Page 59 of A Bolt of Magic

“No. That can’t be. I…I haven’t seen it. It’s—”

“Why do you think Thesha’s so touchy?” Kyrie interrupts. “The others, too. They can all see it. It’s clear as day.” She sits at the table across from me. “They think it’s clouding his judgment of you. Let’s not forget that he kissed you back just now. If he didn’t have feelings for you, he would have stopped it before it started. That kiss got hot and heavy before he found his senses.”

My heart does something strange in my chest, but I force myself to shake my head. “It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“Fair enough. It isn’t for me to say either way, but I just wanted you to know that it isn’t as one-sided as you think, so you can stop beating yourself up now. I watched you do just that out there in the water, catching your death.” She points at the lake.

“Thank you. I appreciate having a…a friend.” I reach over and squeeze the top of her hand. “I feel much better. You’re right; I was beating myself up.” I make a face.

“No problem. I’m here if you ever need to talk.”

“That’s comforting to know,” I say as I smear butter onto my bread. My mouth is watering. I must feel better because I’m suddenly hungry. “Please tell me, what can I do to help around the homestead while I’m here? So far, I have been served hand and foot. I need to make myself useful.”

Kyrie smiles. “That isn’t true. You’ve been helping Kian. But I understand where you are coming from, and yes, there are plenty of chores if you’re keen to get your hands dirty.”

“I am.” I take a bite of my bread.

“Once you are done with breakfast, you can go and collect eggs from the chicken coop. I will give you a basket. Then there’s foraging in the patch of forest behind the orchard for herbs, such as wild garlic, mint, and nettles.”

“I can do that. I have a good knowledge of what is edible and what isn’t. Perhaps I can find us some mushrooms, too.”

“Sounds perfect. Then, of course, there’s helping in the vegetable garden. There is always—”

Kyrie is still talking when the cabin door suddenly bursts open with such force that it bangs against the wall. Orion stands in the doorway, his face flushed and wild-eyed, his chest heaving like he’s been running for days.

“It’s Maya,” he gasps, looking between us with barely contained panic. “The baby – our little one is coming. Maya is in labor. I can’t find any of the others.”

My heart jumps into my throat.

Kyrie drops the knife she was using to cut cheese, her own face going pale. “Thesha, Xander, and Damon have gone to plow the northern field ready for wheat. How long has she been having pains?” Kyrie asks, already moving toward the door.

“They started last night, but Maya insisted that her back was sore from a long day. That it was nothing. She tossed and turned all night. At nightlift, she mentioned that she might be in labor but still wasn’t certain. She didn’t want to worry everyone for nothing. Didn’t want Xander to fetch the healer for a false alarm. But her pains are coming closer together now. There is no doubt that our child is coming.” Orion runs a shaking hand through his hair. “It’s time to fetch the healer. I’m useless. I have no idea what to do.” He looks stricken.

“It’s all right,” Kyrie says firmly, though I can see the worry in her eyes. “We’ll figure it out. McColl, I need you to take a horse. Quickly, go fetch the others. I will boil water and fetch clean linen. You go back to Maya until I get there,” she tells Orion. “Hold her hand and tell her how wonderful she is.”

He nods and rushes off.

“I’m on my way,” I say, already rising from my chair, my breakfast forgotten. “I’ll bring them back.”

“You must hurry, McColl. It will take time for you to get them here and even longer still for Xander to fetch the healer. It sounds like Maya has been in labor for a while, even if she didn’t realize it until not so long ago. Time is of the essence, although this is Maya’s first child, so we should be alright.”

I nod and then run from the cabin. I hope that Kyrie is right.

18

McColl

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.

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