For Love or Loyalty: The MacGregor Legacy | Book 1

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

Book: For Love or Loyalty: The MacGregor Legacy | Book 1 by Jennifer Hudson Taylor Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Hudson Taylor
Ads: Link
better insult will wake ye up then?”
    By the time she set him against the wall, she breathed heavily and took a short break. Lauren wiped her brow and swallowed, realizing how parched her throat had become. Her own needs would have to wait. Right now she had to clean Malcolm’s wounds and assess the damage.
    She hurried below deck to where the doctor kept his supplies. The sight that awaited her was a mess. Glass bottles were shattered. Liquid contents and powdered substances poured out and leaked from the top shelves to the bottom. Narrow beds had shifted, and patients were tending to each other.
    “Has anyone seen the doctor?” Lauren asked.
    “Nay.” One gaunt man shook his brown head, dark circles haunting his eyes. “We were told he was wounded in the leg and could not walk down the steps.”
    “From what I have seen, the rest of the ship looks as bad as it does down here.” Lauren grabbed a bar of soap and stitching supplies from a drawer still intact. “There are plenty of wounded everywhere. Can ye manage down here?”
    “Aye.” He nodded. “I suppose we will have to. Do not forget about us at mealtime.”
    “Let us hope that we still have a cook and that the food was not destroyed,” Lauren said. “I shall do what I can. I promise.”
    “I see that gash on yer head.” The man pointed at her. “It needs tendin’.”
    Lauren touched her forehead, suddenly aware of the tight feeling. Dried blood caked her hair. Other than a slight headache and extreme fatigue, she felt fine. Too many were in far worse shape, like Malcolm. An image of his unconscious face came to mind, and her heart beat with concern. “Thank ye, but I shall be fine.” She turned and strode out and made her way down the dark hall. Lord, please let Malcolm wake up. And give us all courage to survive this .
    Lauren arrived on deck to see Logan bent over Malcolm, smacking his jaw. Deidra stood behind him, wringing her hands in distress.
    “Logan, nay! He has suffered trauma to his head.” Lauren rushed toward them.
    “Yer alive an’ well.” Deidra whirled, relief flooding her face. “Ye had us worried, ye did!”
    “I am sorry. Malcolm took care of me.” Lauren bent to his side and cleaned his head wound. “At least he is not awake to feel the pain.”
    “Too bad he neglected to take as good care o’ himself,” Logan said, rubbing his forehead. “I would wager he was worried ’bout ye.”
    “Aye.” Lauren nodded. “He probably got this nasty cut and bruise because of me. He shielded me and would not leave my side. Saved a wee lad’s life as well.” Lauren glanced around her. “I wonder what happened to the poor lad? He got scared when his da hit his head and ran up here for help, right into the brewing storm.”
    “He may have went lookin’ for his da. Sounds like yer Malcolm MacGregor is a hero,” Deidra said, grinning. “Ye should be proud.”
    “He is not my Malcolm. ’Tis enough if he wakes and lives. I will not be thinking on more than that.”
    “Ye there!” Mr. MacKinnon pointed at Logan. “We need all the help we can get to repair the ship, restore order, and tend to the wounded. My men took a beating in last night’s storm, and two were permanently lost.” He pointed to one of his sailors climbing a mast. “You can help repair the sails.”
    “What do ye mean . . . lost?” Deidra asked.
    “Washed out to sea. There was no way to save them.” He motioned to Lauren. “If you will help Miss Campbell tend to the wounded, I would be much obliged. Miss Campbell will show you what to do.”
    “Mr. MacKinnon!” Captain Shaw waved a compass in the air from the quarterdeck. “We need to discuss our whereabouts.”
    “Pardon me.” Mr. MacKinnon dipped his head and turned to follow his captain’s bidding. His clothes were just as wet, dirty, and rumpled as the rest of them. Mr. MacKinnon’s brown hair was usually swept in a ribbon at the back of his nape, but now his dampened locks had curled

Similar Books

Play With Me

Piper Shelly

Poppy's Passions

Stephanie Beck

A Better Man

Candis Terry

The Grip

Griffin Hayes

Book of Fire

Brian Moynahan

City of the Lost

Stephen Blackmoore

OwnedbytheNight

Scarlett Sanderson

Delta Force

Charlie A. Beckwith