by Gwyn Brodie
He frowned."Take my hands, lass."
She squeezed his hands and pushed, surprising him at her strength.
"I can see the bairn's head," Agnes said, a smile on her wrinkled face.
The contraction eased, and Kila relaxed back against the pillow and closed her eyes, releasing her death grip on his hands.
A knock sounded at the door, and the midwife pulled the covers up over Kila.
"Come," Duncan said.
Claire entered, with Cin on her heels. "How are you doing, Kila?" she said, patting her hand.
"Well," she said, unconvincingly.
Claire turned to Duncan. "Go with Cin. I'll let you ken when the bairn is here."
He looked at Kila. "Do you wish me to stay?"
"Nay. I will be fine." She said, smiling weakly.
He would have stayed, if she'd wished him to, but he didn't know if he was strong enough to see her endure the pain of having their child. He followed Cin out of the room, closing the door behind him. He raked his fingers through his hair. "I'm scared to death, Cin, and I'd admit such a thing to very few people."
Cin grasped his shoulder. "I felt the same, Duncan, both times Claire birthed our sons. Now she is with child a third time."
Duncan's brows shot upward.
Cin grinned. "What can I say?"
Duncan paced up and down the corridor outside the bedchamber. An hour passed, then another. What was taking so long? He prayed Kila and the bairn were well. The door finally opened, and Claire stepped aside. "Would you like to see your wee bairn, Duncan?"
He grinned and raced past her.
Kila smiled up at him. "'Tis a wee daughter we have, Duncan. I'd like very much to name her Ilisa, after my mother." She handed the tiny bundle up to him.
"'Tis a good name you've chosen, lass." Emotions he'd never encountered washed over him, as he took hold of his daughter. He swallowed hard. Duncan carefully held Ilisa in his large hands away from his body. She was so tiny, he was afraid he might hurt her.
Cin laughed. "She'll no' break, Duncan. Here, let me show you how to hold her."
He gently took Ilisa from Duncan and held her close to his chest. "Hold her this way. Take great care with her head. Bairn's heads tend to flop about. Now, you do it."
Duncan took her back, and did as Cin had done. He grinned. "Aye, I see."
Dermit, a smile on his proud face, watched his son hold his granddaughter.
As exhausted as she was, Kila was having a hard time not chuckling at the sight of two Highland warriors discussing the best way to hold a bairn, and noticed Claire and Duncan's father were having a hard time not chuckling themselves.
Claire slipped her arm through Cin's. "Come, they need this time alone."
"Fetch me if ye need me. I'll be just outside the door." Agnes said, before she and her assistant followed them out of the room.
Once they were alone, Duncan gently placed the wee lass back into her mother's arms. "Are you well, Kila?"
She nodded. "Aye. I told you no' to fash."
"I ken, but I'm afraid I couldnae keep from it." He slipped his finger into Ilisa's tiny hand, and her hand closed around it. "Look, she's a strong lass, like her mother. He gently ran his fingers over her tiny head. "Is her hair red?"
"Aye. The same color as your own, when the light touches it. I've always loved that about your hair."
He leaned down and kissed his wife passionately, then lifted his head. "I love you, Kila, more than life itself."
She stroked his cheek. "As I do you."
Duncan grinned, as his heart spilled over with happiness.
About the Author
Gwyn Brodie feels a strong connection to Scotland and travels there whenever she can. While in Scotland she enjoys learning about her ancestors the Murray, Clark, Boyd, Ramsey and McTavish clans. She lives with her husband in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina and besides writing Scottish historical romance she enjoys gardening, reading, her many pets, and refinishing old furniture.
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Also by Gwyn Brodie
The Highland Moon Series
Beneath a Highland Moon: A Scottish Historical Romance
Once Upon a Highland Moon: A Scottish Historical Romance
Chasing a Highland Moon: A Scottish Historical Romance
Tempted by a Highland Moon
MacGregor's Daughter: A Scottish Historical Romance
