LITMIR.BIZ

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      He set about boiling water and measuring out herbs and sugar before adding them to the heavy pot in which the tea was made. But he turned round when he heard the ragged little sigh she made and saw her eyes momentarily close.

      ‘Are you okay?’

      Her lids flew open again. ‘I would be if you’d just stop fussing!’ She sounded as if she was spoiling for a fight but Hassan didn’t react. She’s just emotional, he told himself. And she has every right to be. He carried over a tray bearing tiny cups and the steaming tea.

      ‘What’s that funny smell?’ she questioned suspiciously.

      ‘It’s probably the habak and marmaraya. They’re the desert herbs which gives the tea its distinct flavour. The habak tastes a little like mint.’

      Ella swallowed. ‘I think I’m going to be sick.’

      ‘It isn’t that bad.’

      But his attempt at humour was forgotten as Ella suddenly realised that something momentous was happening to her.

      ‘Hassan, I feel weird.’

      ‘What kind of weird?’

      She swallowed. ‘I think I’m going to have the baby.’

      ‘Don’t be silly.’

      ‘Don’t you dare tell me I’m silly!’ she flared back. ‘How the hell would you know? You’ve suddenly gained a qualification in obstetrics, have you?’

      ‘You’ve got another four weeks to go.’

      ‘I know exactly how long I’ve got to go and I don’t care! This baby’s coming now!’ Staggering to her feet, she felt the unexpected warm rush of liquid cascading down her leg and she stared down in numb horror as realisation began to dawn on her. ‘Hassan!’ she gasped, raising her head to meet the disbelief in his eyes. ‘My waters have just broken!’

      Hassan froze. He thought of the clean, bright interior of the labour ward at the hospital in Samaltyn, of the fully trained teams of doctors and nurses who could be summoned at a moment’s notice, and denial washed over him. ‘They can’t have done!’

      ‘They have! Look! Look!’ Reaching out, she caught hold of his hand, her nails digging roughly into his flesh. ‘Hassan, that was a definitely a contraction!’

      ‘Are you sure?’

      ‘Of course I’m sure! Oh, heavens! The baby’s coming and we’re stuck out in the middle of the bloody desert!’

      One glance at her was enough to convince him that she was speaking the truth and his instinct was to panic like never before. Desperately, his thoughts whirled as he thought about the options which lay open to them. Was there time to get her back to Samaltyn? He heard her gasp and clutch at her stomach with her free hand and he knew there was not. Sweet flower of the desert, why ever had he brought her out here at such a time?

      But her blue eyes were dark with fear and Hassan knew he had to quash his own spiralling terror and get a grip. He had to be there for her. He had let her down so many ways in the past but this time she was relying on him like never before.

      Carefully, he laid her back down on the cushions, barely noticing the nails which were digging into his hands so hard he could feel them drawing blood. His heart was pounding frantically as he leaned over her and squeezed her hand. ‘Stay here!’ he commanded.

      ‘What else do you think I’m going to do?’ She clung onto his hand as she felt him pulling away. ‘Hassan! Where are you going?’

      He cursed as he stared down at the flat line on his cellphone. ‘I’ll have to go outside, to ring the hospital. There’s no damned signal in here!’

      ‘Don’t leave me!’ she whispered.

      ‘Sweetheart. I’ll be right back.’

      Ella felt as if this was all happening to someone else and the unfamiliar sweetheart only compounded it. As if the woman lying back against a pile of cushions, gasping with pain, was someone she’d once met but didn’t really know. Dimly, she could hear Hassan outside the tent barking out a series of instructions in his native tongue. Hurry up, she thought faintly. Just hurry up!

      She had never been so glad to see anyone as when he came running back into the tent and crouched down beside her. But then another contraction rocked right through her and she clung to him, panting for breath.

      ‘It’s okay,’ he said, closing his eyes briefly against her damp hair as he held her. ‘The hospital is sending a helicopter with a full obstetric crew on board. They say that you’ve probably got plenty of time before you deliver, especially as this is a first baby.’

      She shook her head as another contraction racked through her body, feeling as if someone had sent a red-hot poker slicing up inside her. ‘No!’ she croaked.

      Helplessly, his gaze raked over her ashen face. No, what? ‘Just hang on in there,’ he urged from between gritted teeth. ‘They’ll be here soon.’

      ‘Hassan,’ she gasped, sweat breaking out on her brow as another contraction came. Her nails dug into him even more. ‘They’re wrong.’

      ‘Who is?’

      ‘The hospital. I—’ She gasped as the pain made speech momentarily impossible. ‘I think this baby’s coming now!’

      His heart pounded. ‘It can’t be.’

      ‘Yes, it can.’

      ‘How can you be sure?’

      ‘I just am!’

      Desperately, he looked out into the starkness of the empty desert which could be seen through the flaps of the tent. How long would the helicopter take, he wondered distractedly, and would it be able to pinpoint their position? ‘I’ll go outside and get a signal. Speak to the doctor—’

      ‘Hassan, there isn’t time!’ She gripped even tighter as another contraction tightened its vice-like grip around her. ‘Just stay!’ she gasped. ‘Hassan, I need you here with me. I need you. Please.’

      He saw the change in her and realised that she was speaking the truth. That their baby was about to be born. Here. Now. And that he was the only person who could help her. He was going to have to deliver the baby. His baby.

      He felt a brief roaring in his ears before his head cleared and he suddenly became calm. It was like being in battle, when the sounds of melee all around him suddenly blurred into silence and he could see nothing but the task which lay ahead.

      ‘I’m here,’ he said softly, injecting calm into his voice as he began to loosen her clothing. ‘I’m here for you and everything is going to be fine. Shh, Ella. Just take it easy. Breathe very slowly. That’s right. Very slowly. Nature knows what to do.’

      She looked up at him. ‘I’m scared.’

      So was he—more scared than he’d ever been. But Hassan had had a lifetime of experience in hiding the way he felt. Right now, he’d never been so glad of that. Gripping her hands tightly, he looked deep into her eyes. ‘Trust me, Ella,’ he said softly. ‘I am here for you, and believe me when I tell you that it’s going to be okay.’

      Ella nodded and, despite the pain and fear, her trust in him at that moment was total and complete.

      He found a soft blanket, remembering the first time he’d seen a foal being born and recalling what the stable boy had told him: that mares were like humans, that every birth was different and that most of what happened did so without the need for intervention. Please let that be the case this time, he prayed silently as he brushed her sweat-soaked hair away from her face.

      ‘Hassan!’

      ‘I’m here. Keep breathing. Go on, breathe.’

      The vice-like contractions

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