Page 16 of Never Fall for a Highlander

Helena laughed and touched Blair on his shoulder.“Nay.All the new mothers say that during the birthing process.I had one woman ask me for a dirk so she could cut off her husband’s—”

“Nay.”Blair raised his hand up and swallowed.“I understand.”

Although she was tired to the bone, she kenned she had to look in on the laird who she hadn’t seen since she entered Jena’s room.She glanced at the small window, shaking her head.‘Twas almost sunrise.Beatrice had headed to her home once they’d finished cleaning up Jena and the bairn.

Stifling a yawn, she closed the door softly, leaving the family alone.She stretched her muscles as best she could and made her way to the laird’s bedchamber.

All was quiet, except for the mon tossing and turning on the bed.She walked up to him and felt his head.He was burning up with fever.No’ that she was surprised.With a deep sigh, she left for the kitchen.

Maude was there already, putting together the makings of porridge and sliding loaves of bread into the oven.“Doona ye ever sleep?”Helena asked.

Maude laughed.“It appears about as much as ye do.”She turned from her work.“How is Jena and the babe?”

“Quite well,” Helena said.“He’s a strapping lad like his da.With the size of these warriors, I imagine the wives all have a time delivering their bairns.”

“Aye.And how is our laird this morn?”

Helena filled another large jug with water.“I just checked on him and the fever has arrived.”

The cook shook her head.“Ach.The poor mon.But he’s a strong one.”

“I’m sure.”She yawned again and shook her head.

Maude narrowed her eyes.“Can Aline take over for ye?Ye appear verra tired.”

Helena lifted the jug and picked up cloths.“By the time I walk to her house, get her out of bed and help her with the jug and cloths, I can have it done myself.”

“Well doona wear yerself out, lass.Ye came here to be with yer sister and enjoy her new bairn.I doona think the laird wants to send ye back looking like a worn out washerwoman.”

Smiling at the comments from the warm and friendly cook, Helena made her way up the stairs to the laird’s room.Finn and Craig stood by his bedside, staring at their brother.“He has a fever,” Finn said.

“Aye.I told ye he would.‘Tis all part of the healing process.”

Craig took the jug from her and placed it on the small table next to the bed.He looked at her.“Ye look a tad worn out, lass.”

“Aye.‘Tis been a long night.”

Finn glanced in her direction.“I just want ye to ken that my brother and I, as well as the rest of the family, appreciate what yer doin’ for our laird.”

She dipped a cloth into the water and began wiping the laird’s face and neck.He dinna stir but slept through it.“I really doona mind taking care of yer brother or anyone else who needs my help while I’m here, but my concern is when I leave there will no’ be a suitable healer.”

“Aye, it appears Aline dosna have the stomach for it,” Craig said.

“The lass is young, brother.I’ve told ye that before.”Finn glared at Craig.

“Ach, she’s no’ so young.Mayhaps to help with a birth, but if she is truly the clan healer, she should be able to sew up a little scratch on the laird.”

Helena had thought from the beginning of yesterday’s chaos that Aline should no’ have been made to assist at a birth.Unmarried women are generally sheltered from such things, but with the laird needing a healer and Aline’s stomach unable to handle it, there was really no choice.

Except Beatrice.

What she’d found interesting was Beatrice no’ insisting more that things should go the way she thought.Mayhaps she could convince Beatrice before she left for home that her ways were no’ the best.

“We’re off to the lists, lass.If anything happens we should ken about, grab one of the lasses cleaning the rooms and fetch us.”

He nodded as she continued to wipe the laird down.She changed his leine since she’d soaked it with water while she had wiped him down.She pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed.The fever would break and then rise again, maybe three or four times, and she needed to be here when that happened.

She rubbed her eyes and leaned her head back.She felt herself drifting off and stood and walked around the room for a while, then checked back on the laird who was still sleeping, his fever high.