Rory, on the other hand, was my earnest errand boy, though he was in unfamiliar surroundings, and would not directly help with the birth. I did not fault him for it; these are reckoned women’s matters, and, after all, he was but ten years old. I sent him for another blanket when it appeared Glenna grew chill, and then a hunk of hard cheese, so she might have something besides my fingers to clutch onto when the contractions came. Yes, I was a skilled healer, but I was in no mood for my own digits to be broken.
“Bear down now,” I said to Glenna. “Are ye comfortable?”
“Do I look like I am comfortable?” she screamed, with a muffled curse.
Rory smirked. “Cor, sis, and if our father heard ye carry on so! He’d put the rod to ye and all.” Despite the circumstances, the lad looked impressed.
I tried not to think of another lad, only a little older, who lay in bed close to death and frozen in time.You’ll be back soon enough,I told myself.With the poppet there, he will get no worse.Or so I hoped.
At least my promise no longer tormented me so.
The spasm over, Glenna collapsed onto her pillow. “I am sorry for my outburst,” she grunted. “I must be your worst patient ever.”
I shook my head. “You have never gotten a splinter out of Duncan Smith’s hand, ’tis clear to see. Twice my size that one is, and twice my age, but didn’t he howl fit to wake the dead!”
Rory giggled, and Glenna gave me a limp smile.
“You are too kind to me, Bess,” she said. “Glad I am that you are here.”
And I felt Mairi Grieve guided my hand, even as I aided the one who replaced her.
“Push, Glenna!”
“I am pushing!”
“Push harder.”
“Aieeeeeeee!”
We were locked in this exchange as in an awkward dance. It did not seem to be going anywhere. “Let us try the birthing stool.”
“We have tried the birthing stool.”
“I could prop you up.”
“Then... there’s no one... to catch... the babe.” Glenna groaned and pushed again.
Mab save me, but I hated Bess’s sisters then. If even one of them had come to help, she could hold Glenna upright while I delivered the child.
“Rory,” I shouted. “You come here.”
He obediently trotted up, then recoiled, his face turning green. “Oh, it is not meet for me to see it.” His face twisted into a hideous grimace, and he threw his arm across his eyes.
Squeamish menfolk.Useless they are, the lot of them. “You will see nothing. Stand at your sister’s back and support her.”
He shook his head vigorously.
“Either that, or you get to deliver the child. And what a sight won’t you see then? How would you like that, la?”
If possible, he went even greener, but obediently came round behind his sister, propping her into a seated position.
“I need wine,” Glenna moaned.
“I can get it,” Rory offered.
I threw him a dark look, then told Glenna. “You cannot have it. Not now.”
“I thirst so bad.”
