Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) by Melissa Pearl Page B

something bad about to
happen?”
    “No, no,” Gemma reassured. “In fact, I need
your help this time.”
    Emilie’s brow furrowed.
    “I’m looking for Nathaniel.”
    “Why?” Emilie sat back on the couch.
    “Because I want to help him.”
    “He didn’t kill that woman.” Emilie’s voice
was frantic, her eyes brimming with tears. “I don’t know where she
went, but he loved her and he would never harm her.”
    “I know, Emilie. Can you tell me where he
is?”
    “We’re not sure.” Her hand shook as she
raised it to cover her mouth. “Robert got him out of the city
before they could arrest him and he was supposed to be hiding in
our country estate, but they came for him and he had to flee. I
think he’s trying to find her… to prove his innocence. Although I’m
sure that’s not the only reason he’s looking.”
    “When did this happen?”
    “A week ago. Robert thought he might head
north, but I guess we have no way of knowing for sure. I’m so
worried about him. Ever since that woman left, he’s been so
depressed and then to have these accusations against him. I…” The
petite woman paused and looked down at Gemma, her eyes narrowing.
“How are you going to help him?”
    “I know where Helena is and I need to find
Nathaniel before…” Gemma’s voice fled. Looking at this fragile
woman, she wasn’t sure what the knowledge of Nathaniel’s death
might do to her. She swallowed back the information and ended
lamely with, “I just think he needs to know that’s she alive and
well and her reasons for leaving were actually quite noble.”
    Emilie’s face softened and she reached out a
hand to smooth Gemma’s locks away from her face.
    “You are just as I remember you. All these
years and you haven’t aged a bit.”
    Gemma blushed and let out an awkward
chuckle.
    “You truly are magic and if anyone can save
Nathaniel, it’s you. What can I do to help?”
    “I need a horse, supplies and preferably some
warmer clothing.”
    Emilie rose from her seat and bustled out of
the room. Gemma stayed near the fire for a few extra minutes, a
meandering finger of guilt climbing up her spine. Gabe made her
promise that if Nathaniel was more than a week ahead she had to
come back.
    But Emilie said a week ago. That’s not more than a week.
    Nodding at her pathetic argument, she decided
it would have to do. She would ride to the country estate and head
north, stopping at villages and asking around. Surely people would
have seen him. If she hadn’t found him by the end of the week,
she’d go back. Her teeth found the inside of her cheek as she
reminded herself that Gabe and Harrison loved her enough to forgive
her.
     

 
    Chapter
Ten
    St Augustine, Florida – 2011AD
     
    Harrison fiddled with the grass beneath him.
Checking his watch again, he ignored his recklessly bobbing knee
and pulled a clump of dirt from the ground. Jumping from his spot,
he strode towards the caravan and back again.
    “Would you relax, kid, you’re driving me
crazy.”
    Gabe’s calm demeanor was no longer
working.
    “It’s been nearly three hours, Gabe. That’s
over a week across the line. Where the hell is she?”
    Running an agitated hand through his hair, he
paced back to Gabe, but the ants in his pants wouldn’t allow him to
sit.
    “She must be going after him. We have no idea
what Emilie said to her, all we can guess is that the woman knew
where Nathaniel might be. Knowing Lucia, she’ll take any excuse she
can get to go after him. She was pretty determined to pull this
off.”
    “She promised if he was more than a week
away, she’d abort. Something must be wrong. What if she’s hurt?
What if she needs us? What if…”
    “Just stop with the ‘what ifs’, okay?”
    “How can you be so calm about this?”
    “BECAUSE THERE’S NOTHING ELSE I CAN DO!”
    Gabe’s explosion silenced nature. Harrison
watched the man’s wild gaze drop to the grass. He let out a long
sigh then spoke quietly.
    “I hate waiting