Outlander: The Standing Stones

A Joyous Event

I struggled to my feet and went over to where she stood and put my hands on her shoulders. I was maybe only an inch or so taller than her, but I was able to look down at her. "Tell me, Clair," I said insistently, "What year was it when you came through the stones.."

Unfortunately, she was not able to answer, for at that precise moment my water broke. Mary was by my side in an instant, pulling off my wet nightgown and dropping a clean one over my head. (Not that it would remain clean for long) She and Clair guided me back to my bed, and tucked me under the covers. Clair stood and looked at me while Mary murmured, "I'll go get the midwife."

"Well," I said, "Do you have any experience with delivering a baby?"

"I was a nurse on the battlefield for four years; I haven't had a lot of experience with obstetrics."

"World War II?" I asked, and she nodded. "Was the war over when you left?"

"Yes, it was 1945, and my husband and I were on our second honeymoon." She didn't get to elaborate much further than that, because Mary appeared, the midwife and Lady MacKenzie following.

Everyone was gathered around my bed, and I wished they would go away. I wanted to keep talking to Clair about how she got through the stones.

"Have your pains begun?" the midwife asked solicitously, and when I shook my head told me, "They will soon. Would you like a rope to hold onto?"

"I can sit behind her, and hold her," volunteered Clair, "That should help." I was grateful for my combat nurse willing to wade into this with me. And this would be for the long haul, first babies, especially, never came quickly, as a rule.

And soon the pains began in earnest. I tried to remember what I'd read about Lamaze breathing, tried to pick something to focus on, but it was hard. Not impossible, but hard. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Oh, what I would give for a modern hospital now, all sterile and gleaming, and wonderful drugs to help ease the pain. Unfortunately, I wasn't in 2013, and I was having to do this the old-fashioned way. I began to wonder why women chose natural deliveries.

It was eight hours of breathing, screaming, crying, swearing at whoever was closest to me. I hoped I hadn't insulted anyone, but I wasn't exactly responsible for what I was doing. The pain was unbearable and I thought of those poor village women in Egypt who did this all the time—by comparison I was a coward.

At last, he started to crown, and with a few more pushes and a lot of blood, he was out. Clair laid him on my stomach while the midwife cut the cord, and I was able to see I had delivered a healthy, bonny boy. A beautiful boy with some dark, downy hair on the top of his head.

The women helped clean up me and the baby. The midwife warned me that I would bleed, but it eventually it would stop, though it may take a few weeks. They put me to bed and handed me my son, my baby boy. I put him to my breast and I began to nurse him, feeling his pull on my nipples, as well as my uterus contracting. Nursing would make both of us stronger, so I didn't mind the pain. I also didn't mind being bedridden for another six weeks, if it gave my body a chance to heal.

When they asked me if I wanted a wet nurse, I refused. When I was too tired or feeling too weak I would appreciate it, but I wanted to nurse my own child. He was all I had left of Georgie and I was going to hold him close to me. Someday, when he was old enough, I would tell him about his father, and how much I loved him. Someday I would give him back his real name.

"And what are you naming him?" asked the midwife, and I had my answer ready.

"Callum Robert, and with the permission of Lord Colum, he will have his last name, McKenzie." Colum, his wife, and I had discussed it, and we'd decided that the McKenzie name would keep him safe, for a while. Colum was making him his ward and giving him what protection he could. My nightmares were full of the image of Colin riding up to Castle Leoch with a company of men and demanding that the baby and myself be handed over to him. Hopefully, Colin was enjoying himself being the new heir, and wouldn't give me a thought, but I didn't count on it.