Duncan frowned at her.
“Of course that had been on a fine day, the cliff’s hand and footholds easy to find and no’ slick with the rain as the sheer rock is this day. As far as I can recall though, this cliff is the only way in and out of this secluded cove.”
“There is no need for us to leave this place. Hamish will return and we’ll hail him when he does.”
“Might we explore this bay and see what we can discover until then? When Grandpa brought Ethan and I here, he told us of a cave which sat somewhere along this bay, one that held a pool of hot water, only we never did find the entrance to it that day. We should look for it now. A warm pool would be heavenly to discover right about now.”
“If there is a hidden cave nearby with such a pool of hot water, then I’ll find it.” Ivor sheathed his blade and eyed the massive rocks jutting out either side of the thin stretch of sand. He stalked toward the cliff face and began his search. Sweeping methodically along the rock wall, he patted and pulled out tuffs of scrub as he searched for the hidden entrance.
“When I saw you flying over the side of the galley”—Duncan turned her by the shoulders to face him—“my heart nearly catapulted from my chest. I barely had time to toss the ropes to one of my men afore I dove in after you and Ivor.”
“I couldnae allow you to punish him, no’ when he had just saved my life.”
“He is fortunate to have received your forgiveness. I can accept your request for him to be your personal guard since he dived in after you, found you and kept you safe until I arrived, but I’ll be watching over you as well.”
“Thank you.” She hugged him, his strong embrace soothing her deep within.
“Let’s aid Ivor in finding this cave, if there is one.”
“Grandpa never speaks a mistruth. ’Tis just a matter of us finding the entrance.” She walked across to the cliff face, palmed the slick, craggy stone wall and surveyed the surface rising high. Several hand and footholds lay within easy reach and offered a variety of paths leading upward that one could scale. At the halfway point, a short ledge ran in a diagonal line all the way to the top, so once one made it that far they could safely shuffle up the ledge then over the top lip. A far safer option that slogging back into the storm-tossed sea and swimming to the next cove, that’s if Hamish didn’t find them soon.
“I believe I’ve found the entrance.” Ivor heaved a thick clump of bush away from the wall. Dirt and stones poured down on him from a crack in the rock above his head, although he continued on.
“I’ll aid you.” Duncan marched across and cleared the scrub from one side until the two of them had unplugged half of the crevice.
“Aye, this is most definitely an entrance to a cave.” She scrambled in between them and clawed at the dirt and brushwood still wedged within the parting in the rock wall.
“Nay, out of the way, my lady. There’s no need for you to dirty your hands.” Ivor lifted her up and swung her in behind him.
“I want to help.” She tried to wriggle back in but with one extremely stern expression from Ivor, she huffed and instead stayed right where she was. “You’re so mean.”
With a chuckle, Duncan slapped Ivor on the back. “You and I are going to get along rather well if you continue to master that look on her. I could use the aid in ensuring her protection.”
“Excuse me, but you two can just stop acting so very chummy right now.” Yet she couldn’t help but smile at the return of their camaraderie. As they cleared the last of the scrub and dirt away, they revealed an entrance that deepened into the rocks through a long passageway and she jiggled about as the rain thankfully began to ease into a drizzle. Wonderful. Nature was now granting them some leeway. “I cannae wait to tell Grandpa and Grandma about this cave. They’ll both wish to visit this place too.”
“Where do your grandparents live?”
“Here on Skye. They have ever since I was a wee bairn, nearer to Kinloch harbor, only a day’s ride from Dunscaith.”
“Not at your village on the mainland?”
“Nay, but they are only a few hours’ sail away.” She grinned wide. “I cannae wait for you to meet them, Mama too. She resides at the village with Ethan and I.”
“Then let’s pray there’s a pool of hot water within as your grandpa told you, so we might share that news with them all when I meet them.”
“There’ll be a pool. I’ve no doubt of that.”
“I’ll go in first, ensure all is well.” Ivor wedged himself sideways and scraped through the narrow opening. Over his shoulder, he called back, “I willnae be long.”