Richards was duly impressed. 'I certainly misjudged her,' he announced. 'You saw her make the switch, didn't you, Caine. That's why you called her back.'
Caine shook his head. 'No, I didn't,' he admitted. 'But when she embraced each of your I knew she was up to something. She doesn't usually show such affection to strangers.'
'No, she doesn't,' Nathan agreed;
Caine looked at Lyon. 'The woman has led me in circles. She's determined to make me a madman.'
'I'd say she's already accomplished that goal,' Nathan drawled out.
'This sounds familiar to me,' Lyon said. He smiled, remembering the bizarre circumstances leading up
to his marriage. 'I've been led in a few circles by Christina, too. Tell me this, Caine. What did you do while she was leading you?'
'Same thing you did,' Caine answered. 'I fell in love with her.'
Lyon nodded. 'God help you now, friend. It isn't going to get any easier after you've married her.
When is the wedding, by the way?'
'Yes, Caine, when is the wedding?' Nathan demanded.
'There damned well will be a wedding.' Colin made that statement of fact. He was frowning intently at his brother.
'Yes,' Caine answered. 'There will be a wedding.'
'Sounds to me as if you don't have any choice, son,' Sir Richards interjected. 'Will you say your vows with a pistol aimed at your back?'
'If a pistol is needed, it will be aimed at Jade's back, not mine,' Caine countered. 'I still have to convince her that I mean what I say. Hell, I'll probably even have to get down on one knee in front of her men.'
Even Nathan smiled over that picture. Colin scoffed. 'Jade won't make you kneel before her,' he said.
'No, but Black Harry sure as hell will,' Caine replied.
'Who is Black Harry?' Richards asked.
'Nathan, you start explaining,' Caine announced. 'While I go after Jade.'
'She's gone?' Nathan asked.
Caine stood up and started for the door. 'Of course she's gone. I never make the same mistake twice, Nathan. I'll be back soon.'
Since Caine was already wearing his riding britches and boots, he went directly to the corral housing the horses.
The speckled mare was missing. 'How many men do you have trailing her?' he asked the stablemaster.
'Three at the back door chased after her,' the servant answered.
Caine bridled his stallion but didn't bother with the saddle. He grabbed hold of the black mane and mounted the steed in one quick motion.
He trailed her to the cabin on the edge of his property. She was standing next to the creek, watering her horse.
Caine broke through the trees, then goaded his mount into a full gallop. Jade heard the sound of pounding hooves. She turned to run into the woods. Caine's stallion never broke stride as he leaned down and lifted her into his arms. He slammed her bottom down in front of him, turned direction and headed back toward home.
He didn't say a word to her, nor she to him, and he didn't slow his pace until they'd reached their destination.
Sterns was waiting at the front door. Caine dragged Jade up the steps. 'Lock her in her room!' he roared. 'Post two guards below her windows and two more outside the door.'
He didn't let go of Jade until he'd dragged her inside the house and bolted the door behind him.
He kept his expression as ugly as he could manage until he was once again inside the library. When he was back in his chair behind his desk, he let himself smile.
'I assume you found her,' Nathan said.
'I did,' Caine answered. 'Impressed the hell out of her, too. Now catch me up on what you've told my friends,' he ordered.
The talk returned to the letters and the men didn't finish formulating their plans until well past eleven. Richards and Lyon were given chambers in the North wing. Both appeared to be reluctant to say goodnight.
Richards insisted on taking the copies of the letters to bed with him. 'There's information still to be ferreted out,' he announced.
No one argued with the director. Caine went directly to Jade's room. He dismissed the guards, unlocked the door, and went inside.
Jade was reading in bed. She wouldn't look at him, but kept her gaze on the book she held in her hands.
'You need more light if you're going to read,' Caine announced. 'The fire needs to be stoked, too. It's damned cold in here.'
She didn't even look up at him. 'It's ridiculous to pretend I'm not here,' he told her, his exasperation obvious
