“Can ye fashion a spit?”

“Is there any wood about?”

“Bits of driftwood along the shore.” She took the duck by the legs and gave it a once-over. “Are ye feeling well enough to be up and about?”

“Yes on both counts.” He tried not to sway where he stood, but he did, nonetheless. “The sooner I rebuild my strength, the sooner I can leave this island.”

“Oh?” Another shadow of sadness darkened her crystal-blue eyes. “And how do ye intend to go? Swim?”

Kennan stumbled as he began to follow her back to the bothy. “The thought has crossed my mind.”

“I cannot.”

“Can’t swim?” He almost offered to teach her before he caught himself. Once he left this little rock, he’d most likely never see the lass again. And he most certainly didn’t plan to be here more than a few days. “Tell me, on a clear day, can you see the isle of Rùm?”

“I think so.” She pointed—in the right direction. “I can see a slip of land over there.”

“Good, then we can signal them with a fire.”

She stared out across the rough seas, scraping her teeth over her bottom lip. “I doubt they will come.”

“Because of the smallpox?”

Fear filled her eyes as she nodded, telling of the horrors the poor lass had endured. “They abandoned me,” she whispered.

“But that was quite some time ago. Perhaps they’ll be curious if they see a fire,” he said, trying to sound encouraging.

By the shake of her head, she wasn’t convinced. “What will ye burn? The peat won’t last if we build a bonfire. I’ve been careful to ration it.”

“But there’s driftwood, you say?”

“Aye, though ’tis of no use for a fire—’tis too smoky.”

“Smoke might draw more attention.” Kennan offered a reassuring smile. “That’s what we’ll do, collect a pile of driftwood and dry it in the bothy.”

Divana stopped outside the doorway and snatched the eider from his grasp. “Och, ye’ve only just arrived. Can ye not leave matters be?”

He scrubbed his face with his knuckles. Why was she acting so testily? What else was she afraid of? “I haven’t grown ill.”

“Nay, ye have not, have ye?” she said, pushing through the sealskin shroud.

Kennan followed. “Do you not want to leave this isle?”

“I’d like nothing more,” she sniped as if growing angrier by the moment.

“Then we shall build a beacon and burn it as brightly as we can.”

“We?” She set the duck on a rock near the firepit and straightened, brushing her hands down her shabby dress. “Do ye mean to say ye’ll take me with ye?”

“Och, lass. I’d nay leave a soul, man or woman, stranded on a barren isle.”

Chapter Five

It didn’t take long for Divana to grow accustomed to having a guest. She’d been ever so lonely, engaging in conversation with someone other than herself raised her spirits higher than they’d been in over two years. As the days passed, Sir Kennan grew stronger and his beard fuller. Though he had a dagger, it wasn’t sharp enough to shave. But Divana didn’t mind.