Stealing Time Read online

  Stealing Time

  Waiting for Dusk #3

  by Nancy Pennick

  Published by

  Fire and Ice

  A Young Adult Imprint of Melange Books, LLC

  White Bear Lake, MN 55110

  www.fireandiceya.com

  Stealing Time, Copyright 2014 by Nancy Pennick

  ISBN: 978-1-61235-808-6

  Names, characters, and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published in the United States of America.

  Cover Design by Lynsee Lauritsen

  STEALING TIME

  by Nancy Pennick

  Drew from the past...

  Kate from the present...

  Two worlds collided.

  As senior year comes to a close, a promise of new beginnings is on the horizon. Kate longs to head to Arizona and college until her former friend, Tyson, does the unimaginable forcing her to stay in Ohio. Her family has to pull together to keep their secrets safe. Anna wishes to return to the canyon in 1927 once more and Kate’s determined to make that a reality. Summer’s filled with wonderful memories and little warning of things to come. Kate’s world grows darker and she must be the one to conquer the demons and save the world that is most precious to her.

  Table of Contents

  "Stealing Time"

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Previews

  To my cousin and friend,

  Beth

  We are all time travelers in our own small way...

  - Professor Brian Cox

  The Science of Doctor Who

  Chapter One

  Present Day Ohio

  “Katie, you know I love you.” Tyson slipped off his shirt and lay down next to her on the bed. For some reason, nausea swept over her. She turned her head, trying to avoid his kiss.

  “Come on. Say it back. Say you love me.” He didn’t seem to notice her distance and kissed her on the cheek, sliding over to her mouth. “This is how it’s supposed to be. Me and you. Forever,” he whispered between the kisses.

  Kate thought she was kissing him back but was not quite sure. Something in her mind kept shouting, “This isn’t right.” She tried to imagine the reason, but he kept kissing her, distracting her.

  Think, think harder! She wanted to pound her head with her fists, but Tyson’s muscular body pinned them down. Now the kisses were on her neck and slowly moved down her body while his hands slipped under her, lifting her toward him. Kate felt like a rag doll with no control. Suddenly, it came to her what was wrong. It wasn’t Andrew, not her Drew. Where was he? Why wasn’t he here, kissing her? None of this made sense.

  Kate struggled to get away, out from under Tyson’s strong, massive body. “No, Tyson, no.” She wanted to scream, but nothing came out. She felt her mouth open. Her breath came back at her as it bounced off his skin, but she heard nothing. He finally felt her resistance but didn’t stop, almost liking it.

  Is he going to...? No, Kate couldn’t go there. He had been her friend since she was eight years old. They had gone through so much together. There’s no way he would continue on...but he did.

  I need Drew. He’s going to come and save me.

  “Drew!” Kate screamed at the top of her voice as she bolted upright in bed. Fear gripped her by the throat. She felt weak from fighting Tyson’s advances. Heart pounding, she searched the room, taking in every inch. She was alone.

  “Was that a dream?” She couldn’t believe it. It was so realistic. She took deep gulping breaths to calm herself, all the while repeating over and over, “It was just a dream.”

  Dreams held a different meaning for Kate and the world she now lived in. Her mom gave her a book one evening, hoping to change her daughter’s boring summer. Since that night, Kate’s life had never been the same. She was taken away to another time on an unbelievable journey. What she thought was a dream turned out to be real, changing her life forever.

  Kate reached for the book, holding it to her chest, hoping it would calm her. “You gave me Drew. I was only sixteen when I first saw him...” A tear rolled down her cheek. “But I knew he was the one.” Two worlds collided. Drew from the past. Kate from the present.

  Although they were just seniors in high school, Kate planned to be with Drew for the rest of her life. She didn’t know how she could live without him. He was so much a part of her everyday life, it was like breathing. And he could take her breath away.

  After being saved from the past by Kate’s father, Drew had adjusted to life in the present. He changed his last name from Martin to Kelly and didn’t look back. On the flip side, Tyson, her childhood friend, had not. He had trouble accepting Kate couldn’t take the next step from friendship to love. He had no clue about her two lives or who Drew really was. All he saw was someone moving in on his territory. Not that Kate was ever his territory. She explained over and over she wanted to be friends, nothing more.

  Back in December, Ty slipped into the house when no one was home and tried to force himself on her. She knew it was out of desperation but finally realized he couldn’t be part of her life. Maybe the dream was a reminder of how she could never trust him again. Everyone believed he would have forced her to have sex if Drew hadn’t rescued her. But she was still in denial. “Not Tyson. He’s my friend,” Kate told the empty room. Her chest tightened, and she placed her hand on her throat. “No, he’s not my friend.” She hung her head. “He’s turned into a stalker. My stalker. I have to accept that.”

  She sat rigid in the bed, trying to calm down from the nightmare. The room filled with bright sunlight, unusual for March in Ohio. It reminded her of an Arizona morning at the canyon. She watched the sunrays dance across the floor as they peeked through her blinds. She tried to clear her mind and wished at times she could wipe the slate clean as easily with Tyson. But it was too late. He changed everything with his behavior. She’d always have that day tucked away in her head, reminding her of how Tyson could truly be.

  Kate flopped back into her pillow, reviewing all that happened in the preceding months. After the return from the past on New Year’s Eve, she vowed to live the simple life with her family. No more drama. That’s when she told Tyson he couldn’t be in her life anymore. She saw the hurt in his eyes but decided she had to be selfish and take care of herself first.

  Lindsey and Jordyn, her best friends, were very protective and always by her side at school. They both knew what happened with Ty and didn’t buy Kate’s story that she had things under control.

  As the weeks turned into months, the memories eased. Kate finally felt in control again. She
told the girls to stop hovering. She was perfectly capable of handling things on her own. After all, she was a married woman...in the past, that was.

  Jordyn didn’t know that fact, only Lindsey. She knew of Kate’s two worlds and was there for Drew and Kate’s 1927 wedding last October. Too young to get married? Maybe. That part felt like a dream. She had to smile as she thought of her life at the Grand Canyon. It always made her happy.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock and Drew’s voice coming from the other side. “Are you awake?”

  “Yeah, come in.” Kate sat up, wrapping her arms around her knees.

  “You’ll never guess who already called me this morning.” Drew threw out his hands in frustration.

  “Good morning to you, too.” She smiled fondly at him. In this world, they were just a high school couple worried about friends and homework.

  “Oh, sorry, good morning.” Drew walked over and kissed the top of her head. “It’s just so frustrating, Kate. Tyson’s called me every day for the past two weeks, begging for the chance to restart our friendship. I gave him a tiny bit of hope, barely a sliver, and he’s all over it. You know I agreed to consider, and I say that word with much emphasis, just consider letting that jerk back in our lives. I don’t care what you say he did or didn’t do last December. He tried to...” Kate shuddered as she recalled the dream she had. “Are you alright?” Drew sat on the edge of the bed searching for her hand. “I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”

  “No, it’s not that. I’m fine. What were you saying?”

  “Tyson called and asked if we’d meet him for lunch tomorrow. He wants to mend fences and be friends again. He’s going to swear on his family’s life that he never intended to hurt you. He wants the chance to prove he can be a good friend.”

  “Well, enough time has gone by that I would consider it.” Kate giggled as she used the same word he used in his speech. “And it’s Saturday so we have plenty of time to finish our history paper. I guess we can meet him for a short lunch.”

  “Alright. I’ll call him back and say we’ll meet up with him tomorrow, but you better talk to your dad first.”

  Kate’s dad didn’t want her to have any contact with Tyson ever again. “That boy has tested my last nerve!” he had yelled. “He’s not welcomed in this house for the rest of his life.” She didn’t want to face her dad alone.

  “You have to come with me.” Kate slid out of bed and threw on a hoodie. She took Drew’s hand, and they made their way downstairs.

  Her dad had started the morning coffee and stood in the middle of the kitchen, waiting for it to brew, while reading the newspaper. “Good morning, you two. Sleep well, Katie?”

  Kate hesitated and brushed aside the nightmare she just had. “Yes, Father, and you?”

  “So formal today,” he teased and set down the paper. “You look like you have something to say.”

  “Drew and I are going to meet Tyson for lunch tomorrow and work out our issues.”

  “What? Did I hear you correctly?” He slammed his hand on the counter. “Andrew, you can’t be on board with this.”

  “I’m doing it for Kate.” Drew put his arm around her.

  “Come on, Dad, you’d probably forgive your brother if he showed up at our door right now and invite him in.” She stared intently at him.

  “He’s been dead a long time so I don’t really know.” He was right about Uncle Albert being gone for a long time. Jackson Roberts was from the past, born in the early 1900s, when things were quite different.

  “You know you would. You probably already have.” Kate took her father’s hand and led everyone into the family room. She sat down with him on the sofa. “You’ve had so many life experiences, learned so much this past year. You have a different perspective on things...you must admit.” She hoped her father could see the similarities between Tyson and Albert.

  “Pumpkin, when did you get wiser than your ol’ dad?” He put his arm around her. “Who’d have thought a book would bring this family closer together?” Her dad put his head back on the sofa, appearing to be deep in thought. “You know I was upset when your mother gave you the book to read. I didn’t want you involved in that world. Now I believe it was the smartest thing she ever did. It’s like you’re the connection to both worlds. There’s a balance now.”

  “Well, I almost ceased to exist on New Year’s Day, but other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing.” Kate rested her head on her father’s shoulder, shuddering at the memory of what happened just a few short months ago.

  “You realize when I left here before Christmas I had every intention of making it back in time.” Her dad squeezed her tightly as he spoke. “I waited almost twenty years for that telegram and was determined to go. Never in my wildest dreams did I think anything would happen. I was a fool to think I was indestructible, hopping from one century to the next. Nothing ever went wrong in all those years. I felt like a superhero doing good in the world. I would right the injustice my brother caused and come back to my family. I’d rip open my shirt, expose the large S on the shirt underneath, and everyone would cheer.” Her father placed his head in his hands. “What a fool.”

  “Was the S for Superman, Dad? Because if it was, you’re Superman in my book. You rescued Drew and got here just in time to save me. I think that’s superhero status in anyone’s book.” Kate pulled her father’s hands away from his face. “Keep the faith. I did.”

  “Jack, remember what you told me about the book? No one has all the answers...we’re almost at its mercy.” Drew got up and went into the kitchen, pouring coffee for everyone and returned with a tray of mugs. “This magical book brought us together...for that I’m eternally grateful.”

  “You’re right. I need to remember that,” Jackson whispered as if he was trying to convince himself.

  Kate looked quizzically at her father. “What did you tell Drew about the books? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

  “Well, let’s see.” Her dad rubbed his chin. “I guess you’re referring to the time right after your rescue from the river. Am I right?” He looked over at Drew.

  Drew nodded. “We were sitting around a campfire, waiting for the sunrise, so we could begin the climb to the top of the canyon.” He glanced over at Kate. “I thought you were up there, waiting for me. Little did I know you were here in Ohio and used the book to time travel back to the constant, never-changing year of 1927,” he laughed. “I didn’t believe a word out of Jack’s mouth...until he told me you were one of the time travelers.”

  “Then you became a believer?” Kate teased. This might be just what they needed, a discussion about time travel. Her father loved to talk about it. Perhaps it would put him in a better mood. She decided to leave the Tyson discussion on the back burner for awhile longer.

  “Yeah, I guess I did. We spent the night discussing the powers of the book and how it worked. It seemed like your father and Carl Sr. sat up many nights dissecting the ins and outs of the book.”

  Kate sighed at the mention of Carl’s name. Married to their friend and neighbor, Maya Johnson, he was such an important part of her journey, yet she never knew him in the present. He had already passed away before they moved into their home. “Carl, the first traveler.”

  “We wouldn’t be here without him.” Her dad patted her knee. “Always be grateful to him. He was a brave man. Carl came to this country from Sweden, knowing little English, and found his way to Arizona. His carpentry skills got him the job at the boardinghouse where he discovered the books.”

  “And he was the first to come to the present.” Kate was in awe as she thought about it. Carl did it all on his own. “Thank goodness he met Maya on his first trip.”

  “They were the first past and present couple,” Drew chuckled.

  “But not the last,” her dad said. “Your mom and I made the second, and now...” He squeezed Kate’s hand. “You and that one.” He cocked his head toward Drew.

  “That one!” Kate laughed as s
he threw herself against the back of the sofa. “I love it.”

  She leaned forward and looked at her dad. “Now tell me the story. You and Carl put your heads together to try to figure out the book.”

  “We tried things first-hand when we could. Experimentation, you might call it.” Her dad sat up as if he had renewed energy, gesturing with his hands. “We finally formulated a New Year’s Eve plan, for lack of a better name, but never put it in motion. Carl became too ill and, as you know, passed away. I lost the motivation to continue. Anyway, we have most of our answers now.”

  “What was the plan? The New Year’s Eve plan?” Kate was curious. “If you had conducted that experiment, you might have the answer. The only one we’re not sure about.” Then she hung her head. “Never mind. I think I was the experiment. We do have the answer. If someone stayed at the canyon into the New Year, I wouldn’t be here. Your life would have continued on in the past. You could never return to the present. Mom would be a distant memory. Someone you remember meeting in 1927. And me...never born. I was fading away that last day. I could feel it...” Kate had to stop herself before she said what really scared her. No one would remember her because she never existed.

  “Enough! We’re done talking about it. No need to bring up bad memories.” Drew held up his hand. “We’ll never let that happen again. No one will ever go to the canyon that time of year.”

  “But I still want to know.” Kate looked at her dad with sad puppy dog eyes. “What was the New Year’s plan?”

  “Actually, it was a silly little experiment. We planned to take a cat or dog back in time, leave it closed in the master bedroom of the boardinghouse. We planned to go back in January to see if it was still there.”