“Nephew,” Maddie said.
“Another lad, wife?”
“Aye, another lad. I can tell from the way he carries. No blond-haired lassie yet, Alex.”
“Hmmph. Then we’ll just have to try again,” he said with a smile.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Alex in the birthing chamber again, this time for Connor…
The door burst open and Alex flew in, tugging Caralyn off the bed so he could climb up behind Maddie. “Sorry, lass,” he gave Caralyn a sheepish look. “This helps when my wife has to push the bairn out. ‘Tis all I can do for her.” He began to massage Maddie’s shoulders and Caralyn stepped back.
Robbie stood in the doorway, winked at her and said, “See you later, lass. Time for me to leave.”
Time flew by over the next hour. Maddie worked hard to deliver her bairn, and Caralyn helped where she could. She forgot about everything they had discussed, devoting all her focus to Maddie and Brenna. Alex was a delight to watch as he took care of his wee wife, cradling her between pains, encouraging her when she needed him. He mopped her forehead and kissed her cheek. She had never heard of any man staying through a birthing. This was definitely something she would have to ask Robbie about.
Sometime in the following hour, Brenna yelled, “I can see the bairn’s head, Maddie. Push now, push hard.” Brenna pulled Caralyn down next to her and pointed to the babe’s hair. “I think ‘twill be yellow haired, Maddie. Push for your husband.” Jennie popped her head in at the last minute and Brenna beckoned her inside. The lass stared at everything in wide-eyed wonder, but she knelt down on the floor to watch.
Alex held Maddie up while she pushed, her hands locked behind her knees for leverage. The bairn’s head came closer to being ejected, but it fell back when Maddie took a breath. While Maddie relaxed, Brenna told Caralyn and Jennie about the life cord that came out with the baby, and showed them what she would use to tie it and then cut it when the time came. They waited for another wave of pressure to prompt Maddie into pushing.
When it came, Maddie pushed with all her might. Finally the head popped out and Brenna cradled the bairn’s wee head in her hand, using a cloth to wipe off the wean’s face. “Come on, Maddie, the head is out, you need to push and get the shoulders out.”
“I cannot, I have no strength left.” Maddie panted in exhaustion.
Brenna cleaned out the inside of the babe’s mouth. “Alex, she needs to push. Get her to finish this.”
Alex sat her up and when a new wave of contractions assaulted Maddie, she pushed until her face was beet red. The bairn’s shoulders slipped through the small opening, and Maddie fell back against her husband, sighing in relief.
Brenna caught the wee one and Caralyn reached down to help her. The healer had just set the babe in Caralyn’s waiting hands when he let out a loud yelp and turned bright red.
“You have another lad, Alex! Maddie, ‘tis a beautiful lad. He has light hair and he is hopping mad right now. What a strong laddie!” Brenna’s joy was contagious.
The bairn let out a feisty scream as he wiggled, his wee hands fisted with all his might, and they all smiled. Caralyn only realized there were tears streaming down her face when her vision blurred. She watched Brenna tie off and cut the life cord and wrap the bairn in a soft plaid before settling him in hismother’s arms. Maddie cried when she saw her new wean and Alex kissed her.
Alice, who stood by Maddie’s side, cried rivers and, in between, managed to say, “Four, my word, child, four healthy bairns. How I wish your mama could see you now.”
My Desperate Highlander
Book 6
Alex has to help his cousin Diana find a husband.
Chapter Two
Alex has the responsibility of taking care of his cousin, Diana of Drummond, who is presently betrothed to a less-than-admirable baron, while she only wishes to find her knight.
Micheil’s eyes widened, and Diana’s reaction was swift. “Do you not see, Robbie? I cannot marry the man.”
“Alex will be the judge, lass, not me.”
Micheil thought carefully about commenting about what he knew of Gow but decided to wait to hear more about their plan before he shared his thoughts. Thankfully, Alex returned.
Alex grasped his shoulder. “Come, we have a nice dining area to ourselves where we can feast and relax for a few hours before we continue on with our journey. ‘Twill be good to catch up.”
Once they settled inside, Alex ordered meat pies, cheese, bread, fruit pies, and ale.
As soon as everyone found a place, Diana said, “Tell me, my lord, what hear you of Baron Gow?”
