West

Carter looked at me a little too long, his features glowing again. I was always friendly, especially since he was starting to remind me of the guys in The Big Bang Theory, who were uncomfortable talking to other humans in general. "Is that … it?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry. Didn't mean to stare." He shifted feet like an excited child on Christmas Eve. "Just if you could, take the survey, so I get credit for something today. It's only three questions."

"What kind of research are you doing?"

"It's a relatively new discipline of history. There's a lot of psychology that goes into determining how our outlooks of our world have changed over the years. What we once viewed as moral and just is now barbaric, and so on."

"That sounds interesting," I said. But not my thing at all. Such a complex subject seemed right up the alley of the man I suspected was a genius behind all his blushing.

"It's so beyond fascinating, I could spend days … but I won't. I'll let you complete the survey." He moved way to give me space.

Amused, I turned my attention to the iPad, unable to shake the sense of déjà vu. After I filled out the portion for my name and age, I swiped to the second screen.

If you could go back in time to prevent atrocities such as the Trail of Tears experienced by the Native Americans, and the massacring of pioneers caught between native warriors and the Calvary, would you?

I glanced at the pictures on the windows, once more touched by the visible pain. The people gazed at me in silent desperation, suffering clear on their features. "Sure, why not?" I selected the green button on the survey and was taken to the second screen.

If you could save the lives of a hundred thousand people TODAY, would you do whatever it took?

"Duh. Who wouldn't?" Tapping the button, I read the next question.

If you could go back and change history, would you?

"Only if there's a modern sewer system, espresso and AC," I quipped and then sneaked a look at the images looking over me. "Sorry. I didn't mean it," I said to them quietly. "I'm hot and irritated. I would go back and save you all, if I had the power." I swiped to the last screen and entered my email address.

Carter was waiting patiently nearby.

"That's it?" I asked loudly enough for him to hear, perplexed by the simple questions. I replaced the iPad on the table.

"It is!" Carter beamed and joined me once more. "Well … except …" He cleared his throat, ears red. "Would you maybe want to … get a drink tonight at the Victorian Vittles Saloon?"