“What are you doing?”
“We willnae make it to the convent today,” he replied. “But I know a place where we can stay for the night. Somewhere safe.” And somewhere he could gather information before deciding what to do next.
The coastline came into view ahead, a series of high, jagged cliffs that plunged straight down into the water with little or no beach at their bases. The only inhabitants of this wild place were sea birds who clung to the sides of those cliffs and the filled the air around them. Of people, there was no sign. Or at least, not unless you knew where to look.
Conall guided the boat close between two high cliffs, their sides so sheer that they cut off the daylight. Molly came up to stand beside him, her hazel eyes scanning the cliffs.
“Where are we going? There’s nowhere to land here. If we’re not careful, we’ll run aground or dash the boat against the cliff-sides.”
“Perhaps,” he replied. “Perhaps not.”
He stared ahead. A wall of rock rose out of the water, crusted with barnacles and with white-capped waves crashing against its sides. Conall headed straight for it.
“What are you doing?” Molly shouted desperately. “We’ll be smashed to pieces!”
“Dinna ye trust me?” Conall replied. “Prepare to reef the sail.”
Molly looked like she was about to argue, but then snapped her mouth shut and hurried off to carry out his orders. The boat drifted closer to the cliff, the swell carrying it dangerously near to where waves were breaking on underwater rocks. Conall threw over the tiller at the last moment, sending the boat wide and bringing it broadside on against the cliff.
He pointed. “There.”
Molly followed the line of his outstretched finger and her eyes widened. “There’s a cleft! Straight through the cliff!”
“Aye,” Conall replied. “And that’s our destination. Think we can make it?”
“You want to sail through that? It’s pretty tight.”
“But not too tight.”
He grinned, feeling suddenly light-hearted and a little reckless. Molly met his gaze, and after a moment’s pause, smiled back. “Let’s do it then.”
Conall nodded, grinning with delight as he grabbed the tiller again and urged the boat forward. Molly went to stand by the mainmast, ready to react to his instructions, and they surged ahead, racing towards the cleft in the cliff face.
The boat lurched as they entered the cleft, water splashing loudly against the hull as they were squeezed between rock walls that hemmed in both sides of the vessel.
“We’re too close!” Molly shouted. “We’re going to hit!”
“No, we’re not,” Conall replied, far more calmly than he felt. He’d braved this channel countless times, but each time was different depending on the time of year, the weather, and the mood of the sea.
The current was fierce and Conall felt it tugging against the boat, trying to dash them against the cliffs. He kept a steady hand on the tiller and threw Molly a pole.
“Get to the rail and push us off if we get too close.”
Molly gave him a look like she thought he was mad, but took hold of the pole, pushing against the cliff with all her might while Conall steered them in as close as he dared. The wind roared in his ears and white-capped waves crashed around them as they shot through the narrow channel with inches to spare and emerged into a broad, circular bay.
Molly let out a gasp of relief and Conall turned to her with a grin.
“We did it!” he said triumphantly.
Molly laughed and shook her head in admiration. “You are something else.”
“Weare something else, lass. I couldnae have done it without ye.”
Caught up in the moment, Conall suddenly lifted her off her feet and spun her around. She yelped in surprise and staggered a little as he set her back on her feet.
But he didn’t release her, and she made no move to pull away. His hands were resting on her hips, her hands were on his shoulders, and he stared down at her just as she stared up at him. Heat pooled in his stomach as he took in Molly, from her sparkling hazel eyes to the way the sunlight danced in her wild hair. He felt like he was standing on the edge of a precipice and one wrong move could send him tumbling over into unknown depths.
With an effort, he cleared his throat and stepped back.
