It was her last night on the boat. Sheprepared herself a filling, delicious meal of faux steak with aloaded baked potato and enjoyed it under the stars with a glass ofwine. After all, it was impossible to know for sure what tomorrowmorning would bring. She was hopeful for the best possible outcome,but as prepared as a person could be for the worst as well. Like anold-timer prisoner on what used to be death row, she was partakingof what could turn out to be her last meal. She wouldn’t be eatingbreakfast beyond maybe a protein bar in the morning because shedidn’t want to be too full and thereby too lethargic in her actionsand reactions.
One bonus of the long ship voyage was thatVeronica had finally caught up on years of needed rest. That hadbeen a major plus and an aid to her current, prepared state. Shehad worked herself out like crazy during daylight hours, but she’dslept like a baby every night. It had done her mind and body aworld of good.
Still, the final obstacle lay ahead tomorrowso said impediment was at the forefront of her thoughts. Every oncein a while, Lachlan’s face would force it’s way in, but she knewshe had to remain strong and clear-headed. She didn’t know what toexpect when she went ashore. Getting to the castle had to remainher top urgency; injecting the serum into her vein at the righttime and place being priority number two.
Would the time travel serum actually work?Veronica blew out a breath as she contemplated that question. Itwas a feat Victor had pulled off once, yes, but regardless of whather brother said to the contrary, she realized the technology wastoo new and unproven to be absolutely certain of its usefulness.Under normal circumstances, it would have been subjected to severalclinical trials. In essence, she was time travel’s second guineapig. She could only pray that the serum functioned properly and didits job quickly.
Veronica took a sip of wine as Lachlansprang into her consciousness unbidden. No. Not right now. Shecouldn’t and shouldn’t try to wrap her head around what life mightbe like if the serum actually worked. One gigantic obstacle at atime was enough to contend with. She downed the rest of the glass’contents and readied herself to go to bed for the night.
She hadn’t drank enough wine to give her abuzz, just enough to take the edge off and hopefully aid her insleeping tonight. Raising the boat’s protective shield, she paddeddown into the ship’s innards, praying the wine did its job. Sheneeded good, restful sleep. No nightmares born of PTSD—PostTraumatic Stress Disorder—and no tossing and turning.
Everything—her entire journey and sheerexistence—came down to tomorrow. It was almost too much pressure.Luckily she had grown accustomed to high stakes situations. Theplague had demanded as much from its survivors.
Veronica crawled into bed and snuggled witha pillow under the luxuriously plush covers. She could feel thewine kicking in.Please God, she thought,please help mereach Victor tomorrow.
It didn’t take her long to fall asleep.Unbidden and per usual, she dreamt of Lachlan. And again, theheavy-handed laird protected her in her dreams.
Chapter Twelve
It was time and Veronica was ready.Thankfully her ship’s AI had known how to dock itself because if ithadn’t then figuring out how to do so would have been its ownnightmare. Wearing one of herMatrixsuits again, she tookthe time to check all her weapons before leaving the ship. Shecould see the abandoned boat Victor had left behind several yardsaway. Judging by how a medium-sized dent puckered from where theship’s galley was, the thing looked to have been ransacked for foodand drink. Otherwise it appeared to be intact.
She hesitated. Should she leave the key tothe boat inside the vessel just in case someone needed the ship toflee? What ifsheended up being that person though?Thinking quickly, Veronica decided to leave the key inside thecabin, but not in plain sight. That would give her the time sheneeded to make her way to the castle and see if Victor’s scienceexperiment worked twice. If it didn’t, she’d be taking a voyage towho knew where in this boat; if it did work then it didn’t matterwho found the key because she wouldn’t be needing it.
Disembarking, the thick mist from the seacreated a dense fog for as far as the eye could perceive. Victorhad told her she’d be able to visually locate Castle Cumhacht fromthe dock, but she couldn’t. The visibility was pure haze, matchingher current ambivalent mood. Basically, she would be going ashorewith a major handicap. She hoped and prayed the fog relented whenshe got in deeper.
The laptop was closed and in her satchel,but she spoke to her brother nonetheless. After all, he could stillhear and see her. “This is it,” she whispered. “In case I don’tmake it, just know I love you, Victor. I did all this just to bewith you.” She decided to throw the big guy a bone too.Semi-smiling, she said, “And tell Laird Kong he wouldn’t have beena bad choice in a husband. It’s not exactly how we do it in ourtime, but still.”
She didn’t know why those words had come outof her mouth, but there it was. For some damn reason or another,the giant’s feelings mattered to her. Just a little, she toldherself. Only a little.
Deciding that she’d made her peace withwhatever lay ahead, Veronica palmed a gun in each hand and exitedthe dock. It was, as the old-timers liked to say, showtime.
*****
Lachlan’s heart squeezed a bit at her words.His clan name was Gunn, not Kong, but that was a speech for anothertime and place. Filled with nervous energy, and uncertain what todo with it, he began pacing behind Victor as they both watchedVeronica go ashore.
“Did we miss anything?” Finn asked as he andRamsay made their way into Victor’s bedchamber. He closed its heavydoors. “Is she here?”
“She’s here,” Lachlan confirmed, absentlyrunning a hand over the stubble on his jaw. “But still in thefuture.”
Finn and Ramsay stood off to the sidewatching as Lachlan continued to pace. He hated the helplessness hewas experiencing. ‘Twas driving him daft, this.
“I never told her I loved her,” Victor saidsoftly, his back to him. “She said it to me, but I didn’t think tosay it to her when she could see and hear me.” He sounded tired,tortured. Lachlan came to a standstill.
“What if she doesn’t make it?” Victor askedeveryone and no one. “What if—”
“Cease this talk,” Lachlan ordered him. Hecleared his throat and attempted to sound less harsh. “She kens youlove her. Look at all you have done to save her.”
His words seemed to calm him a wee bit. “Youthink so?”
“Aye. I do.”
Lachlan resumed his pacing. He was gratefulVictor’s expression was one of relief. Now if only someone couldcalm his own fears. ‘Twould be a boon, that.
*****
Veronica moved in silence, the castle atlast in view. It was a good mile away, but definitely visible. Thestructure was dilapidated and ancient, but it gave her the bearingsshe needed. She continued to move slowly and soundlessly, her goalto avoid as many eaters as possible. She hoped the six-pack hadretreated from the old Gunn grounds, but was prepared if theyhadn’t.
Castle Cumhacht had likely been animpenetrable fortress during its heyday. The sea to its back andhilly terrain to its front, she could envision warriors lining thebattlements, archers prepared at the arrowslits, the portcullislowered against would-be invaders. Hopefully she’d soon see it inall its glory.
