Spirit of the Revolution (37 page)

Mathias agreed. Once they extracted most of the rubble from the entrance, the paramedics squeezed inside. He could do naught but watch as they took Jolena out of his arms, and place her on the gurney. They gave her a cursory exam and checked her vital signs. Unable to wait any longer, Carolyn rushed to her side and took hold of her hand.

“Jo—Jo darling, can you hear me?” She looked up at one of the paramedics when Jolena remained unresponsive. Tears formed in her eyes. “Will she be all right? Her hands are like ice and she’s so pale.”

The man gave her a pat. “We’ll do our best. It might help us if you can answer a few quick questions, though. To begin with, do you know if she is allergic to anything?”

While Carolyn answered questions, Ray inspected the mine. As he scanned the area, he spied Jo’s backpack and her digital camera on the ground. He walked over, picked up the camera, dusted it off, and began going through the photos. They pleased him well enough, and that in turn, would please Jolena.

“Excuse me, Professor Brennan. We’re going to have to ask you and Dr. Taylor to wait outside while we remove the rock from the other side. We’re aware of the importance of what lies within this chamber. However, we need to get to the other victim. I can promise you, we’ll try not to disturb anything, least of all the remains of these men.”

“Is Sanders still alive?” he asked.

“For the moment,” the paramedic answered.

Once the paramedics had Jolena hooked up to a thing they called “IV” they covered her with blankets and rolled her out to the ambulance. Mathias rode along on the way to the hospital, as did Carolyn. Ray stayed behind to protect the site and watch over the bodies of Matthew and Joshua. The act would please Jolena.

Twenty-four hours later, Jo approached full awareness. She didn’t know her present location, but remained aware that Mathias and the boys stood at her side. Part of her wanted to open her eyes and greet them, but exhaustion prevented it. Perhaps she could rest a bit longer and think about all the wondrous things she and Mathias shared in the mine.

In truth, they all transpired, for she could still feel the strength of Mathias’s hand as he held her own. Bits and pieces of her experience seemed hazy. She remembered two voices, one belonged to Mathias and one to someone she didn’t know. Maybe she made it up, because nothing they said made any real sense. Of course, they probably wouldn’t, dreams never did.

The light—she remembered the amazing light, and the hallway and the door. Mathias also admitted knowing about her dreams. She smiled inwardly as she recalled their conversation, his tender, gentle kisses, and the castle in Scotland. Mathias wanted to take her there and she recalled a sense of urgency as he made the request.

Distant voices grew louder, and she turned away from her castle in Scotland as she tried to make sense of the words. One of them said something about “Miss Michaelsson” and “not yet.” A door opened, closed, and then footsteps approached ever nearer her bed. Finally, she made the effort and opened her eyes. Mathias received the first of her smiles. He squeezed her hand in return. She took a deep breath and looked over at her doctor.

“Well, it’s nice to see you’re finally awake, Jo. Care to tell me what you were doing inside that old coal mine which resulted in two cracked ribs, a multitude of contusions, and a pretty severe concussion?” he said as he raised a brow in question.

Jo shot a quick glance at Mathias who simply shrugged. “I don’t know, I guess I was feeling a little adventurous,” she said as the doctor sat down beside her. When they finished their visit, the doctor asked if she could handle a few visitors.

“Dr. Taylor and her fiancé are waiting outside. They’ve hovered like a couple of hungry scavengers circling the carcass,” he said.

Jo let out a bit of a quiet laughter and nodded. “That sounds like Carolyn, all right.”

Moments later, Carolyn rushed through the door, over to her bedside, and took firm hold of her hand.

“You scared me half to death, Jo,” she scolded. “Don’t you
ever
do anything like that to me again, do you hear me?”

“You needn’t worry,” she replied. “I think I’ve had my fill of derring-do for a while.”

Carolyn released her hand, sat in the chair the doctor vacated, scooted it closer to the bed, and said, “I’m sorry, but we weren’t able to get the file on top your desk, as you asked. The door to your library is locked, and we couldn’t find the key.”

Confusion set in. She didn’t have a lock on the library door, and how did they know about the file?

“When we e-mailed Carolyn, we gave her detailed information about what she would find in the mine,” William said. “We also mentioned you had all of your documented evidence dealing with the discovery in a file waiting for her on top your desk. The e-mailed letter asked her to come immediately to the location where she could see everything for herself. We also mentioned you wanted her to take over, once she got there, hoping such a statement would make her come quickly.”

“But I couldn’t let her come into the library this morning, Jolena,” Jedediah added. “I needed to let her see me in order to show them the entrance. If I allowed her to see the painting she would recognize me, and we didn’t want to chance having to answer the questions which would surely arise after that.”

“That’s all right, Carolyn,” Jo said after hearing their incredible explanation. “I’ll get the file for you when I get out of here.”

“The whole thing is so unbelievable,” Carolyn said. “I mean, I can’t believe you set off to discover the meaning of your grandfather’s letter all by yourself. How on earth did you figure it out?”

“I didn’t do it by myself, Kay-Kay,” Jo murmured as she closed her eyes. “I had a whole team of experts helping me every step of the way.”

Mathias chuckled. “I think you have that backwards, my love.”

A smile tugged on the corners of Jo’s mouth as she drifted away toward Laird MacNaughton’s castle, where Mathias waited by a waterfall—

“Aw,” she could just barely hear Carolyn whisper. “Poor little thing has gone back to sleep. Well, that’s okay. We’ll just let her rest now and she can fill us in all of the details when she’s better.”

****

Four days later, Carolyn whisked her out of the hospital and escorted her home. Once they exited the car, she led her down the walkway, holding tightly to her waist. A difficult thing at best since Mathias had his arm around the other side.

“Careful now,” Kay said, “we’re almost at the steps.”

“You’re holding on to me like I’m a ninety-year-old woman,” Jo grumbled. “And I can clearly see the steps and am quite able to take myself up them.”

Carolyn sighed and shook her head. “Yes, but the doctor said you might suffer through some dizzy spells, due to the concussion and could fall quite easily. Therefore, I’m
not
going to let you walk unassisted.”

“Might, Kay-Kay,
might
is the keyword here. If I needed a nursemaid, I would’ve let Nancy come and hover over me,” she said, as she turned toward Mathias and rolled her eyes. Mathias chuckled in response.

“Don’t be such a grouch. The only reason she conceded on that issue, is because I promised I would stay with you for a few days,” she replied. “Besides, I don’t want you to think of me as your nursemaid. I have an ulterior motive, you know. I’m your best friend and I have only a few short weeks to plan the perfect wedding, and you, my dear are going to help me finish all the details.”

True to her word, they spent the next several days discussing bridesmaids, dresses, flowers, decorations, photographs, and food. In fact, if Carolyn showed her even so much as one more cake design, she’d throw up for sure.

“There,” said Carolyn as she hung up the phone. “I think I’ve made my last order. We’ve completed everything we can possibly do for now. Can you believe it? We’re done until it’s time for the dress fittings.”

Jo applauded. “And it’s about time, too. I’ll give you this much, though. You’ve taught me that elaborate weddings are not worth the effort. If I ever get married, you can better well believe, I’ll elope.”

Just as the words left her mouth, she glanced over at Mathias. A look of pain briefly marred his features. Surely, he didn’t think she actually meant she wanted to get married. He couldn’t think it—

The sound of the doorbell stole her attention. Carolyn got up from the sofa and hurried to answer it. Moments later, Ray greeted his future bride. Then, as they entered the family room, Ray extended his arms toward her.

“Good morning, Jo. How’s my favorite patient today?” he asked and then leaned over to kiss her cheek.

“Absolutely fabulous now that we have the wedding chores complete,” she said.

Ray turned toward Carolyn with a look of delighted surprise. “All done?”

“Yep,” Carolyn said with an ear-to-ear grin. “See what two girls can do when they put their mind to it?”

“Jo, you’re a lifesaver.” Ray winked as he shoved a hand inside his pocket. “You got me out of a whole lot of trouble, and I’m forever beholden to you.”

Jo waved a hand. “Think nothing of it. It’s the least I could do since I robbed you of your intended for almost an entire week. How are you holding up without her?”

“I’ve had plenty of things to keep me busy,” he said as he sat in the chair, opposite them. “In fact, one of those reasons is why I showed up much earlier than expected today. I need to discuss something with you.”

Carolyn raised a brow. “Really? What’s up?”

He glanced at Carolyn before turning his attention to Jo. “Your discovery has garnered world-wide attention, Jo. As you know it’s been all over the news every day since the um—accident. Anyway, the Smithsonian is going to display all of the artifacts found in the mine. They want to make the ‘Tinker’s Toy’ exhibit a really grand affair.”

Carolyn’s mouth dropped. “That’s great news, Ray.”

“Yes, it is,” he continued. “They would also like to display your grandfather’s letter and as many of Jacob’s personal artifacts that you’re willing to share. Hopefully, they said, all of them. They’ve prepared a contract for you. The agreement states that should you ask for the return of any or all of the items, or should they no longer wish to display them—which is highly unlikely—everything will revert to the Michaelsson Family Trust. And what’s more, they’re prepared to pay you quite handsomely. They are willing to pay a great deal more, for complete ownership of the letter.”

Jo looked over at Mathias and the boys. They looked pleased with the arrangement and nodded their agreement. The Smithsonian could keep all of her grandfather’s artifacts well preserved and safe from theft. Not to mention, she could place the proceeds in a separate account, giving the boys access to the funds, so they didn’t feel the need to trade away their things if they wanted to buy something—like a horse, for insistence.

“I don’t have a problem with that,” she said. “Letter, included.”

“Excellent choice.” Ray withdrew his cell phone from his pocket. “I’ll call and let them know. Oh, and before I forget, I want to tell you that the descendants of Matthew and Joshua have come forward to claim their remains. They’re having them buried at Arlington. The media will cover that event, as well.”

“That’s very good news,” Jo said as she connected her gaze to Mathias’s. “They deserve no less.”

“And Jo.” Ray placed a gentle hand on top of hers. “I just want to let you know before you see it on the news—Paul Sanders can never threaten you again. You’re safe.”

Jo shook her head. “But, I still don’t understand how he learned about the mine in the first place.”

Ray and Carolyn exchanged glances. Carolyn nodded as if granting permission and he said, “Well, several months ago, Paul hired a private investigator to follow you. He called the authorities right after the news broadcasted the attempt Paul made on your life. He said he had no idea Paul meant you any harm. You see, Paul hired him once before to track his ex-wife and he believed this a similar circumstance. Once he led Sanders to the opening at the back of the mountain, Paul paid him off and dismissed him. It is my understanding that he fully cooperated with the authorities.”

“Oh, I see,” she said.

Later that afternoon, Carolyn finally made ready to leave. As Ray picked up the last of her bags, she said, “My wedding is coming up sooner than you realize. I’m leaving you alone against my better judgment. Don’t disappoint me by doing something foolish that will keep you from attending.”

“Don’t worry,” Jo said as she ushered them out the door. “Nothing can keep me from holding you steady on your big day. I know you. You’re going to need all the assistance you can get.”

****

Several weeks later, she did manage to keep Carolyn on her feet—several times throughout the day, in fact. Mathias bore it all with patience and good humor. Despite her stress, Carolyn looked beautiful, and the wedding service culminated without incident.

Following the ceremony, they entered the reception hall, lavishly decorated in several shades of blue, and trimmed in white. She dutifully stood next to Carolyn in the bridal line while they greeted the many guests. Cameras clicked incessantly and she posed for so many pictures, Carolyn would need to number them in volumes. Then, when at last the time arrived to throw the bridal bouquet, Jo made certain that Carolyn’s niece caught it, even though Kay threw it straight to her.

The bridal dance followed, after which several couples joined them on the dance floor. Jo took that moment to get a glass of ice water. As she stood next to the table, she caught sight of Carolyn’s great-aunt hobbling toward her with the aid of her cane. She had a gentle smile on her face and—a smidgen of pity. This sweet old lady, now in her eighties, seemed a part of her and Carolyn’s life for as long as she could remember. They both loved her dearly.

“How are you doing tonight, Jolena?” she asked in a voice that quivered with age.

“I’m wonderful, Aunt Helen. How are you? I haven’t seen you for such a long while, and I’ve missed you,” Jo replied and then leaned down to kiss her affectionately on the cheek.