Page 131 of Love Me Forever
“You are ignorant of the truth. You always have been and you disgust me as much now as when we were married.”
“You will be rid of me soon enough.”
“I would have been rid of you by now if the idiots I sent to bring you to me had done a proper job of abducting you.”
Brianna digested his remark, and the realization fired her temper. She did not, however, display her anger. That would have pleased Arran, and she had no intentions of pleasing the repulsive man.
“So it was you who caused my carriage accident and the death of the two men.”
He seemed proud, raising his chin in triumph.
She deflated him fast enough. “You must be accustomed to failure by now.”
He turned bright red and his hands fisted at his sides. “Will you think me a failure when you must leave your child in my care?”
His words stung her heart, but she would not give him the satisfaction of knowing his target had suffered a direct hit. “That will not happen.”
“You are so sure, and yet the great Royce Campbell foolishly follows the wrong trail. By the time he realizes he has erred, the babe will be born and the wee one will guarantee my safety.”
“You are the fool if you believe that.” Mentally she called to Royce, told him where she was, and prayed that he heard her silent plea.
“Is he here?” Arran asked, spreading his arms wide.
“Do you see him?”
Brianna defended the man she loved. “He would not be so foolish as to walk straight into your camp.”
“Why not? He is a legend; legends cannot die. What has he to fear?”
“Royce fears nothing.”
He rushed toward her, leaning over so that his nose nearly touched hers. “He will know true fear by the time I get done with him.”
She wisely remained silent, and besides, a dull ache had begun in her back a short time earlier, and at first she had paid it no mind, but it had continued, and she feared the babe might have decided to arrive sooner than she had thought.
If that were so, she would need to make a hasty escape and find a place in the woods to birth the babe. This being her first, she would be wise to leave as soon as possible.
Arran had stepped away from her, and she made an attempt to stand, her extra burden making movement slow for her. Arran ignored her need for assistance and watched with a smirk as she struggled to stand on her own.
She was about to tell him she was going to gather more branches when to her shock her water broke and flooded the ground around her.
Arran laughed. “The babe arrives, and where, dear wife, is the father?”
She wanted to scream in frustration. What now was she to do? A pain stabbed at her stomach, and she realized that at the moment the only thing she was going to do was to birth her babe.
“Go and deliver the little bundle who will guarantee my safety.”
He would not even extend a helpful hand. She walked off on her own, the pain subsiding, but she knew not for long. She barely reached the cottage door when another pain struck.
Arran called out to her when she bent over from the pain. “You are on your own, wife, there is no one here to help you.”
Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. With difficulty she made it into the cottage, shutting the door behind her. “Please,” she cried softly. “Please, Royce. I need you.”
Having been present for several births and having discussed the birthing process in detail with Moira, she felt comfortable that she understood what needed to be done.
She had gathered twice the necessary items, having left half in a bundle in the woods and the other half in the cottage. She thought it wise that Arran should see her prepare for the delivery, or he might grow suspicious.
Now she was relieved that she had done so, for all was ready for her. She placed the items she needed close by the bed and filled two buckets with water. Carrying them near the bed was the most difficult, but with slow steps and much effort she succeeded.
