Chapter 3
Molly glared at thestrange man standing in front of her. What did he mean ‘his’ boat? Was that some sort of joke? Between getting a soaking this afternoon, poor tourist numbers, and vultures trying to get their claws into her business, her patience was just about shot.
“Off my boat, now!”
A wave of dizziness hit her, the deck seesawing. Had she caught a chill in the storm? She stumbled, but the man’s hands shot out to grasp her arms, steadying her. She blinked up at his face—and froze.
He was tall, muscular, with penetrating gray eyes. Handsome, if severe. He wore a baggy linen shirt and soft pants with boots up to his knees.
She jerked from his grip, cheeks flaming. “I’m—I’m fine,” she muttered, smoothing her windswept hair. Her head still spun but she’d be damned if she’d let him see that.
“Well?” she snapped. “What are you waiting for? Get off my boat!”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Get offyerboat? I think not, thief.”
Molly bristled, hands clenching. “Thief? Why, you—this has been my da’s boat for twenty years!”
Was he from the Grand Island Tour Company? Had they sent him to steal theSelkiebecause she wouldn’t sell? She fumbled out the crumpled letter and shook it at him. “Did you send this? Trying to scare me into giving her up?”
The man glanced at the letter, then at her, as if she were mad. “Where have ye come from, lass? How did ye find me?”
Molly huffed a laugh. “What are you talking about? I live here. Just over—” She waved her hand at the village and then broke off, peering around in shock. The village was gone. There was no sign of the white-washed houses tumbling down the hill, no sign of the harbor or the many boats that bobbed at anchor along the wharves. There was only an empty, windswept cove with a crescent beach and cliffs rising beyond.
What the—? Unease skittered through her. “What is going on?” she whispered.
She could feel the boat rocking beneath her feet and the chill bite of the wind against her cheeks, but everything else made no sense. Was she dreaming? Had he knocked her out? Kidnapped her? Is that why she felt so dizzy and strange?
She backed away, wagging a finger at the stranger. “Stay back. I’m calling the police.” She fumbled in her back pocket for her phone but didn’t find it. With a sinking feeling in her stomach she remembered putting it on the kitchen table when she got home and not picking it up again when she’d left in such a hurry. Blast. What was she supposed to do now?
She drew herself tall, glaring at the stranger. “I’ll only ask once more—get off my boat!”
The man’s eyes sparked with annoyance. “And I’ll only ask once more: who are ye? Where did ye come from?” He glanced up and down the beach. “I’m losing my patience, woman. Is this some kind of trick? Are ye and Irene MacAskill in this together? Trying to distract me so ye can steal theMermaid?”
Molly blinked in surprise. Irene MacAskill? How did he knowher? There was only one explanation that she could think of. “Oh, so that’s it? She works for the company too, does she? Sent her down to scope me out did you? All those ramblings about destiny were just a distraction weren’t they?”
“Enough questions,” the man growled. “Ye are delaying my mission. Off!”
Before Molly could react, he swept her up into his arms, jumped down onto the beach, and unceremoniously dumped her into the sand. She was so shocked that she lay there stunned as the man set his wide shoulders to the boat and pushed her into the surf before agilely climbing aboard.
Molly hurried to her feet. Her outraged shouts went unheeded as he cast off, his face set towards the wind.
Molly waded into the surf after him. That was her livelihood sailing away, damn it! She’d not give it up without a fight. Spying a trailing rope, she lunged, grasping it just as the boat picked up speed. Molly barely had time to gasp before she was dragged out to sea.
***
CONALL GROUND HIS JAWas he stood at the tiller. Frustration churned in his stomach like bile. When he’d put in at that cove all he’d wanted was a chance to rest for a bit and have some breakfast. Was that too much to ask? But instead he’d met a crazy old woman who’d said some odd things and then met an equally crazy young woman who’d tried to steal his boat.
God give him strength! Could anything else go wrong today? He took a deep breath as the boat picked up speed, trying to calm his irritation. It didn’t matter now, he told himself. He’d left them behind and now he could get on with his mission. That’s all that mattered.
