Captive, p.17
Captive, page 17
“Jane, this is Bohdan.” Caleb’s lips tightened. “What the hell were you—”
“I said, let me think about it,” she interrupted. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t talk about it. Just give me a little time.” She turned back to Rodland. “Anything else?”
He nodded. “He said Chiswick tortured and murdered a woman on the yacht a couple of days before that. They sank her body off the coast near the Scottish border.”
“Felicia,” Jane said numbly. “It had to be Felicia.”
Caleb was next to her, his hand on her shoulder. “Jane. I’m sorry.”
“I know. So am I. I should never have come here to the Run. I should never have told her where I was going. So many mistakes…”
“Not your mistakes.” He took her face in his two hands and gazed down into her eyes. “Mine. Always mine. Remember that. Since the beginning. Always mine.”
“You’re doing it again. Even when no one blames you, you blame yourself.” She shook her head vehemently. “You can’t do it this time. I won’t let you. Do you know how much that hurts me?” She broke away from him and strode off from the fire toward where the Range Rover was parked.
She opened the driver’s door and slipped into the seat. She drew a deep breath as her hands clenched on the steering wheel. Just hold on. The entire day had been a disaster in one way or another. Yet she hadn’t dreamed it could get worse.
Kilgoray. Who would have guessed that she would have to face that today? Along with all the pain that—
The passenger door opened, and Rodland jumped into the car. “Don’t yell at me. Caleb didn’t have anything to do with sending me this time. He told me to stay away from you and let you have your space. I’m just feeling guilty as hell for not taking better care of you. I thought I was handling that Kilgoray business pretty well. And you told me Bohdan didn’t have anything to do with—”
“Be quiet, Rodland,” she said. “I can’t stand having another man taking the blame for anything I’ve done. Caleb is bad enough. And I told you the truth, Bohdan didn’t have anything to do with me going to Kilgoray.” She looked away. “Until he did.”
He was silent a moment. “That doesn’t compute. I’ll back off, but you have to talk to Caleb. This all sounds weird as hell from the outside.”
“I know that it does. I’ll take care of it.” She drew a deep, shaky breath. “Just not right now. I’ve got to plan how I’m going to do it. And I don’t want to sit here and make excuses to you. Go away, Rodland.”
“I’m going.” He opened his door. “Can I get you something to eat? You haven’t had supper.”
She shook her head. “Maybe I’ll grab something later.”
“Want to hear the end of MacClaren’s story?” His tone was coaxing. “It’s much more cheerful than all this Bohdan crap.”
“Not in the mood,” she said. “Though I’m all for a happy ending if I can work one out. Thanks, Rodland.”
“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?”
“Not at the moment, Caleb,” Bohdan said. “I’ll get to you eventually. I have great plans for your demise. But I’m more interested in your Jane’s fate. You’ve caused me a few headaches by stashing her at that castle. I need to show you that you can’t do that to me.” His voice lowered. “And I believe I know exactly how to do it. Are you familiar with a T. S. Campbell, Jane?”
“I never heard of him.”
“You answered too quickly. Because he remembers you. Though it took a while before he’d admit it. We had to check his records. As I said, this is the second visit we’ve paid to this village. The first time I gave orders not to draw attention to why we were here. But when we came back here after the attack on MacDuff’s castle, I told them to tear this village apart to find out why you were here.” He paused. “We found someone who recognized you as visiting at Campbell’s office. And then we had to persuade him to tell the truth. I’m particularly good at that kind of persuasion.”
“I’m sure you are,” she said bitterly. “But I don’t know him.”
“Yes, you do, and I’m going to see how well you know him in the next few days. I’ll call you back and let him talk to you…if he still can.” His voice was almost a whisper now. “And then I’ll let you beg Caleb to give himself up so that I won’t cut you open as I intend to do to Campbell.”
She felt sick. “You could be bluffing. How do I know that you aren’t?”
“Because you can tell how much I’d enjoy it. I’d go very deep, Jane MacGuire. What would I find?”
“You son of a bitch.”
“I’ll talk to you soon.” He cut the connection.
“Jane.” Caleb took her in his arms and held her tight. “You’re shaking like a leaf in a windstorm.”
“He’s a monster.” She was clutching at him. “We can’t let him do that to Campbell. He’s innocent, just like all those other people Bohdan has killed. Did you hear him? I can’t let him do that.”
“We won’t, but I have to know everything you know. I have to know about Campbell.”
“I was going to tell you. I just didn’t know how. There seemed to be so many things that were in the way. And I thought that no one would—”
“Jane.” He gently shook her. “Stop giving me excuses and tell me now.”
She drew a deep breath and then said in a rush, “I’m going to have a baby.”
He blinked. “What?”
“You heard me. Why else would I leave MacDuff’s property where everybody had bent over backward to keep me safe? I had an idea I was carrying something very precious. I didn’t want to risk it. But I had to be sure, dammit.”
“I can see how you would,” he said slowly. “Would you care to tell me who T. S. Campbell is?”
“He’s a doctor,” she said. “He’s my obstetrician. I’d been feeling edgy and depressed for the past couple of weeks. I couldn’t understand why I felt as if I was caught, almost suffocated by everything around me. That night after I saw you in the stable, I thought that I noticed…changes. When I suspected I might be pregnant, I decided I had to be certain. But I didn’t want anyone to know until I found out, so I decided I’d go to Kilgoray to a doctor. I thought it was better if I went to somewhere no one was familiar with me. I made the appointment and asked Rodland to go with me.”
“What the hell,” Caleb said. “Didn’t it occur to you to talk to me?”
“No.” She straightened. “I had to get used to the idea myself. It was scary…and yet magical. Besides, I didn’t know if you wanted to have a child with me. There was a possibility that any child we had together would have the same blood gift you inherited. We’ve talked about it before, and you weren’t sure that you’d want to inflict that on any child.”
“But you said it wouldn’t matter.”
“And I still wouldn’t care. I was happy when I found out I was pregnant.” She moistened her lips. “I told you once that I thought you’d be a wonderful father. If for no other reason than you’d know what not to do with a child. But I didn’t get pregnant on purpose. I was surprised. It just…happened.”
“Which seems to occur frequently where we’re concerned. I really didn’t think you’d plotted to trap me,” he said huskily. “You’re too honest. It was you I was trying to protect anyway. Having a man like me around is difficult enough. You didn’t deserve to have a problem child to care for, too.”
“Yes, I do.” She met his eyes. “I do deserve it. No one can say my brother, Michael, isn’t a bit strange, and yet he’s loving and wonderful and I wouldn’t trade him for all the so-called normal kids on the planet. Don’t you ever tell me I don’t deserve to have him or a child of my own who may not be what’s considered ‘usual.’”
“No, I won’t tell you that. You’re clearly a woman who has a mind of her own.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “But may I suggest that we don’t discuss this anymore right now? We’ve been going since dawn, and I can tell you’re exhausted. Then Bohdan pulled the rug out from under us in more ways than one. Why don’t we try to get some sleep and let it sink in? We’ll have decisions enough to make tomorrow.”
“Are you being soothing and trying to take care of me again?” She nodded. “I think you are. I’m not insulted. I don’t care. I’ll take care of you, too. It’s not such a bad idea. I don’t want Bohdan to occupy any more of our minds tonight.” She lifted her hand to cover a yawn. “You’re right, I’m very tired and everything seems to be a blur. Besides, I just want to think about my baby now. I haven’t let myself do that since the night I came back from Kilgoray. There seemed to be too many things getting in my way.”
“Then by all means.” He was laying out the sleeping bags and blankets. “You don’t want to let Bohdan cheat you of anything. We’ll work out how to take him down together. But right now, just let everything else go away.”
“Together,” she murmured as she crawled into the sleeping bag. “That’s what you said before. I was hoping that you meant it.”
“I meant it. Though I’ve been known to try to manipulate situations to suit myself, that’s all in the past.” He lay down beside her. “I didn’t even cross my fingers when I said it.”
“What a relief,” she mocked. “But then I told MacDuff that you never lied to me.”
“I would have been tempted this time. I could feel you edging away from me. I was afraid I was losing you.” He put his arm over her body. “You’re still shaking. Come closer to me.”
She didn’t move. “I’m fine. You can’t solve everything that’s wrong with me.”
“I won’t try. Perhaps I’m hoping that you’ll try your hand at solving everything that’s wrong with me. Heaven knows that would be a monumental task. It would make me feel less insecure if I could feel you close to me.”
“Insecure?” She lifted her head to look at him. “You?” Then she nestled nearer to him. “On the chance that you’re not joking, I wouldn’t want to deny you. I’ve always wanted you to have whatever you wanted or needed.”
“I know you have.” He cradled her head to rest on his shoulder. “And there’s something that I need to know.” He hesitated. “How soon, Jane?”
She stiffened. “When am I due? The doctor said I’m three months’ pregnant. I probably became pregnant during the weeks we were in London watching over Eve, Joe, and Michael.” She looked at him. “But I want you to know that I’m keeping this child. Whether you want it or not. I’ll take care of it, if you decide that you want to walk away. It will be my child and you’ll—”
“Be quiet.” His hand was over her mouth, silencing her. His hoarse voice was intense. “You’re right, it will be your child. Do you think that I’d ever walk away from your child? It will be a part of you. I’d never let either one of you go. But I have to know everything about it so that I can take care of it, and you. I’ve never had to worry about anything like this before. But you’ve got to tell me things and let me help you.”
“And I will.” She went into his arms. “You know more than you think. You’ll always know what to do. You practically raised your sister Lisa. And you did a great job. But we might have to learn together. I may have to call Eve and Joe and have another talk.”
“Later,” Caleb said. “I think I could handle Eve, but I don’t want to deal with an angry ex-SEAL at the moment. We have too much on our plates right now. Go to sleep and we’ll get everything settled in the morning.” He paused. “There is one other item. Would you mind if I fill in Rodland when he comes back to camp?”
“No, why should I mind? The last thing I want is to have to repeat any of Bohdan’s threats again.”
“Just checking. Our arrangement is too new for me to violate any of its clauses. Your relationship with Rodland did have certain secrets.”
“The only thing in the least confidential was our trip to Kilgoray. He didn’t even know who I was going to see.” She added suddenly, “Dr. Campbell. I’m worried about him. He was very nice to me. We’ve got to make certain Bohdan doesn’t hurt him.”
“I’m not forgetting about him. I’m going to call Palik right away and get him to send a team to explore how we can find him.” Caleb kissed her forehead. “But there’s nothing you can do right now. Go to sleep, Jane…”
* * *
The first thing Jane was aware of when she woke the next morning was the scent of bacon and pancakes.
“It’s about time you stirred.” Rodland turned away from the fire as he picked bacon out of the skillet and put it on a plate. “You were sleeping hard, and I thought I was going to have to wake you. I hate the idea of serving cold bacon. It offends my culinary expertise. Go down to the creek and take a quick bath but be back in fifteen minutes.”
She sat up and looked around. “Where’s Caleb?”
“He’s on the phone with MacDuff. He talked to Palik last night after I came back to camp.” He saw her frown and said, “It’s not as if he’s getting ahead of you. He didn’t want me to wake you because he thought you needed the rest.” He suddenly grinned. “A baby, Jane? Not anything I expected. You could have given me a hint.”
“Why should I? It wasn’t your business.” She made a face. “And look at the way you’re behaving now. Just what I didn’t want to happen. I’m very strong, and having this child shouldn’t make any difference to my general good health. I remember Eve was as strong as a horse all through most of her pregnancy with Michael. I’ll exercise and make sure that nothing gets in the way of my keeping my baby well.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Rodland said. “Caleb did warn me. I’ll watch myself from now on. I only meant that Caleb wanted to put Palik and MacDuff in place right away in case he decided to bring them into going after your Dr. Campbell.” He added, “Which you should be thinking about yourself. You know Caleb is unique. Take advantage of him.”
“I will.” She got to her feet and grabbed her clothes, towel, and soap. “But our agreement is that we take advantage of each other for the greater good. I prefer that philosophy.”
“Very concise, but a little puritanical. Caleb is a loner. You might have trouble keeping him in line.”
“Not if we work at it.” She took off in the direction of the creek.
“Fifteen minutes,” he called after her. “And don’t try to keep me in line. I’m the cook.”
She was chuckling as she reached the creek. But the smile faded as she waded into the cold water. She had no desire to keep Caleb in line. They had a long way to go, and she had no idea how it was going to end. She instantly rejected the thought. It had to end well because she wouldn’t accept anything else. She had Caleb, and now she had a child, and she would work and do everything to make them happy.
“You have five more minutes.” She turned to see Caleb speaking from the bank. “Rodland said to remind you that he was the cook.” He shook out the towel and held it out to her. “I told him that I wasn’t the one to send after you.”
“Yes, you are. Because Rodland told me how unique you are and that I should take advantage of you.” She stood there looking at him and could sense the sheer arousal enveloping him. It was electric, almost as if he were outlined in fire. Every muscle was poised and ready as his gaze ran over her naked body. How many times had she seen him like this? Yet it was always new and created an instant response. She could feel the muscles of her abdomen clench and her breasts swell. She knew what was coming, and good heavens how she wanted it.
