MARKING TIME by
Sandra Sookoo
Sometimes the destination is not as important as the journey.
Ava Lesarris has her life figured out. She has a great job, has accepted her latent wolf shifter identity and is looking forward to climbing the corporate ladder. When a faulty GPS unit leads her to a town called Strange Hollow, she's in a quandary, even more so when she's suddenly transported back to the year 1900.
Sam Tremaine is the last of his kind. He's a Phoenix, living in Strange Hollow during what should have been its greatest time - the founding year, but he can't enjoy it. He's dying which leaves him with one regret. He's never found a woman whose spirit is as strong as his own. He wants be remembered but time is running out, not to mention he hasn't been able to get "it" up for months.
Worlds collide as the past and present come together in Strange Hollow. Ava will need to figure out her purpose while Sam struggles to come to terms with his fate. If they're lucky, the special town will offer the answers they're both seeking before the next phase of life begins.
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WATCH THE TRAILER
~Excerpt~
Ava Lesarris readjusted her grip around the leather-covered steering wheel and relaxed against her seat. A faint dusting of snow dotted the ground, frosting clumps of dead grass and crunchy leaves like cake icing. The foothills of North Carolina resembled a fairyland in late November, which suited her just fine.
Over her cellphone, the hold music clicked off and the Midwestern nasal voice of her boyfriend, Jake, replaced it. She grinned as she built white picket-fenced dreams in her head; he was that kind of guy. “Okay, I’ll see you around midday Thanksgiving. If I leave early in the morning tomorrow, I should be able to make good time.”
She waited while he confirmed her plans and said his goodbyes. “Can’t wait. Bye.” Snapping the phone shut, she tossed it onto the seat beside her. Did it bother her that neither she nor Jake had ever said the “L” word during their six-month relationship? Not overly much. She’d steered the mood of their dates. He followed her lead. She’d done the asking out. Jake couldn’t manage to tear himself away from his job as a sports reporter.
“That’s okay.” She needed to reassure herself, except she’d never been in love. Probably wouldn’t know the first thing about wanting to give up everything for another person. But she intended to try with Jake.
Only because he’s the man of the moment.
Ava ignored her wolf. The purpose of spending the long holiday weekend with him at his parents’ house in Atlanta was to find out if there could ever be anything more between them.
At least, that was the plan. The on-again off-again relationship with Jake had lasted the longest of any she’d had during her dating life. It wasn’t exactly something to write home about, but the chance to spend the holiday with other people drove the decision. She’d been by herself for too long.
Her smile faltered. Of course, she didn’t exactly get the warm fuzzies for him when they were together, either. Once again, she was probably too strong-willed for him. Most normal guys ended up ditching her the moment she mentioned anything risqué in the bedroom. It didn’t mean anything that she and Jake hadn’t had even mediocre sex for a while. They hadn’t been alone for weeks and hadn’t gotten a chance.
You haven’t had sex because he bores you and you are not compatible with him.
At times, she wished her wolf were less chatty. “No.” Ever since she took the job as a pharmaceutical rep at one of the leading drug companies in the country, she’d been on the road more than she’d been home. So had he with his own career.
They were a nice, normal American couple, right?
You know exactly why your dating life has hit the skids.
That voice in her head was exactly the reason nothing ever worked. Shut up. I didn’t ask for comments from the peanut gallery. On top of being a career-minded woman, she also had the misfortune of being a latent wolf shifter.
A big freak, actually. What was the point of having a heritage in the paranormal if she couldn’t use it? The wolf inside gave her a competitive spirit and an aggressive desire to excel in everything she attempted. It also meant she had a tendency to question authority figures, especially when they were pain in the ass alphas who thought their word was law.
Not only that, but also life in a wolf pack didn’t sit well with her. Having to bow and kowtow to the males in the pack went against everything she believed in. When she’d voiced her opinion that a woman should be allowed in a leadership position or even have the option to choose not to marry within that pack—hell, or not marry at all—she’d been kicked out as soon as the statement died in the air. So be it. They were entitled to their opinions. So was she.
You’re just bitchy because you’re getting ready to ovulate.
“Damn hormones.”
She wanted to climb the corporate ladder, and if she performed well at this gig she had a shot at being promoted. Wasting time with pack politics didn’t leave much time for that. In a way, they’d done her a favor by deciding the next step her life would take. Corner office, executive assistant, expense account, company car, it could all be hers in a few years if she kept her nose to the grindstone. So what if her love life’s roots withered before they could take hold? Somehow, the idea of being some guy’s wife didn’t appeal to her like it had in her twenties. Now, a few days past her thirty-first birthday, she wanted to be on equal footing with a man in a relationship—as long as he wasn’t a wolf or wouldn’t tell her what to do. Shared responsibilities. Shared domestic duties. Shared bliss.
No man in his right mind would take you up on that offer.
Ava snorted at the dorky way it sounded. Maybe so, but I can still think about it. Besides, I don’t need a man to justify my existence.
Tell me something I don’t know. You have no natural aptitude for choosing a mate. In her head, her wolf counterpart paced in a fair amount of agitation.
“That’s right, wolf-girl.” Ava grinned. Though it must suck to be a wolf with no way to express that side, she wouldn’t want it any other way. Having the wolf inside kept her company, told her that her decisions were sound. “I don’t believe in soul mates.”
And it beat talking to the GPS unit all the time.
You’ll never have offspring at this rate. You excel at wasting perfectly good eggs.
Thanks. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t need them to define me.” Choosing to have a good career over marriage had been a gamble, but it wasn’t like she’d ever wanted to have kids. Somehow the thought of wiping snotty noses and cleaning up messy diapers didn’t appeal to her. Yet, late at night, rolling over in an empty bed with no one to talk with and knowing she’d never hear anyone call her “mommy” held little charm as well. She’d chosen the job, and she loved it. She’d made peace with the fact she’d never shift into her animal. It didn’t make her a reject. It made her unique with a living conscience. “I’m happy with my life.” Meeting people, traveling, learning about new up and coming drugs that could potentially save millions of lives made the sacrifice worth it. If someone took issue with her life, that was their problem.
There’s more to life than a career, human.
“Maybe, but until I find something or someone to convince me of that, this is what we’re doing.” Deliberately shoving thoughts of the future from her mind, she concentrated on the gray strip of road. There were two stops to make, a few people to call on and give the speech for the new “wonder” drug her company was peddling, then she could kick back in her hotel room. It had already been a long day.
“Ten miles to destination on right.” The weird British-accented voice of her GPS device cut into her thoughts.
“What the hell? I’m not anywhere near my destination.” By her estimate, she had a good two hours of driving still to do. She’d pass through Barnard, then continue west, skirting the mountain range and hit the next town without incident. Poking at the navigation unit, she didn’t find anything wrong with the calculations.
Heavy silence reigned in the sedan for long moments. Her wolf even remained quiet, which would have been a relief if Ava hadn’t been concerned at the GPS’s odd behavior. Minutes later, the town of Barnard came and went. The great thing about this area of the country was the coziness of the settlements. If you blinked an eye, you’d miss them, but a new one would always be waiting down the line.
“Arriving at destination.” The electronic voice spoke the statement with firm authority.
“No, I’m not!” All around her, the scenery looked much the same—wooded areas on both sides, broken only by the empty gray ribbon of the roadway. Jabbing a forefinger at the GPS screen, she re-entered her original coordinates. “What part of take me here do you not understand?”
Inside, her wolf growled. Having trouble dominating an electronic device?
Nope, I think I’ve got it.
Ava grinned, but her victory was short-lived as the device said, “Recalculating. Destination ahead.”
Hot anger shot through her body. “I am so getting a refund on this piece of junk.” That was the last time she bought something because the sales guy had a cute smile.
Steep ravines lined both sides of the road, and making a U-turn would be tricky since the curve up ahead meant she’d be doing it blind. Not to mention she wasn’t familiar with the turning radius of the rental car. “Fine, you win. I’ll get my bearings in the next town. While I’m there, I’m throwing your malfunctioning ass in the trash.”
Slowing her speed, she guided the car around the sharp bends. At some point, she passed a tiny, wooden sign saying Welcome to Strange Hollow in blue-painted letters. She rolled her eyes. Really, that was the name of a legitimate town?
Sounds interesting.
“Oh no.” She shook her head even though her wolf couldn’t see. “Every time you say that, something bad happens in my life. The last time was in a bar when that pink drink caught your eye.” Once she’d finished the cocktail, she’d been so drunk off her ass she still wasn’t sure how she’d made it home. “Don’t get any ideas, wolf.” Ava wrapped her fingers tighter around the steering wheel. “We’re not staying.”
After the last set of curves, a ramshackle exit ramp came into view on her right. Another sign bearing the name of the town sat beneath the number zero. Ava clenched her teeth and pulled off the highway. The ramp headed down a semi-steep incline and wound its way through a heavily-wooded area. Finally, it emptied into a typical Main Street of any small town in the country.
Small shops lined each side of the street, nestled together as if they’d been there a hundred years. Dried leaves blew down the sidewalks, and more than a few stoops hosted arrangements of Indian corn and pumpkins to celebrate the season. A Norman Rockwell enthusiast’s dream.
As she neared the end of the street, a stately town hall-type building loomed into view. The midday sun sparkled off its plate glass windows. At its base, a lone woman stood, one hand raised as if in welcome.
Ava frowned. Where were the superstores or the gas stations with mini-marts attached? Where were the fast food eateries that covered the ground quicker than dandelions? This tiny town of Strange Hollow seemed stuck in the past. She glanced around, exhaling a sigh when she spotted other cars and even a light-blue scooter in one lot. Tucked away in one corner of the square, a handmade sign advertising an Internet café swung in the breeze. At least it confirmed she wasn’t dreaming. I’m still in small town modern America.
As she pulled over to the curb in front of the Town Hall, she threw the car into park, leaving it idling. She’d get directions from the woman in the long, flowing, slightly old-fashioned green dress, then get back on the road. At this point, she couldn’t trust the GPS anymore. Maybe the proximity of the mountain screwed it up.
I like it here. We could belong in this town.
No, we can’t. I’d get bored too fast in this backwater burg. “I’ll make this short and sweet.” Releasing her seat belt, Ava opened her car door and stepped outside. A cool breeze ruffled her blonde locks and sent shivers over skin not covered by her navy-blue suit. “Excuse me, ma’am. Can you tell me how to get back on the highway?”
The woman in green moved down a few steps. The gown fit her short, stout frame well, albeit the style heralded a time long gone. A slight smile touched her lips while vibrant brown hair waved loosely to the middle of her back. Pointy ears poked out from the tresses. “Welcome to Strange Hollow, Ava. I am Jacinda Fergus, founder of this town.”
Shock skittered down Ava’s spine, quickly followed by icy trepidation. “How do you know my name?”
“Everything in time, which,” a devilish light danced in Jacinda’s violet eyes, “you do not have nearly enough of at the moment.”
“Hi. Look, this seems like a nice enough area, but I have zero time for sightseeing, okay?” Ava glanced around the town square and noticed a few other residents appearing in various doorways. Great, here come the nosy neighbors. “Do you know the way back, or don’t you? It’s not a hard question.”
Your mouth will get you into trouble, human.
She rolled her eyes. At times, her wolf annoyed her more than any flesh-and-blood person she knew.
Jacinda moved down the rest of the steps to stand in front of her. “No, it is not a hard question.” An enigmatic smile flitted briefly across her lips before vanishing beneath a mask of serious concern. “But you are correct. You do have zero time.” The woman winked.
Ava opened her mouth to give the strange being a piece of her mind when a whirlwind swirled around her. The vortex whipped her hair and tore at her clothes. Dust and leaves caught in the angry air, temporarily blinding her to the surroundings.
A flash of bright light cut across her vision, then darkness sucked her into a silent vacuum.
* * * *
She hit the ground with a hard thump that jarred every bone in her body. “Good grief! Talk about a stiff wind.” Struggling to her feet, Ava knocked the dust off the seat of her pants. “Is this normal weather for this area?”
“Welcome to Strange Hollow, Miss Lesarris.” The greeting held lyrical notes that reminded her of birdsong—Jacinda’s voice.
“Um, you already said that.” Ava narrowed her eyes as the last of the whirlwind faded and she could actually see her surroundings.
Town Hall stood before her as well as the same cozy shops, except they held a veneer of newness about them, as if they’d only been erected not long ago. In fact, Ava swore she could smell the sweet fragrance of newly-cut lumber in the air.
Spinning around in a slow circle, Ava gawked at some of the other differences. The streets lining the square weren’t made of asphalt. Instead, cobblestones formed the ground cover. A horse pulled a smart, black carriage along one street and the ring of its shoes against the brickwork echoed in the afternoon air. In the distance, the long, mournful whistle of a train put her in mind of simpler times.
When she turned back to stare at the strange woman she’d just met, her stomach clenched into knots. I have a bad feeling about this. Even more surprising, her wolf remained silent. “Where are we?”
Jacinda tucked a strand of hair behind an ear. “Strange Hollow, of course, but it is more a question of when we are that you might like to consider.”
“What are you talking about?” A low-grade headache formed between her eyebrows. “Where’s my car?” As her heart tried to pound its way out of her rib cage, she glanced at the street. No sign of her rental. Which meant her pharmaceutical case, her cell phone and her purse were also gone. “Lady, I need answers, right now.”
Time to get to the bottom of this hallucination.
“I am sure you do, but I cannot give them to you.” Another enigmatic smile passed over her round face. “I can tell you this. You have come to the right place, yet not the right time. You are here to find what you think you do not need.”
Ava blinked, unable to wrap her brain around the whole, weird tale. “Okay. Why am I here? What is it I need?” Her gaze skittered to a few residents walking along the street. Both males and females were dressed in the same quaint clothing that Jacinda wore. Everyone wore hats and gloves, and it seemed they were all overly polite to each other. “Why am I here?” It seemed right to repeat her earlier question if only to stave off the tide of rising panic.
“You are here to help fulfill a destiny that does not belong to you.”
“Why is this my problem?” Jacinda didn’t answer. It didn’t make sense. “What if I have no clue how to do that?” Not to mention, why would she want to expend the energy on somebody else when she needed the resources to find a way home?
Jacinda shrugged as if the matter didn’t concern her. “You will remain stuck in this time period for as long as the task takes. I have no control over the whims of fate.”
Nausea made Ava’s throat prickle with warm saliva. “What’s the year?” Like passing a car wreck, she wanted to know but didn’t at the same time.
“The year of Our Lord, 1900. You have come during a wonderful anniversary year as I founded Strange Hollow months ago in April. Outcasts like yourself are welcomed here with open arms.”
“Outcasts?” She forgot the sickening sensations in light of this new info. “Why would you assume I’m an outcast?”
One of Jacinda’s eyebrows arched. “You are a latent wolf, are you not?”
How could she possibly know that? “Maybe.” Best not anger the natives.
“There are few rules here. Murder and rape are both punishable by death. Elitists will be eaten on sight. This is natural selection not murder. Feel free to mingle with the townsfolk, but I will caution you to procure clothing more suited to this time period.” She began walking toward the Town Hall. Almost as an afterthought, she paused and turned to hold Ava’s gaze. “I wish you luck, Miss Lesarris. More lives than just your own depend on you figuring out this riddle.”
The panic she’d been holding in check exploded into full-out terror. Cold chills raced over her skin. “What I am supposed to do? Where will I live? All my money is in my car and I don’t even have that right now.”
Jacinda waved away her concerns. “There is a dress shop not far from here. You will find their clothing selection most pleasing. Afterward, feel free to wander the town. If you’re ever feeling sentimental, the train station will be your best bet. This is all I can tell you.”
As Ava stared, alternating between bursting into tears and screaming obscenities at the woman who couldn’t—or wouldn’t—understand her viewpoint, Jacinda Fergus literally vanished into thin air.
Her wolf picked that moment to chime in. I think we’re screwed.
“No crap.” And definitely not in a good way. What exactly did a person do when suddenly whisked back in time without a valid explanation or reason? “What the hell am I supposed to do now?
Of course, her wolf had no smart answer this time.
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Gate to Fate Book One
