Free Lightning Only Strikes Twice by Stanalei Fletcher

forgotten so much? What had happened to her?
    Luke Maxwell had some explaining to do. Apparently, after she collapsed last night, he’d taken it upon himself to find her a room. The joke had gone on long enough. She was ready to go home and prepared to battle anyone who stood in her way.
    A quiet knock at the door startled her.
    Her heart pounded in her throat and she chided herself for being so jumpy. Although the nightdress covered her from neck to toe, she grabbed a blanket off the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders.
    “Miss Crawford?” a soft feminine voice called.
    “Yes?”
    “Are you okay? May I come in?” The latch turned. The door swung inward with a loud creak.
    Annie backed against the wall, clutching her chest to calm her pounding heart.
    A blond-haired pixie-faced woman peered around the corner. “I thought I heard you stirring,” she said.
    Embarrassment heated Annie’s cheeks. The woman was no older than herself and at least half a head shorter. She couldn’t possibly be a threat.
    Annie relaxed a little and stepped away from the wall. “I tripped getting out of bed. I’m sorry about the noise.”
    The woman entered, a frown etched on her pretty features. “Did you hurt yourself?”
    The woman’s dress was in the same period style Annie saw yesterday. The clothing was like something out of the 1800s. Surely, the celebrations would be over by now.
    For a moment, she considered Luke Maxwell might have been telling the truth, but then dismissed the silly notion. Time travel was the stuff of science fiction movies.
    “No. I’m not hurt.” Annie brushed grit off her palms. “Well, maybe my pride. That was clumsy of me to trip.”
    The woman smiled. “You can’t possibly be as awkward as me.” She patted her rounded, protruding belly.
    An innate sadness filled the woman’s eyes, yet there was something endearing about her that Annie liked immediately. From the bulge in the woman’s middle, Annie guessed she was close to having the baby. “I’m sorry if I woke you.”
    “You didn’t.” The woman laughed. The sound was pleasant, like water trickling over rocks. “I don’t sleep much these days.” She patted her belly again. “As soon as junior gets here, getting around will be easier. But I expect I still won’t get much rest.”
    “When are you due?” Annie asked.
    “Next month,” the woman said. “Oh Lordy, where are my manners?” She held out her hand. “I’m Elizabeth Crawford.”
    Elizabeth Crawford . The name echoed through Annie’s mind. It had to be a coincidence. This woman couldn’t possibly be her great-great grandmother.
    A buzz grew in her ears as the dizziness started again. She reached out to steady herself and found the woman’s delicate hand in hers. It was so slight, Annie was afraid to clasp too hard.
    “My name’s Annie…” Her own voice sounded as though it came from a distance.
    “…Crawford. Yes, I know. My husband told me you might be related.”
    “I’m not sure.” As Annie released Elizabeth’s hand, the dizziness faded. “Can you tell me where I am?” she asked.
    “Goodness.” Elizabeth’s eyebrows rose. “Don’t you know?”
    Annie was reluctant to answer. Time travel wasn’t possible. And yet, she couldn’t deny something very strange had happened. “I bumped my head yesterday. I guess I’m a bit disoriented.”
    “Perhaps you should sit for moment.” Elizabeth led Annie to a chair. “You’re in our house, here in White Rock. Do you remember coming to White Rock?”
    Annie shook her head. She wanted to remember, but couldn’t. Even more curious was a sense she shouldn’t say too much. It took effort to quell the questions hovering on her lips. If she asked what year this was, would Elizabeth think she was really sick and insist she go to the doctor? If her memory didn’t return, she might not have a choice.
    For now, she’d just play along with whatever was happening. On the remote chance Luke was right, there must