He was brooding and drunk tonight. One would think a man so deep in his cups would not still be attractive. But he was as handsome as ever with the firelight playing across his face, broad chest, and long, outstretched legs. With looks like that, she imagined he had no trouble finding willing bed partners. No doubt he took advantage of that and had carnal relations with an abundance of women.
She had let down her guard earlier, drawn in by his humor, his easy conversation, and how good he was with Ella. But she must remember he was not her friend, and she could not rely on him. He would protect her and Ella only because it was in his interest to deliver his hostage unharmed. If that changed, he would leave them to the wolves.
The next morning, Finn was his charming and cheerful self again, and she found it hard to hang on to her resolve of the night before. He made them breakfast, letting Ella help again, and then they walked down to the harbor.
“Good morning to ye!” Finn called out to the men who were on the beach loading barrels onto the boat.
The sailors did not look any less rough and dirty to Margaret than they had the day before in the tavern. Finn walked with one arm around her while carrying Ella in the other.
“Try to look like you’re my wife,” he said in a low voice.
“How would your wife look?” she asked.
“Satisfied.”
She couldn’t help laughing, he was such a rogue. When they got to the boat, which was pulled partway onto the shore, he lifted Margaret into it and handed Ella up.
“Sit in the bow, where you’ll be out of the way of the oarsmen,” he said. “I’ll join ye shortly.”
Finn spoke with an older man she remembered from the tavern who was giving orders to the others, then he joined the men as they lined up on either side of the boat. On the older man’s signal, they heaved and pushed the boat into the sea, and then hoisted themselves over the sides. Finn joined the others at the oars, and the men rowed hard until the boat cleared the point at the north end of the bay.
Once they reached deep water, they unfurled the sail and pulled up their oars. The sailors, who had been fully occupied with their efforts until now, suddenly seemed to have nothing to do but stare at her. Her heart lurched, and she held Ella tighter as a huge man with the arms of a blacksmith and a jagged scar across his cheek took a step toward her.
“I wouldn’t mind a bit of that,” he said.
The next thing she knew, the man flew over the side of the boat. It took her a moment to realize Finn had come up behind him and flung him over. He was holding the man over the waves with an arm around his neck.
Good heavens, how did Finn do that? As the sailor cursed and kicked, he started to reach for something at his belt.
“Looking for this?” Finn said, holding out a dirk with a long, wicked blade.
“I can’t swim,” the man pleaded. “Let me up!”
“Are ye prepared to treat my wife with respect?” Finn asked. “Otherwise, the fish can have ye.”
“Aye!”
“What’s that?” Finn said, turning his head. “I’m not sure I heard ye.”
“Aye, damn it!” the man shouted. “Aye!”
Finn hauled the man back into the boat and dumped him on the bottom. Then he turned toward the other men with a smile on his face and a blade in each hand. “Can I count on the rest of ye to behave as well?”
The men turned their gazes away and settled onto the benches.
“Good,” Finn said and took his seat beside Margaret and Ella.
“I thought ye said we’d have no trouble with these men, so long as they believed I belonged to you,” she whispered.
“We won’t have any trouble.” Finn turned and winked at her. “Sometimes men just need a reminder to be courteous.”
“Youenjoyed that, didn’t you?”
He leaned back and folded his arms. “It was rather satisfying.”
Margaret shook her head, but she could not help smiling at his cockiness. “Can ye tell me now where you’re taking us?” she asked.
“We sail to Aberdeen, which will take two days,” Finn said. “From there, we’re headed to Huntly Castle.”
