A Knight in Central Park(79)

“But you said yourself that The Black Knight saves the king’s life. You are the Black Knight. Do you not yet see that?”

“As much as you want to believe it, it’s not true,” Joe said. “If I had come here once before, even in another life, I would have remembered.” His voice trailed off as his doubts grew. “Your brother is our first concern. As soon as he is well enough, we can set off to warn others of the danger the king may be in.”

She nodded her agreement. “For now I will pray for my brother’s well-being.”

He pulled her tighter against his chest, felt the softness of her hair as it brushed against his chin. He knew that everything she did, she did for her family. She worried about her siblings as a mother would. Swallowing a knot in his throat, Joe realized how much Alexandra had taught him. He’d never met anyone like her. She put all else before her own well being. She saw the good in everyone and in all situations. She was the bravest, most courageous woman he’d ever met. He would miss her when he was gone. So much so, just the mere thought of it made his gut ache.





Chapter Twenty-Two



The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.

—John Muir

Joe sat up, every muscle stiff. Both he and Alexandra had dozed off, and he was surprised to see that it was morning. The frogs and toads had finally finished with their nocturnal chorusing, but it was the high-pitched screech of a predawn bird that woke him. If he were home, he’d be listening to the dull drones and unsettling groans of passing vehicles instead of the songs of the tree crickets. He rubbed his head and could only imagine what he looked like. His hair felt like a bird’s nest after a storm and his whiskers had grown past the stubble stage.

Although less than three weeks had passed since he’d arrived in this century, it felt as if months had gone by. For the first time in days he thought about his other life, wondered if time didn’t hold still after all. By the time Alexandra had returned home after her visit to the future, hours had passed. He thought of his students and his life’s work and wondered if Shelly was worried about him. Mrs. Peacock, his neighbor, would be thrilled to discover he’d disappeared into thin air.

Alexandra was up and tending to her brother, filling him with warm broth, one spoonful at a time. Apparently, she’d been awake for hours. The fire was well fed, sending a stream of smoke into the sky, and the horses grazed nearby.

Joe let her and Garrett be as he looked around. They were in the center of a wooded universe. Sunlight filtered through a canopy of pines and oaks. He inhaled the woodsy scent of pine and sap and listened to the trickling of a nearby stream.

Weeks ago, the thought of taking an icy cold bath in a stream would have made him cringe. Now he felt elation at the thought of it. He listened for a moment to the chorus of birds’ song. And, in that moment, he realized he’d been away from home for way too long. He came to his feet, cracking a twig and rustling dry leaves in the process.

Alexandra glanced over her shoulder. “Good morning, Sir Joe.”

“Just call me Joe,” he said as he grabbed hold of the jug of water. He took a swig and used it to rinse his mouth, spitting into the leaves behind him. He moved to Alexandra’s side and nodded at Garrett when he saw that the boy was awake. “How are you doing, kid?”

“The bastard hardly scratched me,” Garrett said through gritted teeth, doing his best to remain his old indestructible self as Alexandra helped him sit up a bit.

“He is doing well,” she said. “The bleeding has stopped, and he ate some broth besides.”

Joe nodded. “He seems to be doing fine. It would take more than a couple of ruffians with swords to take your brother down,” he added, noting the pleasure Garrett took from hearing the words. “But you should have woken me,” he said to Alexandra. “I would have gathered wood for the fire. I didn’t hear you get up.”

“’Twas just as well. I could not sleep.”

A branch snapped, the sharpness of the sound cutting into their exchange. A flock of birds fluttered from the trees.

Alexandra grabbed the dagger at her side.

Neither of them said a word.

Joe glanced over his shoulder at the sword lying near his makeshift bed. Another branch snapped. Dry leaves crunched beneath booted feet as someone approached. They all turned in the direction of the noise, watching as a shadowed figure came their way.

It was Sebastiano, and they might have felt relief at seeing him if he wasn’t holding a dagger to George’s back. Joe had tied George naked to a tree last night, but somehow the man had gotten loose. Joe noticed a woolen mask that had fallen about Sebastiano’s neck and a ragged cape swept over his shoulders; both garments seemingly made from an old coarse blanket.