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Wally stood and began pulling on some pants. “We better hurry.”

“She ain’t my boss,” Sadie said, standing on the opposite side of the bed. “Besides, where are my clothes? More importantly, where is my son?”

Wally grinned. “I checked on him myself while you slept. He’s having a grand time learning the machinery on board. Right now, McGovern’s showing him how to pilot a time machine. I wasn’t exaggerating much when I said he drives a carriage for a living.”

Sadie nodded, recalling the way the two men had teased each other in a familiar way when McGovern steered the carriage to town. She relaxed, knowing Teddy was probably in heaven learning about all this crazy stuff.

Continuing, Wally said, “And as much as I like looking at you in the buff, I suppose I can rustle up something.” He dug through his drawer and tossed a plaid shirt at her, along with a belt. “We’ll have to hit up Lacey afterwards. She’ll get you something more comfortable.”

Grinning down at the clothes, Sadie nodded but didn’t think that’d be possible. She hated wearing corsets and bloomers. Plus, this soft plaid shirt smelled like Wally, and she never wanted to take it off.

After he pulled on a shirt, as well, she followed him out. He took hold of her hand and led her through a tangle of corridors and tiny rooms that moved up and down until they landed before a door that looked a lot like every other one, except maybe bigger.

Wally knocked, and the door slid open, revealing a room as big as her entire house with opulent décor and another couple, looking like a king and queen with all their ruffles and jewels, seated at a table that nearly filled the room. The spread laid out on the table made her mouth water even though she didn’t recognize half of the food. It all looked so pretty the way it was arranged. Sort of like when Harriet put out her finger sandwiches, only to the extreme. And the smells made her stomach grumble.

The two already seated were a gorgeous couple, and neither seemed the least bit concerned at Sadie’s scant clothing. Maybe they figured they’d left her in nothing but an oversized gown and sheet. Or maybe in the future, no one cared if you walked around in your birthday suit.

She clung tighter to Wally’s hand as they approached the table and sat opposite these strange people. No one spoke for a minute, so Sadie said, “Howdy.” Then dug into the spread, grabbing a tube-shaped thing that looked like some kind of bread wrapped around some kind of meat. She shoved it in her mouth and almost moaned because it was so juicy and delicious.

“My name is Nicole Bennet. Help yourself, Ms. Rogers,” the woman said.

“Thakyu,” Sadie said around her mouthful. “Whatsit?”

Nicole grinned. “It’s a gyro.”

As if that explained anything, but Sadie nodded nevertheless.

“You said there was a situation. Have you found Caroline?” Wally asked, leaning forward over the table.

“No. And that is the situation. We’re having a bit of a disagreement as to how big of a search party to risk out there looking for her. We need fresh ideas because the longer it is before we find her, the farther away she could be and the more damage she could cause to the timeline.” Nicole plucked what looked like a miniature carrot from the tray before her, dipped it in something tan, and nibbled at it.

“The Watcher will have a fit if someone’s seen. We may never be able to time travel again,” the fancy man said. “So putting out more people is too risky.”

Sadie swallowed. “Who’s this Watcher? And who’s Caroline?”

“The Watcher is sort of a sheriff,” Wally explained. “They want to make sure we don’t mess up your lives and somehow change our own future.”

Sadie thought that over while swallowing down another bite. “They didn’t do a very good job of stopping you so far.”

Wally stifled a laugh. “And Caroline is the saboteur that I mentioned earlier. We think she’s escaped off the Time Capsule Resort.”

“Does she have purple hair?” Sadie asked, recalling the night she’d followed him and the last group back.

Everyone reacted and she knew her hunch was right. “Well, it isn’t like you made it that hard to get out of this thing, is it?” she chastised. “Honestly, I thought you people were supposed to be advanced. I saw her leave the same night I snuck in and out.”

Sadie enjoyed the stunned faces all around and grabbed another gyro.

“You snuck on and off?” Wally asked.

“Did you see where she went?” Nicole spoke over him.

Sadie chewed as she considered them. “I didn’t see where she went, but she only knows about my ranch and whatever she saw on the first tour.”

Nicole and her man exchanged a look.

“But I think I can help y’all out,” Sadie offered, licking her fingers clean. “If there’s anyone in Devil’s Creek who knows everyone else’s business, it’s Harriet Anderson, and she just so happens to be expecting Wally and I to arrive for a dinner date.”

“It’s worth trying.” The man next to Nicole spoke again. Sadie noticed the way the woman softened in response.

“May I ask what happened to Otto after he shot me?” Sadie asked, unable to hold in her curiosity any longer.

“He took quite the bruising,” Nicole said with a smirk. “For now, he’s confined to quarters without weapons or…” she paused for effect, seemingly enjoying a private joke, “clothing.”

“You left him naked in a cell?” Sadie asked.

“Not a cell,” Nicole corrected before taking another nibble of her tiny carrot. “It’s a perfectly acceptable room. But yes, he’s naked as the day he was born, though I’d venture a guess, far hairier. In any case, I can’t have him exploring the resort, now can I? Think of it as an extra deterrent on top of the door lock. It’s not like we have an actual jail here. It’s a resort.”

“I like you, Miss Nicole,” Sadie said, leaning back with her hands on her belly. “I think you and I could be right good friends.”

She patted Wally’s thigh and smiled. Maybe the future was a bright one.