Ric jumped up and shot everyone an apologetic look. “Thank you again for the supplies, Casey. I bid you all goodnight.”
The couple left, and a brief silence descended on the room. After a few moments, Patti cleared her throat. “Unless there is anything further to discuss, I need to get going. I’ve got a million things to do, and not enough time to do it.”
“Of course, Patti,” Kat said. “I’d like to ask one favor of you though.”
“Name it.”
“Could you accommodate Casey in your home, please? I’m sure she’d be more comfortable living with one of her own, and she’ll be safe from the infection there.”
“One of my own?” Casey asked with a quizzical look.
“Lee is staying in one of my spare rooms,” Patti explained, “and I’d be happy to host you as well.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind of you,” Casey said. “Are you certain I won’t be a burden?”
“Not in the least. Lee will probably be glad of the company. I confess I’m hardly ever there, and it must get lonely for him,” Patti said. “Come with me, and I’ll show you to your new home.”
Casey stood up and nodded at Callum. “Good day to you, Sir.”
Callum inclined his head. “Same to ye, Mistress Hargitt.”
“Thank you for your kindness, Kat,” Casey said. “If possible, I’d like to meet with you tomorrow to discuss the storage of my plane.”
“I’ll see to it, never fear,” Kat said, standing up to shake Casey’s hand.
Patti and Casey walked out, leaving Callum alone with Kat. He eyed her with extreme caution. “I guess I’m in trouble.”
“That depends,” Kat said, narrowing her gaze.
“On?” Callum asked with a tinge of hope.
“First, I want you to tell me exactly what you plan to do,” Kat said. “I assume you have a plan?”
“Och, aye. A good one too, but I warrant ye’re input will make it even better,” Callum said, packing out the charm.
A smile tugged at the corners of Kat’s mouth. “You always know just what to say.”
“That I do, lass. That I do,” Callum said, closing the distance between them. He gathered her into his arms. “But before we discuss the plan, what’s the real reason behind my summons?”
“Your summons?” Kat asked, arching an eyebrow.
“Aye, I heard ye were out looking for me high and low. What was so urgent that it couldn’t wait until tonight?” he asked, drinking in the sight of her features. To him, she was still the most beautiful woman in the world. The scars merely granted her character.
“Okay, but you might need to sit down,” she said with a teasing smile.
“What is it?” he pressed.
“I’m pregnant.”
Those words were enough to undo everything that held his world together, and it all came crashing down in an instant. His mouth worked, struggling to communicate the whirlwind of emotions that raged within his chest. “What?”
“I’m pregnant,” she repeated.
When he didn’t answer, she said, “Do I need to spell it out for you? I’m having a baby.”
Joy distilled down to its purest form, raced through his body. With a whoop, he lifted Kat off her feet and swung her through the air. Finally, he crushed her to his chest, fearing to let her go. “Today, ye’ve given me a splendid gift, lass. The gift of life. I’m going to be a father.”
Chapter 15
They drove through the streets of Kalama, and Rogue gazed about her with interest. If she’d expected something different from Portland, however, she was sorely disappointed. It was just as Jessica had described it: Small, derelict, and empty. It was little more than a ghost town.
Bear wound through the city center, swerving around the potholes and ditches. It wasn’t easy going, and at times their pace slowed to a crawl. Shops and businesses flashed past, their windows broken and their interiors pillaged. Empty shelves yawned open to the elements, and cars rusted away in abandoned parking lots.
There was plenty of life. Just not the human kind. Nature had reclaimed much of the town. Ivy and moss crept up the walls and strangled the lampposts. Rats and cockroaches scurried through the choked alleyways, and Rogue even spotted a feral cat. It hissed at them before disappearing in a flash of white and orange.
“Did you see that?” Rogue asked, twisting around in her seat.
“What was it?” Jessica asked.
“A ginger cat.”
“Huh. That’s rare. They’re usually grey or black.”
“I saw a white one once,” Seth said. “White with three black paws.”
“I’ve encountered a few dogs too,” Bear said.
“In Portland?” Seth asked.
“Uh-huh, years ago. The Watch killed most of them off. They were a liability, attacking Prime’s hunting and raiding parties every time they went out. Now, there hasn’t been a dog near the city in years.”
“Interesting,” Jessica mused. “I’ve seen signs of other animals out here too, and lots of people in Vancouver have pets.”
“They do?” Rogue asked with surprise.
“Yeah, I’ve seen folks with cats, dogs, and birds. Mostly cats, though,” Jessica said. “What about Prime?”
“Most people barely have enough to look after themselves, let alone a pet,” Rogue said. “Sure, I’ve seen rats and cats aplenty in the streets, but they’re wild.”
“She’s right. The only domestic animals in Prime are the ones bred for food or labor,” Seth said. “Like the cows, pigs, and horses.”
“It seems our cities differ in many ways,” Jessica said.
Rogue leaned back in her seat, mulling this new information over in her head. In Prime, pets were unheard of, but animals such as cats and rats weren’t uncommon. They were transported back in time along with humans, and the toughest had survived throughout the years. But what about the outside world?
She posed the question to Jessica. “I wonder what else is out there?”
“Anything could be roaming around in the wild,” Jessica said. “Wolves, bears, cougars. It’s anybody’s guess what roams around in these parts.”
“I’m sure it’s not just animals either, but dinosaurs too,” Rogue said.
“What do you mean?” Jessica asked.
“My mentor taught me everything he knew about dinosaurs, but
