Page 24

M cColl

My horse’s hooves thunder against the packed earth as I lean low over his neck, urging him faster. My hands are white-knuckled on the reins. Maya needs help, and every second counts.

The northern field comes into view sooner than expected, and I can make out three figures working the dark soil.

Thesha leads two massive draft horses hitched to a wooden plow, her movements efficient despite the beasts’ size.

Behind her, Xander grips the plow handles, guiding the blade through the earth with practiced ease.

Damon follows, a heavy sack slung over his shoulder as he throws seeds in wide, sweeping arcs over the newly plowed earth.

They spot me approaching and halt their work immediately. Thesha’s hand goes to the lead horse’s bridle, steadying the team as I pull up before them, my breath coming in hard pants.

“Why are you here, McColl?” Xander calls out, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. “What’s wrong?” Concern is etched in his features.

“It’s Maya,” I say breathlessly, my mount dancing beneath me. “The baby is coming. She’s in labor.”

The transformation is immediate. Thesha’s wariness vanishes, replaced by sharp focus, as she begins unhitching the plow.

“How long has she been having pains?” she demands.

“Orion says she’s had mild pains since last night, but they are close together now. There is no doubt…the baby is coming.”

Thesha curses.

Damon drops his seed sack without a second thought, already moving to help free the horses from their harness. “We’d better move, then.”

Within minutes, they’ve stripped the plow away.

Xander swings up behind Thesha on one of the draft horses while Damon mounts the other.

They’re bareback, but it doesn’t seem to worry them.

Without another word, we’re racing back toward the homestead, the powerful draft horses going faster than their design should allow.

We thunder into the yard in a cloud of dust, the horses barely coming to a stop before everyone is leaping down. Thesha, Xander, and Damon rush toward the barn while I dismount more slowly, catching the reins of their spent mounts.

The horses are lathered with sweat and breathing hard from the fast-paced ride. Someone needs to tend to them; right now, that someone is me. I lead all three animals toward the water trough, letting them drink while I untack them.

I’m just finishing when Xander reappears, his face grim. He is leading two fresh horses from the pasture, already moving with purpose toward the cart that sits beside the barn.

“How far is it into town?” I ask.

“It’s—” Before he can finish, Orion and Damon walk from the barn; they’re talking softly.

“Please hurry, Xander.” Orion looks pale. His features are drawn.

“I will.” He gives a curt nod; his voice is clipped. “Thesha has seen several babies born while living her nomadic lifestyle. Maya is in good hands.” He tries to hide it, but I can see the worry beneath his controlled exterior.

“My wife’s pains are coming more frequently. They’re getting stronger.” He starts pacing. “I don’t know what to do. I wish I could help her.” He runs a hand through his already disheveled hair. “I’m useless. They sent me away. Apparently, I’m making Maya anxious.”

Damon puts an arm around Orion. “Come with me, my friend. Let’s go wait in the cabin. All will be well.” They start to walk away.

Damon gives a concerned look over his shoulder, his eyes locking with Xander’s, who nods once.

“Can I help with anything?” I ask him.

“Everything is under control. Take care of the horses.” He nods in the direction of the draught horses. Working quickly, he hitches the horses to the cart.

“Do you need me to go with you?” The last thing I want is to leave, but I want to make myself useful.

“Stay here. Fill Kian in when he gets back…from wherever the hell it is he went to. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

I nod, stepping back as he swings up onto the driver’s seat. “Be safe,” I tell him.

He gives me a curt nod and snaps the reins, the cart lurching into motion as the horses leap forward, disappearing down the path in a cloud of dust.

I take the horses to the field and let them go. Then I make my way to the barn, where the main doors stand open. There are tense voices coming from within. I approach quietly, not wanting to intrude but desperate to help somehow.

Through the open doorway, I see Maya on the bed, her face flushed and damp with perspiration.

Kyrie kneels beside her, holding her hand, while Thesha bustles around, gathering supplies.

Maya’s back arches as a contraction grips her.

She lets out a low moan that makes my insides twist. She sounds like she is in terrible pain.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask from the doorway.

Thesha whirls around, her dark eyes flashing. “We don’t need your kind of help here, witch. We have everything under control. Women have been giving birth since the beginning of time. Maya is strong and capable. You can go. Now!”

The words sting, but I keep my voice steady.

“I have some experience with healing magic.” I have never healed anyone in my life.

I’ve never had sufficient power. I may not have now, but I have studied the subject extensively.

I might be able to help. I hope I can. If Thesha would only let me.

“I might be able to help with the pain. To—”

“I said leave.” Thesha’s voice is sharp as a blade. “We have everything under control.”

Kyrie shoots me an apologetic look. “I’m sure you saw Damon and Orion. They should be in the cabin. Perhaps you can go there. Make food for them.”

“I doubt they would eat.”

“You could be the go-between and give them frequent updates,” Kyrie says, lifting her brows.

I start to agree, but Thesha says, “No, we don’t need you for anything. I am sure that Orion will want to be left alone. Besides, he has Damon. You will just get in the way.”

Maya gasps as another pain grips her, her hand clutching at the bedding.

I swallow my hurt and nod. “I’ll be just outside if you need anything,” I say, addressing the room but looking at Maya. “You’re strong. You can do this.”

Maya manages a weak smile, but Thesha’s response cuts through any warmth. “Just go already.”

“You don’t have to be so hard…” I hear Kyrie whisper as I turn and walk away before my carefully maintained composure can crack.

Where is Kian? Where did he disappear to? I’m sure he left because of…the stupid kiss. I wish it had never happened.

I begin to pace in front of the barn doors. Up and down, up and down. I feel useless as time drags on and on.

Maya’s sounds of distress grow louder and more frequent. Each cry of pain makes me wince, makes me want to burst through those doors and demand to help.

I hear approaching footsteps and look up to see Kian approaching from the cabin.

“How is she?” he asks before he reaches me. “Orion says that the baby is coming.”

“Yes, she’s still in labor. Xander left to fetch the healer.”

“I heard. Orion is frantic with worry.”

“I’m sure he is. There hasn’t been much change.

The pains are growing stronger. Her labor is progressing.

I have three younger brothers. My mother had Conner – my youngest brother – when I was fourteen summers.

I can still remember it like yesterday. We also touched on childbirth in my studies.

It gets more and more painful. The pains come closer and closer together, and then the woman gets the urge to push.

” I don’t tell him that my mother nearly bled out after having Conner, and if it weren’t for healing magic, she would be dead.

“I have no experience when it comes to women having babies; only horses.” He shrugs.

I giggle. “Hors—”

Thesha chooses that moment to stick her head out of the door.

“This is no laughing matter, witch. What could possibly be so funny at a time like this?” She glares at me.

“Tell Orion that Maya is progressing nicely,” she instructs Kian.

“It shouldn’t be too much longer, but you never know.

” She shrugs. “These things can take days.”

Maya grinds out a hard yell that turns into a deep groan.

“I need to go.” With that, she is gone, slamming the door.

“Let me update Orion. I will be back,” Kian says.

I nod.

Kian is gone for a short while before coming back to stand with me.

Both of us stare at the barn doors as if we could will everything to be alright through sheer force of concentration.

We stand like that for what feels like a long time.

So long that I start to pace again. Kian sits with his back against the wood of the barn.

After a time, I join him since my legs are suddenly feeling tired.

“Where did you go?” I ask him.

He pulls in a heavy breath. “I just needed some time…alone. That’s all. I went for a walk.”

“About earlier—” I start to say.

“You were right; let’s forget about it. No harm done.”

No harm done.

Why do I feel like I messed things up between us? His voice sounds flat. Maybe it’s just his concern for Maya. Maybe I’m reading into it too much.

“I do need to talk to you about something—” he starts to say.

Another particularly harsh cry from Maya makes us both flinch.

“It has to do with—” he tries again, but the barn door opens, and Kyrie emerges, her face pale and frightened. Her hands are shaking as she approaches us. We both jump to our feet.

“What is it?” Kian asks.

“Where is the healer?” she asks, desperation clear in her voice. “We need her. How much longer will they be?” She looks anxiously down the valley. We follow her gaze, but there is nothing to see yet.

“I’m sure Xander will be here as soon as he can. How is it going?” Kian asks. “Is there a problem?” It’s clear as day that there is.