by Madelyn Hill
“Trust me, m’laird. You’ll do better to stay out here.”
He looked at Madge. She poured him a cup of strong tea, then topped it with a dollop of whiskey. “I’ve meant to thank you,” he said as he accepted the cup. “You saved my life.”
She blushed, then caught his tea cup as a scream breached the thick doors. The maidservant grabbed his hand and removed it from the brass handle.
Swearing under his breath, he continued pacing.
“’Twill be soon, I wager.”
He sent her a withering look.
Auld Alice poked her head out the door.
“Lad, you may come in.”
Galen nearly shoved the elderly woman out of his way and raced toward Vivian. She lay amid the canopied bed is if she were a princess. She rewarded him with a weak smile. He crouched down beside the bed and brushed her wet hair from her face. She never looked more beautiful to him.
“Are you well?”
“Aye.” She nodded toward the bundle snuggled beside her. “Meet your daughter.”
Such consuming emotions swept over him as he picked up his child. Her face, pink and healthy, was topped by a thick mass of dark curls. Galen gazed down at her. He swore his heart expanded to twice its size when she yawned and fell asleep. “She’s perfect.”
His wife chuckled. “I kenned you’d think so.”
“Brighid.” This is in memory of you, Mother.
Vivian reached out and touched his hand. “’Twill suit her.”
He accepted her hand and kissed it. How he needed this woman. His dove who had brought peace and complete happiness to his life. Brighid squirmed and Galen began pacing to soothe her.
Galen took her to the window, showing her a bit of the world she’d been born to.
Peace—such overwhelming peace.
Vivian watched her husband, once a wolf ready to pounce on its prey, now a mere pup enthralled with his newborn daughter. She loved the inner softness of him. Even with its rough edges, she’d change nothing.
“Bring her here,” she called to Galen. Vivian sat up against the pillow Alice had plumped for her. Galen set their daughter in her arms as if she were made of fragile glass. “My wee Brighid. How do you like your father, lass?”
He leaned forward and cupped her cheek with his hand. “I love you, Vivian.”
She smiled and kissed his palm. “And I you.” Tears of happiness blurred her vision.
She kenned together, they’d have a future paved in gold.
Biography
Madelyn Hill loves to delve into history to find inspiration for her novels. Her love of the British Isles is obvious as she sets her romance novels in Scotland and Ireland. She loves to create feisty, strong heroines and brooding heroes, along with a cast of quirky supporting characters.
Madelyn lives in Western New York with her husband, three children, and a dog who thinks she’s human. She loves to attend her children’s sporting activities, reading, and cooking.
If you’d like to learn more about Madelyn, visit her website where you can read what's happening in the world of writing, follow her on Facebook, Tweet with her, and see what inspires her on Pinterest: http://www.madelynhill.com
Madelyn Hill
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