For Love or Loyalty: The MacGregor Legacy | Book 1 (26 page)

“I believe,” she snatched her hand away, “that ye want things to continue as before.” She shook her head and tears filled her eyes. “But they canna.”

“Why?” He gripped his knees to keep from grabbing her. “I do not understand. Even if they took yer innocence, ’tis ye I care ’bout. I am sorry they hurt ye, but I do not want them to win. Ye canna let them steal our happiness, Lauren.”

“They may not have stolen the innocence of my body, but they took it in every other way.” Tears filled her eyes. “Everything I believed
has been shattered. I had so much faith.” A bitter laugh erupted from her, scorching him inside. “I actually thought that God would protect me—that He would keep me from harm. I prayed and prayed.” A sob broke from her. “Why would He let them do those things to me if He loves me?” Her voice broke into a fading whisper.

An ache in the back of Malcolm’s throat stalled his voice. He blinked back tears of his own. Her pain ran so deep, he could feel it, and it made sense he would. They both had the same Holy Spirit residing in them. He realized that now.

He lunged out of his chair and braced himself on his knees beside her. Malcolm gripped her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. “I do not have all the answers, nor do I know all that happened to ye or what ye witnessed. It does not matter.” He wiped her tears with his thumb. “What does matter is, I shall be right here as ye heal. I will not let ye go through this alone.”

“Malcolm, I do not doubt yer love. I know that ye would have saved me sooner if ye could.”

“Then why doubt God’s love?”

Malcolm’s simple question made Lauren sound illogical. How could he be so different? It was only a few months ago he thought the Lord had placed the MacGregors under a curse. He of all people should understand her feelings—at least her anger.

“I question God’s love over yers because unlike ye, He has the ability to protect me from all harm and evil. He can do what ye canna.” Now that the words were spoken aloud, it felt as if her heart cracked open and bled out all her emotions at once. She shoved her tray aside, blinking to keep the threatening tears away. “Please, I am tired. I want to rest now.”

She lay back and closed her eyes, listening for the sound of his departure. Instead, he sighed, and the chair creaked with his shifting weight. Would she have to ask him to leave?

She waited. Silence followed. The stubborn man! He knew she wanted to be alone. Could he not give her privacy to cry alone?

“Malcolm, would ye call yer mither? I need assistance with the chamber pot.” That would guarantee his removal. To her satisfaction, footsteps walked to the door, and the lock clicked as he turned the knob and swung it open. “Lauren, do not be like me. Blaming God will not change what happened. Bitterness only makes ye feel worse—rotten.”

His parting words brought tears to her eyes. She sniffed and wiped her face. To keep from hurting her ribs, she let her breath out slow and easy. Months ago, she would have been thrilled to hear Malcolm say that. Confusion swirled inside her.

After Iona helped her, Lauren dozed into a fitful sleep. She dreamed she and Malcolm were back on
The Sea Lady,
and this time her family and all of Malcolm’s were aboard. She stood beside Malcolm at the rail, facing both their families. Frowns marred their expressions, and they spewed accusations. Malcolm glanced down at her with a mischievous grin, not caring about their displeasure. He grabbed her hand, and the two of them jumped into the sea.

Lauren screamed, certain they would drown so far out in the deep. She woke thrashing. Gentle hands grabbed her arms. “Shush! Lass, it was just a dream. ’Tis all.” Iona sat on the bed and embraced her like a daughter. She stroked Lauren’s long hair. “That is better.”

“I am sorry,” Lauren said. “I wish I was not so much trouble.”

“Not at all.” Iona patted her arm before standing. She strode to the dresser and grabbed Lauren’s brush. “Let me brush yer hair an’ make ye presentable to yer visitors when they arrive.”

Having Iona tend to her in such a loving manner made her long for a place in the MacGregor family. Her thoughts shifted to her own family. She wondered if her father had gotten her letter by now. Was he heartbroken because he missed her and worried for her welfare? Or was he merely angry at having lost a possession and being bested by a MacGregor? Lauren wasn’t even sure if he would come for her. Most likely, he would be too busy with other matters and would send a few men to bring her back. When they arrived, would she return with them?

By the time her friends arrived, Lauren felt better. Kathleen and Deidra were in lively spirits, and their good moods brightened Lauren’s. Logan kept Malcolm occupied, while she and Iona were able to enjoy the women’s company.

“How do ye like yer new teaching position?” Lauren asked Kathleen, pleased to see her in a new floral print dress, trimmed in lace around the wrists and across the neckline. She now wore the proper corsets to bring the skirt out around her hips and to accentuate her waist. “Ye look lovely.”

“Thank ye.” She glanced down at her clothing before sitting in a chair that Malcolm had placed by the bed. Wearing a simple brown dress and matching bonnet, Deidra sat in another chair beside her.

“Being a schoolteacher is all that I hoped it would be. ’Tis solid, respectable work an’ I can afford to live alone ’til I marry.”

“Logan says I do not need a job now that he is a logger.” Deidra crossed her arms with a frown. She cast her blue eyes toward the door where Logan and Malcolm talked in the parlor. “I would like to do somethin’ besides keep house an’ cook.”

“Be thankful ye have each other.” Kathleen leaned toward her. “I miss my family terribly. It is hard once they are gone. The sea took my father, and my mother died of consumption. As an only child, I would love to have an older brother who could care for me.”

Lauren thought about her brother, Scott. Would he bother to care for her if he were here? At home he rarely noticed her. He spent most of his time trying to please their father and impressing his friends, especially the lasses. A dull ache pressed her.

“Let us talk about happy things,” Lauren said. “I have had enough sadness to last me a lifetime. What good news have ye brought?”

“Aye, I would like to hear some good news as well.” Iona carried a tray with tea and the bread cakes she had baked earlier in anticipation of their visit. She poured the first cup and handed it to Kathleen.

“That reminds me.” Kathleen pulled open her reticule and dug into it. She pulled out a folded letter. “This came for ye, Iona. The postmaster asked if I would bring it since I planned to visit.”

Iona accepted it but handed it right back. “No need in
pretendin’ I can read it.” She tilted her head with discomfort in her eyes. “Would ye mind?”

“Of course not.” Kathleen split the seal and unfolded the thick parchment. “Dear Mrs. MacGregor. I received your letter inquiring after your daughter, Carleen MacGregor. I did purchase her indenture to serve on my rice plantation for seven years. She is here and doing well. You should be proud. She is one of the hardest workers I have seen. I myself was an indentured servant when I came here fifteen years ago. If you would like to visit, my place is located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, about ten miles south of Wilmington, one of our port cities. Sincerely, Oliver Bates.”

Silent tears crawled down Iona’s cheeks. After a few moments, she smiled and gasped with relief. “Thank the good Lord, she is well.” She wiped at her eyes. “We need to tell Malcolm.”

“I shall do it.” Deidra bounced to her feet and rushed out the chamber door, much like an excited child. “Malcolm, we have great news!”

Iona came and sat on the side of the bed and took Lauren’s hand in hers. “As soon as ye’re able to travel, we will go to North Carolina.”

“But that may not be for another couple of weeks.” Lauren sputtered, surprised by Iona’s generosity to include her. “I would not dream of making ye wait on me. Ye should go as soon as possible. Mayhap, I could continue recovering at Deidra’s house.” Lauren glanced at her friend for confirmation as she returned to the chamber with Malcolm and Logan on her heels.

“I would consider it a blessin’ if ye stay with us.” Deidra sat down and folded her hands. “I am sure Logan would not mind.”

“But I would.” Malcolm braced an arm against the threshold. “I promised myself that I would not let Lauren out of my sight after what happened to her. She is part of the family now.”

“I agree.” Iona nodded.

“But, Malcolm, Rob posted a letter to my father before I was forced to leave Mallard Plantation,” Lauren said. “He could arrive in Charles Towne anytime. I canna leave.”

Malcolm guided their new wagon on Meeting Street toward home. Over the past week, he had taken another logger position. It didn’t pay as much as his previous position, but he couldn’t afford to refuse it.

“I wish Lauren had been well enough to attend church this morning,” his mother said. “I think it might have done her some good. She has been too depressed lately.”

“Aye,” Malcolm nodded. “I do not know how to help her. At least her ribs hurt her less.”

“Only the Lord can help her right now, but she seems determined to reject Him.” His mother dropped her head in sad disappointment. “I tried to pray with her the other night, but she refused.”

“When we were on
The Sea Lady
, she prayed often. She shared her faith in how she lived.” Malcolm cleared his throat and swallowed his emotions. “I do not understand what happened. I thought her faith was stronger than what happened.”

“Her faith alone may not be strong enough, and that is the problem,” she said. “Lauren is angry at God, and so she is not leaning on Him for the strength she needs to get through this.”

Malcolm listened as he pulled the reins to the right and guided the horse onto Society Street. The wheels jostled over the cobbled road as the sun brightened the day. They rode under the shade of a tree, giving Malcolm better vision from the rays. A slight movement caught his attention by the side of the house. A saddled horse stood tethered to a tree.

“Who would be calling on a Sunday morning without notice?” Malcolm asked.

“I do not know.” His mother leaned forward, shielding her eyes from the sun. “I do not recognize the horse.”

Malcolm slapped the reins and urged the horse to increase his speed. Something didn’t feel right. His gut twisted in eerie warning. He raced the wagon up to the house and set the brake.

“Stay here and scream if you see anyone ye do not know.” Malcolm
jumped to the ground and crept to the house.

“Malcolm, ye’re being a bit extreme,” she said. “I am sure ’tis someone paying Lauren a wee visit.”

“Everyone we know is at church somewhere or on their way home this morning.” After a closer inspection of the horse, he still didn’t know to whom it belonged. His heart thumped as he peered around the corner toward the back. One of the guards from the Pink House picked at the door lock.

Rage ripped through Malcolm. He ran toward the man with a raised fist, breathing hard. The intruder sensed his presence and turned in time to deflect his attack. Malcolm blocked the blade coming at him with his other hand. It went flying into the grass. He took that moment to shove a fist into the man’s stomach and rammed his other fist into his jaw, knocking him off balance. Malcolm stepped forward, taking advantage of his momentum and grabbed the man’s shirt, jerking him.

“Why are ye here?” Malcolm demanded. Thoughts of how this man beat his wee Lauren made him want to give him a good beating. Instead, Malcolm slammed him up against the back of the house. “Ye had better speak up. I am in no humor to be toyed with.”

His evil grin revealed a missing top tooth. Malcolm’s stomach revolted at the stench of his body odor. Why wasn’t he the least bit worried about his situation? Did the man have a death wish?

Frustrated beyond words, Malcolm punched the man’s nose. “I asked ye a question.” Blood spattered, and his expression lost some of his pleasure.

“Madame wanted her girl back.” He shrugged. “ ’Tis as simple as that. She made an investment, an’ now she wants to make her money back.”