Chapter Twenty-Three #7
“But then you came in and picked me up. And you took me away from the wailing. Just like you have always done.” She stood up and fell against her brother, wrapping her arms around him.
“You have always been there for me, always protected me, always held me when I needed you. Alex, I’m sorry.
” She clung to her brother, but then took a step back.
She swiped at her tears and turned to her husband. “’Tis true. ‘Tis my father’s wailing I hear at night. ‘Tis not the men’s, ‘tis my da’s. I do not know why.”
Alex whispered and kissed her forehead. “I do. Because the wailing of the wounded men has brought you back to the memories of that night, I am sure of it. You chose to forget it, and it worked for many years. But now, I think it needed to come out.”
Jennie kissed his cheek, then her husband’s. “Come, we mustn’t wait any longer.”
Alex let out his breath. “Good. Because if anything happens to my Maddie, I will wail much louder than Da ever did.”
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?”
All of a sudden, Jennie said, “Caralyn, I need your help. Alex. Outside.” Alex looked at her as if he wanted to argue, but he took one look at the blood on her hands and left the room.
She and Caralyn worked and worked, though Maddie never moved. A few hours later, she finally had things back in order. They had changed the bed and cleaned Maddie up, so Jennie stepped out to see Alex.
Her brother gave her a look of worry that shot straight to her heart, but she had to be honest with him. “Alex, I am sorry, but I don’t think Maddie will be able to have another bairn. There was a problem with what came out after. My apologies.”
His face was gray. “But Maddie will be all right? I don’t care about more bairns, Jennie. We have five. ‘Tis plenty, but my Madeline?”
“I think she will be in good shape in a moon or so. ‘Twas much more difficult for her, and she is weak, but with time, she should come back hearty. You must allow her to stay abed for a while. She can nurse the bairn, but that is all. Someone else must mind the other bairns.”
“We can handle that. We are a family. The whole clan will band together to help. My thanks.” He gave his new daughter to Alice and hugged Jennie. “May I see her?”
“Aye, but allow her to sleep when she needs it.”
Alex hurried into the room, and Jennie moved over to peer at her new niece in Alice’s arms. “She is quite a beauty. She looks just like Maddie.”
Caralyn came up behind her. “Thank goodness you came when you did, Jennie. This could have been disastrous.”
“Nay, you are a wonderful healer, Caralyn. You kept her going until I could get here.”
Caralyn hugged Jennie, then stepped back, holding her at arms’ length. “I have much to learn, and I work hard, but I do not have the gift you do, Jennie. You are the gifted healer.”
Alice nodded. “Aye, I hope you will continue to heal. ‘Tis your nature, lass.”
Jennie thought for a moment before declaring, “It is my nature. I agree with you. I hope that the wailing will end so I can return to my life’s work.
” Working on Maddie had settled a few things in her mind.
Seeing her niece delivered and the look of gratitude on her brother’s face convinced her that she was indeed in the right vocation.
Alice winked at her as they all gazed at the newest Clan Grant member. “Wait until a laddie tries to get near this one."