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“I’ll be within view the entire time,” Jane said. “For heaven’s sake, I told you, it’s a small village. I’ve no intention of letting anything happen to me. If I thought there was any danger, I’d find another way to do this. You were only a convenience.”
“And what does Kilgoray have that the village here at MacDuff’s Run doesn’t have?”
“Privacy.” She raised her brows. “Satisfied?”
“Not at all. But I believe you’re satisfied you’re telling me the truth. That’s enough for me until we get to this Kilgoray, and I can look it over myself. That pub doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Not too boring? I have an idea that might be a saving grace as far as you’re concerned.”
“Possible.”
“More than possible. Why else do you work for Palik?”
His smile faded. “Because Seth Caleb sent me to him when I was wounded after he broke me out of a Taliban prison. He gave Palik orders to get me well because he wouldn’t let the Taliban win by claiming they’d killed me. Palik did what he told him, and after I got out of the hospital, I found Palik a fairly good boss to work for…and he usually lets me run my own show.”
“That would do it.”
He added, “I thought you’d understand. Since you clearly aren’t prone to going along with the status quo yourself. When are you going to let me sample the ale at that pub in Kilgoray?”
“Tomorrow evening. I want everyone here to become accustomed to the sight of us together. We’ll work in the stable again tomorrow afternoon and then after dark we’ll hit the boat dock and head for Kilgoray. As I said, we should be back here before dinner.”
“So that’s when I get to be the taste taster?”
“Why not?” she asked as she handed him another journal. “In the meantime, you’ll have another day of searching for Fiona. Do you agree?”
He thought about it. “Except about taking a boat from the dock. You’ll go down to the dock by yourself. Give me forty minutes and I’ll fetch the boat I brought to the property and stashed in a cave in the cliffs. I’ll pick you up on the other side of the castle. That will be much more efficient and less noticeable.”
“I might like my way better.”
“Too bad. Compromise.”
“What if this is some kind of trick?” she asked warily.
“I could ask the same of you.” He added, “You said Caleb told you I was being sent here. Do you trust him?”
“Yes.”
“So do I. And I might have more reason than you. But if you want your way, we both have to compromise.”
She studied him for an instant and then handed him the journal. “Okay. However, I’ll be taking my Smith and Wesson as part of my compromise. If I get suspicious, I’ll shoot you.”
He laughed. “Seems fair.” He reluctantly accepted the journal. “But I’d much rather forget about Fiona for a little while. I’m really not good with these journals. I’m totally brilliant with computers. You’d be amazed. You’re sure we can’t leave for Kilgoray a little early? This is beginning to be annoying.”
“Apply yourself. If you find anything interesting MacDuff might even forgive you if he finds out about our trip to Kilgoray.” She wrinkled her nose. “And maybe you can tell me what those dot-and-dash codes are that I keep running across.”
“Codes?” He opened the book. “Weird. Your Fiona wrote in code?”
“Maybe. I can’t figure it out. Neither could MacDuff.” She looked at him suspiciously. “Why are you grinning?”
He was laughing out loud now as his gaze went through the pages in front of him. “Because I was thinking how much I’m going to enjoy explaining these ‘codes’ to our brilliant Earl of MacDuff’s Run.”
***
Dining Room
MacDuff’s Run
8:40P.M.
