Chapter 1
“There was a star danced, and under that was I born.”
Western Coast of Scotland
Fifty Years Later
The old saying danced in Kenna MacKay’s head. When a man comes to a birthing, someone will die.
And yet, Kenna thought, if the man were a physician, that was a risk she’d gladly take.
She was in deep waters right now, and she knew it. She was no midwife. Her prayers were frequently ignored by the saints. And she had no interest in witchcraft. Regardless, she had to convince either God or Nature to lend a hand and turn this bairn around.
“Let’s get her to lie down with her feet pointing at the roof and her head down here.”
The young villager looked uneasily from the woman in labor to the contraption of wood and straw Kenna had assembled on the floor, and followed orders.
“M’l
