Page 15 of The Best of Madeline Grant

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 his mother’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.”

The Brightest Star in the Highlands

Jennie and Aedan

Chapter Two

Maddie gives Jennie something to consider.

As soon as they entered the great hall, the little boys went running off to the kitchens. Jennie headed for the dais, where all three of her brothers, Alex, Robbie, and Brodie, sat with their porridge, deep in conversation.

“Good morn to all,” she dipped her head before she sat on the bench.

Alex quirked an eyebrow at her. “Have your spirits improved this morn, lass?”

She took a deep breath before she continued. “Alex. I’m sorry I lost my temper with you last night, but I meant what I said. This needs to end. There are too many wounded.”

They were the only ones in the hall presently, except for the few servants cleaning the trestle tables from the early meal. Alex sat up in his chair before he answered. “I wish it were that easy. If I could end this by nightfall, I would, but every time we quell one attack, another one pops up somewhere else. I know not who is behind this offense, but ‘tis neither the usual reivers nor the typical Highland manner of overtaking land. ‘Tis a new group—and a young one, at that. Worries me.”

Jennie persisted. “Why must we get involved? ‘Tis not on our land. Why not let each clan handle their own problems? Then our men would not be dying and losing limbs.”

Robbie drilled his fingers onto the table. “And if we do that, the attackers will win our neighbors’ land. And once they arelarger, they will move on to attackus. We cannot allow these marauders more power. Besides, our neighbors are good clans. And other than the Camerons, they are able fighters. We should not have to do much to send the invaders back whence they came.”

“Where do they come from?” Jennie looked at each of her brothers in turn, but naught came forward.

Finally Alex spoke. “We have not discovered their origin or their purpose, though the few we have caught have told us they wish to dominate as much land as they can. None will discuss their leader.”

“Alex, please.” She folded her hands in front of her on the table, hoping it would give weight to her plea. “Can we not end our part in this? We need to be at peace. I can’t handle this pain.”

“I do what I must. I’ve vowed to protect my clan and my neighbors, Jennie. I’ll not go back on my word.” Alex reached over and squeezed her hand. “My apologies, lass, but our help is needed and welcomed.”

Maddie entered the hall with Nicol’s two lads and two bowls of porridge. Once they were settled at a separate table, she told them, “Here, lads. Eat up and have some goat’s milk.” She patted each tousled head and made her way to the dais. “I couldn’t help but overhear, Jennie.”

“Maddie, do you not agree? In a few years, it could be Jake and Jamie going off to battle. This needs to stop. Alex loves to fight too much.”

Alex growled, but he held his tongue as they all waited for his wife’s response. Though he was laird of their clan, capable of making decisions for all of them, Maddie was the one person whose wishes and thoughts he never ignored. Jennie should have thought of this tactic before. Maddie would definitely agree with her. She held her breath and waited for the set down his wife would surely give him.

Maddie reached for Jennie’s hand and held it tight in hers. “Jennie, I don’t agree with you. I don’t want these invaders to come any closer to our home. I’m sorry that men are hurt, but ‘tis exactly why Alex and your brothers require the guards to train in the lists for days on end. They must be able to protect themselves and their clan. ‘Tis not just their job, but their duty. They must protect the young, the feeble, and the infirm.”

“But Maddie, have you not seen the blood and gore that has come through that door lately?” Jennie could hardly believe her ears.