“Of course.” He shot her a glance. “I knew you’d tongue-lash me if I didn’t. I took her out to lunch and then we went to Central Park and spent the afternoon.”
“Good.”
“Not so good. I found out when I took her back to school that she’d skipped a full day of classes and was going to be put on detention. She didn’t mention any of that when I picked her up in front of the school.”
“Oops.” She made a face. “But I’m sure she thought it was worth it.”
“Maybe. But I shouldn’t have done it. I told you that I should let Cara drift away from me now that she has Eve and Joe and a new life.”
“And I told you that couldn’t happen.” The bond of friendship between that eleven-year-old girl and Jock Gavin had been unique. Jane had never seen anything like the closeness that had been born during those few months when Eve had brought Cara to Scotland two years ago. Jock had saved Cara’s life, and she was totally devoted to him. “She wouldn’t have understood. And she wouldn’t have let you go,” she added. “All her life she’s been on the run and never been able to count on anyone. If you want her to have a normal life, you can’t reject her.”
“I won’t reject her. I just think it’s healthier for her not to have me for a friend. I’ve been trying to distance myself.”
“Too late. You should have thought of that before you became so important to her. You’re her best friend, you saved her life, and anyone can see that she’s not going to let you walk away from her. Now you’re stuck with it.” She studied his expression. “And you couldn’t stand it anyway. You have to know she’s well and happy. I bet you’ve been keeping a close eye on her from that distance you spoke about.”
He was silent.
She nodded. “I thought so.” She waved her hand as he started to speak. “You’ll have to work it out for yourself. But don’t hurt Cara because you think that you should fade into the background. She’s lost enough. Her entire family murdered, her whole life spent trying to escape the same murderer. She can’t lose her best friend, too.”
“She won’t lose me.” He was parking in the lot of a quaint tearoom with mullioned windows. “Though I’d think that you’d realize I’m right about this. She needs a normal life now. There’s nothing normal about me.”
“Bullshit. Normal is overrated anyway.”
He suddenly chuckled. “Now you sound like Seth Caleb. That’s something he’d say.”
“Caleb?” The sudden mention caused a ripple of shock to go through her. Her glance slid away from him. “Consider the source. No one can call Caleb normal. He doesn’t want to be like anyone else. He was born with that weird talent of being able to control the blood flow of the people around him and heaven knows what else. He’s arrogant as hell and thinks he rules the world. Compared to him, you’re practically angelic.”
He gave a low whistle. “That was a surprise. You’re usually more noncommittal about Caleb. It must have been building up.” He got out of the car and ran around to open her door. “And Caleb would laugh if he heard you describe me as an angel, unless it was Lucifer.” He helped her out of the car and slammed the door. “He’s probably all you say, but I’d rather have him in my corner than anyone else I can name. The other doesn’t bother me at all.”
“It bothers me.” She paused. “But he hasn’t been around much at Gaelkar in the last months, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”
“He’s been out of the country. But MacDuff may have called him and asked him to come to the lake when we set up the lights. He’s never liked strangers on the property, and he trusts Caleb.” A smile tugged at his lips. “We all respond to our own needs when it comes to Caleb. He appears to supply whatever makes him invaluable in any given situation.”
“Then maybe he’s the one who’s cloning Lucifer.” She grimaced. “Listen to me. I’m overreacting. Caleb has that effect on me.”
“I’ve noticed,” he murmured. “Do you want me to talk to MacDuff and ask him not to ask Caleb to come?”
“No.” That would have been a defeat in itself and it would probably amuse Caleb when he heard about it. “I don’t care.” She strode toward the door of the tearoom. “Now let’s get a bite to eat and I’ll tell you all about Michael. Eve said you hadn’t been by to see them since Cara left for school. He’s perfectly adorable. I spent half the time I was at the lake house sketching him. I’ll show you the last one I did before I left today.”
LOCH GAELKAR
“It’s going to work, Jane.” John MacDuff strode up the incline to meet them as she and Jock walked from the road where they’d parked the car. His arresting face was alight with excitement. “Carlisle showed me a demonstration of those lights that knocked me on my ass. He’s got contracts with three of the major airlines for his light system, but I persuaded him to let me have the first shipment.” He grimaced. “Though it didn’t take too much urging after I told him the possibility that I might be able to find Cira’s legendary treasure on that north bank. Providing I could pierce that mist that no one has ever been able to do in all of Scottish history. I think he’s regarding it as a challenge.”
“And that’s probably exactly the way you presented it to him. You’re no fool, MacDuff.” Jane grinned. “There was no way you were going to come back without what you went there to get if you believed there was a chance.”
“Aye, I’ve waited long enough.” His blue eyes were suddenly twinkling. “Let those airlines get to the back of the line.”
“Not as if that’s not your philosophy anyway,” Jock said. “Everything has to stop for the pleasure of the laird.” He turned to Jane. “See, I told you that we have to keep him under control.”
“Jane has no trouble embracing that mantra. She’s possibly the most stubborn woman on the planet,” MacDuff said drily. “And I’ll thank you not to encourage her to defy me, Jock. I’ve had a hard enough time keeping her here at the lake these past months while I was experimenting.”
“I wonder why,” Jane said. “I should be absolutely wild about camping out in a tent in the middle of the Highlands, ignoring my career while you try to pull rabbits out of your hat.”
“Nonsense. You didn’t ignore your career. An artist can work anywhere, and you turned out some damn fine landscapes. And you’re just as obsessed as I am about finding Cira’s gold. Perhaps not for the same reason, but she called you and you came.” He smiled. “True?”
“I guess you might say it’s true, in a way.” She smiled back at him. “Now you only have to address camping out in the middle of the wilds.”
“Who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by all this beauty?” He gestured expansively at the lake and the mountains. “And didn’t I have a fine shower house built for the camp? What else could you want?”
“I can’t imagine,” she said gravely. It was true that he had made the tent camp as comfortable as possible for them. Since Gaelkar Castle, the original home established by Cira and her family, was some distance away and in ruins, there had been no real choice. Not that MacDuff would have been inclined to let them go too far away from this lake anyway. “But I’ll think about it and let you know.”
“You’ve had a long flight,” Jock said. “Go to your tent and rest and I’ll bring your cases down.” He turned to MacDuff. “Come to the car and help me. Let her get her breath before you start inundating her with all your plans and that overpowering enthusiasm.”
“Enthusiasm is contagious,” MacDuff said. “And healthy.”
“Not when it’s mixed with jet lag.” He nodded at Jane. “I’ll see you at supper.”
MacDuff hesitated and then followed Jock. “I’m not doing this because you’re right, Jock. I just need the exercise.”
“Of course that’s the reason,” Jock said. “Everyone knows that you’re never wrong, MacDuff.”