Will he choose duty or love? Grace Darrow's life has been full of cruel twists lately. First, she survives a horrific shipwreck and washes up on shore like lost cargo. Then, her betrothed fails to show up to claim her, leaving her to survive alone in a strange place. Pushing away her pride, she offers herself to a handsome archer. Not only does he refuse her offer, but he feeds her and protects her from harm. No longer a commodity to be traded, Gracie feels like a human being for the first time in years. Seasoned Clan Ross archer Struan MacLean has seen enough of the world's ugliness and prefers to be alone. But when he meets a beauty in distress, he can't resist helping her. Turning down her offers of her body, he instead feeds her and vows to escort her safely to the laird. Then she'll be someone else's problem, and Struan can go back to being alone. Showing kindness to Gracie shines a light on the empty places in Struan's heart, and he starts to glimpse the beauty beneath her fear. Perhaps the world is not so ugly after all. But regardless of their growing desire, Gracie belongs to another, and Struan must deliver the lass to her betrothed. A story of love, loss, and redemption in the Highlands today!