Chapter 18

April 12th, 1986

David paced back and forth in front of the cabin, casting worried looks towards the doorway periodically. After a relatively normal pregnancy, Hannah had gone into labor earlier that day. David had immediately set off to Granny Harper's house to fetch the old midwife to help with the delivery. She had immediately banished David to the outside while she tended to Hannah inside the cabin.

For the last two hours he had listened helplessly to Hannah's screams of pain as her labor progressed. The sounds cut through his heart like a blade. Instinctively he wanted to rush to her side and comfort her but he knew that she was in good hands with Granny Annie. He hoped it wouldn't be much longer. As he paced, he wrung his hands and chewed on his bottom lip nervously.

Finally, the cabin door opened and Granny Annie appeared in the doorway. Smiling her toothless smile at the worried young man who was instantly standing in front of her, she cackled, "Tis fine…You and Hannah have a right handsome little girl…six pounds or near abouts."

"Can I see them?"

"Just don't wake them. They're both sleeping. They had a hard time of it."

"But they're okay. Right?" David asked in a concerned voice as a new fear gnawed at his heart.

"They be fine. They need some rest that's all. Hannah's a strong young lady and your young'un is too."

"Thank you…for everything." David said with a huge grin. "Do you need me to carry you back home?"

"No. I can find my own way. You go see to your wife and little girl." Granny smiled her toothless smile again, "And you look like you could use some rest yourself if you don't mind me saying so." With those parting words, she winked at him, marched down the steps and headed towards the ridge in the distance with a brisk walk.

David slipped into the house and crept over to the old double bed near the back of the room. Hannah was lying there, sleeping peacefully, with their new born baby lying securely in her arms. He grinned when he saw that the infant had a head full of dark ringlets. He felt his heart swell with pride and love as he looked at the woman he loved and their child.

As if sensing his presence, Hannah's eyes fluttered open and a soft smile tugged at her lips. "Hey," she whispered "Isn't she beautiful?"

"She sure is." David said as he reached out and fingered a baby soft curl. He looked at his beautiful Hannah "Do you still want to name her Sarah?"

"Yes, Sarah Jane…" Hannah murmured as she cradled the baby closer and her eyes drifted shut again. David smiled and carefully stretched out beside her, letting his long frame relax for the first time in hours. It wasn't long before he joined his little family in slumber.

A sudden wailing cry started him awake. As he opened his eyes, he realized that Hannah was already awake and tending to their hungry daughter. He watched, his eyes softening with love, as he watched his tiny daughter nuzzle at her mother's breast. He had everything he wanted right here in this little cabin in the mountains. He would die to protect Hannah, their child, and the life they had built together in this place. He was finally at peace with his forgotten past and looking forward to the future.

"She looks just like her Daddy," Hannah said as she watched the baby nursing.

"She's gonna be just as pretty as her Mama…" David said with a grin. He leaned down to give Hannah a gentle kiss. "I love you…"

"I love you too…" Hannah whispered her eyes filling with love for the man stretched out beside her. Her life was complete with her husband and her child. She loved him more today than she did the day they had exchanged vows at the lake. Their love just seemed to grow stronger with each day that passed.

The new parents carefully examined their new bundle of joy, counting each tiny little finger and tiny little toe, marveling at the softness of her skin and the fresh baby scent. Hannah ran her fingers through the soft ringlets, laughing as the long curls straightened out and then sprang back into place.

Over the next few weeks, the young parents became accustomed to the new addition. Sarah was a happy baby who seldom cried and, even at such a young age, soon seemed to recognize her parent's voices. Angel immediately bonded with the baby and became a fierce protector of the tiny mite. Hannah knew she could go about her chores without worrying about Sarah as long as Angel was watching over her.

David took over most of the outdoor chores, as well as helping around the cabin in the evenings. He enjoyed rocking the baby in front of the fireplace while Hannah cooked and he had no objections to changing her diapers when needed. Sometimes he even sang to the baby a lullaby that he seemed to come to him from somewhere.

As Sarah grew older, she got bolder, walking at ten months of age. Her doting father christened her Sassy a nick name that seemed to fit the energetic and curious child. She adored her father and the feeling was definitely mutual. She toddled around outside under his watchful eye with Angel never far from her side. Hannah would sit on the porch watching them and marveling at the changes in her life in just two short years. She made a silent vow never to let anything threaten the happiness of her little family.