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He bobbed his head. “The future is vast uncharted land, and it might be time to explore it with a mind to make some changes.”

“I find when the present is difficult, planning for the future can assist one through trying times,” agreed Caroline.

William turned his head and contemplated her across the table. She truly was an intelligent and remarkable woman. One had to wonder why such a fine young woman was all alone in the world. Caroline should be married to someone kind, and be increasing with child.

She deserved to have all that she desired. Her business, a family to replace the one she had lost, and many wonderful friends. Here she was, taking care of him on the eve of Christmas and risking her reputation in order to be kind. He had no intention of ever growing as close to someone as he had been to Charles, whose absence was still a physical ache. Otherwise, he would pursue this fine woman for himself.

William shook his head slightly. A woman like Caroline would mean falling in love, and he could not bear another loss, such as Charles. Nay, he would need to stay away from her once this holiday was over, but he appreciated that she had shown him the error of his ways.

He could build a better future, allow for closer connections than he had these last few years. Appreciate the community he lived in and allow some emotions back into his life. This evening had changed him for the better, and he looked forward to the days ahead, now that he had time to think about the revelations of the evening. It was high time he took some time to visit his uncle and aunt at their seaside cottage. As soon as his injury improved, he would do so.

Caroline shifted and sat on the table. She felt his leg with gentle fingers.

“I am going to apply a fresh poultice. Would you like anything?”

“Warm water and cloths? Perhaps you could collect my nightshirt?”

“You would like to wash up?”

He nodded. “I was working in this shirt all day.”

Caroline made a sound of assent, taking up things from the table and leaving for the kitchen. Soon she returned with the bowl of warm water and cloths, laying them out on the table. Once she left the room, he pulled his shirt off and took up one of the cloths to bathe himself.

The fresh, clean water was refreshing, and he felt considerably more comfortable when she came back in with his nightshirt, careful to avert her eyes from his naked torso as she handed it over.

Quickly, she cleared the table once more, and he could hear her tidying up in the kitchen while he pulled his nightshirt on. Leaving his buckskins on, he straightened up the settee pillows to settle back into a reclining position. This brief interlude of domestic bliss was a pleasant change in routine, especially given the time of the year. He was fortunate the doctor had found such an excellent companion to nurse him back to health. Spending the night with the wrong person would have been torturous, and Caroline’s presence had brought a much-needed reprieve from his bad dreams. For the first time in years, he had slept without dreaming of war and bloodshed, a minor miracle in itself.

All in all, this Christmas Eve had been something of a success despite the swollen, bruised appendage.

Caroline returned to apply a fresh poultice, quietly affixing it to his leg with a bandage. Then she cleared the room and once again could be heard moving around the kitchen.

William drifted off to sleep in the darkened room, his body fatigued as he gradually slipped back into another dream.

Chapter 6

The Future

EARLY MORNING, CHRISTMAS DAY (THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS)

The sky was overcast—brooding and grim. Market Street was covered in a fresh fall of snow. The world was silent, muffled by the clouds overhead and flakes blanketing the roadway. William looked about and realized it must still be Christmas Day, the shops sporting festive Christmas boughs in their darkened windows. Across the street was the empty post office, the interior dark and deserted. If that was the post office, he must be standing in front of Caroline’s shop.

He turned to look, noting a fresh display of ribbons through the window, along with festive sprigs and boughs draping the windows and counters.

Why was he back on this day? Was there some new revelation to uncover?

Not knowing what came next, William walked toward his cottage. As he approached a cross street, Dr. Hadley appeared, walking from the direction of the church.

“Mr. Jackson! Season’s greetings to you!” The doctor paused to meet him at the corner.

William realized something was not right. Dr. Hadley’s hair was whiter. His thick mustache was also white, and he had far more lines on his face. He appeared to have aged several years.

William rubbed his face, confused by this turn of events. Was this a future Christmas?

“Same to you and Mrs. Hadley, doctor.”

“Thank you, Mr. Jackson. I must be on my way, but I do not need to tell you! You have a full house waiting for you!”

The doctor was not going to invite him to his Christmas feast as he did each year? And what did he mean … a full house? While William pondered their conversation, the doctor had walked off in the direction of his home. He shook his head, not sure what to make of this new situation.