“She never screamed or anything.”
Slowly, as word passed, everyone started to applaud and cheer Alex’s betrothed. He stood cautiously, and—unwilling to cause her any more pain—he cradled her into Brodie’s arms and jumped on to Midnight. As soon as Maddie was safely in his lap, he headed back to the keep. Robbie rode some distance ahead of him with Jennie on his lap, Brenna directly behind them with Brodie.
Maddie clung to Alex with her right arm. He kissed her forehead but said nothing.
For Alex, this event had brought clarity to his life. He chastised himself for the doubts he had entertained for the past several days. Maddie belonged in his arms. How could he have doubted it for an instant? The woman had just jeopardized everything for his sister and another wee bairn. She had never questioned whether it was the right thing to do—she had simply done it. The needs of others always came first for Maddie. Long ago, he had thought her timid—a frightened rabbit. Well, timid, frightened rabbits didn’t put themselves in danger jumping down deep sinkholes in the ground.
Somehow, he would have to help her bring the same courage to their lovemaking. He probably would still have to be very patient, but they would find a way to make it work.
She would be his wife and he vowed to make her happiness a priority.
Maddie MacDonald had just grabbed another portion of his heart.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Alex supports Maddie while she’s delivering their bairns, a remarkable show of support from a man in this era. No wonder my readers fell in love with him almost as hard as Maddie did.
Alex, Robbie, and Brodie all jumped when they heard Madeline’s scream. Alex and Brodie instantly rushed toward the stairs.
Robbie appeared bewildered. “Where are you going? She is having a bairn. All women scream in childbirth.”
Brodie looked over his shoulder at Robbie. “No’ Madeline, you fool, she never screams.”
Alex reached the door first and pushed on it. It was bolted from within.
“Open the door!” he bellowed. There was no response. “Brenna, open this door or I will kick it in!”
Alex and Brodie kicked in the door, and Robbie followed right behind them with several other guardsmen. Alex froze the instant the door fell. There was a dagger at his wee wife’s throat. Kenneth. Time stood still for him. He saw the sweat on her brow, the fear in her eyes, and the fine trembling in her fingers. He met her blue eyes and willed her to be strong. He wanted her to know how much he loved her. He tried to tell her with his eyes, but he felt like a failure.
He had failed his wife in more ways than one. How could she ever forgive him? He had promised to protect her from her stepbrother, and now the man had returned to threaten her and their bairn.
Kenneth was a dead man. Alex’s focus returned to him and he stared at his enemy. “What do you want, MacDonald?”
“I want to make you pay for what you did, Grant, and my revenge is just moments away. I lost everything because of you. I lost my friend and all my guards. As soon as this whore drops the bairn, I will kill them both while you watch.”
Every muscle in his body tensed and fury coursed through his veins. His eyes turned fiercely dark as he stared at his wife. He willed her to give him what he needed. The next moment, Madeline turned her head and let out another blood-curdling scream right into her stepbrother’s ear.
Kenneth started for a second, providing Alex with the only opening he needed. Reaching over, he grabbed Kenneth by the shoulders and threw him as hard as he could against the far wall near the window. Kenneth was momentarily stunned, but he quickly stood up. When he did, he saw the three huge Grant brothers all lunging for him simultaneously.
Kenneth turned and jumped out the window.
He screamed all the way down, but then there was only silence. Everyone in the room froze. “Alex, please!” Maddie huffed out, her face red.
Brenna started to shove everyone out the door.
“Robbie, make sure he is dead!” Alex ordered. When Brenna tried to push him out of the room, too, he stood fast. “Nay, Brenna, I stay!” he insisted. “My wife just had a dagger at her throat.” Gazing at Maddie, he strode over to the bed and said softly, “I need to tell Maddie that I love her. That I have always loved her.” He leaned over the bed and kissed her soundly.
Maddie gaped at her husband and smiled. “I love you, too, Alex. But right now, I have more important things to do. Your son wants out,” she ground out through her teeth as she pushed again.
Alex glanced at his sister, then at his wife, and did the unthinkable. He picked up his wife, sat down on the bed, and settled his wife in front of him. He positioned himself so as notto be in the way of the babe. “I am not leaving, and I do not think anyone here can force me out.”
“Then help me push, would you please.” Maddie shouted as her body heaved again.
Brenna and Alice lifted the sheet and got Maddie in position for the birth. Each time she pushed, Alex could feel the strain on her body. He wished he could assist her. Marveling at the amount of stamina of his wee wife, he whispered his love into her ear whenever she had to push and let her grip his hands.
“One more push, Maddie, I think.” Alice cried. “I can see the bairn’s head.”
With Maddie’s next push, the bairn gushed from her body, and she leaned back against her husband in relief. Alex wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek as he wiped the sweat from her brow. They both held their breath until they heard the wee one cry.
