It was fully dark, but the moon was shining brightly when Caleb parked the Range Rover in the trees at the bottom of the foothills. “Wake up, Rodland.” He put on the brakes and got out of the car. “Gather wood and build a fire. Then you can put on some coffee.” He added caustically, “If it wouldn’t be too much of a strain.”

“No, I feel much better.” Rodland smothered a yawn. “And I assume you’re not going to make me hike through these hills in the dark. By morning I should be almost normal.”

“I’ll decide whether we go on after I check the trails to make certain this was her destination. This would be my best bet. She knows these Highlands inside out. But she might have decided to come this far and then taken another road in another direction to fool me.”

“You believe she’s capable of that?”

“I believe she’s capable of anything when she makes up her mind,” Caleb said. “And she’s probably more upset now than I’ve ever seen her. I don’t know how I can change it. But I’ve got to. I’ll use anything I have on hand to turn this around.” He turned and headed up the path toward the mountains. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. I’ll be back as soon as I’m sure that she’s somewhere near here.”

“And then you’ll tell me what you’re going to do?”

“No.” He smiled faintly. “I’ll tell you what you’re probably going to do.”

*  *  *

Rodland handed Caleb a cup of coffee when he came back to the camp two hours later. “It took you long enough. You had trouble locating her?”

He shook his head. “She was on the horse. As soon as I saw the hoofprints, I knew she’d have to take care of him. I could have followed her, but that would have been dangerous for her. She would have run from me. The mountains can be lethal at night.”

“Not for you.”

“We’re not talking about me.” He took a drink of coffee. “Chasing her in daylight is still going to be a risk. I’m not going to make it harder for either one of us.” He added ruefully, “And Jane might make it difficult as hell for me to capture her. It’s not as if I don’t have to pull my punches. She knows I’d never do anything to hurt her.”

Rodland started to laugh. “My God, you’re helpless. I never thought I’d see it.”

“I’m glad you’re amused,” Caleb said through set teeth. “I’m not helpless. I just have to figure a way to do what’s needed.”

“Well, you’re almost helpless.” He was still chuckling. “I can see the problem. My sympathy.”