Chapter 12 Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Marcia had heard everything from her perch under the stairs in the saloon. So, she knew when they would be there and when the baby would have a brief moment alone. She also knew that in the middle of the night when others were away from the baby at its home, she could get it and take it without anyone knowing it was gone. She licked her lips; the wolves would be very happy indeed!

Candy had put J J, she started to call him J J just because it was easier than saying his full name. Jeremy Sr. agreed. They were both very happy. They had gone home and had placed the baby in its crib. Jeremy had brought the crib out to the living space so that they could be near the baby and watch it. Candy was not going to let her baby out of her eyesight until Marcia was captured. Around the outside of the house; Jason, Joshua, Aaron, Clancy, and couple of others were walking around on all sides of the house. There was not an inch that wasn't being covered. Christopher had decided that he would check the perimeter near the woods. He had seen Marcia go that way many a time and kind of wondered what she had back there, but it was dark, and he did not have enough light to go find out.

Finally, Candy and Jeremy took J J up to bed and they got ready for bed themselves. Once they were settled. Candy got up to check on J J one more time, the day had been very busy, and she was tired. Jeremy slept closest to the little alcove where J J was sleeping. He would hear if someone snuck in and took the baby. Even though they were upstairs, he did not put it past Marcia to just take the baby out of the crib. Morning came, and everything seemed right. Candy had gotten up in the middle of the night and fed J J. Then went back to sleep. Jeremy had woke up twice and checked on his son as well.

Candy was making breakfast for everyone, Jeremy had changed and dressed J J and brought him and his crib downstairs.

"I think I will make another crib to put him in while we area in the kitchen or elsewhere!" Jeremy said as he came in and gave Candy a kiss on the cheek and Candy kissed her little boy as well.

When everyone was done. They went about getting ready for the festivities. Molly and Christopher and Katie and Joshua, and Jason all took turns taking care of J J. He was never alone. There was always someone to watch him.

Jeremy had to go get some things from the town, so Joshua and he went to get those things. They left Katie, Candy, Christopher, and Molly toe watch J J. Candy had to go use the privy. Katie was taking cookies out of the oven. Christopher had just walked around the perimeter of the house with his shotgun and Molly turned to pick up a couple of small toys to play with J J when she turned around she saw Marcia running out of the front door. She hollered and ran after her. But Marcia was quick, and she was gone. There was no sign of her.

Candy came back and Katie and Christopher came running as well. He had been on the other side of the house checking things and had found a 'rat' hole the size of a large dog or person.

"I am so sorry Candy, I just turned to pick up some toys, she was there and then was running I tried to run after her, but I couldn't keep up!" Molly said crying. Candy put her arm around Molly and said:

"we will get him back don't worry Molly; I know you could not have done anything about it!" Jeremy came in and saw Molly crying with Candy's arms around her sister. Everything was in chaos,

"What happened?" Jeremy asked. When Candy told him he almost was tempted to yell at Molly, but Candy held onto Jeremy, and he calmed down. Yelling at Molly would not help them to find J J.

"Jeremy, I know where she might have taken J J!" Christopher said

"Good, lets go!" said Joshua as Christopher carried his shotgun and Joshua carried the old pistol as well. Jeremy just wanted his son back. When Jason came in they all followed Christopher to the stand of trees. They could hear growls and wolves howling. It was snowing and the wolves were very hungry. They did not know which way to go, Christopher did, he had caught a glimpse of Marcia or what he thought was Marcia in the trees.

They followed Christopher deep into the woods. They came to an opening and stopped. In the center was the baby. The wolves were circling the baby. They looked to see if Marcia was around. She wasn't, where was she?

The snow was falling gently. The wolves stood near the baby. Marcia came into the clearing, but she did not look happy, she was about to cut the baby so that the wolves would smell blood, but one of the wolves, attacked her. Then right before their eyes. The rest of the wolves attacked until she was no more. When they were done, they looked at the humans, and then backed away from the baby and let Jeremy come to pick up the baby. He walked past what was left of Marcia, None of the wolves growled or made like they were going to attack them. Jeremy picked up his baby and wrapped him in the blanket that he had brought. He walked back to the stand of trees, and they walked out of the woods.

They did not talk about Marcia except Jason said he would go back the in the daylight and bury what was left.

When they arrived back home, Candy was so very happy that J J was safe. When they told her what the wolves had done and how they had protected the baby, she was astonished. How could this be? Wolves protecting my baby? Why, how? She thought.

Clancy came up to her and said:

"Those wolves are smart, they knew that was a baby, many's a time when a child is lost and adopted by wolves. They knew that Marcia was going to hurt the baby, so they protected him. Also, this being Christmas eve I think a miracle took place, don't you?"

They went to Midnight service, and they sang "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"