Rescued by a Highlander(87)

“You are tired today, sweeting?” he asked as he kissed her full on the mouth.

“Just a bit, husband. You know we won’t be able to fit on your lap much longer. It is time for your son to come out.”

“When our wee lass is ready to come out, she will. Although, I understand why you are anxious to hold our bairn in your arms,” he said, mindlessly caressing her belly.

Maddie sat up and attempted to lean her head down toward her belly, “Get out, laddie! It is time to come out now. Listen to your Mama and get out. Or your Papa will paddle you!”

Alex chuckled listening to his wife. Jennie darted over to her brother and said, “You will not paddle the laddie, Alex. I will protect him like you protect me.”

“You mean you will protect the lassie, Jennie, you know it is a lass in Maddie’s belly,” he teased her.

Maddie leaned back on her husband and closed her eyes. She was sound asleep in a matter of minutes.

“She sleeps much lately, Alex, she must be near her time,” Brenna said as she entered the room.

Jennie whispered, “Alex, some of my friends told me it hurts to have a bairn. Is it going to hurt Maddie to have the bairn?”

“It may hurt a wee bit, but my Madeline is a strong lass. She can handle it, little squirrel. She will not make a sound.” Alex thought about all the pain Madeline had tolerated in her life. He had no doubt that she could handle this. He knew she would never scream. Good thing, as he would never be able to handle it if his gentle wife did scream.

“Alex, stop calling me ‘little squirrel,’ I am a big lass now.”

Just then, Madeline sat up straight, clutching her belly. “Oh my!” was all she said.

“What’s wrong?” asked Jennie.

“Oh, it must be nothing,” Maddie answered. “It has stopped now.” She leaned back against her husband and closed her eyes again.

Several minutes later, Madeline bolted up again with a confused expression on her face. She clutched her belly again, but said nothing.

Brenna stared at her, concern evident on her face. She knew her sister-in-law had a very high pain tolerance from her history.

“Maddie, are those birthing pains you are having?”

Maddie peered at Brenna. “I do not think so, Brenna, but I am not sure.”

Alex jumped out of the chair with his wife in his arms. “You are having the bairn, Maddie?”

“Set me down, Alex! I am not going to have the bairn right here. It takes awhile to have a bairn.”

As soon as he set her down, Maddie felt a warm rush of water run down her leg. She stood back and looked at the clear fluid on the floor. “Mayhap I am ready to have the bairn,” she answered quietly as she peeked at all the faces staring at her. She had heard of this happening to other women right before their time came.

Alex promptly scooped up his wife and charged up the stairs to their chamber. Brenna followed after sending Jennie to fetch Alice and Fiona. As soon as Alex reached their chamber, he turned around and stared at Brenna with a perplexed expression on his face.

“What do I do now, Brenna?”

Brenna tried to contain her smile. This was the first time she had ever seen her brother at a loss.

“Set her down here, Alex. We still have to prepare the bed.”

Fiona and another maid flew into the chamber with hot water and extra linens. They returned and hurried down the stairs, just as Alice arrived.

Madeline clutched her belly again in pain, so Alice said, “Alex, take yourself back down to the great hall. A birthing room is no place for a man. We will take care of Maddie.”

Alex set Maddie down gently and kissed her forehead. He stared at her for a minute, wanting to tell her he loved her, but there were too many people around. He had loved Maddie almost from the first moment he had seen her. He just had not known it. It had taken him awhile to figure it out. But now, he knew how strong his love was for her. She was the center of his life. He could not bear to think about life without her.

“Go, Alex!” Brenna interrupted his thoughts. “Who knows how much time we have? Usually, the first bairn takes a long time, but no one knows for sure.”

Alex glanced wistfully at his wife, but turned around and headed down the stairs. When he reached the great hall, Robbie and Brodie walked in.

“What is the cause of the long face, brother?” asked Brodie.

Alex turned and plopped into his favorite chair. “Maddie’s time is here. She is in our chamber having the bairn.”

“All right! Time for a celebration, Brodie! Get this man ale,” Robbie cried to a nearby maid.

Brodie and Robbie sauntered over to their brother and slapped him on the back, “Time to be a papa, big brother.” Brodie chuckled.