“And in the humans?” Seth asks.
“We’ve confirmed exposure in everyone who was in the main barn during the initial incident. That includes Dr. Archer, Ms. Finch, Jasper, and the three of you.”
“What does that mean?” Tex asks. “Are we sick?”
“Not yet,” Dr. Petrova says. “The incubation period varies. Dr. Archer is the only one showing active symptoms. The fever, the fainting… it suggests her Omega biology is reacting differently.”
Of course she is. She’s the canary in the coal mine.
“So we wait?” I ask. My voice is flat.
“We monitor,” Dr. Thorne corrects. “Daily blood tests. Temperature checks. And strict quarantine. No one leaves the ranch.”
“And the cattle?” I ask.
“Continued separation. We need to see if the calves develop immunity or if they’re carriers.”
“We’re losing weight on them,” I say. “They’re stressed.”
“That’s unfortunate,” Dr. Thorne says. “But necessary.”
I bite my tongue. I taste blood.
“Can I go?” Sedona’s voice is quiet. It cuts through the room.
Everyone turns to look at her. She’s standing up, the blanket clutched around her shoulders. She sways slightly.
“You should rest,” Dr. Petrova says.
“I’m tired,” Sedona says. “I need to lie down.”
“Back to the bunkhouse,” Dr. Thorne says. “An escort will accompany you.”
“I’ll take her.”
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. The room freezes. Seth looks at me. Tex looks at me. Clara looks at me with wide eyes.
Sedona turns. Her eyes meet mine. There’s fear there. And exhaustion. And something else, something that looks like a plea.
“Billy,” she whispers.
I stride toward her. I ignore the doctors. I ignore the sheriff. I ignore the tension radiating off my brothers.
“Can you walk?” I ask.
She nods, and I hold out my arm. She hesitates. Then she takes it. Her fingers are cold through my flannel.
We walk out of the tent. The sun is fully up now, burning off the mist. The ranch is busy with people in white suits, but it feels empty. Hollow.
We walk toward the bunkhouse. We don’t speak. Her steps are unsteady, and I match her pace. I can feel the heat radiating off her. The fever is back.
“Why did you do that?” she asks.
“Do what?”
“Volunteer. To take me.”
“Someone had to.”
