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“Ilovedwhen you bared your soul to me.” She was opening her art case and taking out her sketchbook. “It’s one of the highlights of my life. Feel free to do it anytime. I just want you to look on the bright side.” She flipped through the sketchbook. “Because you brightened up my life considerably tonight.” She turned the sketchbook so that he could see the sketch. “I drew this sketch that misty morning you called to give me all that depressing news about Bohdan. I had no subject, I just started drawing freehand and she came to life out of nowhere. I couldn’t let it go. It might be one of the best things that I’ve ever done. MacDuff calls itMist Child. He wanted to buy it.”
“I think I remember him mentioning it. It’s wonderful. It looks a little like Fiona.”
“That’s what MacDuff said, I couldn’t see it.”
“And also like you,” he said softly. “MacDuff can’t have this sketch, Jane.”
“That’s not why I showed it to you. You can argue about it later. I wanted to point out that when I drew this little girl, I had no idea that I was pregnant.” She made a face. “At least I didn’t believe that I did. That came later and hit me like a ton of bricks. But I still drew this enchanting child that anyone would want to claim as their own. Wishful thinking? Or was it a sign that something good was coming and we had to be ready for it?”
“I’ll vote for the latter,” he said gently. “But I do have to mention that this cynical world would not agree with me. However, I refuse to be cynical about it. It’s what you want it to be, or I’ll know the reason why.” He gazed back down at the sketch. “So does that mean we’ll be expecting a girl?”
“No, I wouldn’t go that far. Accept the idea, not the factual conception.”
“Hmm,” he said. “I don’t think I can. She looks like you. So until I see bona fide proof to the contrary, I’ll have to assume that I’m right. It will also simplify the pronoun problem that we had. That’s good.”
“Really? I’ve heard most men want a son.”
“Propaganda. I’m good either way, but there’s something about your mist child.” He glanced back at the sketch and repeated, “And she looks like you.” He handed her the sketch. “But you’ll have to do the portrait. Then you can give MacDuff the sketch.”
“Thank you,” she said curtly. “I choose, Caleb.”
“You chose to give me a beautiful child,” he said quietly. “Now can we go back to bed so I can hold you? Maybe we can discuss a name for our daughter.”
She looked at him incredulously. “We will not. There’s no way you can be sure. You’re being completely ridiculous, and I won’t—” She broke off as she saw his mischievous grin. He was standing there, sensual, complex, handsome, and intriguing, the complete package. Everything she wanted, everything she could ever want. “Damn you.” She slipped the sketch back in the case and dropped it on the floor. “I was thinking about Hepzibah.” She turned out the lamp. “As for the other, put up or shut up, Caleb.”
“By all means.” He shed his clothes with lightning speed as he spoke. He picked her up and then they were on the bed, his arms encircling her from behind. He pulled her sleep shirt over her head and threw it on the floor beside the bed. “But right now, I just want to touch you here.” His hands were on her belly, rubbing, stroking, with a magically gentle caress. He added, “And I want to touchher. I need to welcome her, don’t I?”
“Whatever you want.” It was such a beautiful moment that she was having trouble keeping back the tears. “Crazy man.”
“That goes without saying. It took me long enough to get you to let me stick around.” His hand stroking her belly paused for an instant. “I just want you to know that it will be worth it. I won’t always do the things you want me to do. We won’t agree all the time. But there won’t be a time I won’t love you and keep you and our family safe. Will you remember that?”
“I think it’s possible.” She turned over in his arms. “If you’ll stop talking and make love to me.”
“It’s a deal.” He was over her, then coming closer still. “As long as you promise not to call my daughter Hepzibah…”
***
1:35A.M.
Caleb silently let himself out the front door of the castle and then moved swiftly down the steps and headed for the courtyard stable. He reached for his phone to call Palik as he was going down the curving staircase leading to the boat dock.
“You must have gotten my text,” Palik said. “You could have answered.”
“No, I couldn’t. I was busy. You said that you’d located where they took Campbell. Still only two guards?”
“At the house where they’re keeping him. And we haven’t run across any other of Bohdan’s men in the vicinity. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t arranged to turn loose his hounds and surprise us when he gets the chance.” He concluded, “I don’t like this, Caleb. It stinks of a trap. Don’t go in alone. Let me send in a unit.”
“And if it’s a trap, the first thing they’ll do is kill Campbell the minute they see a unit that poses a threat. I have a better chance of getting him out by myself if there are only the two guards. When was the last time your men caught sight of Campbell?”
“About four hours ago they took him outside the shack to pee. He was a little beat up, but he seemed okay.”
“Just so he can walk and move once I get him out.” He’d reached the boat dock and headed for the speedboat he’d put there in readiness for departure before he’d gone to help MacDuff. “And you do your job to get me an escape hatch when everything goes south.”
“When, not if?” Palik asked mockingly. “You don’t like the odds, either. I’ll get your ass out. When can you get here?”
“I’m on my way. I’ll meet you on the south beach at Kilgoray, and make sure you’re ready to give me maps of the entire area.” He jumped down into the speedboat. “I’ve only one more thing to do and that’s to call Rodland.”
“You’re bringing Rodland?”
