“Then everything’s settled,” Veronica said,her voice rather gruff. Clearly she was no happier aboot herbrother’s decision. “Victor will stay behind until you return himto us. I will do what I can,” she pointedly told her brother, “tocomfort poor Catriona.”
“One final question must be answered, LadyGunn.” This from Euan. At his wife’s raised brow, he asked, “Whatam I to do for my sister-within-the-law? I dinna want her to turninto one of those…those…things.”
“Burn her,” she said coldly, in a manneronly a survivor of the wretched plague could have mustered. “Burnher and burn down her hut.”
“Burn her?”
“She’s too far gone to know what’s goingon,” Veronica assured him. “She will turn in mere hours and try toeat you alive if you don’t.”
“God, save us,” Ramsay muttered. He made thesign of the cross.
“Call your clan together when the deed isdone,” his wife continued. “Tell them about the icy cold fever andbruises. Tell them to alert you immediately if anyone else developsthose symptoms. They can’t be saved. Do you understand?”
Euan, his face stricken, nodded. “Aye. I kenyour meaning.”
“And remember to cover your noses and mouthswhen dealing with any of the ill. Even the ones with regularfevers. The material must be thick. I suggest cutting up plaidsinto thick strips as we did.”
“Is there anything else?” James inquired,his face as ashen as his father’s.
“Yes,” Veronica returned. “Pray like hellthat Victor figures this out. Otherwise we’re all doomed, Campbellsand Gunns alike.”
*****
The ride back home was a silent one.Veronica could only assume everyone was as lost in thought andgrief as she was. At least they didn’t have to share in her guilt.That was one thing the others had going for them that she didn’t.She realized Lachlan would never blame her, but could hardly faultFinn and Ramsay if they felt otherwise. If she hadn’t made it backin time, if she’d been taken out by an eater before the injection,none of this nightmare would be happening. None of it. Victor hadmade it to the Highlands before the dead began evolving. He’d madeit to 1155 A.D. completely unscathed, no evolved, infected fleshcovering his hair and clothes.
Veronica sighed. She now understood howlucky she was that she hadn’t caught the virus. It would have madeitself known by now if she had. At least there was one positiveoccurrence to come from all this, she thought grimly, buttruthfully she’d trade her life for the ones that would be lost ifshe could. The guilt was too overwhelming.
“I wish we dinna dump the basin at theborderlands,” Finn finally said. His dark gaze had a haunted lookabout it. “I dinna ken where else we could have drained it, yet myguilt is powerful.”
Veronica’s head snapped up. “The only onewho should feel responsible is me. You couldn’t have known. Hell,even I didn’t know.”
“I order you to cease this, wife!” Lachlanbarked. “You dinna ken what would happen and I’ll not have youthinking you did.”
“But—”
“Nay. No buts.”
She sighed. As if he could just command herguilt away. Still, she didn’t contradict him in front of his men.She remained in silence instead, her arms wrapped around Lachlan’smiddle, as they galloped back to Gunn lands.
*****
Veronica told her future tale from thebeginning within their bedchamber. There were gasps of shock andhorror aplenty. He hoped all of this wasna too much for his agedmother to take in and endure. Then again, she was full ofsurprises. Never had he thought to see his regal mum practicing howto strike a mon with her eating dagger, yet she had taken to thesport with great zeal and proficiency.
“I already knew,”Catriona quietly admitted. “Victor told me he wanted no secretsbetwixt us if we were to be wed.” Her blue eyes welled up withtears. “I just dinna ken how dire this truly was—is. Now I willlike as naught die a spinster, brother, for I will take no mon tohusband save my beloved Victor.”
“He will not die,” Lachlan promised. “Ishan’t allow it.”
His mother looked too stunned to take in anymore proclamations. Her blue eyes, much like Catriona’s, weredowncast and troubled. Luckily there was no more information togive. His gaze flicked toward his wife. He could surmise the guiltwas eating away at her, which in turn caused him much anguish. Thesame feeling of helplessness he’d harbored whilst Veronica had beenon the run from Apple Creek to the Highlands stole over him,blackening his already foul mood. He wanted everraone to leave hisbedchamber save Veronica. The room was large, aye, yet he wished tobe alone with his wife.
Hero stood up and walked to where Lachlanstood as if reminding him he belonged in the bedchamber too.Lachlan absently bent down a bit to pet the recently fed dog.
“I’m sorry,” Veronica said withgut-wrenching sincerity. “I never should have come here. This isall because of me.”
“Dinna say that, child,” his mum scolded, atlast looking up. “You belong here with my son, with the lot of us.I dinna wish to think on life without you in it.”
“Aye,” Catriona chimed in. “You are LadyGunn now and everramore. Leastways, ‘twould have gutted my belovedVictor if you dinna survive.”
“’Twould have gutted me as well,” Lachlanrumbled. “I watched you for many weeks afore you arrived, wife,worried because I dinna have a way to protect you.”
