AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No wounds there that won’t heal.” Her voice softened. “But I want you to know that I’m grateful to you for wanting to save him from pain. A lot of people take from him and don’t give back. They believe since they know about all those skills and how tough he is that he doesn’t need any help at all.” She met his eyes. “Like you did, but you were going to give it anyway.”
“My choice.”
“Everyone has choices. But you made the right one as far as I’m concerned.”
“But you still won’t talk about Kilgoray.”
She ignored the comment. “I want you to pick me up at the boat dock as soon as darkness falls.” She opened the historical book in front of her. “You’ll like the pub. Jock, the bartender, is funny. Caleb and I spent an afternoon there a couple of months ago. I promise I won’t keep you waiting there long.” She waved her hand. “Now hush while I look at the photos and sketches of this Reiver train. Someone spent a long time on the decorations on these cars…”
Chapter
7
Kilgoray, Scotland
7:15P.M.
You’re right, pleasant little village.” It was almost dark when Rodland tied off the motorboat at the pier. He jumped out and swung Jane onto the pier. “Emphasis onlittle.” His gaze raked the stone buildings that lined the narrow streets. “Several shops, a tearoom.” He smiled as he heard music issuing from a brightly lit building a few doors away. There was an outdoor patio with several tables and chairs beneath the tan-and-blue umbrellas. “And that must be my designated home away from home. Jock’s pub?”
“That’s right.” She could feel her tension growing and she drew a deep breath. She turned to her left and headed for the bank of shops and offices down the street. “Have an ale on me. I’ll see you soon. I’ll watch the time. We have to get back to MacDuff’s Run.”
“Sure, I’ll just be sitting here at one of Jock’s outdoor tables.” He dropped down in a chair. “Will you tell me which shop or building you’ll be going into?”
“No.” She looked back at him. “But I’ll be close enough that you’d be able to hear me from that chair if I called out to you. So don’t follow me. If you do, I won’t trust you again.”
He was silent. “I’ll give you an hour. Then I’ll come and find you.”
“It shouldn’t take longer than that.” She waved and turned right into the bank of shops.
She stopped and drew a deep breath as she glanced back at the pub. Rodland was sitting totally at ease, but his gaze was still fixed on where she’d disappeared. Forget about him. Think about Caleb. Concentrate on what she had to do and hope she could trust Rodland. If she couldn’t, she’d worry about handling the fallout later. That might be the least of her worries.
She glanced away from Rodland and hurried down the next street and into the foyer of the sandstone building set back from the cobblestone street.
Get it over with.
She hadn’t thought she’d be in a panic, but the panic was there…
***
“You’re early.” Rodland straightened in his chair as he saw Jane coming toward him. “Fifty-five minutes.”
Jane chuckled. “And were you about to jump up from your chair and start stalking if I didn’t show up exactly on time?”
“Probably.” His eyes were narrowed on her face. “I might have given you an extra five or ten minutes, but I’d have to keep my word to you. We had an agreement.”
She was still smiling. “Which was really an agreement you had with Palik and Caleb. I was just an afterthought.”
“It didn’t turn out that way. You turned the tables on me. But I’m glad that it seems to have worked out well for you.” He got to his feet and threw some money on the table. “Very well. You’re…happy. Whoever it was must have satisfied you.”
She nodded. “Absolutely.” Her smile faded. “But you’re wasting that additional five minutes I gave you. We have to get back to the Run. Let’s get out of here.” She turned and headed for the pier at a run. “I’ve no desire to have to explain to MacDuff what I was doing here with you.”
“But once he saw your expression, he’d realize how happy I’d made you.” His grin held a catlike hint of mischief. “Though that might keep him guessing. He might enjoy the idea that I’d made you forget about Seth Caleb for a little while. I’ve noticed there appears to be a certain antagonism in his attitude about Caleb on occasion.”
“Their relationship is complicated.” She jumped into the boat as he untied it. “They respect each other, but MacDuff likes to run things and there’s no way Caleb will allow that to happen.”
“Particularly anything to do with you.” He snapped his fingers. “Fiona. Is it something to do with the family?”
“Heavens no,” she said flatly. “Caleb understands how I feel and would never interfere with my family. And he’s always had the same fascination with Fiona as MacDuff. It’s probably just two alpha males wanting their own way. Most of the time they manage to get along.” She was looking back at Kilgoray as he pulled away from the pier. “You should understand that concept.”
