“Well, I’m not ‘all women,’ mind ye. If ye’ve forgotten, I can take care of meself quite nicely.”

“Except when you’re living in a castle with my father and my kin, it seems.”

“I was working as a servant in your castle. And I’m nay here on account of being unable to manage.”

“Were you forced to remain there? Was anyone unkind? I’ve asked you before and you’ve always denied mistreatment.”

“Why must ye make me say it?” She pushed to her feet with such vehemence, the chair teetered. “I cannot abide being without ye. I ken ye do not love me. I ken ye look upon me as wretched and undeserving—but whether ye like it or nay, I am bound to ye, Kennan Cameron. If it weren’t for ye, I would still be alone on Hyskeir digging for clams and hunting eiders. But ye rescued me, and now I’m lost, I say, lost and just as alone as I was on that wee isle.”

“You are neither wretched nor undeserving. You are resolute and capable, and I have severely misjudged your tenacity.” Kennan turned away and strolled to the windows looking out over the stern, the foaming wake calming compared to the tempest in his cabin. This woman had done so much to help him. Moreover, he liked her. Not only that, she had been the object of his dreams since sailing from Scotland. She was funny and thoughtful and, bless it, she was as bonny as a rose. He glanced at her over his shoulder. What the hell was he supposed to do with her now? Marry the lass?

That might keep her safe from the crew, but it sure would send Lochiel into a rage. Kennan was duty-bound to marry an heiress. Da surely alluded to it often enough. Clan and kin are your first priority, Da had said more times than Kennan could remember.

“Ye need a cabin boy, do ye not?” she asked, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

Kennan faced her, looking at the lass from head to toe. She was shorter than Runner by a hand and slim enough that it wouldn’t be difficult to hide her breasts. “You’ll have to cut your hair,” he said, wishing he hadn’t. God, he loved her mane of coppery locks.

She pulled her tresses into a tail over her shoulder. “If it means ye’ll allow me to stay, then aye.”

“There’s no other way,” he insisted.

“It will grow back in time.”

“You’ll have to sleep on a pallet in here. I’ll not take a chance on anyone discovering your sex.”

“Och, Kennan!” She dashed across the floor and wrapped her arms around him, showering his cheeks with kisses. “Thank ye, thank ye, thank ye!”