“I know. But she almost died before you and Joe took her into your home, and it was my fault. I’m not going to let it happen again. Learn to live with it, Eve.” He turned and headed for the north bank.
“Well, that appears to be that.” MacDuff shook his head and took a last swallow of coffee before he got to his feet. “It appears that there’s a chance I’m going to be shorthanded for at least today.” He glanced at Lisa. “Are you in any shape to come help? I promise I’ll be easy on you.”
Lisa’s head lifted, her eyes bright and alert. “Right now?”
“No, let’s limit it to half a day to start out. You can stay here and make preparations for dinner.” He grimaced. “I don’t intend to do without that luxury. I’ve begun to look forward to it. Come around two, when I’m being deserted.” He looked at Eve. “I’d forgotten what a distraction Cara could be when I invited you to treat my lands as your own. Her only saving grace is her entertainment value.”
“Wrong. That’s only her most obvious one,” Eve said. “And you know it, MacDuff. Want me to pack up and go somewhere else?”
“I didn’t say that,” he said gruffly. “I like the lass.” He turned away. “Besides, I’d lose Jock if he had to go chasing after Cara to make certain that she was safe.” He glanced at Lisa. “We’ll work it out.”
Lisa smiled. “You won’t be sorry, MacDuff. I learn fast.”
“I believe you. Don’t disappoint me.” He followed Jock down the bank.
Lisa immediately turned back to Jane. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes shining. “I’ve got it.”
Jane nodded. “Cold, damp, invisible work in the mist. Lucky you.”
“But it’s different and interesting.…” Her eyes were on the mist. “And Cira.”
“Then you’ll have to thank Cara when she gets here,” Jane said. “I think Jock’s temporary desertion was the straw that broke MacDuff’s will.”
“I would have gotten him anyway. It just would have taken longer,” Lisa said. “And I don’t think I should thank her. If she knew Jock had hired someone to keep an eye on her, it might annoy her. It would me.”
“Cara is the furthest thing from you in the universe,” Jane said drily. “But it probably would annoy her in this case. For a youngster, she’s very independent.”
“Youngster? How old is she?”
“Fourteen.”
“The same age I was when Seth left me.” She shook off the memory. “Then she’s old enough to get through anything. It’s rough for a while. But I got along fine, and so will she.”
“She doesn’t doubt that,” Eve said quietly. “And Cara has had it rough all her life and survived it. When I found her, she’d been on the run from a murderer from one of the Mexican cartels since she was three years old. Her older sister and her best friend had already been murdered by that time.”
Lisa gave a low whistle. “If she went through all of that, I definitely don’t think that she needs Jock to take care of her.”
“You won’t be able to convince him of that,” Jane said. “You heard him.”
“I heard him.” She was frowning, puzzled. “But I didn’t understand it. What is she to him?”
Jane and Eve exchanged a glance. How to explain that bond that linked Jock and Cara? “Best friend? Sister? Soul mate?” Eve shrugged. “When I brought Cara here two years ago and she met Jock, it was as if they made an immediate connection. I’d never seen anything like it. They’d both had backgrounds that were tortured and left them feeling terribly alone. They seemed to … fulfill each other. They became very close. He was the perfect big brother. She adored him. She still does.”
“He said he almost got her killed.”
“The hit men who were after Cara almost took out MacDuff, and Jock went after them. She followed him and walked right into their hands.”
“But she got away from them?”
“Eventually. But it was a total nightmare. Jock went after her and saved her life.” Eve added, “So you can see why he’s a bit protective of her. He’s not going to let that happen again.”
Lisa nodded slowly. “You have to take care of the people you love. You shouldn’t let them be alone.”
Jane didn’t like the direction this was heading. “But you can also be a handicap if you’re not capable of contributing and they have to end up helping you.”
Lisa smiled. “And of course you’re not talking about me? You’re talking about Cara, who was only a twelve-year-old child at the time?”
Jane smiled back at her. “Of course.”
“I thought so.” She turned away. “But I’m getting very close to not being a handicap any longer. A few days of gentle exercise working with MacDuff in the mist might just put me over the finish line. I can probably afford those days. Seth hasn’t told me anything that would hint at something different.”
But Caleb had told Jane about Said Ben Kemal, and that was the first break he’d had. He might be trying to keep the knowledge from Lisa, but she was his sister and possessed that link with him. Jane didn’t know if Lisa might somehow sense he was keeping something from her. “Well, at least you’ll get those few days in the mist after all your hard work paving the way.” She turned away. “Now, I think I’ll take Michael for a walk along the bank and then get one of those tents ready for Cara.”
*
Cara Delaney saw Jock as soon as she arrived at customs.
Lord, she had been hoping he would be here to meet her. And there he was, standing outside the barrier and wearing a white shirt and black jeans, and he was as wonderful-looking as always. But then he never changes, Cara thought as the joy and excitement poured through her. The first time she had met him, she had thought he looked like the prince in a fairy tale. But then she had learned there was so much more to him inside than out that she hardly noticed it anymore except at moments like this.
“I’ll be right there, Jock,” Cara called to him. “No checked luggage. Just my carry-on and my violin.”
He nodded. “I’m surprised you brought a carry-on. After all, the violin is the only thing that’s important to you.” He smiled. “Take your time. I’ll wait.”
“You’d better.” She nodded and turned back to the crowded desk. Ten minutes later, she was grabbing the duffel and her violin and almost running behind the barrier. She dropped both and flew into his arms. “Jock,” she whispered as she hugged him as tightly as she could. She wanted to stay there, but she let him go and stepped back. “I was afraid they’d send someone else,” she said unsteadily. “I know how busy you are.”
“True.” He smiled down at her. “And why would I want to drive all this way to pick up a brat like you?” He brushed his lips on her forehead. “But I happened to have a few spare hours, so I thought that I’d save anyone else the bother.” He looked down at the duffel and violin she’d dropped. He clucked his tongue. “Careless. Very careless. I imagine that’s the first time that violin was dropped so rudely since it was crafted in the eighteenth century.”
“It’s very well padded.” She picked up the case. “Too bad your skull isn’t. Because I’m going to crack it if you don’t tell me you’re glad to see me.”
“It’s possible.” He grabbed her duffel. “No, probable.” He was guiding her toward the door. “But I would have preferred that you hadn’t traveled by yourself. I’m not fond of impulsive moves on your part. I believe we discussed that when I saw you in New York.”
“You mean lectured.” She smiled at him. “Probable. Why is it so difficult for you to say? I’ll say it again. I miss you all the time and I’m glad to see you. You’re my best friend and I don’t see enough of you. Now you say it.”