As they approached the head of the valley, he gave a peculiar liquid whistle and a horseman moved out of the trees on their left, moonlight glinting on the barrel of his shotgun.“Is it yourself, Kevin?” Dennis Rogan called softly.“I’ll send Marteen up to relieve you in an hour,” Kevin told him as they passed.Dennis grinned cheerfully. “Good night to ye, Colonel,” he said, and melted back into the darkness of the trees.“So you’re mounting guards now?” Clay said. Kevin nodded. “You might say things are beginning to warm up.” At that moment they came to the rim of the valley, and all further conversation ended as they concentrated on safely negotiating the steep path.A dog started to bark as they rode past the paddock into the yard, and as they dismounted, the front door opened, casting a shaft of yellow light into the night.Mrs. Rogan peered out at them, a lamp in her hand as Clay walked toward her, saddlebags over one arm. “How is he?” he asked.She shrugged. “He’s suffered worse and lived.”
