For Love or Loyalty: The MacGregor Legacy | Book 1 by Jennifer Hudson Taylor Read Free Book Online Page A

careful befriending me. A black curse has been upon our family for generations now. Ye would not want to add to yer troubles, would ye?”
    “I do not believe in that nonsense.” Logan laughed. “Cheer up! Ye’re about to enter a world full of promise an’ a brand-new beginning. In the colonies men like us can make our own way rather than being born and stuck with whatever fate dealt us.”
    “Right now I need to find Lauren before she causes more trouble. She is quite angry, an’ I am not sure what she might do.” Malcolm followed the direction Lauren had taken.
    “She will be fine.” Logan followed.
    “Aye, but this ship is full of questionable men.” Malcolm shook his head. “She is young an’ innocent.”
    “I see.” Logan’s voice took on a pensive tone. “I could check with my sister an’ her roommate. Lauren might have went back to their cabin.”
    “Aye. Good idea.” Malcolm looked over at his new redheaded friend. When they arrived at the cabin, Lauren wasn’t there. Malcolm had to hold his patience while Logan introduced him to his sister, Deidra, and her cabinmate, Kathleen. Once he could break away, Malcolm checked the main deck. He went below and started on the opposite end from where his cabin was located. He walked the levels and talked a sailor into helping him search through the cargo in the hold and among the indentured servants. While he couldn’t imagine her hiding in such a dark place with all the rats, he could see her making friends with those less fortunate.
    He searched for an hour and began to wonder if she had found an ally and was hiding in someone’s cabin. Malcolm rubbed his tired eyes, not liking the idea of having to knock on every cabin door. He could wait outside her cabin until she showed up. They were out in the middle of the sea. She couldn’t very well leave the ship.
    Hanging his head, Malcolm walked by the cockboat. A woman wept nearby. He paused, straining to determine the direction. It sounded like it was on the other side of the cockboat, but naught was there but a rail overlooking the wide-open sea. Fear coiled in the pit of his gut. If he startled her, she might lose her balance and fall.
    Malcolm dropped on his hands and knees to crawl over to the bottom of the upside-down boat. He peeked over the edge, and Lauren sat on the side of the cockboat with her feet propped up against the rail. Her arms encircled her bent knees. She looked out over the blue sea as if seeking solace.
    “Lauren?” Malcolm kept his voice steady and calm to keep from scaring her. “Please . . . come away from there. ’Tis dangerous.”
    She didn’t respond, merely wiped her eyes and sniffled.
    He took a deep breath and sighed. Guilt tightened around his heart like an iron fist. “I am sorry.”
    “Nay.” She shook her head. “Ye would do it again if ye could.” Her voice broke into a sob. “And . . . th-the worst part is, I canna blame ye. Iona is auld and special. If she were my mither, I would do aught to save her like ye.”
    “I . . .” His throat went hoarse. He expected anger. Why didn’t she lash out at him with the bitterness and resentment he deserved? He wasn’t prepared for her broken honesty, an admission to justify his own brutal actions. Was she playing a trick on him or trying to wear down his defenses? One thing was certain. She had always shown generosity to the villagers; she would not risk one innocent soul to save another as he was willing to do. Lauren would have found a more honorable way.
    Lauren straightened and lifted her shoulders. “It is decided. The captain will not turn the ship around. There is naught more to say.”
    She crawled toward Malcolm. Her knee caught in the folds of her skirt, and she slipped. Lauren slid down the other side of the overturned cockboat. Malcolm feared she would fall through. He lunged for her, but her fingers were out of reach. With surprising agility, Lauren lifted her foot and slammed against the bottom of the