Cait sat next to Anne’s bed while the nurse finished checking her vitals. She didn’t speak until after the woman had left them alone.
“Sorry we didn’t have any readings to show you guys.”
Anne shook her head. “Who cares? I’m just glad I’m alive. But...”
“But what?”
“Are you and Jamie ever going to tell us what really happened?”
Cait reached up to touch the small gold ring that she’d found on her car seat when she’d gone out to the road to help direct the medics to where Brandon and Anne had been.
Inside the band, the names John and Elizabeth were engraved. It was the only gold to be found in Louina.
And to her, it was priceless.
The treasure so many had sought had been used to fund a school and church over a century ago.
Years after her sister had given her the gold to support herself and her children, Elizabeth had taken the last of it and had it melted into this ring.
Smiling, Cait met Anne’s gaze. “Maybe one day.”
“And what about the treasure?”
“Anne, haven’t you learned yet that it’s not gold that is precious? It’s people. And you are the greatest treasure of my life. I’m glad I still have my best friend.”
Anne took her hand and held it. “I’m grateful to be here and I’m truly grateful for you. But—”
“There are no buts.”
She nodded. “You’re right, Cait. I’d lost sight of what my grandfather used to say.”
“And that was?”
“When all the trees have been cut down and all the animals have been hunted to extinction, when all the waters are polluted and the air is unsafe to breathe, only then will you discover you cannot eat money.”
Jamie laughed, drawing their attention to the door where he stood with a balloon bouquet for Anne.
“What’s so funny?” Cait asked.
“I think we all came away from the weekend with a different lesson.”
Cait arched her brow. “And that is?”
“Anne just said hers. You learned that revenge is a path best left alone. Brandon learned to shut up and get help when he’s wounded.”
“And you?” Anne asked.
“I learned two things. One, the most dangerous place for a man to be is between two fighting women. And two, no matter the species, the deadliest gender is always female. Men will fight until they die. Women will take it to the grave and then find a way back.”