Chapter 15 #2
The two women were breathing in sync when Dr. Ferguson arrived. “How often are the contractions coming, Jenna?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t been timing them. I just know they hurt.” She clutched Ashley’s hand in hers, causing Ashley to wince.
“Where’s Cormac?” Jenna asked.
“I sent Helene to get him. He’ll be along soon,” Dr. Ferguson said. “Can you make it up the stairs, or are we going to have the baby here in the hall?”
Jenna let loose with a howl of pain as another contraction hit.
“Alright. We’ll set things up in here. Irene, you know what to do. Is Heather, the midwife, here somewhere?”
“I can send someone to get her,” Irene said, bustling from the room and yelling orders to the servants as she went.
“This is it, Jenna. You’re going to have your baby today,” Ashley said as she and Dr. Ferguson guided Jenna to a nearby bench.
Servants rushed into the room bringing fresh bedding to cover one of the tables. Cormac arrived just in time to help Dr. Ferguson get Jenna up onto the table. Heather was found and came running to help.
“Cormac, I’m afraid,” Jenna whispered.
“I’m here, love. Dr. Ferguson will take good care of ye.”
Brenna had never seen any of the women at Castle Treun give birth and she had to admit it frightened her. Helene, holding Andrew, stood next to her. “Brenna, I believe we should take the wee ones outside.”
Brenna nodded agreement and the two women left the great hall for the courtyard. Not knowing what else to do with themselves, they wandered towards the practice field. The men were just finishing for the day as they approached.
“How is Jenna?” Cailin asked, sheathing his sword as he neared.
“Cormac is with her, as is the good doctor and Heather,” Helene said.
“Ashley’s with her as well?” he asked.
“Aye. We thought the little one’s would be better off away from the noises and activity in the hall.”
“She’s to give birth in the hall?” He seemed surprised by this.
“She couldnae make it upstairs,” Helene said.
Zeke came up behind Cailin. “Is everything alright?” he asked. Eyeing the two women, Emma and Andrew.
“Jenna’s having her bairn,” Brenna said, speaking for the first time since leaving the great hall. “We thought to take Emma and Andrew for a walk.”
Zeke could see the fear in Brenna’s eyes.
Childbirth in medieval times was a dangerous thing for a woman.
He hoped everything would be alright. “Don’t worry, Brenna.
Dr. Ferguson knows what he’s doing.” That seemed like the least helpful thing to say, but it was true.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders to comfort her, but she pulled away.
He looked to Helene for some sort of explanation, but she had none.
“Let me get cleaned up and I’ll take Emma from you, Helene.” Cailin headed for the well and a bucket of water.
“We’ll be walking about the courtyard.” Helene replied.
“Well, I guess I’ll head back with Logan then,” Zeke said.
He received no reply from Brenna.
“Tell Sara we’ll send word when the bairn has arrived,” Helene said.
“I will.” Zeke walked away, unsure of the cold reception he had received from Brenna. Was she angry with him for some reason? If so, he was unaware of what he’d done.
“What ails ye?” Logan asked.
“Women,” Zeke replied.
“All women or just Brenna?”
Zeke chuckled at this. Logan knew how to make light of things exactly when it was needed. “Brenna, I guess.”
“She’s a mixture of hard-headed and soft-hearted, ye ken. I’ve known her since she was a wee one.”
“Then maybe you can tell me why she’s angry with me when I haven’t done anything to warrant it.”
“I wish I could help ye with that one, but she’s been angry with me more times than I care to think about and I dinnae believe I’ve ever understood why.”
They reached the cottage and Sara was waiting for them.
She threw her arms around Logan, kissing him much longer than Zeke thought necessary.
He was getting used to the fact that she was in love.
If she was going to be in love, he was happy it was with Logan.
He was a good man and Zeke knew he’d always take care of her and treat her well.
“I made more meat pies since you liked them so much yesterday,” Sara said. Her face was glowing with pure joy. Zeke wasn’t sure he could ask her to give up her life here. He’d never seen her happier.
“I’m impressed with your cooking skills, sis.” Zeke sat at the table and Brenna presented the men with the meat pies she’d made. “And you grow all your own herbs and veggies?”
“Herbs, yes. Veggies I get from Helene. She has a really nice root cellar. Logan’s going to build one for me but in the meantime, I help Helene in her garden in exchange for whatever she’s willing to part with.”
“Sounds like a fair deal.” Zeke took a big bite out of his pie. “These things are amazing,” he said.
“Thanks. They’re Logan’s favorite. And, they’re not too hard to make.”
“Logan says you went to culinary school at the castle,” Zeke teased.
“He never said that,” she argued.
“Only because I dinnae ken what he means by culinary school,” Logan said.
“It’s a school where you learn how to cook,” Sara explained.
“Then I did tell him,” Logan said.
“It’s not a school. Mary was kind enough to give me some pointers on how to cook over an open fire and how to use the bread oven to make bread, which she also showed me how to make … Okay. I guess you could call it a school.”
Zeke and Logan chuckled.
“I’m glad it’s so amusing. You should be grateful that I’m a good learner.”
“I’m verra grateful. Ye’ve become a good cook. Ye feed me well,” Logan said. “And I love ye.”
“Awww … I love you, too.” Sara replied.
“Okay, you two. I’ve had about all I can take.”
“Ye need a woman,” Logan said.
“He has one,” Sara said.
“She’s not my woman,” Zeke replied.
“Oh, I think she is,” Sara teased.
Zeke shook his head in exasperation. Everyone was trying to make more out of his relationship with Brenna than there actually was. If he was going to be stuck in this time, then maybe things between them could go further, but he had every intention of going home.