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blocked her path again.
    “Don’t you think I deserve an explanation?”
He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “By St. Andrew, I must tell
you I am tired of these silly games you women enjoy playing.”
    “What games?” she asked in bewilderment.
    “These games of pretense—of acting coy and hard to
please.” He held up an accusing finger before she could speak. “And
don’t give me that innocent look like you don’t know what I am
talking about. By now, you know perfectly well that I can be
trusted. How many men do you think sail these waters who would not
have taken advantage of this situation?”
    “What does the behavior of sailors have to do with
me going out?” She had a very expressive face, and it was showing
her perplexity.
    “What is your name?”
    She successfully stepped around him. “I have
to go.”
    “Wait. We need to talk about this.
Considering everything, we can both stay the night here, warm and
dry, like two civilized people.” He managed to put an arm in the
doorway to block her path again. “I shan’t bother you…”
    Obvious frustration creased her brow. “I
have to go outside.” She went under his arm.
    “Wait!” As Colin turned to go after her,
more shells crunched under the sole of his boots. He cursed the
annoying clutter the woman lived with.
    She was fast. He caught up to the stubborn
creature again halfway down the dark stairs. Before he could grab
her by the elbow, she turned sharply to him, her hands out to hold
him off.
    “Do not come after me,” she snapped
impatiently. “I told you, I have to go outside.”
    “But why? I have already offered…”
    “Look, I was brought up with the
understanding that there are some things people must do for
themselves. Do I need to say any more?”
    Suddenly, Colin felt like a complete idiot.
“Ah. You could have explained this to me before...”
    She shook her head and hurried down before
he could finish what he was saying.
    “You are coming back, aren’t
you?”
    Colin noticed that in her rush she didn’t
even stop to grab her cloak from the bottom of the stairs before
going out. He didn’t move, though, wondering if this had been all a
ruse and the headstrong woman was running across the island this
very minute. Not that he would stop her forcibly if she was
determined to go…er, hide. But it would be nice to know his
honorable conduct was somehow appreciated. It wasn’t too much to
ask her to trust him until this storm was over, was it? He was
still waging this silent argument with himself when the door
opened, and she blew in amidst the wind and rain.
    Her steps were much lighter. Her attitude
much less tense. She climbed up couple of steps toward him but then
stopped.
    “I guess ‘twould be better if we started all
over again.”
    She continued to study him as if she was
trying to make up her mind about whether it was really safe to come
up the stairs, or not.
    “My name is Colin Macpherson,” he announced.
“You found me yourself yesterday on the rocks.”
    He realized that her gaze was focused on the
dirk that he had once again put back in its sheath at his belt. He
understood her fear. She went down a step when his hand went to
it.
    “You can have this, if it makes you feel any
better.” Even in the darkness of the stairwell, he could see her
watching his every movement as he took out the weapon and held the
handle in her direction. “I will be appreciative though, if you
promise to not use it on me.”
    Colin waited patiently while she studied him
some more. “I will also be grateful if you decided to spare my
clothes, as well. I know they are not in very fine shape, but they
are all I have here and, considering the weather...”
    Finally, she climbed up and hesitantly
reached for the preferred weapon.
    “Will I be safe?” he pressed in a lighter
tone, hoping to ease her nervousness.
    After she gave him a quick nod, Colin
started backing up the steps. He couldn’t understand it, but
somehow winning