Page 132 of Love Me Forever
When another pain hit she was next to the bed, and she sat, her hand resting where the pain struck. It was then she realized that her birthing pains were close together and that there was a good chance the delivery would be fast and she hoped safe. If she grew too weary from the labor pains, she would have difficulty tending the babe.
She managed to slip off all her clothes but her shift, and then lay on the bed ready to face the birth alone.
The pains continued on into the night and Brianna did not have the quick birth she had hoped for. Arran had ventured into the cottage now and again to complain that she took too long and that she should be done with it.
She tried not to fight the pain, but at times she wanted to scream. Instead she gripped hold of the sheets and bit down on the thick stick that she had purposely broken down to size for just this reason. She had no intentions of letting Arran receive any pleasure from her screams. No matter how difficult, she would not cry out.
The night wore on and into morning. She thought she would not have an ounce of strength left to tend the stubborn babe, for it seemed that he did not want to be born. She ached from the endless hours of pain, and when finally she lay back and told herself no more, the babe arrived.
It was past dawn when Brianna finally settled herself and her daughter down to rest. She was a beautiful little girl, full in the face and with a thatch of dark hair. While she gave her mother hours of suffering, when she was ready she had slipped into the world without a problem and with much less pain than her mother had expected.
She gave a cry but settled quickly against her mother, and even when Brianna washed her clean and tucked her in a warm blanket to rest beside her, she barely made a sound. She seemed content and fell fast asleep.
Brianna had little strength left to see to her own needs but did what was necessary, and though she wished for a thorough cleaning, it would wait until she was stronger.
Arran entered the cottage and looked upon the sleeping babe and Brianna pale as death and barely able to keep her eyes open.
“You could not even birth a babe,” he said with his usual disgust. “Now what am I to do?” He shook his head, and then quickly nodded. “You look as though you will not make the day. It will be up to the babe to get me my coins. Aye, this will work.”
He spoke to himself, and while he made little sense, she realized he thought she was dying. If she could rest for a few hours, perhaps then she could make an escape.
If she could just manage to get into the woods, grab her bundle, and find a safe refuge, she and her daughter would be fine. She was strong; she could do it. She had to or else Arran would take her daughter from her, and that she would not allow. She would rest and keep her daughter safely by her side, and when the time was right she would make her escape. She had to, no matter how much she ached or how tired she felt; escape meant her daughter’s life.
Arran watched her eyes drift shut and shook his head. “Worthless.”
She would be gone soon. His only hope now was that Royce cared for his child as much as the mother. New plans would be necessary all because his wife was a weak woman who had no birthing strength in her.
He wrinkled his nose at the disorder in the cottage.
Bloody towels lay on the floor and blood stained the sheets. It was a disgusting sight and he wanted no part of it. As soon as Brianna died, he would have her body dumped in the woods for the animals to feast on.
Hopefully he could keep the tiny bundle alive. For now he wanted no part of either of them, and he fled the cottage.
Brianna heard the door shut and her daughter stir. She rocked her gently in her arms. “It is all right, little one. I will rest and then we will leave here and wait in the woods for your father. He will come for us. I know he will.”
She fell into a light slumber, but the birthing had robbed much of her strength, and she could not stop the deep sleep that her body needed to heal from grabbing hold of her. She and the babe fell into a contented and much needed sleep.
Arran paced in front of the cottage. He had to devise new plans. With Brianna close to death, the babe would not survive long on its own unless he could find nourishment for it. He needed to keep the child alive until Royce parted with a substantial amount of coins, then it mattered not to him if the babe lived or died.
He silently cursed Brianna. She never did anything right. She never had the strength nor was she woman enough to be his wife. He would not mourn her passing; she had not mourned his.
He would make his escape to the outer Isles and start anew. No one would know of him there. He would become someone else and find a clan that was deserving of him. He looked around at the men he had gathered. They were a motley bunch deserving of nothing, and as soon as he was done here, he would make certain to part ways with them quickly enough. They were not worth the coins he had promised them and he certainly had no intentions of sharing any coins with them.
He rubbed at the pain in his neck. He would send a ransom demand to Royce immediately, not telling him of Brianna’s death, but informing him of the child’s birth. He laughed. He did not know whether Royce had a son or daughter, and he did not care, though he thought that a son would bring more coins. Knowing Brianna’s inadequacies, she probably gave Royce a daughter. Nonetheless, the demand would be sent, and Royce no doubt would answer.
Arran raised his head when he heard shouts and someone cry out as if in pain. His eyes widened and he took several steps back.
Royce walked out of the woods bare-chested, sword in hand, and his deep green eyes enraged with fury. He swatted the men who approached him out of his way as if they were mere insects that disturbed him.
His men and Ian kept their distance at the edge of the woods, but remained alert and ready for battle. When Arran’s men caught sight of them, they fled without a thought.
Arran stood alone.
Royce drew his sword and stopped a few feet in front of the trembling man. “I have come for my wife.
CHAPTER35
Arran watched his men flee like frightened rabbits. He was left with no choice but to face the mighty Royce Campbell. He needed to keep his wits and think quickly. There had to be a way to make the warrior more vulnerable, giving him a better chance at defeating him.
