Jane glanced at Juno, who was lying with her head on her paws. She could see that comfort, the serenity. “Then will you do that, please? I’d like to get this task finished.”
Margaret nodded. “I told you back at the camp that I knew you all thought it time for this to be finished.” She turned to MacDuff. “Let’s go. We’ll make much better time now that Juno is staying with us and not having to search ahead.”
“At your command.” He gave a mock bow. “We’re literally at your disposal, or we’d never get out of here.”
“Power.” She grinned. “How I love the power.” She glanced at Jane. “Do you want to go first? Or do you want me to go ahead with Juno?”
“You go ahead.” She looked at MacDuff. “I’m going to stay here until you get back with the utility wagon.”
His brows rose in surprise. “Why? I wouldn’t think you’d want to stay here by yourself. Even the finest tombs are seldom pleasant.”
“It’s Marcus’s final resting place. Cira left it sealed and secure for him. I’m not going to leave it alone and unprotected even for a short time. Once you get back and take the treasure, we’ll seal it again and won’t touch it until we decide how to restore it.” She added, “Does that sound all right with you?”
“Very much all right,” he said softly. He turned and headed for the cave entrance. “Let’s go, Jock. We’ll be back soon, Jane.”
“I know you will.”
She watched them striding down the path until they disappeared into the mist. And after that, there was still the sound of them moving through the brush and Juno’s occasional barking.
And then there was nothing but the darkness and the sound of the waters of the lake lapping against the shore. As it had been for all the centuries this little boy had been here with his friend Galo, who now shared his resting place.
She turned back and went inside the cave. She stared at the ruins on the ledge for a moment and then slid down the wall beside the entrance and leaned her head back against the stone.
“Here we are, Marcus,” she whispered. “I know Cira is taking care of you, and you don’t really need me. But I think she’d like the idea of my being here right now. In a way, she kind of raised me, too.” She closed her eyes. “Are you there, Cira? You gave me something in that last dream. I’m not good with faith, and I was having trouble coming to terms with what comes afterward. Did you know that I’d lost the man I loved? You probably did. It was hard coming back, but I had to do it. Just as you did. But you were given something in this place, and you passed it on to me. I want to thank you.” She opened her eyes and said unsteadily, “Now, unless you have any other gifts to give, we’ll just stay here and listen to the wind and the lake and be together.…”
*
The dawn was starting to break when they came out of the mist and started to walk down the bank toward the camp.
Jane could see Eve, Lisa, Joe, and Cara sitting around the campfire. But it was Lisa who jumped to her feet and ran down to meet them.
“Eve said you called and told her you’d found the treasure.” Lisa turned to Margaret. “You must be Margaret Douglas. I envy you. I didn’t care anything about the treasure, but conquering that mist intrigued me.” She made a face. “Actually, I was a little put out that Jane left me behind, but then Eve explained that you have some kind of special qualifications.”
“That’s true,” Jane said. “And I don’t think that it’s a skill you could pick up as readily as you do most other things. This is Lisa Ridondo, Margaret.” She looked back over her shoulder at Jock and MacDuff, who were several yards behind them, bringing the utility wagon. “Could I talk you into making breakfast, Lisa? Nothing fancy. But it’s been a long night, and we’re all pretty drained. We could use a little sustenance.”
Lisa was gazing at her face. “I can see that. But you look … at peace. You found what you wanted, Jane?”
Jane nodded. “I found what I wanted.”
She smiled. “Then I’m glad, and I forgive you for not letting me be there when it happened.” Her eyes were twinkling. “Though I’m hoping that guilt for depriving me of something I wanted will push you toward giving me the next thing on my list.”
“Don’t count on it,” Jane said drily.
“I never do. I just work toward it, and most of the time it comes.” She turned. “And what do you mean, ‘nothing fancy’? It’s a celebration, and at least that part of it will be mine. Now I’ll run back and start a splendid breakfast that will show everyone what a great team player I am.”
Jane watched her streak down the bank. “And it will be a splendid breakfast. She’s a fantastic cook, Margaret. Though we may be too tired to eat it.” She looked at Juno, who was staying close to Margaret. “Even Juno looks as though she needs some rest.”
“She’s fine,” Margaret said. “She got what she wanted, too, Jane. She did what was asked of her and it made her happy.” She smiled. “Me, too. It was a very special night.”
She did what was asked of her.
Was that also why Jane was feeling this sense of peace? She had done what Cira had needed her to do, and had received gifts in return that she still didn’t fully understand. But one of them was this knowledge that she was more complete and serene for doing it. “Yes, very special.” She turned to face Margaret. “And you’re special, too.” Jane said. “You know that there are no words to thank you.”
“Sure. That’s why you don’t try,” Margaret said. “And now we’ll just have a good time relaxing and setting up Eve’s wedding and being together. Joe said he was going to try to have everyone else here by next week.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Jane paused. “After we make sure that Cira’s treasure is safely stored in that bank MacDuff was talking about. I’m the one who insisted on going after that treasure right away because I thought Cira wanted MacDuff to have it. I want to make certain it’s safe.”
“Isn’t that MacDuff’s responsibility?”
“Yes. But we could have left it in Marcus’s tomb and made arrangements to transport it later. I wanted that tomb resealed, so no one else would know about it and there’d be no chance of theft or violation. That meant moving that treasure, so it wouldn’t be a lure for anyone.” She jerked her head back at MacDuff and Jock. “That’s why we might have a billion dollars’ worth of coins in that wagon back there.” Her lips tightened grimly. “So I’d say it’s my responsibility, too.”
“And that means that Eve and I will have to do wedding plans on our own until you get MacDuff’s treasure safely settled?”
“It shouldn’t take more than a day. Jock isn’t going to let MacDuff take a deep breath until he safeguards that treasure. He’s very protective of him.”
“I’ve noticed.” Margaret shrugged. “Oh well, I’ll bring in Cara and Lisa to help until you’re free. All their vim, vigor, and youth will be a big help.”
“You’re only twenty-one yourself, Margaret.”
“But I have an old soul.” She grinned. “Ask Juno.”
CHAPTER
15
Lisa’s breakfast was just as splendid as Jane had promised: eggs Benedict, pancakes, special cinnamon pastries, sausages, and a spicy potato casserole that was as delicious as it was unusual. After breakfast, Margaret and Juno went to the tent Margaret had been given to get some sleep, and Lisa and Cara took Michael for a walk down to the lake. Jane suspected that had been Cara’s doing, a way to give Jock, MacDuff, and Jane privacy and allow them to stay at the campfire drinking coffee and talking with Eve and Joe. She had noticed that Cara’s influence on Lisa was very subtle, but she usually managed to get her way. Amazing, when Lisa was older and clearly so willful and determined.
“You’re very quiet.” Eve glanced at Jane. “Need to get some sleep?”
“Probably. But the coffee will help.” She looked at MacDuff. “And I have an idea you’re going to be dashing out of here soon, and I want to be ready. What did you and Jock decide when you were lugging that utility wagon down the trail? When are we going to Edinburgh?”