The ship, still buffeted by the strong winds andstinging rain, strained at its anchor in Anstruther harbor on theFife coast. They had been lucky when there had been a slight lullin the storm around midnight. Taking shelter in the barren,windswept harbor, Alexander had been striding across the deck allnight, cursing the storm that was holding him hostage.
Just because his ship was trapped, though, theship’s master was not about to sit idle. Alexander had already sentoff a dozen men on foot and horseback to the north and a dozen moreto the south with directions to comb every beaches and inlets fromFife Ness to Kincraig. But the area being searched was only a smallstretch compared to the shoreline south of the Firth of Forth, andhe would need more men to broaden the search. He would find hisbrother.
As the two messengers dropped into the small boatthat would take them to the shore and to waiting horses, one of theship’s mates spoke up to the small group gathered by the railing.“I for one have never seen a better swimmer than Master Colin.”
Alexander understood the words were said as much forhis sake as anyone else’s.
“Aye,” said another. “That sea could easily havecarried ‘im all the way to Leith.”
“Knowing how ready the lad was to be done with thatlot at St. Andrews,” an old tar added, “I’ll wager he’s swum allthe way to Dundee. Why, the young devil’s no doubt sitting in frontof the fire at the Cock ‘n’ Crown right now, a cup o’ ale in ‘ishand and a lassie on ‘is knee.”
“Ye meanbothknees.” The other corrected.“The way the lassies throw themselves at the lad…” The sailorpaused, shaking his head in wonder. “What young Master Colin saysis right—why settle for one when ye can have ‘em all?”
As the men laughed uneasily, Alexander looked outacross the harbor at the storm-lashed sea. He wished he could be sosure. He wished he had Colin here now.
His ship’s mate laid a hand on his shoulder. “We’llfind him, m’lord. ‘Tis a sailor’s lot to end his days in the sea,but Master Colin’s time was not up. I’m certain of it.”
The ship’s master silently cursed the storm infrustration. Though he’d continue to have his men scour the shore,it would be much easier to sail up and down the coast in search ofhim.
“While we’re trapped on this barren harbor, I’mjoining ashore to join the search to the south. Send someone afterme if you get any news from the others.”
“Aye, m’lord.”
As Alexander called for a boat, he tried to pushback the nagging voice in his head that kept telling him thatperhaps he was not doing enough. But then, maybe all of this wasfor nothing. Perhaps Colin was indeed lost at sea.
Nay. He wasn’t ready to deal with such apossibility. His brother had too much life in him…too much fight inhim…to die like that.
Her first conscious thought was the realization thatshe was warm.
She snuggled into the familiar comfort of herbedding. Warm and dry. Tess let out a deep breath. She could hearthe sound of the wind and rain against the walls, and the stormysea in the distance. She’d get up in a moment and see about gettingtogether something to eat. Aye, she was hungry and thirsty, and sheneeded to relieve herself. Just a moment more, she thought,stretching her muscles beneath the blanket, savoring the lovelywarmth surrounding her. Her legs bumped against something hard.
Tess opened her eyes and froze, too stunned even tobreathe. Inches from her face she could see the mouth and chin ofthe sleeping Highlander. The two were both lying together on thenarrow bedding! Onherbed! One of the man’s lean, musculararms rested on her bare shoulder. She had been using his other armas a pillow. She could feel his warm breath caressing herforehead.
And she was naked, she realized with a hot flash ofpanic. She didn’t have to lift the blankets to know she was bare toskin.
Tess moved her head only slightly to look down athis body. From what she could see, the Highlander was fully clothedand sleeping on top of the blanket.
Bits and pieces of a one way conversation rattledaround in her mind. He seemed to talk quite a bit. She alsoremembered him being concerned about her. Aye, he’d come after her.He’d even carried her back here! And then she faintly recalledtaking off her own wet, half-frozen clothing before fallingsleep.
Falling sleep naked. Her entire body flushed hot atthe thought.
She glanced again at him. But nothing had happened.He was fully clothed even now. Layers of blankets separatedthem.
Tess stared at the man’s full lips. So near. Ashadow of growth was already darkening his chin. His shoulders werewide. His strength was so potent even while sleeping. And still shefound she was not at all afraid of him.
Tess instantly knew that spending too many hours inthe cold must had done some serious damage to her mind. She had tosomehow escape this bed and dress herself before theHighlander…
Her stomach growled loudly.
Tess held her breath as the man mumbled something inhis sleep. Before she dared to move, his two arms wrapped aroundher like bands of steel, and he drew her tightly against him. Herhead was tucked under his chin and her body was aligned perfectlywith his.
As she was trying to think of some way to extricateherself from this situation, she was shocked to feel his hands moveup and down over her back, as if he were trying to warm her. And itwas working. Too well, in fact. In her entire life, Tess had neverhad anyone do such a thing to her, and a wild thrill raced throughher at the feeling he was producing in her.
The thrill turned to real panic the instant she felthis hand stray a bit too low on her back. She was ready to awakenhim with a jab, but then the Highlander rolled to his back andtucked her into the crook of his arm.
From this angle, she had a much better view of theroom. The fire in the hearth had burned down to red coals. The windwas whistling through the small windows, and she knew the storm wasstill continuing unabated. The light was dim in the large room, andTess guessed that night was approaching again. She spotted her wetclothing in a pile near the hearth. Next to the Highlander’s othershoulder, she caught sight of a dry dress he must have brought downfrom the loft where Garth and Charlotte stored things. She’d sleptthere as a child.
Ever so slowly, she stretched her arm over his chestand tried to get hold of the dress. She couldn’t reach it. Waitinganother moment and making sure his breathing was even, she liftedher body slightly and tried again to reach over his wide chest forthe clothing.
