For Love or Loyalty: The MacGregor Legacy | Book 1 (22 page)

Against her will, Lauren was hauled into the Pink House, past the rowdy tavern to the second floor, where a dozen half-dressed women lounged, most with lovers. It was a large single room with no doors or privacy. Her heart beat into her throat and stomach as they climbed to the third floor to her new prison. It was another large room, much like a finished attic with a single bed and nothing else.

“You are not the first to arrive against your will. I, myself, was once in your shoes, but once the damage had been done against me, I learned to play the game, and so, here I am.” Adelle held out her hands. “Your old life as it once existed is no more.”

Lauren gulped. Tears streamed down her face. How was she to prevent them from taking her virginity against her will?
Lord, please save me from this.
The whispered prayer stung as silence followed. Hadn’t she been faithful? What had she done to deserve this?

“I can imagine all the thoughts running through your pretty head,” Adelle said, smiling wide, as if she had just won a round of poker. “You will no doubt lose any religion you once had. God does not frequent a bordello. I gave up on that a long time ago, and in time, so will you.”

Fear coiled inside Lauren. God may not dwell in this place, but He most certainly dwelled inside her. She refused to believe their lies. Was the devil himself now tempting her?

Her voice failed her. All she had were her thoughts. She stood still, determined not to provoke them or cause herself an unnecessary beating. The men standing behind Adelle looked like bodyguards who could do more damage than she could imagine.

“Due to the special education Mr. Fairbanks assures us you have, I have determined your virginity will be saved for the highest bidder at auction. Some of the gentlemen only prefer women like you and me. They are the wealthy ones who pay the best. If one of them takes a liking to you, he may set you up as his mistress, if you are lucky. In the meantime, ’tis my job to ensure you are quite prepared.”

Adelle turned to her men. “You have my permission to do whatever you need to acquire her cooperation. All I ask is that you do not injure her face or any part of her body that will show to the public.”

Both men bowed in understanding without saying a word. Fear swirled inside Lauren. She trembled and struggled to continue standing. She feared her legs would fail her.

“Men, you know the routine. The first thing she must learn is humbleness. Strip Cinnamon of her garments.”

“Nay!” Lauren screamed, but it did no good. The men stripped her garments as she fought them. One slammed a fist into her ribs. Lauren fell to her knees, hoping that her ribs were not shattered. When she clung to her chemise, the other one slammed his fist into the back of her head. Dazed, and barely hanging on to consciousness, Lauren tried to stand, but a fist slammed into her back as the last of her garments stripped from her.

She slid to the floor in a puddle of tears. Adelle had made a fire in the large hearth. “I realize it is not cold out, but a fire seems to be a small comfort to the girls during their humiliation lesson.”

Adelle snapped her fingers and pointed at the door. The men stepped outside. “Cinnamon, I want you to be aware that this process can be as smooth or as difficult as you choose. The bottom line is this, I will have my way.”

“I shall never agree to this.” Lauren managed to say through her tears. “Ye can kill me if ye like. I do not care.”

Adelle walked toward her and kicked her in the side. “Do you not understand, you stubborn wench? I know all the possible tortures necessary to get you to do my will. I have plenty of patience, but eventually, I will win. I always do.”

“Not this time.” Lauren managed to whisper. The pain in her chest and back was so severe, she could hardly breathe.

Adelle laughed. “That is what they all say.” She bent to Lauren’s ear. “Over the next three days you shall receive no water or food. The door is locked. By the time I return, you shall be so weak, you will beg me for food. Your convictions will be a distant memory. After a bit of nourishment, you shall remember your convictions, but more starvation will bring you back to an amiable state of
mind. I am an expert at this. Do not think you can outwit or outlast me.”

“Go ahead and think what ye will,” Lauren said. “But God shall deliver me, or I will die in the effort. My soul belongs to the Lord, and that ye canna take even if ye do away with me.”

Lauren’s words earned her another kick in the ribs. She groaned, but her spirit wasn’t yet broken. She prayed God would give her the ability to endure what she needed or bring her deliverance soon. She had never been tested like this before, and in truth, she had no idea how strong her earthly body could stand against such torture.

Adelle walked out, closing the door behind her.

Alone, Lauren crawled to the bed. Her body was in such pain that it took her several minutes before she could manage to climb onto the mattress. She curled in the center like a wounded kitten and cried out to God until she was out of breath and energy. “Lord, please lead Malcolm to me.”

Slumber finally overcame her. Only in her dreams did she find the peace she sought.

“Timber!” Malcolm called with his hands cupping his mouth as the large tree tottered and hesitated. He pressed his palms against it, braced his feet, and pushed. The tree tumbled over. Large branches snapped in two as the trunk smashed to the ground. Some of the heavier limbs took down several other nearby tree limbs with it.

“Malcolm, I have never known a man who could put down as many trees as you in such a short period of time,” his boss called from nearby, his tone quite pleased.

“He is only showing off!” one man said. “MacGregor is determined to prove the brawn of a Scotsman.”

“No true Scotsman has to prove a thing.” Logan spoke up, joining Malcolm’s side as he shoved on a pair of thick gloves. “I got the crosscut saw. Ye ready to cut off these extra limbs?”

“Aye.” Malcolm nodded, wiping his brow with his sleeve. “Have ye any news ’bout Lauren?”

“I do, but I needed ye to slow down on plowing through the trees long enough to hear it.” Logan shook his head as he picked up one end of the saw and pointed to the handle at the other end. “Ye wanna help me?”

“Ye had better keep up. I got a lot of frustration to work off,” Malcolm warned, picking up his end of the saw. They placed the saw across one of the larger limbs at the bend next to the trunk. “Ready?”

“Aye.” Logan nodded. The two of them pulled the saw back and forth until the blade sliced through the wood at an even pace. “I made the delivery yesterday.”

“I thought ye were goin’ today?” Malcolm lifted a brow, a scowl twisting his lips into a frown. “Are ye holdin’ back on me?”

“Nay.” Logan met his gaze as they sawed back and forth. “I planned to tell ye first thing this morn, but ye’ve been going at it with a vengeance.”

“Just tell me what I wanna know,” Malcolm said, unable to hide his irritation. “Did ye see her?”

“She is not there. One of the kitchen slaves told me Fairbanks took her away last week. He waited ’til the Mallard family went up north. Rumor has it, the master’s son developed an attachment and his parents disapproved.”

“Where did he take her?” Malcolm gripped the saw tighter until his palms ached. He clenched his teeth.

“None o’ them know, but they suspect she was sold to some other family.” Logan paused. “We could check the courthouse records an’ see if there was a recent sale.”

“True. Sounds like the next step.” Malcolm blinked, wishing he had more information. “I canna give up.”

“Of course not. Ye’re not alone in this, Malcolm. ’Tisn’t right.” Logan kept time with Malcolm’s rhythm in sawing the wood. “We will find her. Deidra is beside herself with worry.”

Lord, please let her be safe.
The silent prayer burst from Malcolm’s heart. Once the words were part of his thoughts, he realized he meant them. As much as Lauren believed in God, if anyone could help her, it would be the Lord. She had served Him faithfully. If God ever had a reason to save a lass, Lauren would be it. Malcolm had never known anyone who had so much faith or who sacrificed herself to serve others as she did. Hope sprung up inside, giving him an inner strength he lacked a moment earlier. Was this what it was like to have faith?

He took a deep breath, and his chest felt a bit lighter. Malcolm glanced up at the blue sky with dotted white clouds. For the first time in his life, he didn’t feel cursed but blessed. He was in love with a beautiful woman, he had a new start here in the colonies, and he had learned that both his mother and his sister were alive. Soon he would find Lauren and Carleen, and they would all be together. How had he lived all these years with so little hope? And how could everything change with one single prayer?

It was as Lauren had told him. Belief. Without belief, what did one have but despondency? He didn’t want to live that way. This world was too complicated not to have a Creator who understood more than all the people in it.

The limb broke off the tree trunk. He and Logan worked on another branch. They brought down several more trees before an afternoon thunderstorm rolled in. Their boss let them go early since the rain made things hazardous.

Malcolm took advantage of the extra time to stop by the courthouse. Water dripped from him as he stepped inside with others who were trying to avoid the rain. All the benches were full as they waited out the bad weather. Malcolm walked over to the man behind the counter.

“Excuse me, but I would like to know if a lass, uh, young girl, was sold from Mallard Plantation within the last two weeks. Her name is Lauren Campbell.” Malcolm scratched his temple.

The clerk shook his head. “That is easy. I do not have to look. No plantation auctions have taken place in that time. All we have had are auctions from the ships docking at port.”

“What about the ships leaving Charles Towne?” Malcolm asked.

“Only exports of dry goods and things.” The man shook his head.

“An indentured servant was taken from Mallard Plantation an’ sold to someone. How would I find out if they neglected to register it?” Malcolm rubbed his chin, perplexed by what to do next.

“There is always that possibility, or they took her out of the area and sold her someplace else. We simply do not have the people to track ’em down like that.”

“Would ye mind lookin’ in the book? In case somethin’ was logged in while ye stepped out for a short break?”

“All right.” He flipped through the large book on the counter and pressed his finger on a page, turning it so Malcolm could see. “Here are the logs starting April first. We have no sales like you are looking for through late May.” He flipped more pages.

“Thank ye.” Malcolm sighed with disappointment.

“You might try visiting some of the taverns and asking ’round. ’Tis one way to hear useful gossip that might lead to a hot trail. I have heard some of the local investigators talking about it.”

“Good idea.” Malcolm turned and left the courthouse, not caring about the rain. Water poured on his head, matting his hair to his scalp. He needed to find Logan. They would start making the rounds at the taverns tonight.

After three days of no food or water, the door opened. Lauren scrambled to her knees in the center of the bed. The pain in her ribs was acute, but she had no idea what to expect.

A young girl walked in carrying a tray of fresh brewed coffee, toast, a slab of bacon, and scrambled eggs. Lauren’s mouth watered, and her stomach tightened in response. Weakness claimed her body to the point of a severe headache. Tremors quaked through her.

The girl sat on the bed and placed the tray upon her lap. “I have brought you somethin’ to eat.” Her childlike voice reverberated through the large chamber.

“Do ye think I might be allowed some clothes?” Lauren asked.

“If ye behave.” She nodded her dark head, her violet eyes wide with concern. “Are you cold?” She glanced toward the hearth. “I could build a warm fire.”

“At first I tried to keep it going, but then I decided it was not worth the effort. ’Twould be better to die than endure the sinful life they want to force on me.”