Reviewed: - (Review Updated: )
Bill is minding his own business getting his sailboat ready for a trip when a desperate girl jumps on board begging him to hide her. He motions for her to go down below decks and that's what she does. Shortly, two policeman and another man (her stepfather) show up looking for her. Bill plays dumb, and so begins a great adventure.
It turns out that the girl, Nikki, is running away from her stepfather, who tried to rape her after her mother died. Nikki is only a few days away from her 18th birthday, so Bill agrees to hide her for the short time until she becomes a legal adult. Knowing they could both be in trouble if caught, he cautions her on keeping a low profile and explains his trip to her. She decides to stay with him despite never having been on a sailboat before.
This wouldn't be an SoL story if there weren't sparks between the two of them, so a bond builds during the 30-hour voyage and visits to some scenic touristy locations.
The only angst and tension is at the very beginning of the story when Nikki is hiding from her step father. The rest is a nice, sweet, light-hearted romance in a believable situation, even if the courtship time seems a little compressed.
The second leg of the trip is even better than the first, and there is a very satisfying conclusion to Nikki's issue with her stepfather.
All in all a very rewarding tale that I would recommend to anybody looking to have a pleasant afternoon. This story has a place of honor in my permanent collection.