Read Online Born in Sin by Kinley MacGregor - Free Book Online Page A

had ridden past that her heart stopped thudding and she found her wobbly legs able to continue on.
    “That was close,” she breathed. She reached to retake Jamie’s hand, only to realize he wasn’t there.
    Oh, Lord, nay!
    “Jamie!” she called, scanning the crowd around her. “Jamie!” Her panic gripped her anew. She saw no sight of his brown cap. No sight of his red curls.
    Where could the wee lad be?
    “Jamie!”
    Terror consumed her. Where was he? Where could he have gone to? He’d been right beside her only an instant before, and she had told him a thousand and one times not to wander off. Especially not in unknown places where strangers were about.
    Oh, Lord, anything could happen to him!
    Callie scanned the crowd again, seeing severalsmall children, but none that bore any resemblance to her imp.
    Could he be in trouble? Her heart hammering, she searched all around her as fast as she could.
    “Blessed Sainted Mary, where could you be, lad?” she whispered over and over as she searched. “Please, Lord, give me my brother back. I swear I’ll never again ask him to be quiet and I’ll answer every single question he asks. I’ll never ever lose patience with him again. Just please, God, please let me find him before something happens to him.” Tears welled in her eyes.
    He could have fallen in the river or he could have gotten run over by a cart. He could have been kidnapped by thieves or some horrid such! Her mind played through numerous horrific scenarios, and all of them culminated with Jamie needing her and she not being there to protect him.
    If anything happened to him, she would never be able to live with herself.
    The pain in her chest was excruciating. It tore through her lungs, making it hard to breathe.
    She had no idea where to look. No idea how to find him in this foreign city.
    Through her panic only one clear thought emerged.
    Lord Sin.
    He would find Jamie. She was sure of it.
    Now she just had to find him.
     
    Sin scanned the crowd around him while he rode through the streets. He’d cornered poor Aelfa, and with little provocation the maid had confessed Caledonia’s plan. Now he just had to get to the inn before the wench bought her horses.
    With Simon behind him, they were making good time.
    Out of the crowd, Sin spied a light blue veil on a woman so tall she stood head and shoulders above those around her. Even though she appeared frantic and hurried, he recognized her instantly.
    “Caledonia!” he called.
    She stopped immediately.
    Instead of running away as he expected, she rushed to his side. “Blessed saints and glory,” she said, her face streaked by tears as she placed her hands against his right leg. Her desperate touch shouldn’t have affected him at all, and yet it burned his skin with a throbbing heat that pulsed straight to his groin. “I am so glad to see you.”
    Her words set him back. Never in his life had anyone said such a thing to him, let alone held such a sincere look about it.
    Something bad must surely have happened, for her to want to see the likes of him.
    It was then he realized the boy wasn’t with her. Sliding from his horse, he held her by her arms. “What has happened?”
    “It’s Jamie.” She shrugged his touch away, grabbed his arm and started pulling him down the street with her as she looked all about. “He’s gone and we have to find him. He was here a few minutes ago and then he vanished. Jamie!” she shouted his name.
    Several people looked at them, but no one answered.
    “Simon,” he called. “The boy is missing. Can you see him from up there?”
    Simon shook his head and moved his horse to stand beside them. “Where were you when he disappeared?”
    She wiped her eyes with her hands and looked up at Simon. “Not very far from where we were yesterday. Maybe one street over.”
    “By the baker’s shop with the stuffed squirrel in the window?” Simon asked.
    “Aye. I believe so.”
    Sin arched a brow at the expression on Simon’s