He blinked. “Nae. I need ye to release your hands so I can guide ye to the stern where the other women are.”
She was about to retort that she could walk the short distance, but the deck rolled under her feet, and she decided that it might be wise to acquiesce, just this once. “Fine.”
“Ye need to hold on to me.”
When she placed her hand near his elbow, he took it and drew her arm around his waist beneath the coat he wore. She started to pull back and felt the solid muscles of his back. He stayed her hand.
“This is not proper.”
His brow rose again. “It is if ye doona want to slide overboard.”
Before she could protest, he wrapped his arm around her waist like a steel vise. She looked down at the water, not that far away since the rail of the boat kept disappearing into it, making them stand at an odd angle to stay upright. Perhaps it would be wise to acquiesce on this, too.
Rory kept his free hand on the wood railing attached to the deck house as they made their way aft. Once on the stern, she saw what looked like a big, wooden locker behind the wheel the captain was manning. The lid was propped open, and the two young women she’d seen earlier were bundled inside. They looked at each other when they saw her and smiled.
“We were wondering how long it would take the Sassenach to figure it out,” one of them said to Rory.
“She did last longer than most,” the second one added.
“What are they talking about?” Juliana asked.
“Och,” the first one said before he had time to answer. “Everyone kens ’tis hell to stay below when the boat is bucking like a horse new to saddle.”
“’Tis much better to be on the open deck where ye can see land.” The second one squinted at her. “Did ye get sick down there?”
“Nae, she didna,” Rory answered as he led her toward the women. “And I’ll thank ye to stop talking about it.” When neither of them looked abashed, he shook his head and turned to Juliana. “Ye’ll have time to make their acquaintance while ye huddle together for warmth, but these are MacDonnells.”
“Aye.” The first one looked a bit mischievous. “And we hear ye are to be our guest for a bit.”
“Well, ye had best climb in then.” The second one moved over to make room in the locker. “And we’ll have a bit of gossip as we go.”
Juliana somehow managed to smile as Rory helped her into what looked more like a coffin, and she wondered if she’d just traded one hell for another.
Chapter Nine
“I am Aileen,” the first one said as she made space in the sail locker.
“And I am her sister Greer.” The other one lifted a plaid blanket. “Get in.”
“Juliana.” She wiggled into the cramped area, trying not to take up too much room. The warmth was immediate, the wool tartan incredibly warm. She knit her brows as she fingered the material. “I thought these were outlawed.”
Aileen grinned. “Only by the English.”
“Aye,” Greer said with a smirk. “They may have forbiddenwearingthe plaid, but ’tis a blanket we’re using.”
She glanced from one to the other. They looked to be about her age, perhaps a bit older. Both of them had light reddish-blond hair, but Aileen’s eyes were brown and Greer’s were green.
“I should thank you for taking us in as guests at your castle.”
“Well, ’tis our uncle’s keep, but our father and mother and brothers live there, too,” Aileen replied.
“And other kin,” Greer added. “I suspect it will be a surprise to all of them when we bring a Sassenach home.”
“Well, Cousin Morag will nae like it for sure.”
Juliana frowned. “Your cousin hates the English that much?”
Aileen shrugged. “’Tis more that she likes Rory.”
