“ ’Tis actually quite chilly,” Maddie pointed out. “You’ll not want the babe chilled when he’s pushed from the warmth of his mother.”

“I think ’tis time to remove your gown and have you lie down,” Keeley said. “Your pains are coming close and I’ll need to check to make sure the babe’s positioned correctly.”

“And if he isn’t?” Mairin asked anxiously.

“ ’Tis naught for you to worry over,” Keeley soothed.

They helped Mairin to undress and then made her comfortable on clean linens. Mairin was a slight lass, but her hips weren’t narrow, much to Keeley’s relief. If the babe wasn’t overlarge, she shouldn’t have difficulty with the birthing.

A half hour later, the pains were nearly constant and Keeley looked up from her position between Mairin’s legs. “Go fetch the laird,” she said quietly. “ ’Tis nearly time.”

Christina’s eyes widened. “I’ll go,” she blurted, and was out the door before Maddie or Keeley could respond.

Not even a minute later, the laird burst into the room, his gaze fastened on Mairin. He knelt by the bed and gathered her hand in his.

“Are you all right, sweeting?” he asked anxiously. “Does it hurt overmuch?”

“Nay, not at all,” Mairin said through gritted teeth. “It hurts like the fires of hell!”

“I see the head!” Keeley exclaimed. “With your next pain, I want you to take in your breath, hold it, and then push. Not too hard, just a steady, firm push.”

Mairin nodded and gripped Ewan’s hand harder.

“Oh!” Mairin began.

“Aye, that’s it,” Keeley encouraged.

When Mairin’s breath escaped and she deflated against the bed, Keeley looked up. “Rest now and wait for the next. You’ll do the same thing all over again.”

“ ’Tis insane,” Ewan muttered. “Why isn’t the babe here yet?”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Just like a man. He shows up and expects all to be done.”

For the next several minutes, Mairin and Keeley worked together. She breathed when Keeley told her and pushed when instructed. The head eased forward and slipped into Keeley’s waiting hands.

“This is it, Mairin!” Keeley said excitedly. “One more push and ’twill be done.”

Mairin roused herself and with Ewan holding her up, she gathered in her breath and bore down, her eyes closed in concentration.

The babe slipped into Keeley’s waiting hands, all gooey and warm and blessedly alive.

“ ’Tis a lass!” Keeley exclaimed. “You have a daughter, Mairin!”

Tears gathered in Mairin’s eyes, and even the laird’s were suspiciously wet as he gazed down at his wife.

“A daughter,” he said hoarsely.

Keeley set about cutting and securing the cord. Then she quickly cleaned the baby and its small cry echoed over the quiet room.

Both parents were mesmerized at that first sound. They stared in awe as Keeley carefully wrapped the babe in a warm blanket and then laid her at Mairin’s breast.