“Caleb said he wanted to do it. He needs to stretch out and he said it was a chance for me to tell you the rest of MacClaren’s story on the trip back.” He wrinkled his nose. “I’ve evidently been designated to keep you entertained. Not that I mind. I was a little pissed off that you left me to twiddle my thumbs earlier today. I’d far rather talk about Fiona and MacClaren. I’ve sort of been thinking about them as family.”

She groaned. “Don’t say that.” Then she saw his eyes were twinkling. “Go saddle Jocko. Where’s Caleb? Why didn’t he do it?”

He shrugged. “He’s been on the phone with MI6. I supposed he’s trying to pull something together. And I need the practice.”

Jane finished packing up and was settling in the passenger seat of the Range Rover when Rodland opened the driver’s door. “All finished,” he said. “I turned Jocko over to Caleb, who looks as depressingly dashing as Zorro, or maybe some desert sheikh on his favorite Arab stallion. It isn’t fair, you know. I never looked like that on Maisie. I guess there’s something to say about horses, though.” He waved as Caleb passed them on Jocko. “See what I mean?”

She did, and it was causing her to experience a sudden vivid physical memory of what had happened at the lake this morning. Dressed in jeans, with the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up to the elbow, Caleb did look lean and tough and vibrantly sensual. “I’m sure he wouldn’t have looked nearly as good on Maisie, either,” she told Rodland soothingly. Then she frowned. “He’s going on ahead?”

“He said that he wanted to check out the woods to make sure they’re safe for you.”

“From snipers? He’s the one who’s vulnerable. He could be picked off with no problem. We have all this metal around us.”

“Well, I don’t think we should worry. He knows what he’s doing. He’ll see them before they see him. He managed to take down that general’s bodyguards as well as the bastard himself before he escaped Bohdan’s army.”

“I don’t care, I do worry. And he promised me that he would—” But he probably thought he had nullified that promise when he’d talked to her earlier today. No way. “I have to talk to him.”

“I suggest that you wait until these woods start thinning out before you start in pursuit. We might get in the way,” Rodland said. “Just in case I’m wrong about Caleb.”

“You’re probably not,” Jane said. “I remember that most of the threat of attack should be over by the time we approach the road. That should be time enough for me to call him.” She added grimly, “Unless he’s dead.”