We move outside to greet them. Kane emerges from the lead vehicle, followed by Wren, Rory, and Kat. Behind them, men in tactical gear begin unloading equipment from the other vehicles straight into an implement shed on the edge of the yard.
“Richard, Margret, and Julia,” Kane calls, approaching with his family. “This is Wren, Declan’s wife. Rory, Declan’s right-hand man.” Rory shakes Richard’s hand and nods to the ladies. “And Kat, Rory’s fiancé and our sister.”
They all exchange greetings, then Jake says, “Thank you all for coming. We appreciate the help. Where is Declan?”
“He’ll be out shortly. He just got a call when we pulled up,” Wren said, moving over to Nora, who throws her arms around her aunt’s neck for a hug.
As everyone gets to know one another, I find myself gravitating toward Caleb. He stands slightly apart from the group, watching the proceedings with a professional eye.
“You okay?” I ask quietly.
He glances down at me, his expression softening. “Just assessing. Old habits.”
“Having second thoughts about getting involved in all this?” I gesture toward the growing activity as men begin establishing a command center in Jake’s implement shed.
“Not at all,” he says firmly, his hand finding mine. “If it means I get to see you every day.”
Chapter 23
Caleb
I squeeze her hand gently, enjoying the small smile that plays at her lips. Before I can respond, the car door swings open and a tall, imposing figure emerges.
Declan MacGallan.
The commanding presence, the shrewd eyes that miss nothing, the way everyone’s posture subtly shifts as he approaches. This is a man accustomed to authority.
“Caleb, how’s it going?” he asks, extending his hand to me. “How’s the leg coming along?”
“Good. And the leg has its days. Come meet Richard,” I say, looking around for the man in question. “There he is over by Jake.”
We walk over to where a few men are standing by the barn doors, pointing out various landmarks on the ranch.
Jake turns as we approach and shakes Declan’s hand firmly. “Thank you for coming, and for bringing your men. I wasn’t expecting quite this level of response.”
“When Kane explained what you’ve uncovered, I knew this required more than a token effort. There will be fifty moremen arriving tomorrow.” Declan’s gaze sweeps over our group, lingering briefly on Lana and me, noting our clasped hands with the faintest arch of an eyebrow. “Northern Tier Mining has a reputation for ruthlessness that extends well beyond Canada’s borders.”
“You know them?” I ask, stepping forward, reluctantly releasing Lana’s hand.
Declan’s expression darkens. “The MacGallans had... encounters with their parent company. They play dirty. But so do I.” He turns to Connor and Kane. “Show me what we’re working with.”
As the group moves inside the house to review the documents and security plans, I hang back, scanning our surroundings. Something doesn’t feel right. Maybe it’s years of combat instincts, or maybe it’s the way Scout keeps staring intently at the tree line beyond Jake’s property.
“You feel it too?” Lana asks quietly, following my gaze.
I nod. “We’re being watched.”
“Do you think it’s them?”
“Probably.” I keep my voice low, casual, as if we’re discussing the weather. “Let’s go inside. Better not to let them know we’ve spotted them.”
I place my hand lightly on the small of Lana’s back as we walk toward the house, fighting the urge to look over my shoulder. Instead, I use the windows’ reflections to scan the distant tree line. There—a brief flash of light, possibly sunlight on binocular lenses.
Inside, the atmosphere is intense but organized. Declan and Rory have taken charge of security arrangements, while Connor, Mia, and Richard are sorting through documents with Margret and Kane. Jake and Ella are showing Wren and Kat the map of the waterfall area where we suspect the remaining gold might be hidden.
“Caleb,” Rory calls, waving me over. “We need your input on the landscape.”
I join them at the map, but my mind is split between the discussion and the watcher in the woods. I need to alert them without creating panic.
