Each day Anna and Charlotte explored the tattered remains of Blackmoor Castle, a large key ring in hand. Emory handed over the keys and said he was going to stay with his sister in the village. He couldn’t stand all the racket and chaos after being alone at the castle for so long. John and Henry, along with the rest of the men, were busy making repairs. John grumbled it would be a waste, since he’d die soon enough. Anna caught him looking over the work a few times, a smile on his face. He was afraid. That was why he acted like they shouldn’t bother with repairs. He didn’t want to lose his home twice. So she didn’t say too much about the work or the future as they waited for John’s oldest brother, Edward, to send his mason and more men. They would need to accomplish a great deal of work in order for the place to be habitable by winter. Winter. It was the first time she’d actually thought about a future here. Now was not the time, not when there was the tiniest sliver of hope she might be able to get back to her dad and her own time.
