With his hand on Gavin’s shoulder, Evan walked the lad from the stable after teaching him how to rub down his horse and see that he was comfortable with enough water and food. The lad hopped on one foot and danced around him, still pestering him with questions. Truthfully, he enjoyed it. It had been a long time since a bairn had looked up to him.
It felt good.
They were no sooner in the house and headed to the kitchen when a pounding on the door had him turning around. After telling Gavin to find Cook to give him a snack, Evan wandered to the front door where Colum was stationed. A young mon stood on the doorstep, pale as could be and sweating. “I am seeking Mistress Stirling.”
“Aye. I can summon her. Who are ye?”
“Finn MacDuff.” He barely got the words out. “My wife, Freya, is having a bairn. She’s screaming her head off, and I dinnae ken what to do.” He looked like what he wanted to do was jump on a horse and ride as far and as fast as he could. This must be the lass Mrs. MacCabe had told them about.
“Did you fetch Mrs. MacCabe? The healer?”
“Aye, she’s on her way, but she told me to hurry here and ask Mistress Stirling to join her.”
“Wait here.” Evan took the stairs two at a time to the next floor, then rounded the corner to the solar. Katie was there with several other women. They seemed to be sewing and chatting away.
When she saw him, Katie dropped her sewing and jumped up, her hand at her throat. “What happened? Is it Gavin? He was thrown, wasn’t he? I told ye not to take him riding.” It must have been the look on his face that threw her into a dither. Before he could say a word, she rushed past him down the stairs and ran smack into Gavin, eating a meat pie.
“Ach, look at ye. Where does it hurt?” She placed her hand on his forehead as if he had a fever.
“What?” The lad barely got the word out over the mouthful of pie.
Katie dropped to her knees. “Where does it hurt? Ye shouldn’t be walking around.”
Gavin looked up at Evan, who placed his hand on Katie’s shoulder. “Katie, the lad is fine. ’Tis young Mr. MacDuff who needs ye. His wife is having her bairn.”
She dropped her head on her chest and took a deep breath. “Oh. Thank ye.” Then she seemed to see the young husband for the first time. “I apologize, Mr. MacDuff. I will get my things and hurry to yer house. Just wait for a minute so ye can direct me.”
“Wait a minute.” Evan grabbed her hand as she made to hurry off. “Ye cannot go by yerself. I will go with ye.”
“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.
