“Aye, go ahead. Do what you must.” Maddie repositioned herself in bed to give Jennie access to do what she needed.
Once she finished her exam, Jennie covered Maddie up with several blankets. “I don’t see any cause for the cramping. The sac seems to be in place, and there is no blood, so you appear to be fine for now. But I would suggest you be extra careful and stay in bed for a few days, getting up for your needs only.
“But I must talk to Cook, and then…” Maddie’s hand rubbed her forehead.
“Nay, Maddie. You’ll stay here. We’ll see to everything.” Caralyn rubbed her shoulder, attempting to soothe her.
Just then, the door flew open with a bang and Jennie and Caralyn both jumped. Alex stood in the doorway, his hands on his hips, concern etched in every line in his face. “Maddie? Why are you still abed?”
Jennie stood up and said, “Alex, Maddie will be staying abed for a few days. She’s having some womanly issues and I have recommended that she stay flat to make sure the bairn is fine.”
The color drained out of Alex’s face in an instant. “Maddie?” He rushed over to the bed and sat on the edge, cupping Maddie’s cheek in his big, callused hand. Jennie loved to see her brother like this. The great swordsman of the Highlands could only be brought to his knees by one thing—his wee wife.
“Alex, I am sure I will be fine and the babe will be fine, too. I need some rest. I am tired with this one. Please take care of the lads for me? Jennie and Caralyn will watch Kyla.” She leaned her head against her pillow, and within a few moments, she was fast asleep.
“Maddie?” He leaned over and placed a tender kiss on her forehead and covered her with furs, tucking them up under her chin.
Her brother looked so lost. Maddie had been healthy as a horse for her other pregnancies—on her feet until the day shedelivered and up again in less than a sennight. He gave Jennie a look that broke her heart, but she held firm. “Alex. Your wife has taken care of all of us for many years. It’s time for us to take care of her for a wee bit. She’s a strong woman, but she still needs her rest.”
Alex turned and left the room with a dazed expression that Jennie guessed would not leave him for a while.
Chapter Sixteen
Oh, the storybooks. Maddie is missed by many, and Alex has to do story time for his bairns.
The group sat around the dais with a sense of loss. He (Aedan) sat on a bench at the end of the table near Jennie. Maddie was not with them, and everyone could feel Alex’s tension. At one point, their three lads, Jamie, Jake, and Connor attempted to sneak up the stairs in pursuit of their mama.
A booming, “Lads!” caught them in the midst of their journey, and all three stopped instantly.
“Papa,” Jamie whispered. “We want our mama.”
“Lads, you will not bother your mother. She is ill and abed, and you will stay here.”
Jake turned to look at his father. “But Mama reads one of her storybooks to us every eve.”
Alex pointed to the bottom of the stairs and all three of the bairns rushed back down the stairs, their hands clasped behind their backs as they gazed up at their da. Kyla strolled over and grabbed her sire’s hand. “Papa, you can read us the story tonight. Please?”
Aedan watched with bemusement. He leaned toward Jennie, “Maddie has storybooks?”
Jennie nodded. “Aye, she makes them herself, drawing pictures. They are quite beautiful. She has read from them for many, many moons. All the bairns of the clan love them.”
All of Alex Grant’s bluster had been taken out of him by his four bairns and his wife’s illness. He didn’t know what was wrong with Maddie, but this couldn’t possibly be the first time she had been abed.
Connor tipped his head back as far as he could as he stared up at his sire. “Please, Papa?” he asked in a small voice.
“Please?” Jamie added. “We do so love it when Mama reads to us.”
Jake nodded his head.
“Connor, you shall choose the book.” Alex strode over to the hearth and sat in his chair while three of his bairns followed him and Connor scampered off to choose a book. Gracie, Robbie and Caralyn’s daughter, followed with Roddy in hand, and Braden toddled over on his own.
Aedan found himself glancing at Jennie to see how she was reacting to the scene. He most enjoyed catching her unaware. Jennie couldn’t help but smile when her brother’s booming voice echoed through the room. The tale was about some monster, and Alex’s interpretation had all the weans staring at him with wide eyes. He noticed Loki had made his way over a bit closer so he could hear the story. He was quite sure that Maddie would have told the tale differently, and the weans would probably beg him to read many more books to them in the future if they managed to survive the night without haunted dreams.
Aedan moved over and took the seat next to Jennie. “Your brother is lost without his wife, I see. She has never been sick before?”
“Nay, never. She has the constitution of a horse, and if she is forced to bear any pain, she never lets on. Maddie has been invincible up until now.”
“She’ll get better? ‘Tis not some unknown sickness?”
