He didn’t speak for a moment, then said slowly, “Maybe it wasn’t that he wanted you to come to Summer Island. Maybe it was that he didn’t want you to go home to Eve.”

She froze. “What are you saying?”

“Coincidences. I always have problems with coincidences. You were planning to go home to visit Eve and Joe. Then suddenly your dog became very ill, and you had to cancel your trip to Eve and bring Toby here. Coincidence?”

“Why would anyone want to stop me from going to see Eve?”

“Inconvenient?”

“Caleb.”

“How do I know? It’s all just a product of my suspicious mind.”

But that product was beginning to scare the hell out of her. “It’s too … Why?”

“We’ll have to find out, won’t we?”

“No, we won’t,” she said harshly. “Because it’s not true. Nothing is wrong with Eve. None of this is going to touch her.”

“I scared you,” he said. “You asked, Jane.”

Yes, she had asked. But she hadn’t thought he would say anything that would involve Eve. “It’s all supposition.”

“I never claimed anything else.”

She drew a shaky breath. “I know.” She pulled out her phone. “But I think I’ll call Eve anyway. I promised I’d call her about Toby.”

He smiled. “That’s right you did.”

She dialed quickly.

Answer, Eve.

One ring.

Two rings.

Eve picked up on the third ring. “Jane?”

Jane felt heady with relief. “Yes. Did I wake you?”

“No, I was awake. I’ve had trouble sleeping tonight. How’s Toby?”

“Better. He’s going to live, Eve.”

“Thank God. What was wrong with him?”

“Poison.”

“What?”

“I know, it’s crazy. Some bastard poisoned him.”

“Who?

“I don’t know yet. The whole thing’s beyond any kind of sanity.” She paused. “How are you? Is everything all right there?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Take care of Toby.”

“If you’re fine, then why are you having trouble sleeping?”

“I should have known that you’d pick up on that. Ben Hudson dropped by unexpectedly.”

“Really? Why? You haven’t seen him since you found Bonnie, have you?”

“No.” She changed the subject. “How long before Toby will be well enough for you to bring him here?”

“I’m hoping only a day or two. He’s getting wonderful help here on the island.”

“Let me know as soon as you know for sure. Now I’m going to call Joe and tell him the good news about Toby. Or maybe not. It’s still the middle of the night, and he has to be in court tomorrow. I’ll phone him first thing in the morning.” Her voice was suddenly tense. “And I may decide not to wait until you come to me. Maybe I’ll hop a plane and check on you and Toby myself. Take care of yourself.” Eve hung up.

Jane slowly pressed the disconnect.

“Okay?” Caleb asked.

She nodded. “She said she was fine.”

“But you don’t believe her?”

“Sure I do.” She was frowning. “But she said something about coming down here to check on Toby and me. And she got off the phone too soon.”

“So?”

“She didn’t want me to ask questions. That bothered me. And what is Ben Hudson doing at the cottage?”

“I might be able to help you if I knew who Ben Hudson was. Is he a threat?”

She shook her head. “No way. It’s just odd that he should turn up tonight.” She turned and started for the door. “I’m going to ask Devon Brady how soon I can transport Toby.”

“And if you don’t get the answer you want?”

She hadn’t known that the answer had already formed in her mind. “I need to get to Eve. I think something is going on with her. I’ll just wait until I’m sure Toby’s stabilized. He may already be there.” She was thinking quickly. “And then I may turn him over to Margaret until I can come back. She’d take good care of him.”

He looked at her in surprise. “You’d trust her with your precious Toby? You just met her.”

“I’d trust her.” She met his gaze. “Will you take me to Eve?”

“That goes without saying.” He bowed mockingly. “I’m at your service. Why else would I be here?”

“I don’t know. I can never quite figure you out, Caleb.”

“But you’re willing to use me. Maybe you even actually trust me a little. Wouldn’t that be interesting?” He gestured with a little shooing motion. “Run along and make your arrangements about Toby. Oh, that’s right, you don’t like me to give you orders.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Then I’ll just gas up the plane and have it ready to go if you decide that’s your best option.”

“Thanks, Caleb,” she said absently. “Of course it all depends on Toby…”

“No, it depends on Jane MacGuire.” She heard him chuckle as he turned away. “You’ve made up your mind, and you’d find a way to save your Toby and fly to Eve’s rescue no matter what the obstacles.”

“Maybe.” She opened the door. “But Eve said she doesn’t need rescuing.”

“And you hope she’s telling the truth.”

“Eve never lies to me. I just don’t like the poison. I don’t like having to come here instead of going straight to the lake cottage. I don’t like the way she shunted me off that call.” She said over her shoulder, “So I’m going to go and ask her in person why she did it.”

*   *   *

“I’LL BE BACK SOON, BOY.” Jane’s hand gently stroked Toby’s head. He was still under sedation and didn’t move. But she hoped somehow he might be able to understand her. “We made it through, Toby. We’ve been together so long and it looks like God wants us to stick together for a while longer.” Her voice was unsteady. “Isn’t that great?” She put her cheek on his ruff. He was so soft and silky. “I love you,” she whispered. “I wouldn’t leave you if I didn’t have to do it. But Devon says you’re doing fine, and you’re out of danger. I’m not so sure about Eve. You’ll understand, you love Eve, too.”

“Devon says you’re leaving.”

Jane straightened and turned to see Margaret standing in the doorway. “Yes, I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to see you before I left. Devon says that it will take a day or two before Toby will be well enough to travel.” She gave Toby a final pat. “I’ll be back in a few days. Will you take care of him for me?”

Margaret nodded. “I told you that he belonged to me, too, now.” She looked down at Toby. “He’ll be well soon. He has a strong heart. I’ll put him with Monty and Maggie and that will help.” She smiled. “After all, they’re his parents. It’s right that they’re together now.” Her smile faded. “You wouldn’t leave Toby if it wasn’t important. Did you find out who tried to kill him?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Maybe. I just know I have to get to Eve. She adopted me when I was a kid, and I’m uneasy that this may have something to do with her.”

“Why?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m trying to put the pieces together. I was going to see Eve when all this began. She could be the key.”

“You’re worried about her.”

“I love her,” she said simply. “She’s the most important person in my life.”

“That’s … nice,” Margaret’s voice was wistful. “But it’s kind of dangerous, too.”

“What?”

“All your eggs in one basket…” Margaret said vaguely. “You have too much to lose. It’s safer not to narrow down the field.” She tilted her head. “I’d think that you’d be afraid of doing that. It doesn’t seem your style.”

Jane gazed at her in surprise. Margaret and she had spent less than a few hours together and exchanged little conversation. How had Margaret realized that Jane had problems with trust? It should have made her feel uneasy to be so easily read, but somehow it didn’t. “Sometimes you can’t help yourself. People come into your life, and you know that you can’t let them leave again even if there’s a chance that they’ll hurt you. Haven’t you found that, Margaret?”

“Yes, but I try to keep them at a distance … like you, Jane.”

Jane shook her head. “I’ve never seen anyone more open to people than you are.”

Margaret suddenly chuckled. “I said I try, I didn’t say I succeed. I know what’s good for me, I just dive in anyway.” She gave Toby a pat. “Like Toby here. He’d rather take a chance than close himself away from people who might show him affection. That’s why we have to protect him.”