To Love A Myth - Book 2: Mr. Higgs and the Lady 🎩✔️

41

She giggled and closed the door, leaving Higgs in the dark.

****************

Merida vomited harshly into the extra chamber pot, coughing and gagging afterward. Edgar pat her back softly and grabbed the pot to pour out it's contents. Merida flopped back into the bed, breathing quickly. She felt like the child inside her was trying to eject itself from her mouth.

"I sent a letter to Lord Graves to come and see you as soon as possible."

"I'm sure Boston has his own pregnant wife to deal with."

"Not him, his father."

"Oh... Has... have ye..."

"No, still not sign of him." He said, shaking his head.

"Damn it!" she screamed, hitting her fist in the bed.

"Merida, I've tried to look everywhere I possibly could and I've asked as many people as possible."

"I'm not blaming ye, lad! I'm just angry at everrathing! I'm so sick I cannae help look for him and I ken that bitch has him, but how can I find him when I can hardly leave my bed?"

"I'd rather you get better before you start looking for him again. Lord Northumberly is also looking for him when he has the time."

There was a knock at the door and Marlow stuck her head in.

"Lord Northumberly is here." She looked over at Merida. "I'll go make some peppermint tea."

"She needs food, Marlow. She hasn't eaten in days."

"Food is the least of my worries." Merida growled.

"Oh and tea will make it better?" Edgar snapped.

Tears started to well up in Merida's eyes and Edgar floundered for a moment.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings..."

"It's the bairn that's doing it. It messes with yer emotions something fierce." She said, sniffling to try and keep the tears at bay. "Ye ken it usually wouldnae even faze me, yeah?"

"Right."

There was another knock on the door and it opened a little."

"I thought I'd just let myself in since someone just left us at the door."

"I'm so sorry, Lord Northumberly." Marlow said, giving an apologetic curtsy.

"Laird Radek?"

"Hello, love." He said with a smile, walking over to her.

"Why are ye here? When Marlow said Laird Northumberly, I kenned she meant Laird Jamison."

"Well, we received a letter regarding Higgs from Fuchsia and as family, it's our duty to come and help. We also heard about you."

"Oh."

Radek grinned. "Welcome to the family."

"Yer brother said the same thing and as I told him, we havenae even married yet."

"Doesn't matter. You were a part of the family as soon as you stood up to me the first time we met. I knew a woman like you just couldn't possibly go to waste. Besides, you're the best thing to ever happen to this family. We were just waiting for Higgs to get his head out of his ass and realize it too."

"Aye..." she said, getting teary-eyed again.

"I'm sorry." He said as Edgar glared at him. "I didn't mean to make you upset."

"Tis the bairn and it's just... he finally got the courage to speak up about what he wanted and he was finally at peace with himself and then this happened."

"You just leave it us, Merida. We know you're in a more fragile state, so we will find him."

"You keep saying 'we' and 'us'. Who else is here?" Edgar asked.

"Um, well, let's see... there's Kans, Cat, me, father, distant cousin named Pixus, a relative of unknown descent named Harold, Cucklehorn, and Phaybl. And Frank."

"Who'se Frank?"

"Phaybl's husband."

"I thought his name was Francour?"

"It is, but we call him Frank."

"And yer father is here?"

"Crazy, right?'

The door opened and Catherine walked in with Kans behind her as he ducked down from the doorway to make room for his taller stature. He somehow squeezed into the room without getting himself stuck.

"Oh, Merida!" Catherine yelled, running over to hug her.

Merida smiled as she looked at Kans. "I'm honestly surprised that ye arenae pregnant either. I kenned for sure that ye would be."

"Well, the weddin' was a little late in July and Kans got very nervous. Then he had the Midas touch in August, he was a skeleton last month, and this month he's a centaur. None of those were uh, suitable times."

"I'm so sorry, Cathy..." he said, looking down at the floor.

"Never ya mind, ya silly thin'. We just have to find a suitable time or we will wait until next July. Ya've got me now and forever."

Kans still looked upset as he looked at Merida and smiled. "I knew he would come around eventually."

"Aye."

"We all came to help." Radek chimed in, throwing his arm over the part where the horse met Kans' torso. "Since our creatures are not even and are different to each person, we will be able to use the curse to our advantage this time. Heightened senses, transformations, and keener noses will help to move this along. We will do what we can to try and bring Higgs home."

"Ye're too kind. All of ye. Ye didnae have to come all the way here just to do this."

"It's ya that's so kind." Catherine said, holding her hand. "Ya've impacted most of our lives in one way or another and if it was anyone of us that was missin', ya'd be right there with Higgs searching for us. Ya're part of the family now, whether married or not, but Higgs is family."

"Besides, it wouldn't have mattered it was you or him. We still would have come." Kans said.

"That's right. If that crazy woman had taken you or even Edgar and you needed our help, we would come. It's what family is for." Radek said.

Merida smiled, unusually relieved to see everyone there by her side. She was so used to doing it by herself that she forgot what it felt like to have people genuinely want to help. It looks like I can't get to you myself, Mr. Higgs, but with your family here to help, I know we will find you. Hold out for a little longer...