Katie turned to Dan. “What about you? You’ll be wanting to get back to Fort William.”

“We only have the one car.”

“Yes, we do, don’t we? So what should we do?”

“Right,” said Dan decisively. “If you stay here with Patrick, I’ll head into Inverness. I need to do some shopping and I’ve also got to go to the train station to book the girls’ tickets for Christmas.”

“I never knew they were coming up.”

“One of their last requests before they left, believe it or not.”

“Is Jackie coming up too?”

Dan shook his head. “Unfortunately not. She says that Rebecca Talworth has decided to hold a charity auction on Christmas Eve, of all the times to pick, so she’s not going to be able to make it. She’s not an easy person to persuade otherwise, either.”

“What a pity.”

“I know. Anyway, I’ll give Josh a call and ask him to look after Max and Sooty for the night, and then I’ll see if I can find us a couple of rooms in a hotel somewhere nearby.”

“I’m sorry, Dan. This is a complete nuisance for you. I should have driven up here myself, only—”

“Listen, it’s no bother at all. Nothing matters except that Patrick gets better again. Seascape will survive without us all for a couple of days, and no doubt our offspring will as well.”

Katie reached over and gave him a long kiss on his cheek. “You have been an absolute star over the past four months, Dan the Man, and I don’t think I have ever thanked you for all you’ve done for my family.”

“It’s been a pleasure, Katie. I really mean that. You helped me get out of a rut too, remember?”

Katie put a hand on his arm and sat back, staring at him quizzically. “Tell me, what would you rather have done? Run Vagabonds or work with Patrick?”

Dan laughed. “I don’t think you need to ask that question, Mrs. Trenchard.”

“You’re right. I don’t believe I do.” She opened up the car door. “What time will you be back?”

“Say six o’clock this evening?”

“All right. I’ll be waiting for you in the foyer.”

She closed the door and Dan watched in the rearview mirror as she ran across the car park, a small, brave figure in a pair of multipanelled tartan trousers.

24