Fin didn’t think she meant to voice her last words. “We work well together. Like the pipes the man at the store spoke of, one part male, one part female. Once a bond is applied they are inseparable.”

When Lizzy squirmed under his stare and tried to move her hand from his, Fin held on firm.

“With everything being so crazy in our lives, do you think it’s wise to talk about bonds?”

“’Tis because of the madness that we’ve found each other at all, Elizabeth.”

“You’ll have to forgive me for not praising Grainna’s evil ass.”

Even Fin couldn’t take his thoughts that far.

However, when his head lifted and he caught Lizzy’s eyes briefly, he realized that he wouldn’t want to be stranded in any time without her by his side. He’d thought endlessly about the possibility of having to stay in her time since they’d arrived. Although he’d miss his family, mourn their absence, he did feel he would survive. The same couldn’t be said if Liz had returned here without him. He opened his mouth to tell her his thoughts before her hand broke free of his. “Sonofabitch!” Liz angled the mirror and studied it with a frown.

Behind them, a black-and-white car trailed.

“The police?”

“Crap. Are they following us?”

Fin turned in his seat and watched the other car’s movements. “Perhaps.”

“Mrs. Aaron must have seen us leave the parking lot. Okay, I’m going to get off the freeway.”

She moved the car to the exit and kept watch in the mirror.

The police car moved in behind them. Only one car separated the two.

“Shit.”

Fin noticed the man in the seat, he spoke into a device.

“Stop staring, Fin. He’ll see you.”

He turned in his seat and leveled his eyes straight ahead.

“What are we going to do?”

Liz pulled into traffic with a jerk.

“Easy, love.” Fin searched the road in front of them. Cars were parked along the side.

“Do the police stop to help others in need?”

“They’re supposed to.”

Fin sat forward and rolled down the window.

Hot air met his cool skin like a furnace. “Slow down up here.”

“Why? They’ll see us.”

“Trust me.”

Liz brought the car to a slower pace and Fin focused his gift behind them. The earth gave beneath them and caused several cars to swerve.

Once the one directly behind them slammed on the brakes he said, “Move faster.”

Liz surged the car forward. The police car had no choice but to stop behind the other vehicle. Fin flicked his hand in the direction of a long pole and set fire to the box with wires stretching from it. Soon the space behind their car held sparks and skidding cars. Liz forced the car around a corner and sped past the houses until she managed to put much needed space between them and the police.

“That was close,” she sighed.

“Too close.”

“We need to ditch this car. They’ll be looking for it.” “Where does one ditch a car when one wants to hide?”

Liz smiled and turned the car back to the freeway. “Call Selma back. Let her know we’re on our way to LAX.”

“The airport?”

“Maybe the police will think we’ve skipped town.”

Fin was more than a little impressed. Lizzy’s mind leaned toward the criminal a bit easier than he expected. “Brilliant idea.”

“Only if it works.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

“It’s all I could think of. Besides, if anyone understands what it means to camp, it would be someone who lives five hundred years in the past.”

Liz rubbed the back of her neck in frustration.

Selma was right, but damn if she didn’t hate the thought of sleeping on the ground…again. “I’m a transplant from this century. I like my box springs and down comforter.”

“Your comforter isn’t down. Bargain basement addition at best.”

“Thanks for the reminder,” Liz sneered.

“No one will look for you here. Who hides out at a state beach campground surrounded by families?”

Liz shuddered, already cold even though the temperature held in the seventies after the sun had gone down. They’d run nearly the entire day. Selma parked them at the campground and ran off to get supplies. Introductions were made to Selma’s sister, Beth, who stayed behind at the airport to wait for more of Selma’s family.

Their newest friend was calling in her own army. Selma’s large extended family was flying in from all over the country. Cousins, once and twice removed, heard her plea for support and jumped on the chance to help her out.

Liz didn’t understand it. How could people she didn’t know give a damn about her and Fin? It wasn’t them, she knew, but Selma they came for.

Outside of the MacCoinnichs, Liz didn’t know of any family with such fierce loyalty. Her own family, other than Tara, couldn’t be bothered to stand by her side during the birth of her illegitimate son, let alone harbor her when she was wanted for questioning by the police.

Yet Selma’s family came. From the sound of her estimates, by the dozens. Of course, she promised them a little magic and a show before the night of the eclipse was over. Maybe that was the draw. Free entertainment.

Fin fiddled with the poles to the tent and cursed several times. Even the sixteenth-century knight was having trouble with their deluxe accommodations.

The phone in Selma’s pocket chirped as it rang.

When she answered, she swiveled around, greeted yet another family member, and walked a couple of feet away.

A couple of kids rode by on their bikes, laughing.

They were a couple of years younger than Simon and didn’t seemingly have a care in the world. Liz swallowed the lump in her throat. Squaring her shoulders, she walked over to Fin, leaned down, and grasped one of the metal poles. “This is easier with two people.”

“I can manage to erect shelter for us, lass.”

Liz snorted a laugh. “As much as I’d love to watch you struggle with this thing for the next hour, I’d like to get inside and hide instead of standing here like an idiot waiting for someone to find us.”

“Why not use your energy warming something to eat while I finish this.”

Liz tossed the pole she held to the ground.

“Don’t start that sexist shit with me again, Fin.”

Leaving the pole and tent aside, Fin stepped her way and placed his hands on her shoulders. Liz pulled out of his grip only to have him come closer and hold her more firmly. “I’m not battling you, Elizabeth. I too want to keep anyone here from seeing us completely. I can manage the tent, and if you hurry with a meal, we can escape the night quicker and avoid being seen.”