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“No insult intended. But if Jane is involved, I’ll never hear the end of it if anything goes wrong. You did say she had a vested—” He broke off and started to laugh. “It just hit home! The doctor, all those babies born in the village…Jane?”
“I’m glad you’re amused.”
“A little amused, mostly scared to death. Either way I look at it, I could be in trouble if I screw up.”
“Then don’t screw up. I’ve done enough of that to go around. From now on we all walk a very tight, straight line.”
“Whatever you say. I’ll go right to work setting up a way out of the lion’s den, and I’ll try to make it foolproof.”
“Thank you,” he said mockingly.
Palik didn’t speak for a moment. “But a baby is never a screwup. I guess it can be a kind of challenge, but that’s usually not the kid’s fault.”
“What are you talking about? That wasn’t what I was referring to. Any child Jane brought into the world would be a miracle.”
“Yes, she’s exceptional. I’m glad you appreciate her. I just thought I’d make certain you weren’t being an ass, so I decided to add my few words of wisdom.”
“Very few and totally misguided. And you never told me you had kids.”
“I don’t. I’ve been too busy keeping reckless clients like you out of major trouble. Sometimes I kind of wish I did. You’re lucky as hell, Caleb.” He cut the connection.
Lucky? Caleb stared down at the phone for an instant before he shoved it into his jacket pocket. Lucky to have a chance to keep Jane if he could fight his way through this nightmare. Yes. But even if he managed to keep both her and the child alive and she still was willing to stay with him, how long would it last? It was true any child of Jane’s would be a miracle, but that child would also be his. He’d been told from the time he was a toddler that his heritage and blood gifts would always condemn him and his children to be hunters and outsiders. The last thing he wanted was to have Jane suffer because she had to fight a constant battle. It didn’t matter that she’d told him she’d trust him and what they were together to have a family. It was still a risk he hadn’t wanted to take.
But the risk was now here, and he had no choice. Not only that, but he was being forced to walk that line he’d warned Palik about. Obey his instincts and handle Bohdan the way he thought necessary. Or keep a promise and run the danger of losing Jane and her child.
No, not just her child. The risk had been taken. This washischild, and he was totally committed. Which meant that there was no question which direction he would go.
He was not going to lose Jane or the child. He’d handle the consequences of that decision when he had to face them.
He turned and left the library in search of Jane and MacDuff.
He found them talking to a carpenter at the front gate about rigging a temporary structure until MacDuff could arrange for an architect to plan a permanent gate resembling the original.
Jane turned eagerly toward him. “Palik?”
“I reached him. He’s been very busy.”
“Campbell?”
“Who else? No definite info. He said it was yes and no. Yes, he’d been sighted alive and well in Kilgoray. No, he hadn’t tracked him down yet.”
“Damn.”
“But Palik is sharp, and he’ll let me know as soon as he does. He told me it would be soon.”
She made a face. “How soon? I’m scared, Caleb. Do you think we should go to Kilgoray ourselves? Maybe it would make him hurry a bit.”
“Or piss him off because you’re nagging him to do his job. I put a priority on it, Jane.”
“And you’re never impatient, are you?” MacDuff turned away from the carpenter. “Caleb knows what he’s doing…sometimes. And Palik is very efficient. So why don’t you resign yourself to staying here at the Run until you hear from him? You’re close to Kilgoray and can take a boat over whenever he calls you. What do you say?”
She hesitated.
“Not a bad idea.” Caleb stepped in. “You mentioned you had some reading to do, and you’re accustomed to being here.” He glanced at MacDuff. “And you don’t mind if I also invite myself? I could make some calls this evening to contractors with whom I have influence. I hired a lot of work done on my house near Sky Island, and I can pull some strings for you.”
“I really don’t need your help.”
“Sure you do. You’re going to have to bring mega labor from Scotland and England rushing here to do these repairs. They have to be special craftsmen. You might be able to use snob appeal, but I’ve found that people seem to want to do what I ask them to.”
