A Knight in Central Park(19)

Alexandra focused her attention on him, a gleaming, hopeful look in her eyes.

What harm could it do to help her? Joe wondered. This Richard guy was probably out roughing it on the streets, too. Joe could offer him a few bucks to leave her alone. The odds of this character actually having the cross or the candlestick were a million to one, but he’d never be able to sleep unless he checked it out. “You’ve got yourself a deal,” he finally said, offering her his hand. “You show me these antiquities, and I’ll take care of Richard.”

Instead of shaking his hand, Alexandra threw her arms about his neck and kissed him on the cheek. He stiffened, surprised by the outburst of affection.

“Let me get this straight,” Shelly said to Alexandra, unaware of his sudden discomfort. “You’re going to take the professor through time so he can fight off a bunch of fifteenth-century warriors?” Shelly held up one of the stones. “And this rock is your transportation?”

Alexandra’s face glowed. “Aye. It is Sir Joe’s destiny. He is The Chosen One.”

Joe felt ridiculously honored. For a woman who was four kings short of a full deck, she spoke with poise and assurance.

Shelly took the stone to the built-in desk situated in the far corner of the kitchen and hit a few buttons on the computer. Within minutes she’d found the information she was searching for. “According to this website,” Shelly said, “the next full moon is this Friday.”

“How can that be?” Alexandra asked. “I arrived only yester morn. I do know that the stones must be used within...” She struggled for the words Grandfather had used. “They must be used within three consecutive months. According to my grandfather, there are nine and twenty days between each full moon.”

Shelly tapped a finger to her chin. “I bet if we calculated all of the leap years over the last few hundred years and then subtracted the number of days...”

Joe lifted a brow at Shelly, surprised by her ability to accept any or all of the woman’s time-travel nonsense.

Shelly raised a brow of her own. “You’re the one who just promised to rid her family of some ancient medieval knight.”

He turned to Alexandra. “Is Richard a knight?”

“A pampered lord,” she corrected.

“Ahhh,” he said as if that made more sense and would be no problem.

“Where do you keep your weapons?” Alexandra asked anxiously. “We have less time than I originally thought. Weapons will need to be inspected and blades sharpened.”

“Woaahhh, wait a minute,” he said, wondering suddenly if he’d been a bit hasty in making a deal with her. “What does the full moon have to do with my meeting Richard?”

“Everything,” Alexandra said. “I cannot take you to meet Sir Richard until the moon is at its fullest.”

“What is he, a werewolf?”

“Nay. He’s merely a man, like you.”

Shelly came back to the table and took a seat, setting the stone before him. “I’ve never seen anything like this. At first glance it looks like a chunk of granite, but if you hold it to the light...” She drew the stone up close to the lamp. “You can see flashes of color inside.”

Joe nodded, his thoughts a million miles away. This was Wednesday, two more days until Friday. He turned toward Alexandra. “Where exactly are you planning on staying until the next full moon?” He was sure he already knew the answer.

Alexandra peered at him with wide, hopeful eyes and said, “With you. I promise to make myself useful,” she quickly added. “I can weave and—”

“I’m sure you’re talents are never-ending,” Joe cut in, “but what I need is quiet.”

“I can hawk, hunt, and play chess as well as any man,” she went on desperately. “I can help with the gardening.”

“No, no,” Shelly blurted, “I wouldn’t go near the garden again if I were you.”

Joe stood. “Hawking abilities, or not, you can’t stay here. It’s out of the question.”

“But she’s only asking for three more days,” Shelly argued. “Classes don’t start for another week. I’ll keep her busy during the day while you finish your research.”

“What about the student papers I gave you to grade and the handouts I need for next week’s lecture?”

“I’m nearly finished with them,” Shelly replied. “I’ll take Alexandra to the library with me tomorrow. Since you have an extra bedroom, she’ll have to sleep here though. Then on Friday she can take you to meet Richard.”