For Love or Loyalty: The MacGregor Legacy | Book 1 (5 page)

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 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 and said something else she didn’t hear.

“What was that?” She whirled, causing him to nearly run over her, but she stood her ground and lifted her palms against him in protection. She glared at him. Lauren ignored his hard chest and hoped her elbows felt like spikes when he ran into them. Her toes would be sore for days after he trampled upon them.

“Och, lass! What did ye do that for?” Malcolm’s eyes simmered like burning coal. “Are ye trying to get me flogged for running ye over an’ causing bodily harm?” He pointed his thumb at his chest. “I am only trying to look out for yer welfare.”

She lifted her eyebrows in acute shock. The man was daft. “Bringing me aboard as hostage is not looking after my welfare.” She snapped her fingers as sarcasm dripped from her tongue. “I see.Ye have to make sure I am good and healthy to bring the best price in exchange for yer mither. Do not dare pretend ’tis naught other than personal gain. I am not that gullible.”

“Lower yer voice, lass. Ye’re starting to make a scene.” Malcolm dropped the level of his tone and bent closer. His warm breath fanned her face. She closed her eyes and shook her head, concentrating on an appropriate response.

“I suppose it would make ye look like a thoughtless brute if everyone knew what ye’ve done.” She twisted her lips. “Ye never struck me as the type to worry about what others think. I am surprised at ye.” He rolled his eyes and looked out over the main deck below them, but his nonchalant attitude didn’t fool her. She discovered two things about him. He loved his family and cared what others thought of him. Malcolm was a man of integrity, but if pushed to his limits, he would abandon the boundaries of his integrity—to get justice.

“Ye think ye’re perfect, do ye not?” He scoffed, a taunting grin lifting his lips as he shoved his knuckles on his hip. “Well, I know how it is with people like ye, pretending to be merciful an’ compassionate, but when it comes to giving up yer own comfort an’ wealth, ye hold back, pitying the rest o’ us.”

“Nay, I am not perfect, but I know I am forgiven.” Lauren swallowed, hoping his words weren’t true, but how would she know unless she was tested? Could this situation be a test and not the mission of winning Malcolm to Christ as she thought? “I suppose my indenture will be a test of my true character. One thing is certain. I shall do my best to forgive ye.”

“Do not be so quick to give what I have not asked for, lass.” He stepped around Lauren and headed toward the cabins below. “Ye might change yer mind when all is said an’ done.”

She watched his broad back, hoping she could forgive him. Right now she had so much animosity built up toward him, it might take the whole voyage. At least she had God and the wisdom of the Scriptures she’d memorized. Malcolm walked alone. Compassion stirred her heart, threatening her defenses. Lauren clenched her teeth as caution rippled through her stomach. No matter the circumstance, she would have to be careful not to form an attachment to him. In spite of disliking him, he had a way about him that penetrated her heart.

He walked into his cabin while she lingered at the threshold. Logan sat on his bed sorting through a bag of clothes. He looked up and grinned at Malcolm. His gaze traveled to Lauren where she leaned against the door. “I see ye found ’er. He was quite worried ’bout ye.”

Unsure what to say, Lauren didn’t respond.

“Deidra is not too pleased with ye.” Logan glanced at Malcolm as he strode to Lauren. “My sister considers herself a crusader for the poor an’ defenseless.” He chuckled. “I keep tellin’ her we’re the poor an’ defenseless.”

This news gave Lauren hope. Mayhap the arrangement with her new cabinmates would not be as unbearable as she feared. She smiled at Logan and joined him in walking down the hall. “It sounds as if yer sister and I will get along verra well.”

“I am glad,” Logan said. “She has been lonely since our mither died. Ye an’ Kathleen will be good for her.”

“I shall do my best to cheer her. I could use some friends as well.” She pointed behind them. “Thanks to Malcolm, I have left everyone behind. I already miss my sister.”

“Aye, sisters have a way of making things more bearable.” Logan nodded in agreement. “Deidra an’ I only have each other.”

“Indeed, my only sister was stolen from us.” Malcolm’s bitter voice carried from behind. “I suppose it is a measure of justice that the Campbells experience the same.”

Lauren closed her eyes on a sigh. This was going to be a long voyage—very long indeed.

While unwanted guilt ate at Malcolm’s soul like maggots, he was satisfied to see how well Deidra and Kathleen accepted Lauren. It amazed him how much Logan and Deidra favored each other. They shared the same red hair, green eyes, and a sea of freckles over pale skin.

“My brother told me ’bout yer unfortunate situation.” Deidra’s eyes turned to ice as she glared at Malcolm, a direct stare meant to reprimand him, no doubt.

Malcolm stood tall and met her gaze, refusing to back down. He’d let the lass pass judgment on him all she wanted. She knew naught of his family’s plight, and her opinion mattered not. The only thing he desired of her was fair treatment toward Lauren.

“Do not be so hard on Malcolm. My da did him an injustice, and he is merely trying to right a wrong—even if he is going about it the wrong way,” Lauren said, looking down at her feet.

“Why defend him? Did he not kidnap and drag ye aboard this ship?” Deidra glanced from Lauren to Malcolm. When neither responded, she turned to Logan. “Did ye tell me a falsehood?”

“Nay, I told ye what I knew, but I canna know all the details.” Logan shot Malcolm a look of regret. “Forgive me, but I needed to tell her somethin’. She was demanding to know after Lauren left for the cap’n.”

“Lauren, are ye on this ship against yer will?” Deidra asked, raising a red eyebrow.

Malcolm closed his eyes, knowing Lauren’s answer. Once Lauren secured their sympathy and allegiance, she could solicit their help when they docked in Carolina.

“Aye,” Lauren said, dropping her gaze in discomfort as her cheeks darkened. “ ’Tis complicated. Malcolm’s mither was wrongly sold by my father for a debt his family owed. She is a dear friend of mine, and I have known the MacGregors all my life. They are honorable people. I would do anything for her. She is auld and ailing. Even though I did not want to go to the colonies, now I am here, I would like to help Malcolm get his mither and sister back.”

“Can ye trust ’im? He is out for revenge an’ he will use ye,” Deidra scoffed, glaring at Malcolm and pointing a finger at him. “There has to be a better way.”