Page 9 of The Best of Madeline Grant

Apple bread.

A beautiful shawl.

A pair of beaded slippers.

Embroidered chair cushions.

Embroidered linen squares.

But the last gift was for wee Jennie.

“A new puppy?”

It was from Emma’s father. “For always watching over the wee ones, Jennie.”

Jennie jumped up and down as she cuddled her new puppy in her arms.

“I had no idea. All these gifts are beautiful!” Maddie exclaimed.

“My clan is full of good people. They do get confused at times, but they are honest, hard-working people.” Alex’s eyes shone with pride as he gazed at her.

“Alex, did you tell them they had to apologize to me?”

“No.” He kissed her cheek. “Had I thought of it, I would have. But I was too busy worrying about you and Jennie.”

Chapter Thirty-Two

The first wee bairn is born. And the second!

Alex, Robbie, and Brodie all jumped when they heard Madeline’s scream. Alex and Brodie instantly rushed toward the stairs.

Robbie appeared bewildered. “Where are you going? She is having a bairn. All women scream in childbirth.”

Brodie looked over his shoulder at Robbie. “No’ Madeline, you fool, she never screams.”

Alex reached the door first and pushed on it. It was bolted from within.

“Open the door!” he bellowed. There was no response. “Brenna, open this door or I will kick it in!”

Alex and Brodie kicked in the door, and Robbie followed right behind them with several other guardsmen. Alex froze the instant the door fell. There was a dagger at his wee wife’s throat. Kenneth. Time stood still for him. He saw the sweat on her brow, the fear in her eyes, and the fine trembling in her fingers. He met her blue eyes and willed her to be strong. He wanted her to know how much he loved her. He tried to tell her with his eyes, but he felt like a failure.

He had failed his wife in more ways than one. How could she ever forgive him? He had promised to protect her from her stepbrother, and now the man had returned to threaten her and their bairn.

Kenneth was a dead man. Alex’s focus returned to him and he stared at his enemy. “What do you want, MacDonald?”

“I want to make you pay for what you did, Grant, and my revenge is just moments away. I lost everything because of you. I lost my friend and all my guards. As soon as this whore drops the bairn, I will kill them both while you watch.”

Every muscle in his body tensed and fury coursed through his veins. His eyes turned fiercely dark as he stared at his wife. He willed her to give him what he needed. The next moment, Madeline turned her head and let out another blood-curdling scream right into her stepbrother’s ear.

Kenneth started for a second, providing Alex with the only opening he needed. Reaching over, he grabbed Kenneth by theshoulders and threw him as hard as he could against the far wall near the window. Kenneth was momentarily stunned, but he quickly stood up. When he did, he saw the three huge Grant brothers all lunging for him simultaneously.

Kenneth turned and jumped out the window.

He screamed all the way down, but then there was only silence. Everyone in the room froze. “Alex, please!” Maddie huffed out, her face red.

Brenna started to shove everyone out the door.

“Robbie, make sure he is dead!” Alex ordered. When Brenna tried to push him out of the room, too, he stood fast. “Nay, Brenna, I stay!” he insisted. “My wife just had a dagger at her throat.” Gazing at Maddie, he strode over to the bed and said softly, “I need to tell Maddie that I love her. That I have always loved her.” He leaned over the bed and kissed her soundly.