Goblin Moon (24 page)

"You must think me a monster, girl.” Shayla paused and looked adoringly down at the baby. “I'd never hurt a child, and this little one is very, very special. Aren't you, pet?” She began to carefully rock her. The baby responded by turning her head slightly toward the sound of Shayla's voice. “See, I think she knows who loves her. Don't you, sweet thing."

Tearach watched as Kathy stared at Shayla. The expression on her face showed complete confusion. Here was the Sorceress of the Ancients, Druid Mistress of the enchanted forest, acting like a favored grandmother. The older woman was cuddling the baby and making the silly faces that most people did around newborns. Tearach would have laughed outright, but Kathy was strung too tightly. His hands felt the tension in her body, and he remembered the promise he'd made that no one would ever take the baby from them. It was quite possible she thought that was what would happen.

"Kathy, darling,” he soothed in a low voice, “no one's taking Tearyn away."

Shayla looked up and stared at them both. “Where, in Herne's name, would you get an idea like that?"

Kathy swallowed hard and stared back. “I don't know. Maybe it came to me when I saw you punish Tearach in front of his people and the rest of the Order. Or how you've manipulated us at every turn. It would be a short stretch of the imagination to believe you'd take our baby away."

"
Kathy,
” Tearach warned. His heart skipped a beat at her constant defense. The Sorceress was trying to offer friendship and Kathy's behavior could get her into trouble.

"You'll never forgive me for Tearach's punishment, will you?” Shayla's voice took on a sad note.

"He could have died from his infection. Had he been less physically strong, he would have. And you come bursting into our home like a bat out of hell expecting us to condone your behavior? All you've ever done is use Tearach, and you've coerced Cairna into pushing us together. How do I know what you'll do with our baby?

Shayla smiled. “'
Our
home'?
'Our
baby'? It sounds to me, girl, like you've put down roots and want to stay. Is that so?"

Kathy gazed at Tearach. “This
is
my home now,” she murmured. “Everything I want and care for is here."

"That's all I needed to hear. No amount of pushing, prodding or chicanery on my part could have brought you to this point if you didn't want to be here.” Shayla carefully handed the baby back to Kathy. “Now, take this little one, put her to bed in a proper nursery and have a bit more time to yourselves. And you get some rest, Kathleen. But remember there are people out there who need the hope seeing this child will bring."

Kathy took the baby and watched as Shayla walked to the bedroom door. “Shayla, wait."

The older woman paused and turned.

"It ... it would be nice if the baby had someone ... well ... a sort of grandparent."

Shayla slowly walked to where Kathy stood and spoke in a quiet voice. “Did you have someone in mind? If not, I'd very much like to apply for the position."

Kathy began to cry. “I just want for us to live in peace. I want to know Tearyn and I won't have to ever watch her father be denigrated again, and that we won't be ostracized because I'm an outsider and the baby is only half Goblin."

Tearach moved to comfort her, but Shayla waved him away and put her arms out. “Come to me, Kathleen.” She wrapped her arms around Kathy's sobbing form and stroked her hair. “There now, dear. No one will ever take your baby away. I'll warrant Tearach will never act so foolishly as to earn a punishment I never wanted to give in the first place. And while I live and have dominion over these sacred woods, no one will ever harm any of you. After all, a grandmother with magical powers has a certain obligation to look after her family, does she not?"

Kathy nodded, still crying too hard to speak. The baby began to cry as well.

"And you don't
really
hate me, do you?"

All Kathy could do was shake her head and move deeper into the Sorceress’ embrace. It had been so long since she'd had an older woman to turn to. It was like having a mother again. A mother she badly needed right now. Her emotions seemed to be so radically altered. Her intellect told her this was the result of childbirth, but her heart told her to seek the respite of a good cry.

"Hush, girl,” she comforted. “The baby senses your fear and it's upsetting the both of you. There's no cause for you to ever worry."

Tearach desperately wanted to hold Kathy and the baby. As if she sensed this, Shayla gently pushed Kathy into his embrace and quietly walked toward the bedroom door.

"By the way,” she spoke as she left, “I love the baby's name.
Tearyn
. It's very appropriate. You'll announce it to everyone when the child is presented."

Tearach heard the door creak as it closed behind the Sorceress. All his attention was focused on Kathy. He tilted her head up, wiped the tears away with the pads of his thumbs and held her until she and the baby were quiet.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes,” she sniffed, “I don't know what came over me. Maybe it's one of those postpartum things you hear about."

She tried to make light of it, but it wasn't anything to laugh off. As strong as Kathy was, she wasn't superhuman. She and the baby needed all the rest and support they could get. “Why don't I run a hot bath for you?"

"That sounds wonderful. I'll put Tearyn in her crib."

He tilted his head. “What crib?"

"The one Cairna and I found in the attic. It's in the nursery."

He shook his head in confusion. “Show me."

She pushed her hair back with one hand, cuddled the baby and walked to the door which separated the nursery from the bedroom. Tearach followed. Surprise all but crippled him when he saw the end result after his carpentry work. Selfishly, he'd left the room and never looked back when the basic woodwork was done. Everything about the task had been too painful.

The walls had been painted a very pale shade of green, and tiny dragonflies had been stenciled here and there along with a medieval forest, complete with castle. A circular, green rug covered the floor upon which sat an old oak crib. Memories flooded his mind. How could he have forgotten the very crib he and his siblings had all rested within? He reached out a hand and stroked the well polished wood. Beautiful little blankets lay within its depths, and they were hand embroidered with more dragonflies.

Kathy was busily searching through the drawers for something the baby could wear. She turned and stopped when she saw his expression. “You haven't been in here since we painted, have you? It hurt you too much to think Tearyn would never sleep here.” She stated the last part as fact.

He nodded. “I don't even remember doing the woodwork. I just wanted to get it done and get out as fast as I could. That time was wasted in self-pity and can never be retrieved. Can you forgive me, Kathy?"

"I'll forgive you if you'll forgive yourself.” She walked to him and touched his chest. “It isn't your fault you
survived
, Tearach. You understand that, don't you?"

He swallowed hard and nodded. “I'm beginning to."

The baby began to squirm. “I think she's hungry. Could you hold this while I feed her?"

Tearach took a tiny garment from Kathy's hand and watched her settle in his mother's old rocking chair. She dropped the shoulder of her dressing gown and began to nurse the baby. It was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Her golden tresses flowed over one shoulder while a green little infant hungrily drank milk from one full breast.

"What do you think of our decorating?” she asked.

He walked around the room, lovingly touching each dragonfly and piece of furniture. Then he knelt in front of the rocker. “It's the most wonderful place, Kathy. You and Cairna must have worked very hard."

"We wanted it to be special. Cairna says that in the spring and summer the Pixies will fly through the open window and watch over the baby."

Tearach looked toward the large picture window with its billowy white curtains and grinned. “They will. Pixies love babies. It's said they once watched over human infants until they were all chased away."

"That's so sad,” Kathy murmured and stared out the window.

"Maybe they'll do so again one day.” He could only hope for such a world.

They gazed at each other for several moments. Then Kathy stretched out her hand. “Could I have her gown?"

He looked down at the little sleeper he'd clutched in his hand. Kathy had spent a great deal of time sewing it and other garments for the baby. She'd done everything without him. “If you change her, I'll bring the crib into the bedroom. She can sleep by the fireplace where it's warm."

While she busied herself with the baby, he lit the fire, positioned the crib a safe distance away and then ran a warm bath for Kathy. All these were mundane tasks that, for any other man, would have been normal duties. But he took each job to heart. It made quite a difference when you never thought you'd have a child and a beautiful woman to love. And very soon, he'd tell Kathy how much he loved her.

When he was sure everything was perfect, he went into the nursery to find Kathy playing with the baby by crooning to her instead of dressing her. She laughed when he pretended to swat at her behind, and chased her off to her bath. He laughed at his own inability to resist dawdling with Tearyn. She was too cute for words and sheer joy filled him when he touched her. Even as a newborn, the baby seemed to smile a great deal. At least, that's how he chose to translate her little expressions. The only thing she could actually do was grasp his fingers and focus on the sound of his voice, but she knew he was there. It was as if Tearyn was trying to bond with him as much as he was with her. “You know I'm your father don't you, sweetheart. No man will ever love you the way I will. Not in this life or any other.” He kissed her tiny hands and feet and cuddled her close.

Kathy heard his voice and tried not to start crying all over again. He was going to make one hell of a father. And when a young man walked through the garden gate one day to take his little girl away, there was going to be an almighty fight. Walking into the bathroom, Kathy was amazed to see a tub full of scented bubbles. She'd have given a lot to watch Tearach laying out the fluffy white towels stacked neatly nearby, or preparing the basket filled with luxurious soaps, scents and fripperies a woman so loves. Gifts, no doubt, from Cairna. She cheerfully dropped her robe and wasted no time taking full advantage of the luxury.

After positioning the cradle where he could watch it, Tearach walked into the bathroom. Kathy's eyes were closed and she leaned back against the end of the tub. Her shining hair was piled on top of her head and she was chin deep in bubbles. He'd never get over how lovely she was. From the first, he'd acknowledged it, but now he was free to indulge in fantasies. He vowed that, as soon as a doctor said she was ready, they'd make love until neither of them could move. So long as the lady was willing. It was his pleasant task to make sure she was.

He knelt beside the tub and began to massage her shoulders. She took a slow, deep breath, exhaled and moaned her approval. Gently, he lowered his hands to her milk swollen breasts and carefully squeezed.

As his hands worked their wonders, Kathy's breasts felt less achy, and she arched herself further back. Soon, his hands began to massage other parts of her. His touch was so soothing, yet her body responded as though an electric current were running through it. She wanted more. She opened her eyes, looked deeply into his and raised her arms for his kiss. It was slow, lingering and full of potential. She drew a deep groan from him before he pulled slightly away.

"Kathy, we shouldn't go further. Your body needs to heal."

"I want you,” Kathy heavily breathed, surprised she could have such a physical reaction so soon after birth. It might be part of the magic of this enchanted place or the man himself. Maybe a combination of the two. Right now she felt no pain, only a slow, burning passion for this green giant of a man.

"Never doubt that I want you, too. But we need to wait. These herbs are a special mixture.” He waved his hand at the tub and grinned. “Their purpose is to help ease your pain and for relaxation. Maybe they're doing the job too well."

She brought shaky hands to her face and tried to still her body's desires. Tearach loosened her hair and let it fall. Using a pitcher, he washed it with a luxurious witch hazel shampoo, rinsed it, then towel dried and brushed the thick waves until they glistened.

"Stand up,” he instructed.

She could only listen to his voice and do as he requested. Every part of her seemed to relax, yet screamed for more of his touch. It had been one of the most intimate experiences in her life, and stopping seemed like a crime against nature. Without opening her eyes, she leaned into him and felt herself being cocooned in a large soft towel and gently dried. Sleep came to her almost instantaneously.

Tearach lifted Kathy from the tub, carried her into the bedroom and lowered her onto the soft mattress. Then he lovingly pressed downy covers around her. After checking on the baby once more, he returned and took a moment to gaze down at Kathy's beautiful face and the golden hair shimmering on the green satin pillow. He undressed then lay beside her. His hands caressed her shoulders in a soft circular pattern meant to ensure a deep sleep.

He focused everything within him on her comfort. From puberty, the men of his race were trained to see to the new mother's welfare, the minimization of pain and her total happiness. It was a gift bestowed out of the purest love and a way of helping the givers of new life recuperate as quickly as possible. Three rules were always followed. First, a woman who'd just given birth was never left alone. Second, she and the baby were respected and given a period of quiet with the baby's father so they could all bond. And third, if the situation should arise, the father would give his life protecting his mate and their infant. With his heart more open than at any time in his life, Tearach was prepared to give everything. He felt the strength to fight off the entire world if he had to. Happiness lifted him to a place so unfamiliar it became overwhelming. His hands and body shook with emotions he struggled to control.