An Original Sin by Nina Bangs Read Free Book Online

of paper were money. “I think she wanted you to…Forget it. Her heart couldn’t take it. You’d kill her.”
    “Aye.” His smile widened. “ ’Tis what I thought. I’d turned to leave when I saw ye needed saving.”
    He’d shielded her with his body. Unexpectedly, the thought thrilled her. That he’d sacrifice his body for hers was wonderful. Not logical. In her time people accepted the consequences of their own actions. But…wonderful.
    She looked away. “I’m sorry.” He’d saved her life. “I don’t know what’s happening to me. Sensitivity’s part of my culture, but you make me want to scream and…Must be something in the air. Uncivilized oxygen molecules.” She wished the answer were that simple.
    He exhaled sharply and glanced around. “Mayhap we should—”
    “That bum of an ice-cream pusher cut me off. Didja see him? Now he’s runnin’ away before I can plant my foot in his butt. Musta got his license outa a cereal box.” A pair of skinny legs encased in jeans cut off Fortune’s view of the street. “Yo, you guys want a taxi or not? Better let me take you someplace private, ’cause I think it’s illegal to do it on the sidewalk. Know what I mean?”
    Startled, Fortune shifted her gaze to the wiry little man who’d climbed from the taxi. His grating laughter galvanized her. Pushing down the gown that had ridden up to her thighs, she accepted Leith’s extended hand.
    After pulling her to her feet, Leith turned to the taxi driver. He’d seen these machines from the window, so he knew people rode in them, like carriages without horses. When he returned to Scotland, he’d never declare anything impossible again. “We must find clothing and shelter. Can ye help us?”
    The small man’s gaze darted to Fortune, then to Ganymede, and finally returned to Leith. He lifted a cap with the words HARLEY DAVIDSON on it from his head, then slicked back his thinning hair. “I can take you to hell if you got the dough to pay for it.”
    “Gee, and here I thought we were there already,” Fortune muttered.
    Fascinated, Leith stared at the man. “Dough? Ye take dough in payment? ’Tis strange. Yer wife must do an uncommon amount of baking.”
    Fortune leaned toward him, and for a moment Leith forgot everything. Her eyes sparkled as she tried not to laugh. If he were home, he’d woo her with soft compliments, then lie with her in the heather. Though he suspected soft compliments would have little effect on Fortune. He also suspected her laughter was aimed at him. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling.
    “Dough is the common word for money, payment. Like the old woman gave you.” She turned her attention back to the driver. “We don’t have much money. We’d just gotten into town when creditors took everything we had except what we wore.” She smiled weakly.
    Leith groaned inwardly. Who would believe such a tale?
    The driver slapped his cap back on his head and nodded sagely. “Yeah, those loan sharks don’t cut anyone no slack. Lucky they didn’t break your legs. Next time stick to finance companies. Lots of interest, but no broken legs.” He peered at Fortune’s chest, and Leith felt an urge to break some legs himself. “Nice cross and chain you got there. Worth some money. Why don’t I take you guys to a pawnshop, see what we can do?”
    Leith nodded. He didn’t know what a pawnshop was, but if it would get them some of this badly needed “dough,” he favored it.
    Fortune shook her head. “Whoa. This cross has been in my family for generations.” She clasped it protectively.
    The driver rubbed his hand across his forehead, then heaved a sigh. “Look, guys. I’m tryin’ to help you. No money, no ride, no nothin’. Understand? Besides, your cross isn’tgone forever. Get some cash; then you can get it out of hock.”
    Leith watched Fortune consider the proposition while she held the cross in her clenched fist. He was glad she wouldn’t part with it easily. It comforted him to