Chapter 15
Dunvegan Castle, 1605
“Push!”
She tilted her head back and tried, but she was exhausted. Her pains had started hours ago and the bairn was being as stubborn as his father. She feared what would happen if she could push nomore.
“You are doing well, m’lady. But I need you to really bear down. Can you dothat?”
The midwife was new, a replacement for the one she could not save at Bracadale but a year ago. She meant well, but she lacked experience and Sheona prayed she knew what she wasdoing.
“Aye, I willtry.”
When the pressure started for her to push, she gave it everything she had. She held her knees and pushed with every fibre in her body. But the bairn did notbudge.
“I cannot push much anymore. I cannot doit.”
“Aye, you can and youmust.”
Sheona let her head fall back. She closed her eyes for a moment, waiting for the next contraction. When it came would she have anystrength?
A wave came over her the like she had not felt in a long time. A year, in fact. Her skin quivered. Whispers started all around her. She opened her eyes. There was no one else in the room except for her and themidwife.
The next contraction hit, the pressure harder this time. Pain raced up her spine as she tried to bear down, but it hurt so much it took her breathaway.
“Push,m’lady!”
“Icannot!”
The contraction passed with her panting through it. Her eyes burned. She had always found strength when she needed it most, but felt like she was about to fail in the worst possible way at the most important moment of herlife.
“You are weary, I know. But your wee one needs you. We will let the next contraction pass with you breathing through it, but on the one after that you mustpush.”
Sheona didn’t know if she could even draw a full breath, much less push again. She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate on her body. She took deep steady breaths and envisioned drawing strength fromMalcolm.
The past year had brought much change with the peace treaty between the clans in full force. Her husband had proved so effective in his handling of the negotiations that his father had promptly handed over the chiefship to himearly.
Though they lived at Knock Castle, she had insisted she deliver her first child in her family home atDunvegan.
Now in her old chamber, Sheona’s shoulders slumped as she questioned whether or not she could continue. For the bairn’s sake she would give her dying breath to bring the babe into the world. But she was becoming more and more concerned she would not live out thenight.
“Soon, my lady. On the next contraction you must push. Can you doit?”
Sheona got into position; sweat dripping down her brow and onto her shift. She’d sent the maids away ages ago, not wanting anyone to witness her like this. Malcolm had wanted to be with her, but she’d sent him away too. If she was going to get through this, she needed to focus, and she couldn’t do that with so many people milling about and whispering their doubts abouther.
A great shudder moved through her body. All the hair on her arms raised at once and her mind hummed. Not now. She could not handle contact from a spirit at this time. It always sapped her strength and she had little enough as it was from the labour. She could have wept right then andthere.
Sheona, you can do it,love.
She squeezed her eyes shut tight. Perhaps if she ignored the voice it would goaway.
I can help you, love, if you will letme.
“No!”
“You must push, mylady!”
Sheona grabbed her knees harder and tilted her head back, trying to push but getting nowhere once again. Her back ached and her resolve cracked. She felt like she was slippingaway.
