“My pleasure.” He got out of the car. “But I’ll try to work one out for your horse, Jocko. I’ll go up the hill to your camp and get him some water and then bring him down here.”

“I could do that myself.”

“But I have to become accustomed to horses. I’ve got to be ready to face Maisie when we have our great confrontation.”

“Maisie’s very gentle.”

“Tell that to my concussion. I’ll take care of Jocko for you.” He slammed the car door.

And Jane leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

He wasn’t the only one who was going have a confrontation soon, she thought wearily. But her own might shake her to her very core.

She needed this time to try and come to terms with it before she had to face Caleb again.

*  *  *

Three Hours Later

Jane braced herself as she got out of the Range Rover and walked over to the fire where Caleb was sitting. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to run away. I just had to pull myself together.”

“Your friend Felicia,” Caleb said quietly. “I realize that you cared about her. She was a fine woman.” He reached for the coffeepot on the warming stone and poured her a cup of coffee. “But it seems there are other things we have to talk about. Are you ready to do it?”

“No, but if I don’t, you’d have to go to Rodland, and he doesn’t really know anything. I made sure of that when I asked him to go with me.” Her lips curved in a sardonic smile. “Though ‘asked’ isn’t really the correct word. I had to go, and I wanted to make sure that I’d be safe. I knew this time I couldn’t rely only on myself. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“Why not? You’ve proved yourself dozens of times. You did it again today.” He tapped his chest. “By saving my ass.”

“This was different.” She sipped her coffee. “I didn’t have the right. I didn’t know how to tell—”

Her phone was ringing. She didn’t want to answer. These next few minutes were going to be difficult enough. She glanced impatiently down at the ID.

She froze. No name. Only a location.

Kilgoray!

She inhaled sharply. “Something must be wrong. I have to get this.” She pushed the ACCESS button and then SPEAKER.

“Jane MacGuire?” It was a man’s voice, deep, slick. “How delightful to make your acquaintance. You’ve been most elusive. This is the second time I’ve had to send men to Kilgoray to try to track you down. But I’m glad I’ve finally reached you. Do you know who this is?”

“I have an idea.”

“Stop playing games, Bohdan,” Caleb bit out. “I recognize your voice. It’s me you want to talk to, isn’t it?”