Soldier Mine (Sons of War #2)(65)

Amused, I turned my attention to the iPad, unable to shake the sense of déjà vu. After I filled out the portion for my name and age, I swiped to the second screen.



If you could go back in time to prevent atrocities such as the Trail of Tears experienced by the Native Americans, and the massacring of pioneers caught between Native warriors and the Calvary, would you?



I glanced at the pictures on the windows, once more touched by the visible pain. The people gazed at me in silent desperation, suffering clear on their features. “Sure, why not?” I selected the green button on the survey and was taken to the second screen.



If you could save the lives of a hundred thousand people TODAY, would you do whatever it took?



“Duh. Who wouldn’t?” Tapping the button, I read the next question.



If you could go back and change history, would you?



“Only if there’s a modern sewer system, espresso and AC,” I quipped and then sneaked a look at the images looking over me. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it,” I said to them quietly. “I’m hot and irritated. I would go back and save you all, if I had the power.” I swiped to the last screen and entered my email address.

Carter was waiting patiently nearby.

“That’s it?” I asked loudly enough for him to hear, once again perplexed by the simple questions. I replaced the iPad on the table.

“It is!” Carter beamed and joined me once more. “Well … except …” He cleared his throat, ears red. “Would you maybe want to … get a drink tonight at the Victorian Vittles Saloon?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, Carter. We’re leaving in an hour or so.”

“Oh.” He appeared surprised. “I thought you were staying here.”

“No, sorry.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me down easy,” he flashed a dazzling smile. “If you change your mind or … decide to stay in town, I’ll be there shortly. I’m packing up soon to leave.”

“Sure. Sounds good.” I picked up my purse and offered my hand. “Nice talking to you.”

“Thank you. So much.” He was nearly gushing as he clasped mine in both of his.

Overwhelmed by his enthusiasm, my cheeks grew warm, and I laughed instead of answering. Pulling way, I waved and started towards the direction towards where I was supposed to meet my aunt and uncle. The tingling instinct that I knew him lingered. Not one to ignore my intuition, I halted.

“Wait, Carter, can I ask you something?” I asked, turning.

“Of course.”

“Have we met before?”

He looked like I’d agreed to go on a date with him. His unguarded expressions were something I expected from a kid, not a full-grown man. “Does it feel like we have?” he asked with hushed awe.

My brow furrowed. I gave another small laugh, uncertain how to take his strange reaction. “Sorta. Like déjà vu.”

“We haven’t,” he said. “But I’m really glad we did.”

“Me, too.” And I was without really understanding why. His innocent, boyish charm made me want to tease him the way I did my youngest cousin or maybe, to ask him if he needed help doing his homework. I couldn’t explain it, except that it wasn’t physical attraction per se, more of a sense of being kindred spirits. My aunt believed in past lives and how we met the same souls over and over again throughout our many lives. I could almost believe it about Carter. “Bye.”

Hopping off the raised wooden sidewalk, I strode across the street and glanced over my shoulder. Carter, the table and survey sign were gone.

Then I realized I had left too quickly to get my gift card. “Broke for another week.” I sighed. “Oh, well.”

I spotted my aunt – a slender woman with bleach-blonde hair – and jogged towards the middle of Tombstone. My uncle was short and squat in comparison, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon with a warm smile and a wife he turned from pretty into an ageless beauty.

“Great news, Josie,” my aunt started. Her loud words were like her dress – exaggerated. From the obscenely wide-brimmed hat to the bug-eyed sunglasses and fuchsia cowboy boots, there was no chance of my over-the-top aunt fitting into the dusty, laid back environment of Tombstone. “We’re staying here tonight!”

“Here? Where?” I asked.

“Your uncle won a drawing for a free night here in Old Tombstone!” she exclaimed.

“Oh, okay,” I murmured. Looks like I’ll be able to meet Carter for a drink after all.

My quiet uncle appeared to be proud of himself while my aunt beamed him an adoring smile. As different as they were, they’d always been a doting couple. As an adult, I viewed a relationship like theirs as enviable, even though they used to embarrass me when I was younger.

“You have time to look at more rocks,” my aunt added.

“Yes, because that’s all a rock hobbyist is interested in,” I said with a sigh. I had given up explaining why I became an amateur geologist. My aunt had never gotten past the fact I was more interested in rocks than jewelry and accessories. “I do love them, though,” I added, excited about the multiple rock shops I’d visited already.

“I’m sure there are some fascinating specimens in these shops,” my uncle added. “They have a lot of dinosaur fossils here, too.”