Page 30 of A Scot to Wed

“What? I certainly ken what I’m doing.”

“Aye. I’m sure ye do, but until this Armstrong situation is fixed, I will accompany ye when ye leave the castle.”

“Do ye think he’ll come after me?”

“Aye. Dinnae ye?”

Chapter Fourteen

Katie tried to push Evan’s words from her mind while she gathered her things. She didn’t want to think about Richard arriving at MacDuff Castle, demanding she fulfill the false marriage contract. He might even try to force her hand by petitioning the authorities. She broke into a sweat, then remembered Evan’s words.I am yer laird. Ye are under my protection.

Evan awaited her with Mr. MacDuff at the bottom of the stairs.

“I dinnae want to take Gavin with me for him to witness a birth, but as you said ’tis not safe until the situation with Richard is ended. I don’t want to leave my brother here without me.”

“’Tis all taken care of, lass. Alasdair has him and understands the threat that hangs over yer head. He won’t let anything happen to the lad.”

Truth be known, she didn’t really trust anyone to watch over Gavin well enough, since she’d always depended on herself, but the only other choice was to bring Gavin with her, which would frighten the child. “Thank ye.”

After packing her horse with her supplies, the three of them mounted the animals and took off toward the MacDuff cottage. About a half mile from the small house, they saw the old healer, Mrs. MacCabe, step out of the cottage with a large bucket in her hands. She went to the rain barrel alongside the house and filled the bucket. She finished her chore and greeted them with a bright smile as they all dismounted their horses.

Katie gave her horse a pat on the head and grabbed her bag and hurried up to the midwife. “How is Mrs. MacDuff doing?”

“As well as can be expected.” Mrs. MacCabe led her into the small cottage and placed the bucket of water on the floor right inside the front door. Moans coming from the laboring mother reached them. ’Twas a cozy house, clean and well kept, with embroideries on the walls and worn furniture.

“This way, mistress.” Mrs. MacCabe led Katie to a small bedroom where the lass lay on her side in the bed, holding her stomach.

“Thank ye for coming, mistress,” the lass whispered and held her breath as she gripped her stomach when another pain hit her.

Katie dropped her bag on the floor, walked behind the lass, and rubbed her back. “Nay, Mrs. MacDuff, breathe. Dinnae hold yer breath. ’Twill make the pain easier, if ye breathe through it.”

Mrs. MacDuff’s muscles relaxed when the pain eased. “I’m a tad bit nervous about all this. I’m verra happy to have Mrs. MacCabe here, but ’tis nice to have another midwife too. Mrs. MacCabe says ye trained with yer mother?”

“Aye. She was a fine healer.”

“Is she dead?”

’Twas not the best idea to tell the lass her mother had died from childbirth fever. Katie had since learned that washing her hands could help avoid that condition. She didn’t understand why and had no proof, but since she hadn’t had any cases of the illness since she’d started doing that, she continued the practice. “Aye. She was a wonderful woman.”

Mrs. MacCabe wiped the sweat from the young mother’s forehead. “We’ll be right back, lass. We need to gather some things.”

Mrs. MacDuff reached out and grabbed Mrs. MacCabe’s hand. “Dinnae leave me.” Terror was reflected in the frightened mother’s eyes.

“Calm yerself, lass. I’m only going to the kitchen to speak with Mistress Sterling and fetch more cloths. Plus, yer husband will be wanting news.” Mrs. MacCabe patted her hand and took Katie by the arm to walk her to the kitchen.

The young mother licked her lips and nodded.

“There is a bit of a problem, mistress.” They had barely made it to the kitchen when Mrs. MacCabe’s whispered words stopped Katie in her tracks.

“What’s the problem?”

“The babe is not in the right position.”

That was always a problem, and one midwives never wanted to hear, although it did happen more frequently than they would have liked. “Have ye tried turning the bairn?”

“Aye. I had the lass change positions, and did some massages, but nothing has worked so far.”

“She seems to have a while to go. When did her pains start?”