Chapter Thirty-Two #2
Alex didn’t move—he could not move. Had he heard her correctly?
She loved him? His heart soared and did a funny little flip.
Those three little words had warmed his heart.
He wished she would say it again, but she was asleep.
He still was not sure he loved her, but he certainly had stronger feelings for Maddie than he had ever felt for any lass.
He hadn’t realized how strong those feelings were until the accident.
Brodie and Brenna came into the room not long after.
“She is a strong lass for her size, is she no’, Alex?” Brenna asked. “I shudder to think what would have happened if Maddie had not been able to pull both lasses up. Is she sleeping?”
Alex nodded. “Aye, though I know you will wake her when you do what you must. Do it quickly, please.”
“Brodie, be ready to grab her in case she starts thrashing. I have to probe the broken bone first. I’m afraid it will be very painful.” Brenna arranged her supplies, a board to hold the arm straight, linen strips to wrap around it and a piece of linen to fashion into a sling.
Brenna lifted the injured arm and asked Brodie to hold it still for her. That simple action was enough to jolt Maddie awake.
“Maddie,” Brenna said softly but firmly, “I have to feel your bones to see exactly where it is broken. I hope there is only one break, but I must check for more. It will hurt, so scream if you must.” She leaned in to kiss Maddie’s cheek. “Thank you, lass, for saving our wee ones.”
Then, without waiting any longer, Brenna started to probe Maddie’s left hand, working her way upward. They waited for the screaming to start, but it never started. Maddie’s breathing was erratic and she nuzzled her face into Alex’s chest, but she kept her arm completely still for Brenna.
“How does she do it? I have never seen a lass who can bear so much,” Brodie asked in wonder. “How would you ever know she was in pain?”
Alex smoothed a hand over her hair. “I am starting to learn more about my betrothed. I know when she is in pain. I could see it in her eyes when she was in that hole, and I can see it in the sweat on her brow now. You are all right, sweeting?” he whispered.
Maddie nodded, but kept her eyes closed.
Alex pointed to her right hand. It was clenched into a tight fist.
Having finished her probing, Brenna sat back a little and said, “I think there is only one break in your forearm, Maddie. That is the good news. But I am going to have to pull and twist it to get it back in place. That is the bad news. Can you wiggle your fingers for me?”
Maddie wiggled all her fingers slowly, but it clearly took effort.
“Good. Now, I will do this as fast as I can, but it will be painful.” Brenna showed Brodie what she wanted him to do.
Maddie grabbed Alex’s hand with her right one.
She took a deep breath and nodded at Brenna.
After nodding back, Brenna tugged on Madeline’s arm, pushing and twisting the bone back into place.
Maddie’s body arched off the bed, but while her body trembled all over, she never made a sound.
Tears flowed down her cheeks as Alex held her in place.
“There, I am done. I think it will heal straight. I just want to get it wrapped. You will not be able to use it at all for at least a fortnight.” Brenna wrapped her linen strips around the board, then motioned for the brothers to give Maddie the rest of the sleeping potion.
As she drank the mixture, Madeline smiled weakly. “Thank you, Brenna. That was not so bad. You are very gentle.”
Brenna raised her eyebrows and glanced at both brothers before she left the room.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Brenna is shocked when Alex does the unthinkable.
Everyone in the room froze. “Alex, please!” Maddie huffed out, her face red.
Brenna started to shove everyone out the door.
“Robbie, make sure he is dead!” Alex ordered.
When Brenna tried to push him out of the room, too, he stood fast. “Nay, Brenna, I stay!” he insisted.
“My wife just had a dagger at her throat.” Gazing at Maddie, he strode over to the bed and said softly, “I need to tell Maddie that I love her. That I have always loved her.” He leaned over the bed and kissed her soundly.
Maddie gaped at her husband and smiled. “I love you, too, Alex. But right now, I have more important things to do. Your son wants out,” she ground out through her teeth as she pushed again.
Alex glanced at his sister, then at his wife, and did the unthinkable. He picked up his wife, sat down on the bed, and settled his wife in front of him. He positioned himself so as not to be in the way of the babe. “I am not leaving, and I do not think anyone here can force me out.”
“Then help me push, would you please.” Maddie shouted as her body heaved again.
Brenna and Alice lifted the sheet and got Maddie in position for the birth.
Each time she pushed, Alex could feel the strain on her body.
He wished he could assist her. Marveling at the amount of stamina of his wee wife, he whispered his love into her ear whenever she had to push and let her grip his hands.
“One more push, Maddie, I think.” Alice cried. “I can see the bairn’s head.”
With Maddie’s next push, the bairn gushed from her body, and she leaned back against her husband in relief. Alex wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek as he wiped the sweat from her brow. They both held their breath until they heard the wee one cry.
“You have a son, Alex! He is beautiful, Maddie.” Brenna swiped at her tears as she cleaned up the squalling bairn and handed him to his parents.
Tears flowed from Maddie’s eyes as she looked at their son. “Oh, Alex, he is so beautiful, isn’t he?”
“Aye, he is,” the proud father said.
“You do not mind that he is not a lass?” Maddie pleaded.
“Nay, nothing could make me happier than the sight of our wee lad in your arms, my love.” He leaned in and kissed them both.
“Oh, Alex, it’s starting again! Oh, Alice, I have to push again!” she announced as her body heaved once more.
Brenna shouted, “Twins! Two bairns. Keep pushing, Maddie.”
“Two?” Alex couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. He glanced at his wee wife as she began to push again. “Another bairn, wife?”
A few minutes later, Alex held their firstborn and Maddie held their second son. “I hope I am done now, Alice,” looking at their two boys with eyes full of wonder.
After the afterbirth came out, they sent Alex out with one son in each arm so they could clean the bed and get Maddie washed up. They slipped a fresh night rail on her and allowed her to relax on the bed.
“You did beautifully,” Alice said as she kissed Maddie’s brow. “How I wish your mother could be here.”
“I think my mother is here, Alice. I can feel her spirit with me.”