Once Found: The Pocket Watch Chronicles Read Online Free

hear the minstrels perform for the laird. Afterward, when they had a few private moments, Geordie clearly had something on his mind.
    “Geordie, what’s bothering ye? Ye seem distracted.”
    “Aye, I suppose I am. There’s something we need to talk about, love. Something I need to tell ye. I need to know yer thoughts.”
    “Ye can tell me anything.”
    He started several times, but seemed to have trouble finding the words. Before he could finish, one of the lassies from the village entered the hall looking for Elsie.
    “There ye are, Elsie. My mam’s time is here. Dolina said I was to run and fetch ye.”
    “All right, sweetling. Geordie, I’m sorry. I have to go.”
    “Ye like this, don’t ye? Learning to be a midwife?”
    “Aye, I do. I’ve only just started, mind ye. Bringing a bairn into the world is hard and frightening. So many things can happen. But holding that wee life, knowing ye’ve made a difference and perhaps brought some ease…well, there’s nothing like it.”
    “Ye’re glowing, more than ye do when ye dance.”
    “Am I?” She smiled.
    “Aye, ye are.”
    “Perhaps I can see ye tomorrow and ye can tell me what’s weighing on ye?”
    He nodded. “Tomorrow will be soon enough.” He gave her a quick kiss.
    ~ * ~
    Just before daybreak, Elsie hurried toward the village priest’s cottage, her heart aching. It had been a relatively easy birth, but as Kenna held her wee daughter in her arms, it became immediately apparent that something was dreadfully wrong. The bairn’s fingers, toes, and lips had a bluish tinge that only got worse when she cried or tried to feed.
    Aunt Dolina had pulled her to one side. Cradling Elsie’s face in her hands, she said, “Go fetch Father Ian, Elsie. The wee lassie needs to be baptized.”
    “But—”
    “Nay, lass. The bairn is going to die. Very soon. I’ll stay with Kenna and her family. Go fetch Father, then go home. Ye’re not ready for this yet.”
    She did as she’d been bid and watched Father hurry down the lane to the cottage where crushing sorrow was coming on the heels of great joy.
    Her aunt had told her to go home, but she couldn’t. She didn’t want to be alone with her pain there. Instead she went into the little church, intending to pray there in the peaceful solitude.
    But she wasn’t alone.
    Geordie knelt there.
    “Geordie,” her voice broke.
    He turned toward her, clearly reading the grief on her face. He was on his feet and had his arms around her in a moment. “What’s happened?”
    “The bairn…something’s wrong. The poor wee thing is struggling to breathe.” She drew in a ragged breath. “She’s dying, Geordie.”
    “Nay, isn’t there anything to be done?”
    Elsie shook her head. “Father Ian’s on his way to baptize her.” Elsie rested her head against his chest. She had no tears. It had been too many years. She couldn’t stop trembling, and the pain building within her was nearly intolerable.
    Geordie held her silently for what seemed like ages. The early morning light crept through the windows before she took one last deep breath and stepped back. “What…why were ye here?”
    “Like I said last eve, I have something weighing on my mind. I couldn’t sleep and thought perhaps I could find my answers here.”
    “You can tell me what it is.”
    He smiled. “It’s not the time. We’ll talk later. I’ll walk ye home. You should try to get a little rest.”
    She nodded.
    They walked in silence and when they reached Dolina’s cottage, Elsie turned to face him. He took her hands in his. “Are ye all right?”
    “Aye. Thank ye. I don’t know what…well, thank ye.”
    He kissed her tenderly. “I’ve never met anyone one like ye, Elsie. I love ye with my whole heart.”
    “Oh, Geordie, I love ye too.”
    He kissed her again before saying, “Go to sleep now, my precious lass. We’ll talk later.”
    “Aye. Until later.”
    ~ * ~
    Elsie slept for a few hours, rising late in the morning. When she saw that