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“Heaven help you.”
“It already did. She’s going to be…like Eve. Special…or maybe not…She reminds me of someone…else. Tough, so tough, and ready to take on…the whole world.”
“Like you.” His grasp on her hand was almost painful. “Where thehellis Rodland?”
“No, not me either. Don’t be so upset. I told you…this kind of thing happens all the time. It…happened to her…”
“Who?”
“Here I am.” Rodland suddenly burst into the room, dragging a plump dark-haired woman behind him. “And this is Eileen Cameron. She’s going to help you, Jane.”
“Thank God,” Caleb said. “Dosomething.”
The woman had already lifted the covers and was appraising the situation. “It appears that it’s already been done,” she said. “All we can do is help her along.” She patted Jane’s knee. “The babe’s in a bit of a hurry. I told the laird that I thought she would be when I saw you walking in the courtyard the other day. Sometimes I can tell. Relax now.”
“She’s in pain,” Caleb said between set teeth. “Make it stop.”
“Happens all the time,” the midwife said cheerfully.
“I’m getting tired of hearing that.”
“I’ve got a potion I can give her,” Eileen said.
“Do it,” Caleb said.
Jane was vaguely aware that his tone was very sharp. “Rodland, get him…out of here.”
Caleb shook his head. “I want to see what she’s going to give you.”
“Rodland…”
Rodland whisked Caleb out of the room and Jane relaxed. She smiled at Eileen. “You’re right, she’s…in a hurry. Let’s help her along. And maybe someday she’ll do the same for us.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me, ma’am. Now take a little of this potion…”
“Bitter…”
“The little girl doesn’t mind. She just wants you to relax and then help her come out. All right, here she comes…”
***
Jane screamed!
And the baby was howling with indignation.
Caleb was instantly in the room. “I told you not to hurt her. What kind of—”
“The mother’s doing fine. Couldn’t be healthier.” Eileen was beaming. “Neither could the baby.”
“Take her, Caleb,” Jane gasped. “It’s you she wants now.” She watched Eileen wrap the baby in a blanket. “I think she could tell how upset you were.” She turned to Rodland. “Get MacDuff in here. I want to talk to him. Now! I’m so tired I’m afraid I’m going to drift off…” She turned to the midwife. “Eileen, make certain that doesn’t happen.” She looked at Caleb, who was now holding the baby, gazing down at her face with wonder. The baby had stopped crying and was staring intently back at him. Then she closed her eyes with a contented whimper and turned her cheek into his arm.
“What…do I do with…her,” he murmured.
“You know,” Jane whispered. “You’ll always know. I told you that, Caleb.”
“You did, didn’t you?” He was smiling down at her. “Maybe the first thing I should do is give her to Eileen to clean up so that you can take her back. It appears I’m no longer needed at the moment.”
“You’ll always be needed…by both of us. But you might be wise to go with Eileen or the baby might start to howl again. She didn’t want to let you go. I think she was afraid she might not get you back.”
