Page 84 of The Outlaw Viking

“Rain, leave off. We have lingered here overlong,” Selik said, taking her arm. “Remember the woman in childbirth.”

“Oh, I forgot,” she said, shooting a look of apology at Uhtred. But first she turned back to the little boy. “Who did you say was taking care of you?”

He raised his head defiantly and snarled, “I take care of me sister and meself. We do not need any meddlin’ priest to interfere.”

“I just wanted to help—”

“Hah! Just like Aslam—”

“The slave trader?” Selik asked with surprise.

“Yea, the slave trader. Keeps tryin’ to ketch us, he does. But I be too fast fer the fat old codsucker. Says he knows of a sultan in a faraway land that wants ter have us fer his very own children, to give us a home and good food, but I know what he wants. Yea, I know.”

“What?” Rain asked, even as she heard Selik say a foul word behind her.

“He wants to bugger us both, he does, to stick his cock up our arses,” the filthy urchin declared with innocent, streetwise explicitness. “Jist like you bloody priests,” the little boy declared, spitting at her feet; then he grabbed his sister’s hand and disappeared into the crowd.

“Oh, Selik,” Rain cried out, when the children were no longer in sight. “We should help them.”

“You are out of your bloody mind. I want no children of my own, and for certain I will not care for anyone else’s bothersome get. Get that through your thick head.”

“But, Selik, did you see that little girl’s eyes when she looked back at us over her shoulder? They were pleading for help.”

“You see and hear only what you want, wench. Did you hear the coarse-mouthed, filthy pup? He wants no help, and I daresay the tough little whelp could survive on a battlefield, let alone the streets of a market city.”

“Please, please,” Uhtred begged, pulling on Rain’s sleeve. “My wife is dying, and you stand here prattling about worthless street children.”

Rain turned on the distressed man then with anger. “And what makes you think your unborn child is worth more than those two precious children?”

Uhtred blanched, realizing that his hasty words might have jeopardized any chances that the healer would help him. “’Tis sorry I am. But I am so worried about my Hilde…”

Rain nodded her head in acceptance of his apology, and she and Selik followed quickly after him. Rain was surprised a short time later when they were about to enter a crude hut. She turned at the last moment and saw that Adam and Adela had followed them. They stood leaning against a nearby tree, watching as Rain bent her head to fit under the low doorway. She waved.

She could have sworn Adam gave her the finger.

Chapter Thirteen

Several hours later, when Rain and Selik emerged from the stifling atmosphere of the little cottage, the children were gone. And Selik’s face was drained bloodless of all color.

“What’s wrong?” Rain asked, putting a hand on his arm in concern.

“Truly, woman, you amaze me. You just stuck your hand inside a woman’s womb, turned a babe, and brought it to life—and you ask me what’s wrong?” He shook his head with disbelief. “Do you oft perform such miracles?”

Rain smiled at his backhanded compliment. “A lot of times. Not miracles—births. Obstetrics isn’t my specialty, but I’ve delivered at least fifty babies.” She looked at Selik fondly. “It is a wonderful experience, isn’t it?”

“Wonderful! There is naught wonderful about all that screaming and blood.”

Rain clucked disapprovingly, but she could tell that Selik wasn’t being truthful. Witnessing the birth of the tiny baby boy had moved him deeply. She wondered if he’d been with Astrid when she birthed their child and if this event had reminded him once again of all he’d lost.

And, for the first time in her thirty years, Rain yearned for a baby of her own. What would it feel like to have a life growing inside her, to watch the contractions of her muscles pushing an unborn child forward to life, to touch her own baby for the first time, fresh from the womb?

And what if—oh, God, what if the baby was a living, breathing manifestation of love? How would the child look if it was formed from the blood and genes of both her and Selik? What a wonder that would be!

The yearning grew so strong that Rain had to look away lest Selik read her exposed emotions. This is dangerous territory you’re entering, lady, wishing for something that cannot ever be.

Ask, and you shall receive.

Rain’s eyes shot upward. Now you say that. How about when I wanted to go back to the future? And are you really saying that if I want Selik, I can have him? And his baby? Rain closed her eyes momentarily to savor that enticing image.