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

rail, holding her body in place. She glanced up at Malcolm, her brow furrowed in worry. Biting her bottom lip, she considered her situation.
    “Lauren, hold on,” Malcolm said. “I am coming.”
    She didn’t respond, merely stared at him. He crawled onto the smooth surface of the cockboat bottom and inched his way toward her. He braced his booted heel in a crevice and reached for her. Lauren placed her small hand in his. He gripped her tight, determined he wouldn’t let her fall. Malcolm groaned as he lifted her toward him. When she was close enough, he wrapped his other arm around her and carried her as he slid on his bottom until his feet landed firmly on deck.
    “Do not ever do that again,” he growled through clenched teeth as images of what could have happened played across his mind.
    “I am no fool!” Lauren jerked away. “I know I am being used. Otherwise, ye would be content to let me drown.”
    Her blue eyes blazed through red-rimmed lids. Malcolm’s chest ached with fear he hadn’t anticipated on her behalf. He blinked, giving his racing heart time to calm. He’d convinced her that he was a blackhearted MacGregor, and he might as well keep up the charade. The less emotion involved the better when he had to hand her over in exchange for his mother.
    “Aye, my revenge against Duncan Campbell.” Malcolm towered over her, settling his fists on his hips.
    A sarcastic grin twisted her lips. “I am afraid ye’ve miscalculated on that score. My da will be angry ye took what was his, but I am not the revenge ye hope. He is not the doting father one might think.”
    “What do ye mean?” He leaned toward her, remembering what she mumbled in her sleep earlier. “Ye’re spoiled, rich, and he gives ye everything ye’ve ever wanted.” Malcolm narrowed his gaze,
wondering what game she played. Her father gave her the life of a princess. Why would she have so little confidence in him?
    “I appear to have it all, do I?” She shook her head with a scoff. “Deep down all a lass wants is her father’s love. Malcolm MacGregor, why do ye not give it some thought as to who my father is, and then maybe ye’ll come to realize what it might have been like to grow up in his household, without the love and protection of a mither. My biggest regret right now is leaving my wee sister behind. No one will be there to show her any kind of affection.” Lauren poked him in the chest, her nail digging through his shirt. “The two of ye make perfect opponents. Ye’re just as coldhearted as he is.”

    Lauren tried to calm her jittering stomach as she strode from Malcolm. She thought she would be safe from discovery, but the obstinate man found her in spite of her effort to remain hidden. She supposed her weeping gave her away. He could not have seen her.
    When she nearly plunged into the sea, Lauren wasn’t as afraid as she imagined most people would be. She felt confident of her life with Christ in the hereafter. For a moment, she was tempted to let go, but one look into the fearful eyes of a man she’d always known to be strong and powerful made her realize Malcolm didn’t have that same assurance.
    Mayhap he was her mission through this strange situation that led her aboard The Sea Lady . Her short time as an indentured servant was a small price to pay if she could win Malcolm MacGregor to Christ. Was she willing to let go of her own wants in order to make something good out of bad? She wouldn’t win him over with preaching. It would take walking out her faith in all she said and did. Therein lay the real challenge. Malcolm had a way of vexing her like no other man she’d ever known—and her father and brother most definitely pressed her temper at times.
    “I intend to survive what ye do to me no matter what it takes.” She glared at Malcolm over her shoulder. “And Lord willing, I shan’t allow bitterness to take root in me. ’Tis like poison.”
    “Yer tone does not sound like it.” He grumbled behind her