Chapter Five
It felt like nigh unto forever afore six
hours came and went. Finally, the hour was at hand.
Lachlan watched through stoic eyes as the
man-made contraption called a car appeared to burst from out
of the verra ground itself and, Veronica navigating it, squealed as
it plowed through dozens of hungry monsters. He blew out a breath
when she evaded the remaining creatures and traveled onward
unscathed.
He wasna accustomed to being naught but an
onlooker and hadn’t a care for it. Were it up to him and not the
fates, Lachlan would be there with Veronica, protecting her. His
inability to do anything aboot her predicament filled him with a
nervous energy he couldna contain. Pacing, he threw a hand toward
Victor. “Tell me what your conversation was aboot. Leave no detail
out.”
“From the beginning?” Victor asked.
“Aye. From the beginning.”
Victor briefed Laird Gunn on the entirety of
his conversation with Veronica. It left him filled with questions,
yet he knew better than to set the mon to talking aboot his
inventions. The scientist—a word he still dinna ken—was given to
lengthy speeches Lachlan dinna wish to hear. Like as naught, he
would fail to understand them leastways.
He latched onto that which he could
comprehend. “You are certain she has enough food and water aboard
ship?”
“Yes.”
“And you are certain this boat can bring her
from the unchartered side of the world to Scotland?”
“It’s chartered in our time and yes.”
“How long will the voyage take?”
“It depends on many factors. A month at the
most, three weeks at the very earliest.”
“I see.”
“I know the waiting is difficult,” Victor
said quietly. “She’s my sister. There’s nobody alive who I’m closer
to. Imagine how I’m feeling right now.”
Lachlan took his point. Was it his own
sister’s life under threat and he was in no position to aid her,
‘twould drive him daft. Still, whether or not it made sense to
Victor or even himself, being unable to protect Veronica was
getting to him. He dinna ken why he’d felt such an all-consuming
connection with the wench from the moment he’d first seen her, but
he had and did.
He kept up his pacing, praying to the saints
the brave wench made it to the boat unbitten. Victor had informed
him that, if bit, she couldna travel back to this time. If
infected, she would turn into one of those…things. The bites, he
knew, caused the infection from which there was no remedy.
‘Twas a nightmare, this. Still, Veronica had
made it thus far unbitten. Though worried aboot her person, he
recognized her strength and perseverance. She could do this. She
had to do this. She had been through too much to cease her efforts
now.
Be safe, woman, Lachlan thought,
willing her to obey him. Get to the docks and into the boat
unbitten. Then come to me.