Chapter Three
Alex
When they finally arrived back on Grant land the next day, Alex guided Black Lightning under the portcullis, across the courtyard, past the line of well-wishers from the clan, and straight up to steps to the keep.
He dismounted and helped his sister out of the saddle.
Aedan had insisted on coming along, and the two had ridden together the whole way.
Brin had stayed back to manage Clan Cameron.
Connor led the horses out of the way so Alex could follow his sister inside, nodding to the several women bringing foodstuffs to the door of the keep for his wife.
He tried to express his thanks to each one but nothing came out.
Every time he opened his mouth to speak, the fear in the many gazes was too much for him.
He turned away to help Jennie with her outer garments while he tried to gauge Maddie’s situation from the expressions on the faces inside the keep.
It wasn’t good.
He led Jennie over to the chamber at the end of the hall where he and Maddie slept, holding the door for her as she stepped inside. Kyla was on his heels, sneaking in behind them.
“Aunt Jennie, my thanks for coming.”
“How is she?” Jennie asked, stepping back. “When was the last time she awakened? Was she able to eat or drink anything?”
His dear sister’s eyes misted, which Alex didn’t like one bit, but he held his tongue.
“Gracie and I tried to awaken her, but she’s said little. We managed to get some broth in her, bathed her. But she’s so tired.”
“Fever?”
“Seems the same, she shivers some but then she sweats, then she shivers again. What say you, Auntie?” Kyla wrung her hands, her face so full of hope that it humbled Alex.
“It was a difficult journey. Let’s allow Jennie to sit for a moment. Jennie, would you like some broth or a bowl of soup?” Alex asked, guiding her to a chair next to the bed.
“I’ll get it,” Kyla said swiftly.
“Get what?” Alex glanced back at his eldest daughter, hiding his smirk. They were all taking Maddie’s illness hard.
“Oh. What would you like, Aunt Jennie?”
“I would love a bowl of soup. I am a bit hungry, and it would warm me up.”
“I’ll get more wood for the fire. Keep it going for you.” Alex moved over to the hearth while Kyla headed to the kitchens.
Jennie went through her process with Maddie after Kyla left, poking, prodding, looking and feeling here and there. She would lean down to listen to Maddie’s chest, then her belly.
“Alex, help me roll her over, please.”
He did and held Maddie on her side while Jennie listened to different places on her back, her ear right against his wife’s skin. He took in the pallor of Maddie’s skin, taking her hand in his, then leaning in to kiss her cheek. He whispered, “I’m back, love. I brought Jennie to help you.”
Kyla returned and set the soup and a fresh cup of mulled wine on a nearby chest, then waited by the door while Jennie finished her examination.
When she finished, his sister said, “Let’s leave her on her side, Alex. Put a pillow to prop her. The sickness is mostly in her lungs, and I fear it’s deep. Has she coughed at all?”
“Aye, she coughed in her sleep a bit.”
“Did she cough anything up?”
“Not that I saw.”
“Was it sloppy sounding or a dry and hacking type of cough?”
Kyla said, “She coughed up some thick green stuff, Auntie. Is that bad?”
Jennie took a spoonful of soup, swallowed, and then said, “It’s in her lungs, and it’s deeper than I like to see.”
“But the bairns get sick and cough thick stuff up all the time. They get better,” Kyla said.
“True, but they are younger and stronger. Alex and Maddie and I are all older. It’s harder for us to fight to get better. She could still recover, but we’ll have to watch her. I’d like to find a way to get her awake enough to drink some broth. Mama used to say it was the best thing for the lungs.
More liquid. She said the food didn’t matter, it’s the liquid. Goat’s milk, broth, anything the patient will take. She didn’t awaken while I moved her about, so we can let her rest and I’ll get settled. Then we’ll try later.”
She kissed Kyla’s cheek and patted Alex’s arm. “I think I’ll be staying a while.”