opened. He had light
blue eyes, but they were unfocused. He most likely didn‘t even
see her.

―Can you hear me?‖ she asked.

He gave a slight nod, winced and then closed his eyes
again.

She couldn‘t help but feel sorry for him. She‘d never seen
a man who looked worse off than he did, except for her husband
as he struggled for his last breath through fluid-filled lungs. The
reminder struck a cord of panic through her. Not this time. She
wasn‘t going to let another man die if she could help it!

She let him sip on the water until he passed out. Setting
the canteen by his side, she felt his forehead again. It was too hot.
There was no way she could blame this on his sunburn, even if it
was severe. How many days had he been wandering through the
vast wilderness? What was he doing out here? He didn‘t even
have a horse...or if he did, the horse was long gone. She shook
her head. Such things didn‘t matter right now. She needed to get
him to the cabin where he could rest.

The task of bringing one of the geldings to him and
pulling his dead weight onto it was daunting, to say the least. He
must have been a head taller than her. But she managed it. The
journey back to her solitary home took longer than normal, but
she wanted to be careful so she didn‘t cause the stranger more
Ruth Ann Nordin
4

damage than he‘d already endured. By the time she dragged him
onto her bed, she was out of breath and sweating so badly that her
clothes stuck to her like a second layer of skin. Still, she ignored
her aching back and arms and checked his pulse. His breathing
was shallow but steady. He was still alive. That‘s what mattered.

The sunlight drifting through the small window hit
something shiny in his shirt pocket. She squinted and took the
object. She stood and examined it. Cool, metal, silver. A thin
line traced it‘s sides, so she dug a fingernail into it and it opened.
At least, she assumed it opened. She saw numbers and months
and symbols she didn‘t recognize. What in the world was this
thing? A small blue pulsing light startled her.

She quickly shut the thing and threw it in the small dresser
drawer by the bed. Rubbing her hands on her dress, she
wondered what that thing was. She glanced at the man who lay
silent on her bed. Who are you? Maybe he was dangerous. Maybe
she shouldn‘t have brought him here.

As soon as the thought came to mind, she dismissed it.
He was in no shape to harm her. But...just in case. She searched
his clothes and found a wallet in his back pocket. It had some
money, though not much. He didn‘t have any weapons on him.
She had a gun. Her husband had taught her how to shoot. She
had a knife she used for skinning rabbits and deer and cooking.
She decided she‘d hide her gun and knife. If she needed to, she
could defend herself.

Finding comfort in the reminder, she decided to turn her
attention to putting her things away so she could tend to the ill
man.




A Chance in Time
5





Chapter Two



Cole Hunter drifted in and out of awareness. At moments, he
thought he was running. Then at other times, he knew it was an
illusion. He hadn‘t moved at all. Instead, he was lying on his back
somewhere. Images of a man pursuing him haunted him. He
knew the man, but for some reason, he couldn‘t recall the name.
He moved his legs. At least he tried to. Was he running or not?
Was the man still chasing him? What did the man want?

He gulped. His mouth felt dry. Hot. Hot like fire.
Wincing, he tried to touch his face, but his arms wouldn‘t budge.
He couldn‘t be on fire, and yet, that‘s what the heat reminded him
of: fire.

He took a deep breath. The air around him was warm.
But there was no smoke. Relief set his mind at ease. Still, there
was the lingering question: Where in the world was he? He
struggled to open his eyes, and for a moment, he thought he did.
Ruth Ann Nordin
6

A light struck his vision. He wanted to turn his head but couldn‘t.
It was as if he were paralyzed.

His heart sped up. He could feel the frantic beating of it.
He didn‘t like being helpless.

Relax, Cole. The sooner you relax, the sooner you can figure out
what’s going on.

He inhaled and exhaled, counting to ten each time. It
worked. His heart slowed. Good. Now he could focus. Since all
he managed to catch were glimpses of light, he decided to let his
other senses give him clues.

The place was silent. No. That wasn‘t exactly true. There
was a faint humming. It faded in and out like a radio station that
wouldn‘t give him a clear signal. He ordered his fingers to move
and they finally inched forward. Paper. What was he doing on
paper? His head was inclined on something soft. A pillow? Then
what was he on? A bed made of paper? That didn‘t make sense.
Ignoring the oddity of it, he turned his attention to the smell. He
already knew there was no smoke. The last thing he remembered,
he was walking along an endless stretch of flat land that never
seemed to end. But he didn‘t smell the tall grass or the fresh air as
the wind refreshed him from the sun‘s intense heat.

The sun. That could be the source of light. It also
explained the heat. But no. That couldn‘t be right. He knew it
wasn‘t right. He wasn‘t walking. He couldn‘t even move his legs
though he tried. He groaned in aggravation.

―You‘ll be alright,‖ someone said in a soft tone. ―Here.‖

Whatever he was lying on shifted and something cool and
damp covered his forehead. It reminded him of cold water. He
had been swimming. The man swam after him. Why?

―Try to drink,‖ the voice instructed.

Whoever tended to him pressed a wet cloth to his lips. He
tried to suck the water out of it but his mouth wouldn‘t comply,
so he allowed the water to trickle on his tongue.
A Chance in Time
7


He had gulped water during that cold moonlight swim.
He recalled the splashing, the man shouting at him to
return...something. What was it? Then he remembered what he
had been holding in one hand, making sure it didn‘t get wet. Time
travel. He had stolen a time machine the size of a cell phone, and
the man was trying to get it back. Blake. The man‘s name was
Blake.

But Cole had escaped. Or was he still in the water? No.
He wasn‘t. His mind became jumbled as he tried to focus on the
water someone was giving him. Tall grass. Sun. Heat.
Unbearable heat.

―Cole, come back!‖

Cole knew the voice was in his mind. It was Blake calling
out to him, still pursuing him. He knew he wasn‘t really out in the
prairie, but he ran anyway. His feet were sore, his chest hurting
from the exertion of the chase, and his hand clenching the time
travel device.

The chase seemed so real. The further the soft voice
drifted, the deeper he fell back into his mind and before long, he
lost consciousness.

***


Penelope checked her food supply in the underground
cellar. She could probably make it another two months before she
needed to go to town for more. At that time, the man she‘d
brought home would either be well enough to travel with her or
dead. She sighed as she gathered some potatoes into her arms.
She hoped he‘d make it. She didn‘t ever want to watch another
man die. Once was bad enough.

She walked up the steps and shut the door, making sure it
was secure. Her husband had built everything, but working with
his hands wasn‘t his gift. Still, she felt a smile tug at her lips as she
recalled how proud he‘d been to make the buildings on their
Ruth Ann Nordin
8

property. He was a good man. Sometimes she missed him. A
part of her would always love him. She glanced up at the clear sky
wondering if he could look down at her. What he must think of
her bringing a stranger home!

She shrugged off the thought and turned to the cabin. As
soon as she crossed the threshold, she saw that the stranger had
finally woken up. He tried to sit up but fell back onto the thin
mattress which squeaked in protest. Quickly putting the potatoes
on the table, she rushed over to him.

―You mustn‘t get up before you‘re ready,‖ she softly
warned him.

She picked up the towel on the dresser. and dipped it into
the bowl of water and pressed it to his forehead. Sitting beside
him on the bed, she pressed her hand against his cheek. Good.
His skin felt cool. When she realized he was studying her, she
grinned. Naturally, he was wondering where he was.

―You‘ve been unconscious for four days,‖ she informed
him.

―Four days?‖ He gasped and tried to sit up but groaned
and layed back down.

She wished he wouldn‘t press himself so hard. He wasn‘t
ready to get up yet. She forced aside the admonition and said, ―I
found you in the fields up north that way.‖ She pointed out the
small window. ―I feared you wouldn‘t survive.‖

―Four days?‖ he asked, looking bewildered. Then his eyes
drifted down the length of his naked body. ―Where are my pants?
Where‘s my…?‖ He hesitated. ―Where‘s the thing I had in my
pocket?‖

―Everything you had is in the dresser drawer.‖ She wanted
to ask him what that odd silver thing was but refrained. Maybe
she didn‘t want to know. Maybe he was an outlaw or something.
Maybe the less she knew, the better. She cleared her throat and
continued to smile at him. ―You have no need to worry. I had a
A Chance in Time
9

husband. I know what a man looks like when he doesn‘t have
clothes on.‖

―You had a husband?‖

―He passed away a year ago. We came out here to build a
home and to farm, but he got sick our first winter here.‖ It had
been a long time since she said those words aloud. The last time
she said them, it was to the preacher who buried him. She shoved
the memory back into the corner of her mind where it belonged.
―It wasn‘t meant to be, I guess.‖

―Then what are you doing here? Don‘t you have relatives
to go to?‖

―No. I didn‘t have any family. I was a mail-order bride,
and he lived out here, far from anywhere.‖

―So how have you managed all by yourself?‖

―I learned to grow a good-sized garden. I make it to town
a couple times a year and I have a cellar to keep foods from
rotting. It‘s nothing fancy, mind you, but it works.‖

―You came from back east?‖

―Rhode Island.‖

―That‘s a lot different from here.‖

She laughed. Was it ever! But in a way, being out here
made her self-sufficient, and she liked that. ―It‘s another world
out there.‖

His gaze fell to his body. Raising an eyebrow, he asked,
―Do you make it a habit of taking men into your home and
undressing them?‖

She found his humor appealing. Things had a tendency to
be too serious with no one to talk to. ―Believe it or not, you‘re
the first person I‘ve come across in eight months. I found you
lying face down in the fields.‖

―And you carried me here?‖

Still grinning, she shook her head. ―You are an odd man.
How do you think I‘d manage a feat like that when you‘re a foot
taller than me? I put you on my steed and brought you here. I
Ruth Ann Nordin
10

was on my way to town. I‘ll make another attempt when you‘re
well enough.‖

He finally smiled. A gorgeous smile. ―You still haven‘t
explained why I‘m naked.‖

―That‘s simple. You had a fever, so I had to keep you
cool. Your fever broke last night. I hoped it meant you would
wake up today.‖ She removed the cloth from his forehead. His
color had returned. Yes, he looked much better. Now she could
stop worrying that she‘d have to arrange for his funeral. Turning
her attention to more practical matters, she asked, ―Do you need
to use the privy?‖

His eyebrows furrowed. ―The what?‖

―Do you need to urinate? If you are too ill, you may use
this container.‖ She picked up an empty jug by the bed.

―No. I can go outside.‖

She nodded and stood up to help him, but he shooed her
away and eased himself up from the bed. When he stumbled
forward, she dropped the empty jug and caught him. Placing his
arm around her shoulders, she said, ―I can help you. I might be a
woman, but I‘m not useless.‖

He glanced at her. ―Of that, I have no doubt.‖

He meant that, and she appreciated the compliment. Back
in Rhode Island, she‘d been a helpless creature. Out here, such
was not the case, and it was nice to have that acknowledged by
someone who didn‘t know her past. She helped him to the front
door and out of the house.

She pointed to the small wood barn, the well, and the
cellar. If he was going to stay here to heal, then he‘d need to
know where everything was. The cabin itself was self-explanatory.
A couple of chairs, a table, a cookstove, a bed and a dresser. It
didn‘t get any fancier than that. She hoped he wouldn‘t mind the
meager accommodations. If he was used to what she had in
Rhode Island, he was bound to be eager to return to civilization.
A Chance in Time
11

But he didn‘t show any outward signs of disgust or dismay, so that
was a good sign.

As soon as they reached the outhouse, she waited by the
door while he did his business. It felt strange to do something
this familiar with someone she hardly knew. And what did she
know about him? Nothing really. Though she suspected she
could trust him. Something in his expression told her that deep
down, he had a good heart.

The door to the outhouse opened. ―Can I get dressed?‖
he asked.

―Of course. I‘ll help you back to the house and then you
can get your clothes. Then I‘ll make you some soup.‖

―Will you take me to town? I need to get on a train to
Fargo.‖

Oh. So he had some place to go. Well, of course, he had
some place to go. He wasn‘t seeking her house out as he walked
across the prairie. ―I‘ll take you but I need you to rest up first.
You‘re in no shape to travel for two days.‖

―Two days?‖

―That‘s how long it takes me to get to town. That‘s why I
don‘t make the trip very often.‖

He sighed, looking disappointed.

She didn‘t know what else to say, so she let him wrap his
arm around her shoulders and helped him back to the house
where he got dressed.









Ruth Ann Nordin
12





Chapter Three



Cole watched Penelope as she cut up potatoes for the soup. He
wondered what she thought of the time travel device. She saw it.
That was the only explanation for it ending up in the drawer. He
had slipped it into his pocket while he dressed. Thankfully, she
allowed him privacy to do that. But she had returned before he
had a chance to check the location of the missing chip. Without
it, he was stuck back in this time.

―Is there anything I can do to help?‖ he asked.

She glanced over her shoulder. Stray strands of her blond
hair fell over her blue eyes.

He had the urge to go up to her and brush them out of
her eyes but didn‘t dare.

―You need to rest. You‘re still not well,‖ she said in a soft
voice that he likened to an angel. ―You‘ll need your strength
before you‘re up to doing anything.‖
A Chance in Time
13


She was right, of course, but he didn‘t like feeling helpless.
He wanted to contribute something. ―I think I‘ll walk around for
a bit. I need to stretch my legs.‖

Even as he said the words, he wondered if his body was
up for the task. As it was, he was doing good to stand. But he
couldn‘t rest until he checked that location of the chip. Was it still
in Fargo? If he didn‘t get the chip, he‘d never get back to the 21st
century where he belonged.

―Alright,‖ she replied, ―but I‘m going to get you
something first.‖ She put her knife down and went out the door.

He wondered what she had in mind. Considering the fact
that she saved him from an early grave, he knew she wouldn‘t do
him any harm. His gaze drifted to the open window and he saw
her enter the barn. That meant he just bought some time. Well,
he wasn‘t about to waste this opportunity. He quickly dug the
time machine out of his pocket and flipped it open. The energy
signature revealed that the chip was still in Fargo. Breathing a sigh
of relief, he closed it. Good. It hadn‘t budged. That had to mean
that no one else had it. If someone was in possession of it, then it
would be changing locations.

His body felt weak as he limped forward. He sat in one of
the two kitchen chairs and wiped his forehead. He couldn‘t
believe the simple walk across the room made him break into a
sweat. Yes, he was bad off.

She returned a minute later with a tall branch that reached
up to her nose. ―This might help you. If you get weak, you can
lean on this.‖

His heart warmed at her thoughtfulness. ―I‘ve decided
you‘re right. I‘m not up for it yet.‖

She nodded and placed it next to the table. ―If you need
it, it‘s here.‖

He considered his next words with great care. He didn‘t
wish to upset her, but he wanted to know why a lone woman out
in the middle of nowhere would dare nurse a stranger back to
Ruth Ann Nordin
14

health. For all she knew, he could be a cold blooded killer. But are
you that much better? You are a thief. The time machine isn’t yours. He
shoved the self-accusation aside. He‘d deal with his sin later.

―May I ask why you brought me here?‖ he finally asked.

She didn‘t make eye contact as she returned to the small
table by the cookstove and resumed her work on the potatoes. ―I
saw you and knew that you‘d die if I didn‘t help. There‘s nothing
close by, and I couldn‘t risk the journey to town.‖

What could he say to that? She didn‘t know his past.
Here she was, a good Samaritan, someone who saw someone in
need and didn‘t hesitate to help. He decided against telling her
that she would have been better off leaving him for dead. Instead,
he said, ―Thank you.‖

She smiled in his direction, and he sensed that, in some
way, she was actually glad he was there. ―My name is Penelope.‖

―Cole.‖

He couldn‘t help but be struck by her beauty. Women in
his day didn‘t usually pull their hair back into buns like she did,
but even so, she was much more pleasing to look at. He looked
away from her, ashamed that such thoughts would come to him.
Surely, she‘d be better off with a more respectable man, one who
didn‘t lie and steal to get what he wanted.

―So,‖ he began, wishing to break the awkward silence that
hung between them, ―you‘ve lived here all by yourself for how
long?‖

―About a year now.‖

―You mentioned that you had a husband. What happened
to him?‖

―He got sick. It was hard winter, and neither of us were
prepared for it.‖

But she‘d survived and carried on in this place. ―It must
get lonely out here.‖

She simply nodded as she stirred the potatoes in the pot.

―Are you able to keep track of the days?‖
A Chance in Time
15


―I have a calendar. At the end of each day, I make a mark
on the day.‖

―What is today?‖

―June 2.‖

He slowly exhaled. It had been April 23 when he went
back into the past, and he was no closer to returning to the future
than when he started searching for that missing chip. Time. Time
wasted running from Blake, time wasted arguing with lawyers over
alimony checks, time wasted with a woman who made him
miserable, time wasted in believing that tomorrow would be better
than today. He shook of his mental check through his past. Or
his future...depending on how one decided to look at it.

―Do you make it to town often?‖ he asked, recalling that
she mentioned it being a two day journey.

―I go about twice a year.‖

―By yourself?‖

Her lips curved in amusement. ―Who else would
accompany me?‖

He returned her smile. ―Of course. But you must know
someone in town, someone you can visit while there.‖

―There is my husband‘s sister. I don‘t know her very well
though. As soon as I came off the train, he married me and took
me out here.‖

His ears perked up. ―There‘s a train station in town?‖

―Yes. New Rockford is a good-sized place. At least, it is
compared to here.‖

New Rockford? He‘d never heard of that place before.
He wondered how far it was from Fargo.

―You don‘t have any money,‖ she said. ―You‘ll need new
clothes. The ones you have on are torn.‖

He glanced at his ripped jeans and shirt. ―You‘re right.‖
Clothes were the least of his concerns, but he couldn‘t tell her
that.
Ruth Ann Nordin
16


―I have some money saved. You can use that to purchase
some.‖

He blinked in surprise. Why in the world would she do
that? ―That‘s not necessary.‖

―I know. But I want to do it.‖ Before he could reply, she
motioned to the large trunk in the corner of the cabin. ―My
husband‘s clothes are in there. You can wear those for the time
being.‖

In a way, it felt odd to be granted a dead man‘s clothes,
but he could see her logic. They weren‘t doing her husband any
good. ―Thank you.‖ Again.

It seemed the list of things to thank her for was a mile
long, but he‘d find a way to repay her for her kindness.

―Are you hungry?‖ she asked as she added salt to the
soup.

―A little but not much. Actually, I‘m more thirsty than
anything else.‖

She set the ladle aside and grabbed a cup from the shelf.
She picked up a pitcher and poured water into the cup.

―I could have done that,‖ he told her. He hadn‘t expected
her to run to fetch him some water. He‘d just been making
conversation.

―You need to rest up. When you feel like you can move
around without getting dizzy, then I won‘t baby you so much.‖

―If that‘s the case, I may be dizzy for a long time,‖ he
joked. It wasn‘t every day a man got treated like royalty.

―Well, if I catch on that you‘re fibbing, then I‘ll have to
stop.‖

He liked the twinkle in her eye as she handed him his cup.
―Thanks. Yet again.‖

She sighed. ―I should thank you.‖

He raised an eyebrow. ―And what have I done?‖
A Chance in Time
17


―You gave me someone to talk to other than myself.‖ And
with that, she turned back to the soup, signaling that this
particular conversation was at an end.
















Ruth Ann Nordin
18





Chapter Four



Two days later Penelope was in the barn feeding the two
horses when it started to rain. She had just finished filling the
trough when something wet hit her arm. Glancing up, she was
rewarded with two fat raindrops that nearly hit her eyes. She
quickly backed up so she could get a good view of the hole in the
roof. It wasn‘t a big one, but it could become a problem if she
didn‘t do something about it right away.

She hastened to the nearest wall and retrieved the ladder
that her husband had left there. She feared that Randy had rushed
through building this barn, and now she was proven right. Never
mind that he hadn‘t listened to her. She was a woman. What did
she know? Rolling her eyes at his joke, she strode out of the
building. As much as she had loved him, she had to admit the
man wasn‘t perfect. But then, what man was? Men, after all, were
human.
A Chance in Time
19


Sighing, she examined the structure and estimated where
the hole was on the roof. The rain came down harder. It was as if
someone had dumped a bucket of water on her. Had she been
alone out here, she‘d take this opportunity to actually bathe. She
did that when it rained like this. It was easier than dragging water
from the well and heating it up for the tub. But she didn‘t dare
bathe this time. Not with Cole in the cabin, resting up after nearly
passing out that morning.

She found the right spot along the edge of the barn and
set the ladder against it. Testing it to make sure it was sturdy, she
decided it would work. She hurried back into the barn and found
the material her husband had used to make the roof. She dug out
some nails and a hammer. Fortunately, she had taken the time to
watch him. As she headed out the door, she noticed the growing
puddle on the floor. If she didn‘t take care of this roof
immediately, there‘d be further damage, and who knew if she
could handle that much repair?

After she put her supplies in a bag, she swung it over her
shoulder and made her way to the ladder. She was halfway up
when someone called out to her.

―What are you doing?‖ Cole demanded.

She stopped and looked down at where he stood at the
foot of the ladder. ―There‘s a leak in the roof. I have to fix it.‖

He looked appalled. ―You‘ll do no such thing. Get down
here. I‘ll take care of it.‖

She hesitated. Fixing it wasn‘t something she wanted to
do, and if he could...If he knew how...

―I use to work in construction when I went to college,‖ he
informed her, as if he could read her mind. ―I know how to do
this.‖

His offer was tempting. She wouldn‘t lie. But...―But
you‘re still sick.‖
Ruth Ann Nordin
20


―It‘s better for me to be sick than for you to be dead.
Now, please get down before you fall and break your neck or
something.‖

Relieved, she obeyed. She didn‘t realize her body was
shaking until her feet landed safely on the ground and she handed
him the bag. ―Everything you need is in here.‖

―Good. Go to the house and dry up. There‘s no sense in
both of us being sick.‖

―Alright. And I‘ll make some coffee so you can warm up
when you‘re done.‖

He nodded and didn‘t look back as he climbed the ladder.

She waited until she was back in the cabin before she
peered out the window to see what progress he was making. He
was already on the roof, looking as if it was perfectly natural for a
person to climb up on a roof and start patching it up.

―I hope he doesn‘t get worse,‖ she whispered.

She shrugged off her wet clothes and dumped them in the
corner of the room. She‘d wash those later. Right now she had
other matters to tend to. She went to the dresser and pulled out
dry clothes. At one time her yellow dress had been vibrant and
decorated in finely sewn flowers. Now it was faded and some of
the flowers had fallen off. It was slightly tattered along the
hemline. She realized it was proof of how different her life was
on the prairie. Back in Rhode Island, she‘d never put on anything
so shabby.

She finished buttoning the top button of her dress and
stood still for a moment, wondering if she should entertain foolish
notions of looking attractive for a man she hardly knew. Her
husband got to see her at her best when he met her at the train
station. She‘d worn a brand new pink dress and had her hair
nicely done for him. That dress had since become rags.

Her hand settled on the knob on the drawer next to her
undergarments. It‘d been a long time since she gave any concern
to her appearance. She slowly opened the drawer and studied her
A Chance in Time
21

brush, hand mirror, ribbons, barrettes, and her two necklaces.
Diamond necklaces. They were expensive. They had no use out
here. She realized she could sell them but hated the thought of
giving up a part of her past. The gold and diamonds would last
her a lifetime of memories while the clothes wouldn‘t. She needed
something tangible to connect with the person she once was. Had
her parents not threatened to marry her to that awful Don
Fergeson, she wouldn‘t have become a mail-order bride.

Closing her eyes, she recalled the morning she told her
parents the news:


Her father bolted from the breakfast table, nearly
upsetting the orange juice. ―You what?‖

―I answered an ad to be a mail-order bride. I can‘t marry
Don,‖ she replied in a shaky voice. ―He keeps a mistress. I don‘t
want to be married to a man like that.‖

Her mother sighed and settled back in her chair. ―It‘s
common. Your father has had several over the course of our
marriage.‖

―And that doesn‘t bother you?‖ she demanded, appalled to
find this out...and like this!

Her mother shrugged. ―It is the way it is. Marriage is a
contract binding wealth. Don‘s financial standing will make you
one of the richest women in the country.‖

―I don‘t want to be rich. I want to be happy.‖

Her father laughed. ―Happy? You think struggling to
make ends meet will make you happy? You‘re nothing but a
dreamer, Penelope. Dreams were fine when you were a little girl,
but now it‘s time to be a woman. You are marrying Don and that
is that.‖

―No. I‘ve already packed. I‘m leaving today.‖

He stopped laughing and stormed over to her. ―You
ungrateful brat. Your mother and I have raised you in the best
Ruth Ann Nordin
22

schools and given you everything you‘ve ever wanted. And this is
how you repay us?‖

Her mother quickly stood up and ran over to them.
―Penelope, don‘t go,‖ she pleaded. ―If you wish for love, then
find a lover. Just be discreet about it.‖

Penelope took a step back. She blinked back the tears
from her eyes. ―That sounds like a miserable existence.‖

―Do we look miserable?‖ her mother asked.

She took a good look at them. Her mother offered her
usual charming smile. Her father glared at her. It suddenly
occurred to her that her mother‘s smiles had been faked. Her
laughter had an undertone of sorrow to it. Her father was
perpetually angry. Yes, she decided. They looked like the most
miserable people she‘d ever seen, and if she married Don, she‘d
end up the same way.

―I‘m sorry but I can‘t marry him,‖ she softly replied. She
turned around and stiffly made her way to her luggage.

Randy warned her not to bring more than one bag. He‘d
warned her that life out west was completely different from what
she was used to. In fact, he‘d tried to talk her out of going when
he found out she came from money and would have to give it all
up to be with him. But she loved the way he wrote and thought
they would do well together. At least his plan of being out on the
prairie involved no one but her. He‘d be too far from town to
take a mistress. And that appealed to her more than anything else
he‘d said.

She picked her travel bag, wondering just how different
her life was about to become. She took one more look at her
parents. ―I love you both.‖

Her mother pressed a hand to her mouth to hold back a
sob.

Her father‘s face grew bright red. ―If you walk out that
door, don‘t you dare come back.‖
A Chance in Time
23


She almost tripped on her shoes as she crossed the
threshold. Tears stung her eyes and her body trembled. Never
did she think the day would come when she‘d have to leave
everything she ever knew behind. Deep in her heart, she knew
she was doing the right thing. There was a peace that she couldn‘t
explain.

The last thing she heard her father yell as she walked down
the porch steps was, ―Don‘t come back!‖


She opened her eyes, her body slightly shaking from the
memory of that day over two years ago. There was no going back.
But she didn‘t want to return either. She learned to love the
prairie, even if it did come with its moments of loneliness.

Her fingers brushed her wedding ring. The small gold
band was not as fancy as her necklaces, but it was the best he
could afford. Randy had been a good husband to her. She didn‘t
regret coming out here to meet him. She‘d loved him and he‘d
loved her in return.

And now for the first time, she was beginning to care for
someone else. It’s foolishness, Penelope. You don’t know Cole. But you
didn’t know Randy either and look how that turned out. She finally
closed the drawer. Maybe another day she‘d worry about how she
looked. For now, she‘d take it one day at a time and see what
happened.










Ruth Ann Nordin
24





Chapter Five



Cole went through another round of coughing. The phlegm
finally came up into the handkerchief that Penelope had given
him. He gagged at the sight of it. Being sick...again...was not his
idea of a good time. He laid back on the bed and took a deep
breath, his lungs thrilled with the temporary reprieve from the
congestion. Even if he did feel like he‘d been pulled through the
wringer, he was glad the roof was repaired. He vowed to fix the
whole thing once he was well enough.

He stared at the ceiling. He needed to rest if he wanted to
get out of here. He had to get to Fargo, and the sooner he did
that, the better. Who knew where Blake was? For all Cole knew,
he was making his way to Fargo right now. But there was no way
Blake could know the location of the chip. That simple logic
reassured Cole enough so that he didn‘t do something stupid...like
take off right away.
A Chance in Time
25


Rest. Yes. He needed rest. He closed his eyes and
breathed in and out, letting the action calm him.

At least the rain had finally stopped. It had rained the
entire day and then most of that morning.

The door opened so he opened his eyes and turned his
head in Penelope‘s direction. He smiled at the concern in her
eyes.

―It looks worse than it is,‖ he assured her before he went
into another coughing fit.

She quickly placed the bucket of water on the table and
dipped a cup into it. When he stopped coughing, she held the cup
out to him. ―This will help.‖

He tried to say thanks but the tickle in his throat made
him think better of it. Accepting the cup, he sat up and drank the
cool liquid and handed it back to her. ―Thank you.‖

To his surprise, she leaned forward and touched his
forehead. ―Good. Your fever hasn‘t returned.‖

He liked the feel of her hand on his skin. He liked it too
much. Clearing his throat, he said, ―I‘ll be fine. This is just a
common cold.‖

―As long as you keep getting better, I won‘t complain.‖
She removed her hand and went to the table where she set the cup
down. ―I never should have let you fix the roof while it rained.
You would have been better off to wait until now.‖

―If I had waited, you‘d be looking at a hole the size of my
hand instead of the small crack. That roof was falling apart fast.‖

―Maybe so but a roof can be repaired. Life is much more
fragile.‖

She meant her husband, he realized. He guessed that
being a bride for only a year had taught her that lesson. ―At least
you two were happy.‖

It was better than he and Evelyn had done. Five years he
stayed married to her, only to find out she and her brother had
been playing him for a fool. Why didn‘t he notice the uncanny
Ruth Ann Nordin
26

resemblance between the boy he thought was his son and his
brother? Because my brother and I share the same genes. How was I
supposed to put two and two together until I dug out that birth certificate and
confronted them? And what a way to confront them—while they
were in bed together.

He forced the memories aside. That was all in the past.
Well, in his past anyway. ―Tonight, I‘m going to sleep on the
floor. You need to get your bed back.‖

She glanced his way as she crossed the room to a trunk.
―I‘m fine on the floor.‖

―Maybe. But you‘re a woman. It‘s not right for me to
take the bed.‖

―You‘re sick.‖

―I‘m well enough to sleep on the floor now.‖

She sighed as she opened the trunk. ―Alright. I‘m too
relieved you‘re alive to argue with you.‖

A smile crossed his lips. She was probably the only person
who cared about that, and it made him feel good. It made him
feel like he actually mattered.

She pulled out a rifle.

―What‘s that for?‖

―We need meat. I‘m going to hunt.‖

―You hunt?‖

―My husband taught me shortly before he got sick. He
insisted that I needed to know how to take care of myself if
something were to ever happen to him.‖

―Smart man. I‘m sorry he died.‖

She stared at the rifle in her hands and took a deep breath.
―I am too.‖ She looked up at him. ―But I can‘t bring him back. I
have to move on.‖

He nodded. What else could she do? All of life was about
adapting to whatever crap came someone‘s way. Whether it was
him and his crummy marriage that ended in a divorce or her
A Chance in Time
27

happy marriage that ended in death, they had their own difficulties
to overcome.

―Good luck hunting,‖ he said as he settled back onto the
bed, suddenly feeling tired. ―And I promise to spend my time
resting.‖

She smiled before she left.

A beautiful smile. Much too beautiful for a thief.


























Ruth Ann Nordin
28





Chapter Six



Two weeks passed and, to Penelope‘s relief, Cole returned to
full health. She wouldn‘t lose him like she‘d lost Randy. She
blinked. Lose him? That was an odd thought for someone she
hardly knew. She forced the observation aside and finished
making breakfast.

Cole returned from feeding the horses, looking silly in
clothes that were much too tight on him. His steps halted and he
raised an eyebrow. ―Something funny?‖

Clearing her throat so her chuckle would cease, she said,
―You‘re taller than my husband was. His clothes don‘t fit you
very well.‖

He grinned and shrugged. ―Who am I to complain? At
least they stay on.‖
A Chance in Time
29


She set the biscuits and pancakes on the plates before
turning to the small table where she placed them. ―I hope you
brought your appetite.‖

―I did. You better watch out though. It seems like I‘m
hungry all the time now.‖

―That‘s because you need to get your strength back. I
have extra food prepared.‖

He sat at his place at the table. ―I‘ll try not to eat you out
of house and home.‖

―Eat as much as you want. I‘m just glad you‘re alright.‖

―You may not be saying that when you realize how much
I‘m capable of wolfing down.‖

She smiled at his joke and joined him at the table. He sat
in front of her, which she privately enjoyed since it gave her
liberty to look at him without being obvious. Now that his
sunburn had healed and he had shaved, she could see his face
clearly. He was a handsome man with his dark blond hair with
bangs that fell over his forehead. He pushed them back, but they
usually ended up falling forward again. He had kind eyes, a nice
nose, and full lips. His shoulders were broad and his body strong.
Yes, she did enjoy looking at him.

She touched her bun. What did she look like? She knew
she‘d let herself go since her husband died. Did she let herself go
too far? Randy used to like her hair when it was down. Maybe
she should do that again.

He picked up a biscuit and put butter on it. ―Do you
make your own butter?‖

She nodded and took her hand off her hair.

―Isn‘t it a lot of work? Don‘t get me wrong. This stuff
tastes better than anything I bought from the store, but it can‘t be
easy. Don‘t you have to churn this stuff?‖

He had an odd way of talking, but she liked it. Smiling,
she replied, ―I don‘t notice how much work it is. I did when I
first came here. But I don‘t anymore. I guess I got used to it.‖
Ruth Ann Nordin
30


―That‘s only natural.‖ He took a bite and swallowed.
―This is really good. I‘m glad I have enough of an appetite to
enjoy it.‖

―Thank you. I‘m glad you‘re well enough to enjoy it too.‖
She picked up her biscuit and decided to butter it as well.

―Today I want to teach you how to repair a roof.‖

―Why?‖

―Because you might need to know how to do it in the
future.‖

She glanced at her uneaten biscuit. Suddenly, she had lost
her appetite. That meant he planned to leave, didn‘t it? Of
course, he‘d leave. He had a life somewhere. Fiddling with the
napkin in her lap, she asked, ―May I ask what your life is like? I
mean, before you came here?‖

He frowned for a moment then shrugged. ―There‘s not
much to tell. I worked hard. I rarely slept in. I was just there.
Just getting by.‖

That was such a vague answer that she didn‘t know what
to make of it.

―It‘s peaceful out here,‖ he continued before he put the
rest of the biscuit in his mouth and chewed.

―Yes, it is. I enjoy it.‖

―I do too. I feel as if everything is right with the world. I
would like to build a fence for the horses, if that‘s alright with
you.‖

―My husband never got around to that. I would like it.
The horses need a place to roam.‖

―I‘ll do that after I replace the roof. I forgot to ask. Do
you have enough supplies to make a roof?‖

―I‘m not sure. I‘ll take you down to the cellar and show
you everything. Then you can decide what you can and can‘t do.
I know my husband wasn‘t the greatest builder around, and some
of the things around here need fixing.‖
A Chance in Time
31


He smiled at her. ―I like to help. This way, I get to pay
you back for all you‘ve done for me. You know, saving my life
and all.‖

She returned his smile. ―I like the fact that you‘re here.‖

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. Did she just say
that? It was such a bold thing to do. And yet, losing a husband
after being married for only a year had taught her that she couldn‘t
spend her life waiting. She had to make the most of the moment,
and though she understood she couldn‘t come right out and ask
him to stay with her, she could be subtle, she could let him know
he was more than welcome if he wished to leave everything he‘d
known behind to be with her.

Forcing her attention back to the food, she finally bit into
the biscuit.

―I like being here too,‖ he softly confessed, not making
eye contact with her.

Her heart leapt. There was hope then. She was sure of it.
Maybe he was considering it. She certainly hoped so. He was, by
far, the most wonderful man she‘d ever met. Randy was dear to
her of course. He‘d always have a place in her heart. But there
was no denying her feelings for Cole. Maybe he‘d come to feel
the same way for her.

But what if he wants children? A flicker of apprehension
made her lose her appetite again. She couldn‘t give him any.
What if he decided to leave because of that? She would have to
tell him. But not today. Today, she‘d simply enjoy the time they
did have together.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to finish the
meal.





Ruth Ann Nordin
32





Chapter Seven




Two weeks later, Cole checked the time travel device. He
sighed and put the device in the drawer under his clean shirt. For
the time being, he wore the clothes that Penelope‘s deceased
husband wore. The man had been shorter than Cole, but the
clothes and pants fit well enough. He sighed and shut the drawer.
He had to get to Fargo.

Penelope entered the cabin, carrying a jar of pickles. ―I
remember you said you liked these.‖ She motioned to the jar and
placed it on the table. ―I will be going to town in a couple weeks.
I‘m running out of supplies.‖

He nodded. He knew the time was nearing when he‘d
leave. He‘d been anticipating it for the past month, but now that
it was close to coming, he didn‘t experience the relief he expected.
Which was ridiculous, of course. He had no reason to stay. He
A Chance in Time
33

certainly had no business staying, not with a woman as good as
Penelope.

She grabbed a pot from the shelf and set it on the
cookstove. ―I thought I‘d make stew. We still have rabbit meat to
eat.‖

―That sounds good. I‘ll take care of the horses.‖ It was
the least he could do, especially for everything she‘d done for him.
―I‘ll be back.‖

She smiled as he left.

He pushed aside the twinge of guilt. He didn‘t deserve
one of her smiles. Penelope was much too trusting of strangers.
A woman who could bear the harsh winters of this land should
have been more careful when selecting a man to heal, feed and
clothe. Someone like Blake would have been a better choice.

He made it to the well and released the rope, watching as
the bucket descended into the dark hole. Where was Blake
anyway? His eyes swept his surroundings and not a single person
could be seen for miles in any direction. For the moment, he was
safe. But he had to get to Fargo. There was no doubt about it.
The sooner he left this homestead, the better both he and
Penelope would be.

As long as Blake didn‘t find him before he found the chip,
everything could be set back in order. He could dig for gold out
in California in 1848 and strike it rich. He‘d never have to worry
about money ever again. He could even come to this time and
give Penelope money to make sure she‘d never have to work hard
another day in her life. There were many things money could buy,
many things it could provide, and he‘d make sure to return her
kindness when he could.

He retrieved the bucket full of cool water and carried it to
the barn where the horses waited in the stalls he reinforced. He
poured the water into the trough where the horses quickly
approached. He turned to the straw that he‘d brought up from
the cellar and put it in another trough for them to eat.
Ruth Ann Nordin
34


Penelope could use another barn. As it was, the weather
had beaten the roof down, and if he hadn‘t repaired it, it would‘ve
fallen within the year. There was no doubt about it. The woman
needed money to build things that would last. Her husband might
have been a good man, but he didn‘t know much about building
or maintaining his things.

Yes, Cole would get that gold and come back to give her
some of it. But he wouldn‘t tell her it was from him. She seemed
to think he was a good man, the kind she could take home to
meet her mother, and as foolish as it was, he liked her version of
him. The last thing he wanted to do was destroy it. That was
when he made his decision. He would place the gold near the
well. If he buried it but let a piece of it stick out of the ground
where she usually stood, then she‘d find it and dig it up. She‘d
assumed she discovered it and all would be well. Yes, that‘s what
he‘d do.

When he returned to the house, she was stirring the pot.
He took a moment to study her. She had her back turned to him.
The blue dress she wore had faded flowers on it and was frayed at
the edges. He sighed. Not only did she need a better house and
barn, the poor woman needed clothes that could sustain the
elements of life out here, in the middle of nowhere. Her mattress
was thin, and despite the discomfort, she didn‘t voice a single
complaint. He actually preferred his blanket on the floor. She
needed a good quality bed. It didn‘t have to be fancy. Then his
eyes took in the single pot. What woman wouldn‘t want more
cooking supplies? He examined the whole cabin and shook his
head. There seemed to be no end to the things she needed. But
with enough gold, her problems would be solved.

She peered over her shoulder and frowned. ―Are you
feeling ill?‖

―No. I feel fine.‖ But, in a way, that was a lie. He did get
sick to his stomach when he thought of how she‘d been living
A Chance in Time
35

over the past year. He lumbered to the chair at the table and sat
down. ―Penelope, can I ask you something?‖

―Yes.‖

―When your husband died, didn‘t any men come by to see
you?‖ It seemed to him that as soon as the bachelors discovered
her availability, they would have been beating down the door to
marry her.

She shrugged and kept her eyes on the stew. ―Men wish
to have children to carry on their name. I had an accident when I
was a girl. I can‘t have children.‖

He noted the sadness in her voice and the slumping of her
shoulders. ―Even so, I‘m sure you had some who were
interested,‖ he softly said.

She shook her head.

―Then why did your husband marry you?‖

She didn‘t respond. Instead, she continued to stir the pot.

―Penelope?‖

Sighing, she touched her cheeks with her free hand, and he
wondered if she was crying. She took a deep breath. ―I didn‘t tell
him.‖ She spoke so low that he could barely hear her.

―But you told the other men?‖

―I hated myself for lying. I couldn‘t do it again.‖

―And when none of them came to see you, did you wish
you hadn‘t told the truth?‖

She softly laughed. ―No. I felt better having been honest.
It was hard keeping it from Randy.‖

So that was her husband‘s name. Not that he cared. He
rather preferred to think of Randy as the unnamed man who‘d
long since been removed from her life. He chastised himself for
such thinking. Shifting in his chair, he cleared his throat. ―You
never know. One of the men might come to see you someday.
Not all men value a woman based on whether or not she can give
him children.‖
Ruth Ann Nordin
36


She looked at him, and he quickly lowered his eyes. A
moment of tense silence passed before she spoke. ―I can‘t open
the jar. Will you do it?‖ She motioned to the sealed jar of pickles
on the table in front of him.

More than happy to do anything for her, he nodded and
did as she asked.




























A Chance in Time
37





Chapter Eight



Penelope had some time alone in the cabin while Cole worked
on the fence, so she closed the door to the cabin and took a bath.
Stepping out of the tub, she wrapped the towel around her body
and walked over to the dresser. She noted the trembling of her
hands as she pulled the drawer open and pulled out her brush,
mirror and barrette. It‘d been over a year since she gave any care
to her appearance.

Cole‘s words gave her hope. She confessed that she
couldn‘t have children, and he didn‘t seem to mind. Other men
had. But he hadn‘t. Maybe he wanted to stay with her after all.
The thought made her heart skip a beat. She could think of
nothing better than to have him stay.

After she towel dried her long blond hair, she ran the
brush through it. It fell softly past her shoulders and down to the
middle of her back. When it completely dried, it would be wavy.
Ruth Ann Nordin
38

She recalled how Randy liked that. Maybe Cole would too. She
picked up the mirror. Living on the prairie had made her skin
tougher than it used to be. The sun had done that to her. She
rarely wore a bonnet or hat unless it was too bright outside and
she wanted protection for her eyes. Most of the time, she
exposed her fair skin. That wouldn‘t have happened back east.
Her hands weren‘t as smooth either. But she thought she was still
pretty. Hopefully, Cole would agree.

She set the mirror down and pulled her hair back with a
barrette so that the wind wouldn‘t blow it in her eyes. That part
of living on the prairie bothered her, which was why she started
wearing buns.

She placed the mirror and brush back in the drawer and
shut it before she turned to get dressed. There was nothing she
could do about her attire. If he decided to stay, she‘d buy a better
dress. If he didn‘t...She sighed. If he didn‘t, then what would be
the point?

Gathering her courage, she opened the front door and
dragged the metal tub so she could empty it on the grass. Then
she placed it out in the sun to dry. Wiping her hands on her dress,
she went to see where Cole was. She decided she would ask him
what he wanted for lunch. That was innocent enough, and it gave
her an excuse to see him. And let him see her.

She found him hammering a wood post into the ground
with a sledgehammer. Examining the distance between him and
the barn and the erected posts, she said, ―You are making a long
fence.‖

―I want the horses to have plenty of room to roam,‖ he
replied. He tested the post, seeming to be satisfied, and turned to
her. His eyes widened, and he took a moment before he spoke.
―I see you finally got that bath you‘ve been wanting.‖

―Yes.‖ Despite the cooling wind, her face felt hot. If she
could calm the racing of her heart, it‘d help. ―I feel better.
Cleaner.‖
A Chance in Time
39


He smiled. ―You look nice.‖

She returned his smile despite the nervous flutter in her
stomach. ―Thank you.‖

―Did you come out to watch me build the fence?‖

―Actually, I came to find out what you want to eat at
lunch.‖

―Anything you make will be fine.‖

She nodded. This wasn‘t exactly conducive to a
conversation. Glancing at the stack of fence posts six yards away
from them, she asked, ―Do you want to teach me how to do this,
like you did with the roof?‖

He wiped the sweat off his forehead. ―I can teach you
how to repair this fence, but that should wait until I‘m done.
There‘s no sense in you knowing how to do this part.‖

―Are you thirsty?‖

―A little.‖

―I‘ll get you something to drink.‖ She turned to go back to
the house when he stopped her.

―I found a canteen in the cellar. It‘s never been used, so I
filled it up with water and brought it with me.‖

She sighed. She didn‘t know what else to talk about, and
she had no reason to come back before lunch was ready. But she
didn‘t want to be alone. Maybe she‘d be fine with it if she knew
he‘d stay. She didn‘t know though. She watched him as he went
to retrieve several posts and brought them beside them.

―There‘s no sense in running back and forth for each
one,‖ he explained as he picked one up. He found a place for it
and pressed it into the ground. ―It‘s been ten years since I did
anything like this.‖

Finally, something to go on! ―What did you do for those
ten years?‖

He took the sledgehammer and pounded the top of the
post. ―I think you could say I was a scientist. I tried to figure out
if some things were possible or not.‖
Ruth Ann Nordin
40


―Really? Like what?‖

He hesitated for a moment. ―You know Thomas
Edison?‖

―You worked with him?‖

―No. I do things similar to what he does. I invent
things.‖

―What kind of things?‖

He finished pounding the post into the ground and took a
deep breath before he faced her. ―I don‘t know how to explain it.
I mean, it‘s nothing you would be familiar with.‖

―Can you describe it?‖

He glanced at the sky before he exhaled and shook his
head. ―No. I can‘t.‖

―Are you going back to it?‖

As soon as she asked the question, she cut off the eye
contact with him. Instead, she focused on the post and mentally
noted the precision with which he had managed to set it up. He
obviously was better trained for this kind of thing than Randy had
been.

―No, I‘m not,‖ Cole replied.

She dared a look in his direction. Should she even ask him
what he was planning? Deciding to hedge on the topic, she said,
―You‘ve done a lot to help me out here. I appreciate it.‖

―It‘s the least I can do.‖ He smiled and grabbed another
post. ―This is actually fun. I didn‘t enjoy construction as much as
I enjoy this.‖

―Maybe you can keep doing this.‖ This time she didn‘t
look away, even though her heart raced and cheeks grew warm.
She fiddled with the fabric on her dress.

He glanced her way, and she wished she could decipher
the message in his eyes but she had no idea what he was thinking
or what he meant when he answered with a vague ―Maybe.‖ Then
he returned to his task.
A Chance in Time
41


Deciding against bringing up more of this topic than she
already had, she said, ―I‘ll get started on lunch,‖ and strolled back
to the house.


Maybe. Why did he tell her ―Maybe‖? Cole chastised
himself for saying that word. But then, one could reason that he
didn‘t mean that he‘d do this kind of work here...with her. No.
He knew what ―Maybe‖ implied, and it was wrong for him to hint
that he might stay here. It wasn‘t fair to her. A woman who spent
a year of her life alone didn‘t need to believe that she‘d never be
lonely again.

Cole knew all too well the bitter sting of loneliness.
Marriage didn‘t guard against the emotion. After all, he‘d been
married and felt more alone during that disaster than he had after
the divorce when he was physically alone. In some ways, being
married to a woman who committed adultery was a worse kind of
loneliness. It meant outright rejection. Yes, there were times
when one was better off staying single.

Being married to Penelope wouldn‘t be like that. It‘d
actually be everything he hoped his first marriage would have
been. He sighed. Penelope was a good woman. Why hadn‘t
anyone married her yet? It couldn‘t be because she couldn‘t have
children. That was the stupidest reason he‘d ever heard for a man
not to marry a woman.

He shook his head and returned to setting up the fence
posts. Just as he didn‘t understand some women, he guessed it
was fair to say he didn‘t understand some men either. Maybe
some people, in general, were dumb.





Ruth Ann Nordin
42





Chapter Nine



The day came when Penelope had exhausted all of her supplies
and needed more. She‘d delayed the trip for as long as she could.
Cole hooked up the horses, and he had the clothes he‘d been
wearing when she found him. There was no reason to believe he
was coming back with her. He‘d given her no indication he was.
Though she did her best to look pleasing to him, he hadn‘t said
anything more than that she looked nice...and that was the day
when he started putting up the fence.

She didn‘t know whether to scream or cry. Or she could
slap him. What was wrong with him anyway? Couldn‘t he tell she
loved him and would do what she could to make him happy?
Wasn‘t she pretty enough for him? Or was the place he c