Jack hesitated. He wasn’t sure. He still felt weak from the night before, and he hadn’t had a chance to prepare.

“It will take me a few days,” he said, wishing he could give Torin the response he wanted. “I’m afraid I need time to study the music.”

“You haven’t looked at it yet?”

“No, he hasn’t had a chance to,” Adaira said. “My intention was to bring the music to him this morning, but I heard the news about Maisie and came directly to you, Torin. Now I’m about to take him home and give it to him.”

Torin nodded. “All right. Thank you, Jack.”

The captain departed, leaving Jack and Adaira behind in the cave.

A faint groan escaped her. The sound prompted Jack to study her face. Adaira had dropped her mask of confident, capable laird who was going to solve this mystery. In the wake of Torin’s departure, she appeared uncertain and anxious. She was weary and sad, and when her gaze met Jack’s, he didn’t look away.

“Can you come with me now?” she asked.

“Yes,” he answered, ignoring the ache that lingered in his hands.

He let her climb down first, so he could watch the path she took and mimic it. He shuddered to be back on solid ground until he realized Adaira had already mounted her horse and was waiting.

“Should I meet you there?” he said, giving the mare a wide berth.

Adaira smiled. “No. It’ll be much faster if you ride with me.”

Jack hesitated. The horse tossed her head and pawed the ground, sensing his reluctance.

“I don’t mind walking,” he insisted.

“When’s the last time you rode a horse, Jack?”

“Close to eleven years now.”

“Then it’s a good time to get back in the saddle.” Adaira slipped her foot from the stirrup, offering it to him. “Come on, my old menace.”

This was bound to be a disaster, and Jack groaned as he slid his boot into the stirrup, hauling himself up. He sat, very uncomfortably, behind her. He didn’t know where he should put his hands, where his feet should go. Adaira’s back was aligned with his chest, and he leaned away so the wind could still blow between them.

“Are you settled?” she asked.

“As I’ll ever be,” he replied drolly.

Adaira clucked to the horse. The mare began to walk, and Jack felt how stiff his body was. He was trying to relax, to let the horse’s gait melt through him, when Adaira clucked again. The horse lurched into a trot. Jack grimaced. Every thought was about to be knocked loose from his head.

“This is too fast,” he said, scrambling to grip the edges of the saddle.

“Hold on, Jack.”

“What?”