Page 17 of The Best of Madeline Grant

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?”

“Aye, she’ll improve in a few months, after she delivers the bairn. Mayhap this will be their last.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Maddie fights though a difficult birth.

When they arrived at the Grant keep, Aedan helped her down and said, “Go. I’ll take care of our things.”

She gave him a quick kiss and ran up the steps to the great hall, then headed straight up to Maddie’s chamber. When she stepped inside, the first thing she noticed was how pale Maddie was. She was still alive, but her breathing was shallow and she had most definitely lost quite a bit of blood.

“How long has the bairn been trying to come out, Caralyn?” Poor Caralyn was exhausted, even though Alice and Fiona, Maddie’s maids, were both there to assist her.

“Three days. I cannot make the bairn turn. The babe comes feet first, and I have found one foot, but cannot locate the other.”

Alice was near tears. “Can you do something, Jennie? Please?”

Jennie walked to the chest and washed her hands and her face. The bed was soaked in blood, and Maddie was covered in it as well. All of a sudden, Maddie grunted and sat up. Just as she did, Alex bolted into the room.

“Jennie, I have to push again and naught happens. I do not have the strength. Let me go. I am too weak.”

Alex climbed into bed behind his wife and pushed her into a sitting position.

“Alex, I cannot do this. I’m sorry, but I cannot continue.” She shoved at her husband with what little energy she had left.

“Aye, you will continue, Madeline. I always give in to your requests, but no’ this one. You will push. Do you hear me? And I will help you.”

“Alex, please. ‘Tis too painful, too hard…” She drifted off and closed her eyes. “I’m too tired.”

“Maddie!” Alex shouted in her ear.

“Alex, give her a few minutes rest. Allow me to check her over.”

Jennie spread Maddie’s legs apart and inserted her fingers to see what she could feel. Just as Caralyn had said, she quickly latched onto a wee foot. She moved her fingers as far as she could, but could not find the other foot.

Maddie suddenly leaned forward and began to push again, so Jennie said, “Alex, help her bear down. She needs to push the baby in this direction. Caralyn, lean against her belly right here and see if we can twist the bairn just a bit while she’s pushing.”

Jennie could feel the powerful pulse of the womb pushing on her fingers, but she kept searching. Just as she was about to give up, Caralyn pushed in the right spot and something seemed to give way.

“I’ve got it. I think I have the other foot.” She waited for Maddie to slow so she could move her hand and grasp the extremity a bit better. The look on Maddie’s face told her she was hurting, but she continued, knowing that her brother’s wife had a high threshold for pain.

She finally had a good grip, so she waited until Maddie felt the need to push again. As soon as she moaned, Jennie said, “Alex, push on her belly, too.”

While Alex, Maddie, and Caralyn all pushed, Jennie pulled. A moment later, the bairn slid out in a rush of water, and Maddie moaned with relief. Alice was there to help her get the bairn breathing and clean, and it seemed to take forever, but the wean let out a weak cry, though it was strong enough to improve her color. Alice and Jennie cleaned her up, then handed her to Caralyn.

“Alex, congratulations. You finally have your yellow haired daughter. She’s a wee one. You must keep her verra warm.” Maddie fell back on the bed and was fast asleep while Alex reached for his new daughter, cooing soft words to her. As soon as she nestled into her sire’s warm arms, the bairn quieted.

“My thanks, Jennie.” Alex whispered, unable to tear his eyes from his new daughter. “Will Maddie be all right?”