Page 29 of A Highlander's Bride

In all, it had been an easy birth for the mother in spite of all the screaming. It was interesting to once again witness a baby being born. While not terribly different from an animal’s birthing, there wassomething about watching the small infant as soon as he’d slid from his mam’s body that moved something in Beth’s mind and body.

Her mam looked at her as she held the slippery, screaming infant in her hands, making a point of mentioning the joy of it all several times.

Beth watched the smiling new mam reach out for the bairn once her mam had washed the tiny body, snugly wrapped it, and handed it to her.

The look of love and amazement on Gertie’s face, even though she had already birthed a few other children, brought tears to Beth’s eyes and a lump to her throat.

*

The sun wasjust making its appearance when Daniel and the new da stumbled up the path to the bothy, their arms around each other, singing a Scottish tune. It was hard to tell who was supporting who.

“How is Gertie?” Malcolm slurred.

At least that was what Beth thought the man said. He had obviously lessenedhispain. She glanced over at Daniel and he looked almost as bad as Malcolm.

Malcolm stumbled past Daniel, Beth and her mam. “I must see my wife.”

Daniel swayed on his feet. “He will probably pass out. When he awakens in the morn, he can see the new…?” A bleary-eyed Daniel looked at her questionably.

“Lad.”

“Now, sweetheart, doona look at me that way. Malcolm will suffer for sure once he wakes up.”

Aware of the look that her mam passed between them at how Daniel had addressed her, Beth grew uncomfortable. Before Daniel could say anything else to encourage her mam, Beth grabbed his armand walked off.

“I will see ye at the keep. I feel a tad exhausted,” her mam said, still smiling as she climbed on her horse.

Beth glared at Daniel, her hands on her hips. “How do ye intend to get home? Ye canno’ ride yer horse.”

The laird drew himself up. “I am perfectly capable of riding Atlas.” He stabbed himself in the chest with his thumb. “I am a warrior. And laird.” He leaned in and grabbed her shoulder to keep from stumbling.

Beth sighed and shook her head. “Ye will have to ride with me. Otherwise, ye will end up on yer foolish head.”

Daniel grinned. “Ride with ye?”

She walked off and brought her horse to where Daniel stood, leaning against a tree looking as though he would fall asleep right there.

“I will slap my horse and we can both ride Atlas since he is the bigger horse.”

“Aye. Like me,” Daniel said.

Ignoring him, she gave the horse she had ridden a slap on her rump, knowing she would return to the stables.

“Can ye mount up?” She was trying hard not to smile since she did not want Daniel to think she approved of how he had kept Malcolm occupied.

She had to admit she was pleasantly surprised at how agile the laird was in getting onto the horse, although for a minute she thought he was going to slip off the other side.

He turned to her and grinned. “Yer turn.”

Since her mam had asked one of Gertie’s sisters to send the dirty linens from the birth to the castle, Beth was free-handed.

Daniel put his hand out and pulled her up in front of him. The strength of his arm amazed her. He settled her on his lap, then wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. They started off on their return to the castle with Daniel nibbling on her ear.

She elbowed his chest. “Stop that.”

“Does it make ye feel good?”

“Nay.”