Jock held up his hands. “It’s MacDuff’s surprise. Let him tell you. The bastard just saw fit to tell me today.”
“Well, actually, I was merely an instrument.” MacDuff was grinning. “As you’ll agree, we all are on occasion.” He glanced up the slope toward the road. “But the wielder of that instrument should be getting out of the car now, so I believe you should go to meet and greet, Jane.”
“What?” Jane’s gaze followed MacDuff’s to the road. She saw nothing and had no idea what MacDuff was—
Then she heard a car door slam.
The next moment, she saw the sunlight shining on red-brown hair.
“Eve?” she whispered.
“Come help me, Jane,” Eve called as she moved from the road toward the slope. “I have to stay up here to keep an eye on Michael in the car. And I don’t want him being introduced to Gaelkar by rolling down this steep slope.” She laughed. “Though he’d probably love it.”
“You brought Michael?” Jane was tearing up the slope. “Why? What are you doing—” She reached Eve and enfolded her in a bear hug. “Is something wrong? Where’s Joe? Why didn’t you—”
“Hush.” Eve was chuckling as she returned the hug. “Give me a chance. Though I know I let myself in for this when I didn’t tell you what I intended to do.”
“MacDuff said a surprise.” Jane took a step back. “That’s an understatement. Why, Eve?” She had a sudden thought. “It wasn’t because of Lisa? I told you that we have her safe.”
She shook her head. “Well, I told you that Joe would be disappointed, but these particular plans had nothing to do with Lisa.”
“Michael?” She had a vague memory of Eve’s saying something about how she’d like to have a painting of Michael at the lake. But she hadn’t thought that Eve had been that serious.
“Oh, yes. Michael was a huge part of it. I’ll explain everything if you give me a chance.” Eve smiled. “Now stop guessing and help me to get down this slope with both Michael and my dignity intact. I left him in the car until I could flag down some help.”
Jane followed her toward the black Toyota rental car. “You left him with Joe?”
“No, Joe had something else to take care of, so we decided I should bring him on my own.” She opened the passenger door. “Michael didn’t mind. Everything is an adventure to him. We’re just his guides on the path.”
“I’ll take him.” Jane was already unfastening his car seat. “Hi, Michael,” she said softly. “I’ve missed you. I think you’re going to like it here.”
He was smiling, his tea-colored eyes bright and shining as they looked up at her. He reached out and gently touched her cheek. “Jane.”
“Right.” She turned her face and kissed his palm. “You’d better remember me. I’ve spent a heck of a lot of time living with that last sketch of you I did.”
“I always remember.” He touched her hair. “Jane … and mist.”
Her eyes widened and they flew to Eve. “Mist? That’s weird. Did you—”
“No,” she said quickly. “But who knows what he might have picked up. I always think of that song ‘Children Will Listen.’ We’re lucky he doesn’t repeat anything obscene … yet.” She grabbed a brown duffel out of the backseat. “Let’s go. I’ll come back later for the rest.”
“No, you won’t.” Jock was suddenly beside them and taking Michael from Jane. “Grab that other suitcase and I’ll take the lad. We’ve got to get down there fast or we’ll have Lisa climbing that slope to help you. Jane would not be pleased. She’s been tactfully trying to keep Lisa from doing damage to herself for the last three days.” He held Michael up above his head. “Good day to you,” he said to him. “You’ve grown since I last saw you. I’m Jock.”
Michael nodded and a brilliant smile lit his face. “Cara’s Jock.”
An indefinable emotion flickered across Jock’s face. “Aye, something like that. Clever of you to make the connection.” He brought him down and then lifted him on his shoulders. “Hold tight. We’re going fast and hard.”
Michael was squealing and laughing uncontrollably as he rode Jock’s shoulders while he ran down the steep slope.
Jane and Eve stood at the top and watched them. So much joy and beauty in this moment, Jane thought. The sun shining on the child’s chestnut hair and Jock, who was as beautiful in his way as Michael.
“Come on.” Eve took her arm. “Michael’s body clock must be out of kilter, but he should still eat something. He didn’t want to have anything on the plane.” Her gaze was searching the people below. “And that must be Lisa.” She smiled. “Restless, lovely, and she’s coming toward us, looking determined.” She hurried forward down the slope. “Lisa, I’m Eve Duncan.” She extended her hand. “I’m very happy to meet you. I guess Jane has told you that I feel I have a connection with you.”
“She told me,” Lisa said. Her voice was polite but reserved. “I know she’s happy you’re here. If there’s anything I can do to help you, let me know.”
Eve’s gaze searched her face. “I certainly will. Did she also tell you how grateful I am to your brother? I consider him my good friend, and I can never pay him back for all he’s done for me.”
“No.” She was still reserved, but the ice was melting. “You should be grateful. He’s wonderful. I’m glad he could help you.”
“So am I.” She looked at Michael, whom Jock was still holding. “With all my heart. And I hope we can be friends, too.”
Lisa nodded. “That might be … nice.” She turned away. “If there’s nothing I can do for you, will you excuse me? I have to start dinner. Is there anything I should make for your son?”
“I’ll come and look everything over after I say hello to MacDuff. I brought some food with me, but Michael usually likes everything.”
“Fine.” Lisa moved toward the campfire. “I’ll see you then.”
“Not easy,” Eve murmured, looking after her. “But then, you told me she wasn’t.”
“You hit the right note. She adores Caleb.”
“And she likes you,” Eve said. “It was obvious. It was you she wanted to help, not me.”
“Well, I like her,” Jane said. “I think you will, too.” She chuckled. “Though she couldn’t believe that Michael could ever be as wonderful in real life as in my painting. I know you’ll hold that against her.”
“Not at all. She’s ignorant and misguided. Michael will straighten her out.”
“While I straighten you out.” She took the duffel Eve was carrying. “I’ll take these up to your tent while you chat with MacDuff. I can’t believe you were able to con him into letting you come and surprise me.”
“Believe it. And more. I’m going to owe MacDuff a great deal before this is over.” Her eyes were suddenly twinkling. “But I think the laird will enjoy being able to tap on that gratitude if he gets the chance. It’s his nature. After all, he’s descended from Highlanders and border bandits.”
“And Cira.”
Eve looked out at the mist on the lake and said softly, “Yes, we mustn’t forget Cira.”
“And we mustn’t forget that you haven’t told me what you’re doing here,” Jane said pointedly.
“You wouldn’t let me, my dear. But this isn’t the time.” She turned and headed for MacDuff. “Later, Jane…”
*
“That meal was incredible.” Eve took a sip of her merlot and gazed out at the moonlight glinting on the lake. “Is Lisa always that good?”
“Often better. And in three days she’s whipped MacDuff’s executive affairs back into shape so that he can at least deal with them in his spare time while he’s on the hunt.” She reached over and tucked the throw higher over Michael, who was curled up asleep on the grass a few feet away. “She’s remarkable, and I don’t believe that we have any idea of the depths of how remarkable. Every time I turn around, she shows me something new. It’s as if she’s been learning and gathering little nuggets all her life and hid all that skill and knowledge beneath that facade of defiance and rebellion.” She shrugged. “And maybe she did. Caleb wanted her to hide her psychic talents while she was growing up; perhaps she closed herself off in other ways.”