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“Someone should stand guard here,” Ken said, not challenging, just an observation. Benny nodded.
“The two with the mattress,” Benny agreed. “And Titus and me.” Might as well make Titus an official guard, because it was obvious he didn’t plan to leave Ryder and Jessie until they were safe and healing.
People started to scatter and give the doctor’s some breathing room. Dennis looked up and nodded his thanks. Benny grunted. “Doc, you need to go the funeral pyre,” he said quietly. “Michel? You can handle this?”
“I think so,” Michel said, and his soft French accent showed up. It always did when he was stressed. “At this point, it is just wait and see. And intervene if something seems to go wrong.”
“Good,” Benny said with relief. That sounded like the two of them were stable.
“Miles? You’re going with Dennis and Duncan,” Benny said firmly to the young man who was hovering just out of the main circle. “You three must represent your family and make our apologies for not being there.”
A thought occurred to him, and he looked around for Jason. Jason saw him and trotted over. “Whatcha need?”
“Take the two Campbell bodies with you,” he said quietly. “Add them to those that are burning at the lodge.”
“Good idea,” Jason said.
“And did Sharon and Mark Campbell find each other? They should go with the McKenzies to the funeral pyre tonight,” Benny said, thinking out loud. “I think we just managed to make Mark Campbell the head of that family.”
“Wouldn’t hurt my feelings if there was no more Campbell family left,” Jason muttered.
“There are their families,” Benny reminded him. Jessie’s analysis had woken him up, he acknowledged. He wouldn’t forget the families again.
“True,” Jason said. “How many guards do I send, though? We’re guarding five people? We need a unit of at least six guards.”
“Do you have that many?” Benny asked looking around. “You could use some of Ryder’s Wolves to go back to the lodge, although I suspect they’re too tired to drive. Doubt they’d make very good guards at the funeral.”
Jason snorted. “Nothing inconspicuous about them,” he agreed. “I’ll work it out.”
Benny nodded and turned back to watch Ryder and Jessie. Live, he willed them, live.
Chapter 25
Day 161 of the re-emerged Hat Island pack, Friday, Nov. 15, Penticton, B.C.
Benny was cooking baconin Ryder and Jessie’s cabin. He’d been there all night, watching them sleep. Michel had been there for most of the night, until Benny chased him out to get some sleep. “I can watch,” Benny said. “And I’ll fetch you — or the guard outside the door will — if something changes. But you need to be able to think, and that requires sleep.”
