“As I said, I’m impatient. I was uneasy about the way I left you. Everything is crazy now and I have to make it right. I want to get back to you.” He cleared his throat. “You haven’t said anything about Rodland. Is he working out for you?”

“I can’t complain. Rodland is doing all right.” She looked at Rodland standing by the stable door. “At least he’s been doing what I tell him to do.”

Rodland nodded mockingly and tipped his hand to his head.

Caleb was silent. Then he said suddenly, “He’s with you now, isn’t he? I can tell by your tone. Where are you?”

Damn. She had forgotten how sensitive Caleb always was to her every tone and expression. Standing here in the darkness she had felt safe. But she wouldn’t lie to him.

“I’m in the courtyard stable. Rodland has been helping me go through the Fiona diaries and historical documents. We’ve almost finished with the storage units here.”

“The stable,” he repeated. “How helpful?”

Suddenly the darkness seemed terribly intimate as she remembered the last time she’d been in this stable with Caleb. Her breasts were swelling and her pulse was pounding in the hollow of her throat. “Helpful enough. He gets bored easily. But he did come up with an idea about the railroad tracks.” She went on quickly, “But it’s time I got back to the castle now. We only worked late because MacDuff wasted hours of our day with trying to trip Rodland up getting out of that ancient dungeon.”

“It all sounds very…pleasant and amusing. But perhaps I should let you get back to the castle. I’m glad you’re keeping busy.” He was silent again. “Tell Rodland that he should spend more time taking care of you and less with MacDuff’s games.”

“You’re the one who sent him. Do you want to tell him yourself?”

“Not now. I don’t believe it’s come to that yet. I’ll keep an eye on the situation and call you soon. Good night, Jane.” He cut the connection.

“Whew,” Rodland said. “Am I in trouble?”

“Why should you be? All I did was tell him the truth.”

“Not quite all the truth. Are you going to tell him about Kilgoray?”

“Eventually. Now isn’t the time.”

“I believe that’s what I said. You took the call anyway.”

“That was different. It would be like ignoring Caleb himself. I’d never do that.” She made a face. “It’s not possible. We have problems but we’re way past lies or games. We just have to get past this patch to the other side.”

“Really?” he asked curiously. “And what is on the other side?”

She smiled brilliantly. “I can’t wait to see. Something wonderful and challenging and splendid. Because we’ll make it that way.”