The Recalcitrant Wife

Chapter 14: A Life of Contentment

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. . . . . .

Taryn was a wonder. I couldn't have brought forth this child without her tender care. She encouraged me to bear down, even when I was so tired it felt useless, but with one final desperate push, I heard that magnificent wail. I sat up just before she placed my sweet baby in my open arms, and burst into tears of joy. My curly haired, ginger, so like her father, gazed up at me with those blue-grey eyes. I was in a haze of wonder for a bit, and thoughts of the future filled my mind.

There was a rap at the door, and Jamie's voice softly asking for permission to enter the birthing sanctuary. When he tip-toed into the room, he looked the worse for wear. I imagined he was frightened down to his boots, especially remembering the demise of his mother during childbirth—and in addition, the fact that an inebriated midwife was attending me.

He glanced at Taryn who was beaming, and nodded that all was well. Striding across the room quickly, he fell to his knees by the bed. My friend lowered the infant into his arms, and the expression on his face was enough to melt a heart of stone.

Jamie chuckled quietly, and announced, "She's a wee lassie, aye?"

"Yes, I know," I answered, grinning.

"Are you pleased?" Silly question ... as if the look of awe in his eyes wasn't a clue as to what he was feeling at that moment.

"I canna believe as she's truly mine. And of course I ken as we made her t'gether, but she's her own person—apart from us, I mean."

"And don't ever forget that, Jamie. She's ours ... our daughter, but she'll have a mind of her own."

"Och ... I dinna doubt that. Wi' ye as her mother, I suppose she'll most probably have verra strong opinions, and a bit o' yer temper as weel."

"You are probably right, there."

Taryn put out her arms to take Brianna from him so I could feed her. Jamie twisted away. "I'm no ready to give her to ye as yet. Can ye let me hold her for a wee bit longer?"

With one eyebrow quirked, Taryn retorted, "Seein' as ye're her da, I canna forbid ye, now can I?"

# # # # #

Murtagh came by the day, next, to retrieve his wife. I told him what happened, and he volunteered to take Erin to her home, and stop by and explain to Mr. Thomann what was amiss here night, last.

"She'll nay see to my Taryn when the time comes 'bout. I expect the drunkard will be run off the ridge. And good riddance to the rubbish."

The weans rushed into the cottage anxious to see my new bairn, as much as their mum, I expect. After fashin' o'er Brianna, they left wi' Murtagh leadin' the midwife outside. The woman was fair-hung o'er when we shoved her onto the cart.

Robbie asked, "What's wrong wi' her, Murtagh?"

Taryn eyed him sharply. "Just ne'er ye mind. She doesna feel weel is all."

"She walks funny," Annis said, frownin'.

Erin moaned, and held her head. "See how straight ye walk, when ye've a pint under yer belt. And ye don't need to be shoutin', lassie. For sure, we can all hear ye, we do."

. . . . .

Margrit made it to our croft that evenin', verra apologetic 'bout the misfortunate string o' events, and assured us as O'Malley would nay longer be allowed to ply her trade amongst the women o' the island. I didna care so much 'bout that as to be assured as my Claire would be all right.

I stayed at home as much as possible for several days so Sassenach could rest op and gain her strength back. I cradled Brianna when she fussed, and truth be told, I missed cuddlin' wi' the wean, as Claire took o'er her motherly duties. To say I was proud to be a father was nay a lie. My daughter was as dear to me as the precious woman who gave her life.

# # # # #

It wasn't long before Brianna had a cousin, a baby boy named, Alexander Mutagh Fraser, and she was like a big sister to him.

Underestimating the virility of my sexually potent mate, Liam James followed his sibling two years later, and Jamie was thrilled. By the time the two of them had grown a couple of feet, he had instructed them both to fish, shoot a pistol, handle a bow, and use a dirk and broadsword.

It was gratifying to me how he doted on them. Jamie was definitely an exemplary father.

We had discussed discipline previous to any misbehavior among the children occurring, and one night while in bed, I remembered a particular conversation. I had vehemently protested the frame of mind that over the fence switching was the thing to coerce obedience.

"Jamie—you witnessed how I reacted when you dared to tan me. I don't want you to perpetuate that barbaric tradition."

"What d'ye propose we should do then, Sassenach?"

"Grounding."

"And what d'ye mean by that?"

"I mean simply that the transgressor will not be allowed to leave the bedroom or the house for a certain period of time."

"Ah, I see." He smirked at me. "That wouldna be such a punishment to bear in my case, woman."

"In that case, I'd withhold your dinner or dessert or take away a favorite pastime for a while."

Stroking my arm in a sensual way, he murmured, "And what pastime would that be?"

"Oh ... I'll think of something."

"Aye. I expect so," he cheekily replied.

. . . . .

Ten years had passed, and Jamie and I were as much in love as ever. We had thought about returning to Lallybroch, but it seemed the British were persistent in bringing the Jacobites to justice even after all this time had elapsed. In all honesty, this isle was our home now, and we were reluctant to leave it. Liam and Brianna had grown up here. Would they adapt to living in a foreign place such as Lallybroch? Brianna especially would have to say goodbye to her many friends, not to mention those of the opposite sex.

When our daughter turned fifteen, Jamie became a bear, protecting his cub. He was poking up the fire in the hearth when he huffed, and turning to me said, "The lads best mind their p's and q's if they wanta hold onto all their limbs, I'll no have my wee lass trifled wi'."

I laughed at his concern. "We lass? Jamie, she's nearly as tall as you are, and just as handy with a sword, I might add."

"Ne'ertheless," he groaned as he sat in the chair beside me.

One day, I overheard Brianna grumbling. "Da, the lads are afeared o' ye."

"Good."

"Mama," she yelled. Ye've gotta talk to Da. I'll be an auld maid for sure if he doesna stop actin' like a bluidy boar."

Thankfully, neither of them had to wield a weapon against a suitor, and it came to pass that Brianna found a suitable mate and was happily married. Liam started up his own little croft and it wasn't long until he too settled into a happy marriage.

# # # # #

Murtagh and I were out in the fields, reapin' the barley to set aside for makin' the malt for whiskey. As I bundled the grain, I thought 'bout how my life—if I lived at all—wouldha changed if Sassenach hadn't disobeyed me and returned to Culloden. I was a happy man, blessed beyond my wildest dreams, and all because o' my recalcitrant wife, and that's the truth o' it. I glanced at our home wi' the smoke billowin' out o' the chimney, and smiled.

The End