I reached for her hand and squeezed it. “And, Roman, as you’ve surely guessed, is the love of my life.”
I glanced at him, my heart overflowing.
“And this fellow….” I cast my gaze at the ground where Marcellious lay. “This is Marcellious. He and Roman are brothers.”
Marcellious let out a long groan, rolled to his side so he faced the fire, and drew his knees toward his chest.
“Oh, he must be freezing from the cold creek. I’ve got a man’s jacket he can use,” I said.
I retrieved the dead soldier’s coat from the ground, where I’d napped beneath it, and lay it on Marcellious’s chilled skin.
Marcellious shivered, his eyes closed.
“What can I do to help?” Emily asked.
“Do you have any knowledge of local medicinal plants?” I said.
“Some. Margaret taught me. She used herbs in her midwifery.”
“Are there any herbs around here?”
“I think I saw yarrow at the edge of the meadow. We can make a paste that will help stop the bleeding. And wild willow bark will help ease the pain. I’ll go and fetch it.”
“Thank you,” I said.
After she departed, I folded back the jacket and set to unwrapping the wet, bloody bandage. “What happened to him? How did he get all these injuries?”
“Some of the injuries were from our fighting in the Colosseum. This latest one is a gunshot wound, as I mentioned. Some American soldiers shot him and took us prisoner. They thought we were Sioux.”
“And how is it you’re wearing a soldier’s uniform, and he’s dressed only in a loincloth?” I peeled apart the sodden mess of fabric, revealing an angry-looking, gaping wound.
“I killed a soldier and pretended to be taking the prisoner… out to be interrogated. Then we set wagons on fire and escaped with two horses.”
“Is this where he was shot?” I delicately touched the edge of the injury with my fingertip.
“Yes. I had to dig out the bullet while Marcellious was conscious. It wasn’t a pretty moment for either of us.”
“I can only imagine. Kind of serves him right, though, for all the misery he put you through.”
Marcellious’ eyes remained closed while I tended to him. His skin was a ghastly gray-green.
“Can you rinse this off in the stream and hang it over a tree limb until we need it?” I handed the wet mess to Roman.
“Of course,” he said, rising to his full height.
My heart soared as I watched him depart, his long-legged stride eating up the distance to the creek.
Dressed in an American soldier’s uniform, his muscular body moved like a lithe tiger, even though he looked tired.
We found each other. We time-traveled together, and now he’s here with me. Emily was right about true love.
I peeked beneath the jacket at all the scrapes, bruises, and gashes marring Marcellious’ body.
“Oh, Marcellious. What has happened to you?” I said softly.
“Youhappened to me, Olivia,” Marcellious spluttered before groaning. “Why did you bring me here?”
I blinked, startled that he said anything but stunned that he spoke in English. “I had nothing to do with where you ended up. I just took a wild guess that you’re a time traveler. And you are. That must mean you’re Roman’s brother.”
