Into the Future (Heritage Time Travel Romance Series, Book 2)

By Dana Roquet

When author Torie Mills moved to tiny Fremont, Iowa, she found the love of her life and the place where she finally felt she belonged. Five generations of Dave Cameron’s family had inhabited the large idyllic Victorian house he and Torie now called home. They settled in, started a family and seemed to be living the perfect fairytale ending.

Fast forward two years Into the Future. The Cameron family, including little one-year-old Rose, have been chased from their home by the time travels they believed they had left behind. Quiet Mahaska County has become a Mecca for fans of the psychological thriller Where Evil Lived, which Torie wrote concerning the 1959 mass murder of her Mills cousins. It was just meant to be a way to help Dave heal and put it behind him for good. Now it had taken on a life of its own.

While Torie searches desperately for the answers that will fix her fractured family and allow them the happily ever after they deserve, Dave struggles to hold onto his sanity and keep a secret from her that will test him to the limits of his endurance as he comes to terms with the time travel gift that neither he, Torie nor their child will be able to resist or control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dana Roquet
• Release date: Jun 20, 2013
• ISBN: 9780988503526

Dana Roquet

Works by Dana RoquetLove's Vengeance(I am currently working on the sequel to Love's Vengeance)Heritage Time Travel Romance Series#1 Out of the Past,a stand alone novel with a HEA, but the story continues with #2 Into the Future, and book #3 Forevermore Coming soon book #4 Enduring Gift

Book preview

Prologue

Torie

It seemed as though I’d fallen right into the middle of something already in progress. I was stooped over and reaching to pull at a dirty, partially buried strap of leather; at the end of the worn cowhide was a large rusty harness buckle. I leaned back and put all of my weight behind it, determined to have it. I felt an intense need to succeed at this quest. I tugged and tugged but the strap was too deeply buried in the hardened dirt.

Lindy, leave that and come on!

I straightened up and wiped the dust from my hands onto the skirt of my beige cotton dress. I noticed then that my hands were grimy and pudgy, as if those of a young child. I stared at them, holding them out and turning them before me and used my thumb to wipe a smudge of dirt from my left wrist, thinking, this is feeling very familiar, just like a time warp.

I looked up and around to locate the sound of the girl’s irritated voice. She was dressed in a dark-blue cotton dress and dusty brown boots below dirty black stockings. Her face was dirt streaked and strands of her light-brown hair had escaped her lopsided pigtails. I decided that she was about nine or ten-years-old and by the stern expression and the stamping of her foot, she was getting exasperated with me. She held a burlap bag in her hands and lifted it up before her, opening the top and peering inside.

We need to find these kittens someplace safe before dark, she crooned with softness to her tone as she continued to look down into the sack.

Coyle! Lucinda! I heard a woman calling sharply but softly as if from a great distance.

The girl bristled. Lucinda, come on! she wailed, marching forward and grabbing me by the sleeve of my dress. She pulled me across a farmyard and toward the remains of an old one story house which was completely dilapidated. The window glass was all broken out and the front screen door was hanging off of its hinges. Parts of the roof were caved in and I could see that some of it had splintered and fallen into the foyer just inside the open front door.

We probably shouldn’t put them in there. It could be dangerous, the girl decided as she turned to survey the area.

I looked beyond the house and in the distance I could see that there was also an old barn. The vertical slats of the walls were jutted out all around as if the building had exploded from the inside out. The shadows that were caused by the waning sun elongated the remains, and the sharp snags of rotted wood planks looked like gnarled fingers, reaching up toward the sky. The remnants of a stack of hay held up a portion of the fallen roof.

I turned about and saw that we had come from the direction of a driveway which was overgrown with vegetation. Several strands of rusty barbed wire fencing were blocking access to the property.

Couldn’t there be wild pigs? I asked absently while trying to ignore the fact that my voice sounded like a young child. I turned back and looked up into the girl’s large caramel-brown eyes while trying to sort this out. It seemed as if I had been at this place before. I could almost swear that this was partly my own childhood memory. At least I can remember someone telling me that we had to leave a broken down farm because there could be wild pigs. I remember that the old farm had a barn that looked very similar to the one out in the distance. Was I dreaming—was I warping? I questioned myself silently. I was feeling totally lost and confused.

Wild pigs? the girl spat with obvious disbelief in such a possibility, shaking her head and rolling her eyes at me. Lucinda, you are such a ninny. She snatched my arm again and we headed along the side of the house, in the direction of the barn.

If we don’t git, we will both be gettin’ a whippin’ when Ma catches us and these poor, sweet little kittens will end up at the bottom of the pond. Now come on! she ordered as she tugged at my arm and looked back the way that we had come, checking to be sure that no one was coming.

Nature had completely reclaimed the farm and it was like a jungle. There were saplings, dense clumps of weeds and bushes clogging the entire farmyard behind the house. I had trouble trudging through and, being small, the weeds were slapping at my face as the other girl trail-blazed before me. I closed my eyes; squinting them to protect them and I attempted to stop and pull my arm from the girl’s grasp but she didn’t let me go; instead she yanked me along the rough terrain even more aggressively.

The sun was sinking toward the horizon fast now and shadows were spreading out, making the way dark and I had a strange sense of foreboding. I could hear the hum of the summer night insects, the croaking of frogs and cicadas that were buzzing their song from some untamed woods just beyond the barn.

Coyle! I snapped. Let go of my arm! I can walk on my own.

She glared back at me, ignored my demand and then continued; leaning forward against my resistance and pulling me through the head high weeds, until I heard a hollow thud as her booted foot caught on something. She stumbled and started to fall, clutching at me and pulling me down with her. I put my hands out to try and break my fall, felt the sting of the splintered wood digging into the heels of my hands and then we both broke through a rotted wooden platform and I could smell damp earth and feel the chill air, as we were tumbling down and down and down through pitch-blackness…

***

Dave

I awoke and turned to the whimpering sound at my side. The moonlight filtering into the room caressed the silhouette of ivory nakedness draped in dark earth-tone sheets. Scooping Torie into my arms to still her movements I gently nuzzled her, feeling the chill of her skin and I pulled the warm comforter back over her body.

Hey, hey, Torie. Wake up, honey. You’re having a bad dream, I crooned softly and inhaled the fragrance of her perfumed skin which is a mixture of spices, flowers and sultry woody undertones that, for me, will forever remind me of my beautiful wife. I kissed her neck lightly.

It’s okay, I soothed as she continued to moan and thrash.

Holding her soft curvy form within my arms, I could feel and hear her quick intake of breath as she jerked awake. Shit! I didn’t mean to startle her.

Whoa, sorry, honey, I apologized as she wrapped one arm around my neck and clutched at me. I braced on one elbow beside her, leaning over her to smooth her bangs from her forehead. The light from the bright moon streaming into the bedroom through the light sheers that we had left partially opened, allowed me to see her face clearly.

Torie released her hold on my neck as I saw the dawn of recognition in her eyes, and she slowly relaxed as her features smoothed to calm. Her relief at seeing me whispered through her lips as she said my name softly and ran her hand along the stubble of my jaw before she cradled my face.

You okay? I asked and covered her hand with mine and turned my head to press a kiss into her palm.

Yeah, she began but then she took a deep breath.

Oh my God, Dave! I warped! she whispered fearfully, rising quickly to a sitting position. Oh shit! I warped!

No, honey, I assured her as I skimmed my hand over her bare shoulder and kissed the creamy smoothness lightly. You were just having a bad dream. You were talking in your sleep and moving.

No, I was a little girl. It was a time warp—I—I…

Torie, I interrupted. I know time warps and you wouldn’t have come awake just from me touching you and saying your name. Plus, you would’ve been as still as death, but you were moving and mumbling. It was a dream and probably just a reaction to all of the excitement about the weekend coming up or the stress of planning it all.

I could tell that her mind was racing as she turned to look at the clock on the nightstand.

Two a.m., we leave for Vegas in seven hours! I’m so sorry I woke you, Dave but God, it was so real. I was even thinking during it, thinking about how it felt exactly like a time warp. I was falling.

I have those kinds of dreams all the time, I assured her. Falling off of a cliff or falling through the air. Those are dreams that everyone has—totally normal.

I drew her back down beside me. Come on, sleep, I urged.

I settled in beside her, taking her in my arms as she buried her face in my neck, giving my throat a kiss and wrapping me up in her embrace.

Mmm, I sighed in perfect contentment. Holding you is heaven on earth.

Well, since we’re both awake now, she whispered, as her teeth lightly nipped at my earlobe.

I chuckled as her soft warm mouth found mine in the semi-darkness, searching and insistent. My tongue slid through her open lips to be met by hers, the languid stroke of our kiss, warming and then igniting, as our passions awakened. It was the perfect combination of give and take—wet and unhurried and yet demanding as our mouths merged and explored. The molten heat quickly traveled through my body, stoked by Torie’s leg gliding up and down along the contours of mine as she ran her satiny soft hand over the expanse of my back and down across my butt. Then she urged my body over hers and into the cradle of her welcoming thighs—as we sought more intimate contact.

Into the Future

Chapter 1

Monday, December 31, 2012

Las Vegas, Nevada

Torie

Torie, what is going on? Everyone is waiting for you and Dave to be seated before they open the buffet.

I blew out a growl of irritation and then turned to face my oldest sister and with raised eyebrows, pointed to our sister Sarah’s back. A little help, please.

Sarah turned from the mirror, pointing to the bodice of her strapless sunflower-yellow sheath.

What the hell! Sarah, what are you crying about? Margo groaned, overlooking the obvious problem staring her in the face. Don’t tell me you’re drunk already.

Both Sarah and I broke into laughter directed at our normally reserved sibling. Just hearing her say hell and drunk in conversation was absolutely hilarious. Margo stood glaring at us both, clearly not enjoying being the butt of the joke, especially since she wasn’t getting the joke at all.

Sarah grabbed for another tissue from the edge of the marble vanity and dabbed at her eyes, then pointed to herself.

Look at my boob, Margo. Help me get this mascara off of my dress or leave. Those are your only options.

Margo made a face like she had just bit into a sour lemon and came forward to inspect the damage. Well, stop the tears and I’ll go and get some club soda from the bar, she decided and then with a swish of gold lamé and light-brown bouncy curls, she swung out of the bathroom lounge like a hundred and thirty pound tornado.

So what caused these water works? I asked Sarah as the door closed behind Margo. I know that you aren’t drunk and even if you are, crying has never been your forte. That’s usually Mindy’s signature drunken move. I took a seat on a plush rose-brocade loveseat and patted a spot beside me. Sit, I ordered.

Sarah joined me, plopping down with a heavy sigh. Dad, she squeaked, fluttering her eyes and fanning her face with waving hands as she looked up at the ceiling, in an attempt to stop the moisture from falling. When we were dancing just a few minutes ago.

Oh my God! Sarah, stop! You’re gonna get me going and I refuse to cry tonight. I’ve been planning this reception for two months. Don’t you dare try and drag me into a sob session, I warned, pulling my brows down into what was obviously an unconvincing angry scowl because Sarah looked down from the ceiling and into my eyes and snorted a laugh. She can always see right through me.

He said that he is proud of me and that he likes Jerry. He even told me that he is going to send a donation for the rescue and may plan a visit, she sniffed and dabbed at the remains of her tears and sighed heavily. You know, this is probably the third time that he has seen Jerry over the years but I think that the last four days are the only time Dad and he have really connected.

"That’s so great, Sarah. I really feel that spending time with Dad off of his home turf might be the key to connecting with him. When he doesn’t have his work on his mind and lets his guard down, he lets his true self show a bit. When we honeymooned and flew to Naples and then took the sailboat to Marco Island to visit him and introduce him to Dave, it didn’t seem to me that Dad connected with Dave either. We had dinner and all and did some sightseeing but it was a very dad type visit. You know?"

Sarah nodded that she understood what I meant. But it isn’t just that, Torie. It’s me. So many times this weekend if Dad has said something unexpectedly supportive of me or nice, then all at once I feel the tears rising and myself getting all misty-eyed.

So what this is actually about is your neglected inner child doing backflips, right?

Sarah let out a deep breath as she nodded. She is the most tender-hearted person that I think I have ever known. It is probably what gives her the drive to help animals, but she is often overwhelmed to the point of despair by her deep feelings.

Pretty twisted and pathetic, isn’t it? Am I going to always be looking for Dad’s approval?

If you’re pathetic, then so am I because I’ve been having the same glow all weekend. Even though I’m thirty-seven years old, I’m still looking for my daddy’s praise. I’m just glad that he realizes what a great guy Jerry is and Dave also. This has been a great weekend.

An incredible weekend! Sarah said, reaching for my hand and squeezing it warmly. Dave is perfection, Torie. The way that he is so centered and in command. He is the perfect balance of strength to your crazy, and it’s not a bad thing that he is a total hottie, too.

She lifted my hand to inspect my wedding band and diamond engagement ring for the millionth time. You suck, Torie. You really, really suck. She dropped my hand and stuck her tongue out at me.

He really is just so amazing, Sarah, I agreed. It’s been a real steep learning curve, this whole living with a man twenty four seven business, but he just lets me work through it, freak out when I need to and he’s always there for me while I figure it out.

I lifted my hand and watched as the light caught the glimmer of my ring. I had probably looked at it about a million times myself. It is a flawless, colorless, one-carat, cushion-cut sparkler surrounded by another two carats of bead-set diamonds, in a platinum setting.

Dave had given it to me on Christmas morning and I had admitted to him through my tears of happiness that a beautiful diamond had always been one of my silly girlhood fantasies. I had gone from catching my breath and squealing in delight when he had opened the small jewelry box; to trembling and teary as he had removed it and slipped it onto my finger. It had also resulted in a steamy session of lovemaking right there in the family room under the Christmas tree and amid the ribbons and bows, in the glow of a crackling fire as the Christmas day had dawned.

The bathroom door opened just then and Margo, along with our step-mother Sandy and Dave’s mom, Anna Cameron, breezed in. The cavalry had arrived.

What we need to do is let this draw for just a minute, Sandy advised, dipping the end of a white cloth napkin into the glass of club soda. Sarah, come here.

Sarah stood and moved under the lights of the vanity so that Sandy could get a good look at the smear of mascara that was marring the luscious yellow silk over her right breast, while Margo held the glass, looking on as if a very serious medical assistant. Sandy slipped a finger inside the bodice as she dabbed and then held the napkin to the offending goop.

We’ll let this sit and then use some clear water. I think the best we can hope for is less obvious, Sandy said and Dave’s mom Anna looked on and nodded her agreement to the decided treatment plan.

That’s fine, Sandy, Sarah said as she leaned against the vanity and slipped off one of her high heels, bringing herself down a little lower and closer to Sandy’s reach. Sarah is petite at five-three and Sandy is tiny at just five-foot-one.

The door opened again and Mindy, wearing a slinky cranberry-red cocktail dress, and being followed closely by several of Dave’s little nieces, all spilled into the room. Mindy took a seat beside me and sipped at her glass of pink-Zinfandel as we listened to the buzz of my new extended family coming together for the current wardrobe malfunction.

This has been one hell of a weekend, girl, Mindy sighed, watching the progress, as Sandy called out for clear water. I think it may be a long time, if ever, that this one gets topped.

I took her drink from her hand and had a sip. I think everyone has had a great time, don’t you? It came out exactly how I envisioned.

Hell of a vision. You did good, Mindy praised me before she took the glass from my hand, lifting it toward me in salute and then savoring another sip. Mike has even been talking about making this a yearly vacation getaway for the two of us.

Maybe we could make it a yearly couples retreat for the four of us, I suggested as we watched Sandy and her crew drag Sarah into the next room, mumbling something about the air hand dryer being needed next.

Dave and I had arrived early, five days ago to be precise, to prepare for the celebration and these last four days had really gone off without a hitch. I had gone over every detail again and again, finally letting go and letting the hotel staff do their thing and I hadn’t had a worry or a moment of stress from there on out.

Our first night here, before the guests had begun to arrive; Dave and I had played it low key, if anything about the Bellagio can be considered low key—dinner at the Picasso restaurant and afterward, we had spent some time in the casino gambling. Although I know squat about casino games or cards, Dave had tried to show me the ropes. I say tried because he had failed miserably or I guess that maybe it had been me who had failed to absorb his instruction but whatever. We had talked and laughed the night away and it had been the most flat out fun I’ve ever had with a man. His wit and dry humor had kept me entertained all night long; but that is true of everything about Dave Cameron; life is just so much more fun with him in my world.

The block of fifty rooms that we had purchased, had started filling up early on Friday morning and for the last four days, everyone had enjoyed a loose schedule of activities which they had been able to pick and choose from. An itinerary had been passed out to each guest as they’d checked in and if it hadn’t met with everyone’s approval, the concierge had been given instructions to purchase whatever activity or show might have been preferred. I haven’t had any complaints, so I think that I can call my choices a success.

I had tried to accommodate everyone’s interests; golf, swimming, spa treatments, shows and a shuttle for visits to the old downtown strip for anyone who