Chapter 23
Caleb
I squeeze her hand gently, enjoying the small smile that plays at her lips. Before I can respond, the car door swings open and a tall, imposing figure emerges.
Declan MacGallan.
The commanding presence, the shrewd eyes that miss nothing, the way everyone’s posture subtly shifts as he approaches. This is a man accustomed to authority.
“Caleb, how’s it going?” he asks, extending his hand to me. “How’s the leg coming along?”
“Good. And the leg has its days. Come meet Richard,” I say, looking around for the man in question. “There he is over by Jake.”
We walk over to where a few men are standing by the barn doors, pointing out various landmarks on the ranch.
Jake turns as we approach and shakes Declan’s hand firmly. “Thank you for coming, and for bringing your men. I wasn’t expecting quite this level of response.”
“When Kane explained what you’ve uncovered, I knew this required more than a token effort.
There will be fifty more men arriving tomorrow.
” Declan’s gaze sweeps over our group, lingering briefly on Lana and me, noting our clasped hands with the faintest arch of an eyebrow.
“Northern Tier Mining has a reputation for ruthlessness that extends well beyond Canada’s borders. ”
“You know them?” I ask, stepping forward, reluctantly releasing Lana’s hand.
Declan’s expression darkens. “The MacGallans had... encounters with their parent company. They play dirty. But so do I.” He turns to Connor and Kane. “Show me what we’re working with.”
As the group moves inside the house to review the documents and security plans, I hang back, scanning our surroundings. Something doesn’t feel right. Maybe it’s years of combat instincts, or maybe it’s the way Scout keeps staring intently at the tree line beyond Jake’s property.
“You feel it too?” Lana asks quietly, following my gaze.
I nod. “We’re being watched.”
“Do you think it’s them?”
“Probably.” I keep my voice low, casual, as if we’re discussing the weather. “Let’s go inside. Better not to let them know we’ve spotted them.”
I place my hand lightly on the small of Lana’s back as we walk toward the house, fighting the urge to look over my shoulder. Instead, I use the windows’ reflections to scan the distant tree line. There—a brief flash of light, possibly sunlight on binocular lenses.
Inside, the atmosphere is intense but organized.
Declan and Rory have taken charge of security arrangements, while Connor, Mia, and Richard are sorting through documents with Margret and Kane.
Jake and Ella are showing Wren and Kat the map of the waterfall area where we suspect the remaining gold might be hidden.
“Caleb,” Rory calls, waving me over. “We need your input on the landscape.”
I join them at the map, but my mind is split between the discussion and the watcher in the woods. I need to alert them without creating panic.
“The north ridge gives the best vantage point,” I say, pointing to the elevated area. “But it’s also the most exposed approach. Anyone coming that way would be visible for at least half a mile.”
Rory nods, understanding my real message. “We’ll place two men there immediately. High visibility works both ways.”
Declan catches our exchange, his eyes narrowing slightly. He gets it, too. “Perhaps we should conduct a perimeter check now, while we’re discussing placement. Kane, Connor, Jake—care to join us? What about you, Caleb? Is your leg up to it?”
“Absolutely, I’m in.” I agree. “It’s getting better every day.”
All of us slip outside, moving casually toward the barn as if continuing our conversation. Once inside, Declan drops the pretense.
“Where?” he asks.
“Northwest tree line, about three hundred yards out,” I reply. “Single observer, possibly with a spotter.”
Kane is already on his radio, issuing quiet commands to the team. “Four-man sweep, silent approach. Observe only, do not engage unless threatened.”
Declan studies me with newfound interest. “Good eye. Most people wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Most people haven’t spent years being hunted by rebels,” I reply with a shrug.
“Jake mentioned you were special forces. Which unit?”
“That’s still classified,” I say, not unkindly. Some habits die hard.
Declan nods, respecting the secrecy. “Fair enough. What’s your assessment of our situation here?”
I consider for a moment. “We’re exposed. The property is too large to secure completely. If NTM decides to come in force, we’ll need more than fifty men.”
“Hence why more are coming tomorrow, and the documents are being moved,” Kane adds, rejoining us. “Team is en route to the observer’s position. We’ll know more soon.”
“What about the waterfall location?” I ask. “If Wolf hid the gold there, we need to retrieve it before NTM figures it out.”
“Agreed,” Declan says. “We’ll send a team tomorrow at first light. The spring equinox is in two days—if that’s significant to finding the cache, we need to be in position before then.”
“I want to go,” I say firmly. “I know the property better than your men.”
Kane and Declan exchange a glance. “And I suspect Lana will want to join you,” Rory remarks with a knowing smile.
I don’t deny it. “Lana’s good in the field. She keeps her head under pressure.”
“So I’ve heard,” Declan says. “Very well. You’ll lead the team to the waterfall tomorrow. Choose four of my men to accompany you.”
My radio crackles to life—one of the security team Kane assigned to me earlier. “Night Owl, this is Bravo Two. We’ve reached the position. The observer is gone, but we found footprints and cigarette butts. Professional job, military-grade ghillie suit fibers caught on branches.”
“Copy that, Bravo Two,” I respond. “Maintain surveillance on that sector. Report any movement.”
I look at Kane and Declan. “NTM is hiring ex-military contractors. This just got more complicated.”
“Nothing we can’t handle,” Declan says confidently. “Let’s get back inside before they notice we’re gone.”
As we return to the house, I spot Lana through the window, her pink hair catching the light as she bends over documents with Kat. Something protective stirs in me—a fierce determination to keep her safe from whatever is coming our way.
The rest of the day passes in a flurry of activity.
Security teams establish a perimeter around both properties.
Declan’s men set up more surveillance equipment and a list of coded communication protocols.
The most crucial documents are photographed, digitized, and prepared for transport to Toronto.
By evening, the initial chaos has settled into organized vigilance.
Most of Declan’s men have moved to their assigned positions, leaving a core team at Jake’s house and another at the lodge.
Kori, with Lana’s, Mia’s, Wren’s, and Kat’s help, somehow managed to feed everyone within twenty minutes—a minor miracle that earned all of them immediate respect of Declan’s entire team.
“It’s unusually warm for tonight, don’t you think?” I remark to Lana as we sit on Jake’s front porch, taking in the sunset.
She nods, “Thankfully, it is. The snow has begun to melt.”
“You ought to get some sleep. We’ve got another long day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Are you staying here tonight?” she asks, her fingers intertwined with mine.
“Yes. Kane asked me to coordinate the security team here.” I hesitate, then add, “I’m leading the expedition to the waterfall tomorrow. I’d like you to come with us, if you want to.”
Her eyes light up. “Really? You want me there?”
“Of course. You’ve been part of this from the beginning.” I squeeze her hand. “Besides, I sleep better when you’re nearby.”
A soft blush colors her cheeks. “Even when I wake you up with nightmares?”
“Even then,” I say, leaning closer. “Though I prefer the mornings.”
Her breath catches as she understands my meaning—the memory of waking with her in my arms still fresh for both of us. “Me too,” she admits softly.
I brush a strand of hair from her face, letting my fingers linger on her cheek. “We should find you a ride back to the lodge. It’s getting late.”
“Or I could stay,” she suggests, her voice barely above a whisper. “Here. With you.”
The invitation hangs between us, charged with possibility. Part of me—a very insistent part—wants nothing more than to accept. But the rational side of my brain reminds me of the watchers in the woods, the danger that might be closing in around us.
“I want that,” I tell her honestly. “More than you know. But not in the house…. how does the barn sound to you?”