“Crowning? What the devil is crowning?” Sophie squeezed Ally’s hand tighter.
“It means”—Elspeth breathed rapidly—“it means the baby is coming. Now!”
“How is that possible, Mum?” Haley asked. “This is her first child.”
“I don’t know,” Elspeth said. “I’ve never seen such a thing myself. But as God is my witness, this baby is coming.”
“I need to push!” Ally screamed.
“Lord Almighty.” Elspeth crossed herself. “Haley, go get Cook and tell him to bring lots of that boiling water he has on the stove. Millie, you come here and help me.”
“No,” Ally said. “I want…Sophie.”
“I’m right here, Ally.” Sophie squeezed her sister’s hand harder. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
“No, I mean…I want you to help Elspeth.”
“Ally, Millicent is much better equipped to help.”
Ally let out another scream. Sophie shuddered. She had never heard a woman scream at such a high pitch. Ally was in a lot of pain.
“That’s good, my lady,” Elspeth said. “Now give me another push.”
“I want Sophie!”
“I’m right here.”
“Please, Sophie, if you ever wanted to do something for me, do this. I want you to watch the birth of my child so you can tell me everything you see.”
Dear Lord. Sophie wasn’t sure she wanted to watch. But for Ally, to whom she owed so much, she would do anything. She sucked in a breath. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure—” Then another scream ripped from Ally’s throat.
Sophie’s pulse raced. “Millicent, please come hold her hand. Once Haley returns, she can assist Elspeth. I will only”—she gulped—“witness the birth.”
Sophie reluctantly moved toward Elspeth. She didn’t want to look. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment and then opened them.
God, the blood… Sophie wavered, but got her bearings. Between Ally’s legs, a tiny head of black hair appeared.
“Oh my goodness, Ally! I can see your baby! I can see the head!”
“That’s it, milady,” Elspeth said. “One more push, and I think we’ll have ourselves a baby.”
Ally screamed, and a tiny person emerged from her womb. Sophie’s heart nearly burst. This was her tiny niece or nephew…
A niece! She had a baby niece!
“It’s a girl, my lady,” Elspeth said.
Ally fell backward. “Oh, a girl… Little Maureen, after Evan’s mother.”
Haley returned with the water.
“Just in time,” Elspeth said, handing her the baby. “Clean up this little one and keep her warm, and then get her to her mother’s breast.”
“It’s over now, Ally,” Sophie said. “You have a perfect little girl.”
“If it’s over, why do I feel so—” Another scream tore from her gut.