Page 16

Grant asked, “Aye, always. What’s wrong?”

“I’m with Maisie, and we’re stranded on the rocky Eilean Tioram Island.”

Grant didn’t say anything for a moment, then he stifled a chuckle. “A date gone wrong?”

Robert smiled. “Nay. It’s a long story. We had to capture an escaped dog. She went straight to the island. Maisie was chasing her and sprained her ankle, and the tide was already coming in when I reached them. So now—”

“You’re stuck on the island. Gotcha. We’ll bring an inflatable, but it’ll take some time to get it ready and there.”

“I figured about two hours.”

“Aye, or a little longer. Can you keep each other warm until then?” Grant asked.

“Yeah. Someone built a firepit here, so we’ll start a fire and cuddle with each other and the dog. One other thing: Can you bring a whelping box and water for all of us?”

“A birthing box?” Grant sounded worried this time.

“Lady, the dog we captured, is full of puppies and is going into labor,” Robert said.

Grant laughed this time. “It’s a good thing you’re there and not me. Okay, we’re on it. See you when we get there.”

“Thanks.”

Maisie smiled at Robert. “Did Grant laugh too hard?”

“He was trying not to until I mentioned Lady is having puppies.”

Maisie nodded. “I texted my sister. She said the Abercrombys arrived so she gave them a room for the night. Anne will let them know we have Lady, that she’s safe, but we’re stuck here until we get rescued. She told us she would have dinner waiting when we get back. And she said you weren’t sweet at all. You’re hot.”

“Oh?” Robert smiled, amused her sister would say that.

“Yeah, she asked me what I thought of you earlier, and I told her you were sweet, which you are. You saved me from drowning and gently removed the fishhook from my arm.”

“How are your head and your arm?”

“My arm is already healed. No bandage.” She showedhim. “And my head is fine. Now, if my ankle would heal just as quickly, I’ll be good as new.”

He removed his shirt and then bunched it up under her ankle to elevate it. “I’m going to get a fire going.”

“I didn’t tell my sister you were hot.”

He arched a brow.

“You are, but I didn’t want her to know that. She’ll give me grief about it later.”

He chuckled. He was glad Maisie thought he was hot. He sure felt the same way about her.

Then Maisie called Anne to let her know what was going on.

Lady was lying on the ground next to the rock. She looked exhausted but appeared happy and comfortable to be with them.

The sun was quickly going down, and so was the temperature. He wanted to get the fire started right away, but if they got too cold, they could shift and wear their wolf coats. Maisie was still holding the leash so the dog wouldn’t dash off again.

Before long, Robert had started a fire.

“I thought you were going to have to try to light the fire in some more primitive way,” Maisie said. “I never expected you to have a lighter on you.”

“I always have one in case I have to sterilize a knife to use in an emergency. I always carry a pocketknife also. I had the tools in the first aid kit to take the hook out of your arm before the boat overturned too.”