“You heard me. Why else would I leave MacDuff’s property where everybody had bent over backward to keep me safe? I had an idea I was carrying something very precious. I didn’t want to risk it. But I had to be sure, dammit.”

“I can see how you would,” he said slowly. “Would you care to tell me who T. S. Campbell is?”

“He’s a doctor,” she said. “He’s my obstetrician. I’d been feeling edgy and depressed for the past couple of weeks. I couldn’t understand why I felt as if I was caught, almost suffocated by everything around me. That night after I saw you in the stable, I thought that I noticed…changes. When I suspected I might be pregnant, I decided I had to be certain. But I didn’t want anyone to know until I found out, so I decided I’d go to Kilgoray to a doctor. I thought it was better if I went to somewhere no one was familiar with me. I made the appointment and asked Rodland to go with me.”

“What the hell,” Caleb said. “Didn’t it occur to you to talk to me?”

“No.” She straightened. “I had to get used to the idea myself. It was scary…and yet magical. Besides, I didn’t know if you wanted to have a child with me. There was a possibility that any child we had together would have the same blood gift you inherited. We’ve talked about it before, and you weren’t sure that you’d want to inflict that on any child.”

“But you said it wouldn’t matter.”

“And I still wouldn’t care. I was happy when I found out I was pregnant.” She moistened her lips. “I told you once that I thought you’d be a wonderful father. If for no other reason than you’d know what not to do with a child. But I didn’t get pregnant on purpose. I was surprised. It just…happened.”

“Which seems to occur frequently where we’re concerned. I really didn’t think you’d plotted to trap me,” he said huskily. “You’re too honest. It was you I was trying to protect anyway. Having a man like me around is difficult enough. You didn’t deserve to have a problem child to care for, too.”

“Yes, I do.” She met his eyes. “I do deserve it. No one can say my brother, Michael, isn’t a bit strange, and yet he’s loving and wonderful and I wouldn’t trade him for all the so-called normal kids on the planet. Don’t you ever tell me I don’t deserve to have him or a child of my own who may not be what’s considered ‘usual.’”