In August of 1400, Moira and her Uncle Bearnard are just two of the passengers on a small ship caught in an unexpected storm. Tavig MacAlpin is another of the passengers, but he's traveling in disguise to avoid the hangman's noose. When Bearnard finds Moira on deck looking for Crooked Annie, he believes she's there to met a man for a tryst and he hits her. Tavig won't stand by while a woman is beaten, so he risks his life by allowing his disguise to slip away and he stands up to Bearnard on Moira's behalf. During the fight, the storm worsens; Moira, and the bit of railing she was hanging onto is swept overboard. Again Tavig can't stand aside, he jumps in after her. He has another, stronger motivation for trying to save Moira. Tavig has a gift and it is the ability to know things that will become true in the future. He has seen the Moira will be his wife.

Once they have made it through the storm and onto land, Tavig and Moira find themselves in fairly good shape. That may not last though, they still have to find a way to Tavig's cousin's keep. Tavig doesn't mind that it will take them almost two weeks of hard walking to get there, he feels it will be just enough time to convince the reluctant Moira to be his bride. Unfortunately for the groom, his bride is determined not to marry. If Moira were honest with Tavig, she would reveal her own gift. Moira has a healing touch and it's made others uncomfortable around her as long as she can remember. Soon it will be a race against time for both. Will Moira learn to trust Tavig enough to share her secret? Will Tavig be able to get them to his cousin's keep before the law catches him? Will Tavig be able to prove he didn't harm anyone to Moira -and to the law?

Howell has written many historical romances set in Scotland and the reader can be confident she knows her stuff. The dialogue between the characters is written with all the proper words, like "dinna" and "wouldnae." This will either appeal to someone or it won't, but it's refreshing that it doesn't come and go as if the author forgot what she was doing. Moira's concern for Tavig's safety if the secret of her healing abilities is reveal makes the ending even sweeter.