Leaving the byre at a rush, I ran to the farmhouse, nearly knocking Peter down in my haste. We were fortunate that so many women were present, and most had experience in helping births, human or animal.
“All you, men, leave us!” Mrs Lunan took charge as we supported Agnes to the room we shared.
“I’ll come,” Andrew said with whisky slurring his words.
“You’ll do no such thing,” Mrs Lunan said. “Childbirth is no place for a man! Davie, take Andrew away!”
Mr Lunan obliged with a heavy arm around Andrew’s shoulders.
“She should be in her husband’s house,” one hard-faced farmer’s wife said. She’s a married woman now.”
“No,” Mrs Lunan said. “She’s better in a familiar place.”
So, to our room, we went, half a dozen women, all full of wisdom and practical advice, and poor Agnes, moaning wit
